Darkmatters Top 10 Films of 2010

Darkmatters - Matt Adcock's Top 10 Films of 2010

It’s been a good year for film – here are the ones that really counted!!

10. The American (15)
Adapted from a novel by Martin Booth, The American in question is George Clooney acting his manly eyebrows off in a dark role of a good hearted hit-man who wants to escape his violent life.

9. Let Me In (15)
Easily the best horror film of the year. Let Me In (a remake of the excellent ‘Let The Right One In’) does for vampires something that a million Twilights, True Bloods or Vampire Diaries can only hope to – it grips the very soul of the viewer and never lets go. Darkmatters Review

8. The Book of Eli (15)
Through a near future Mad Max style wasteland where law has collapsed comes a traveller by the name of Eli (Denzel Washington), carrying with him the very last copy of the Good Book. Cue quality violent heroics and possible salvation – all set against a fantastic bleached out cinematic vista. Darkmatters Review

7. Four Lions (15)
Four Lions is the darkest, bravest comedy of the year which will leave you dazed and confused, challenged and inspired. It’s a brilliant film that deserves to be seen – prepare to laugh, cry and wince, probably all at the same time!! Darkmatters Review

6. Toy Story 3 (PG)
2010 saw us go to infinity and beyond – one more time… And the animation genius’s at Disney / Pixar saved the best trip till last with this all age feel good artistic masterpiece. Darkmatters Review

5. Somewhere (15)
A hard-living Hollywood actor has to re-examine his life after his 11-year-old daughter surprises him with an extended visit. This is a gorgeous life changing film that really needs to be seen.

4. The Town (15)
Take a trip to The Town with Ben Affleck for a full on, nerve shredding cops and robbers romp, packing some seriously cool shoot-outs which even rival those of the crime epic Heat. Darkmatters Review

3. Scott Pilgrim vs The World (12)
Brit Director Edgar Wright does for romance, video games and super heroes what he did for zombie films with Shaun of the Dead and police action buddy films with Hot Fuzz. Prepare for a dazzling pop culture overload which rocks a cinematic endorphin buzz of pure fun. Darkmatters Review

2. KICK-ASS (15)
Speaking of kick ass action – Kick-Ass is a fantastic new breed of superhero movie, a twisted, action packed megaton of wanton comic book violence quite unlike anything you’ve seen. Darkmatters Review

1. Inception (12)
Inception was without doubt the most exciting, brain frying, pleasure-inducing film of 2010. You don’t need to enter anyone’s dreams to realise that director Christopher Nolan delivered a very cool mind twisting plot, awesome special effects and kick-ass action. Darkmatters Review

Previous lists:

Matt's Top 10 Films 2009

Matt's Top 10 Films 2008

Matt's Top 10 Films 2007

Matt's Top 10 Films 2006

Matt's Top 10 Films 2005

Matt's Top 10 Films 2004

Darkmatters Review: Let Me In

Let Me In (15)

Dir. Matt Reeves

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“Just so you know, we can't be friends...”

Prepare yourself for the best horror film of the year. Let Me In (a remake of excellent Swedish masterpiece ‘Let The Right One In’) does for vampires something that a million Twilights, True Bloods or Vampire Diaries can only hope to – it grips the very soul of the viewer and never lets go.

If you’ve seen Let The Right One In you may be sceptical that a US remake could come anywhere near to capturing the haunting, dreamlike understanding of the acute alienation experienced by damaged tweenagers. But from the icy, snow covered New Mexico opening shot, to the unnervingly hopeful very last frame, Let Me In somehow manages to add a compelling new slant on the source material from John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel.

Let Me In is the story of twelve year old Owen (Kodi ‘The Road’ Smit-McPhee, who looks like a young Gareth Bale). Bullied unmercifully at school and drifting apart from his newly single mother, Owen is a lost soul in desperate need of a friend. It seems his lonely prayers have been answered when Abby (Chloe ‘Kick Ass’ Grace Moretz) moves into his block of apartments. Cool, confident and adverse to wearing shoes – even in the snow, there is something special about Abby, something different, something dangerous.

The two children carry this bittersweet story on their young shoulders and both deliver amazingly assured performances. In Let Me In the adults take a back seat and director Reeves even cleverly keeps Owens’ mother’s face always just out of focus as a clue to his sense of disconnect with her. Other adults in the plot include Richard Jenkins as Abby’s ‘Father’ and Elias Koteas as the detective tracking the escalating string of unexplained grisly murders – both supply quality, understated support.

"It's just that I've been 12 for a very long time"

This is a deep dark tale, that takes in gut wrenching violence one moment and sweet shared youthful friendship the next. If you haven’t seen the original I’d recommend seeing Let Me In first as it is probably more accessible (my wife said that ‘Let The Right One In’ was probably the freakiest thing she had ever seen).

Matt Reeves has created a fantastic, tragic, heartbreaking classic horror experience that will stand with Near Dark and The Lost Boys as one of the coolest vampire films of all time. Gird yourself and seek out Let Me In as soon as possible (then buy Let The Right One In on DVD too!).

UNSEEN DELETED SCENE:

Abby meets Edward Cullen from Twilight and beats the living daylights out of him for being such a pussy.

Burke and Hare are given a mandate to wipe out all the Scots


Darkmatters rating: ööööööööö (9 quality vampire bites out of 10)

Darkmatters quick reference guide: Action 8 / Style 9 / Babes 7 / Comedy 6 / Horror 8 / Spiritual Enlightenment 4

"Eat some now, save some for later..."

 Watch the trailer here

Darkmatters says 'Let Me In' to new trailer

LET ME IN, from the director of Cloverfield. In cinemas Nov 5.

Matt Adcock

"Let Me In" tells a terrifying tale about an alienated 12-year old boy named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is viciously bullied by his classmates and neglected by his divorcing parents. Achingly lonely, Owen spends his days plotting revenge on his middle school tormentors and his evenings spying on the other inhabitants of his apartment complex. His only friend is his new neighbor Abby (Chloe Moretz), an eerily self-possessed young girl who lives next door with her silent father (Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins). A frail, troubled child about Owen's age, Abby emerges from her heavily curtained apartment only at night and always barefoot, seemingly immune to the bitter winter elements. Recognizing a fellow outcast, Owen opens up to her and before long, the two have formed a unique bond.





If you like the look of this - be sure to check out the original 'Let The Right One In'

Darkmatters hearts Let Me In - Trailer

Choose to 'Let The Right One In'... if you dare!?

Darkmatters loves Let The Right One In

But will the US remake 'Let Me In' do justice to the classic original?

Today a new trailer hit along with the rather cool posters above and below.

Have a look and see what you think...

"Beware young vampire girl (Chloe Moretz)"

"She has form for blood letting after all - did you see Kick Ass!?"

Matt Adcock