Movies in Review: The Best, Worst, and Favorites of 2010

Because it's 2011. Because last Sunday night, every one was talking about the best picture of the year, and they didn't mean a movie filmed eighty-six years ago.

I like doing things out of date, and out of season.

But I did plan to make this post in January: the child was sick for a long time. Then in February, I forgot.

Now it's March...if I don't post it now, I'll never post it!

-- And the world would go on, completely unchanged, if not somehow better.

The following is a wordy recap of every film I watched last year -- every new-to-me title, anyway; not included are the films I had already seen before, though an asterisk does denote films I watched at least part of, prior to 2010 -- and how many sparkling stars each garnered in the eyes of yours truly.

[Ahem]

Total Number of 'New' Movies Watched:

125

First Movie of 2010:

GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE

Last Movie of 2010:

SEVENTH HEAVEN

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Obsessions of 2010:
To shed some light on why I watched what I watched; how my hopefulness to see certain people or elements effected my Surprises, Disappointments, and Personal Favorites of the Year; by knowing what, or even whom, I was obsessed with, will help explain why I loved the movies I loved most.

The Dead End Kids -- One of my longest obsessions ever; from December 2nd, 2009, until Spring 2010. I also became quite obsessed with one of their later-day series of films, known as The East Side Kids. And despite my excitement about TCM airing the films of their collective reincarnation, The Bowery Boys, in June, 2010, while attempting my fifteen Bowery Boy title, I just couldn't take it anymore...

I still plan to watch DEAD END, every year, on December 2nd, and would love to finish watching Bobby Jordan and Billy Halop's filmographies; otherwise, it's all best left to memories: fond, childish, and occasionally drunk.

The Marx Brothers -- And you thought this was a new obsession. No...In January, 2010, I saw a few minutes of ANIMAL CRACKERS. I was delighted! And curious. Later that month, I watched my very first Marx Brothers movie, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA. I was in love! But not wanting to pull myself away from the Kids too soon, I decided to pace myself with the Brothers. In March, I watched A DAY AT THE RACES, and DUCK SOUP. Pure Heaven! But then in April, I made the mistake of watching THE BIG STORE...

-- I missed the first thirteen minutes, so it doesn't qualify for Movies Watched in 2010; if it did, it would have made the 'Biggest Disappointments' List.

My interest in the Brothers then died.

But thanks to depression in June, and my obsession with the Kids (and all their related series) on its deathbed, I spent one afternoon, avoiding suicide, glued to the couch, giving the Marx Brothers another chance, by way of watching MONKEY BUSINESS and HORSE FEATHERS, back-to-back. A week later, I thought I was having a heart attack. I had to be rushed to an EKG machine. So my faith in the Brothers had been restored, sure, and they brought me joy times a million! But it's funny what stress and depression can do to you; I spent the rest of the month doped-up on drugs; cycled through several other mild obsessions throughout the year, and had forgot, completely, to return to the Brothers, until January, 2011. Shouting, "Oh yes! So this is where I left off!"

Freddie Bartholomew -- I saw CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS in 2005, but on mute. (As I watched all movies, 2004 through 2009: a strange habit I'll eventually explain.) And watching it with the sound on, for the first time, in Spring, 2010, brought about a resurgence in my love for child star Bartholomew, and finally piqued my interest in stalwart Spencer Tracy. I pursued much of both their filmographies, throughout the rest of the year.

Famous Partners -- Thanks to my newfound love of Spencer Tracy, I watched several of his and Katharine Hepburn's movies, making me want to finish out some of the filmographies of my other favorite 'Famous Partners', including William Powell and Myrna Loy, and James Stewart with Margaret Sullavan.

Boy Movies -- In addition to the Kids, and Freddie Bartholomew, I was pretty much game for any 'Boy' centered movie, from any decade.

Queen of the Ingenues -- I fell in love with Una Merkel, and became quite smitten with Marsha Hunt, and the aforementioned Margaret Sullavan.

Wallace Ford -- Oh Boy. If there's one obsession, from the past three years, I wish I would have blogged about (but didn't), it's 'Wallace Ford'. A man I came to love after watching a Little Tough Guy film. Soon after, I was surprised to see him again, and once again paired with Billy Halop, this time, in BLUES IN THE NIGHT. But despite my immediate fondness for him, I didn't really become obsessed until after my second viewing of his most famous movie, FREAKS. I finished out the year, of 2010, with 'a bottle of wine and a box of B's'. Public domain dvds I ordered from Oldies dot com, as an early Christmas gift to myself. Drinking the nights (and year) away, while having a great time kicking through Ford's filmography.

But overnight, in the dawn of the current year, poor Wally was replaced and soon forgotten...the second I watched ANIMAL CRACKERS:

Ford was out, and the Brothers were back in.

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Movies I Started, But Failed to Finish:
For various reasons: some accidental; some not-so-much.



DOUBLE INDEMNITY -- A tornado outbreak, combined with my recording a George Raft marathon; it was all too much for my DVR to worry its pretty head about. And the already recorded DOUBLE INDEMNITY, a movie I've wanted to watch for years now, a Holy Grail Film, was eaten alive at the thirty-minute mark. Along with three of the four George Raft titles. But due to the tornadoes, three people were also killed, so that keeps things in perspective.

PRIMROSE PATH -- Another movie that malfunctioned, thanks to stormy nights, and Directv's shabby, refurbished equipment.

LLOYD'S OF LONDON -- I got bored after Freddie Bartholomew grew-up to be Tyrone Power.

ANGELS IN DISGUISE -- Covered prior. Covered Wagons. Let's not get particular. This is the Bowery Boys we're talking about...the unfinished title that marked the end.

IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD -- I made it to intermission, and never went back. Did I mention I hate long movies?

BACK DOOR TO HEAVEN -- I couldn't make it, Mr. Ford. Bored. Bored. Bored.

SCARLET STREET -- A minor Holy Grail; unfortunately, I passed out.

THE SET-UP (1949) -- Probably a great film, but on the particular night I tried to watch it, I wanted romance, not boxing!! Silly me.

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Biggest Disappointments of 2010:



INVISIBLE STRIPES -- Started off strong, with tons of factors I love (Warner Brothers; Prison; Humphrey Bogart! Bogart in the Shower!!), but got so darn convoluted. What a waste of talent!

EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE (1949) -- Blah. What a boring piece of gloss and cardboard. I watched it, trying to finish out my list of films paring Van Heflin with Barbara Stanwyck. This one wasn't their worst film, by any means, but the one I enjoyed the least.

SATURDAY'S HEROES -- Despite the drek MGM occasionally put him through, I thought Heflin could do no wrong. I was wrong.

THE TOWN WENT WILD -- Freddie Bartholomew as the grown-up, on the verge of marrying the girl next door, or is she his sister? You don't want to know; you won't care; and by God, if you love Bartholomew as a child, the way I love Bartholomew as a child, then for the love of CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS, steer clear!

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Biggest Surprises of 2010:

THE BEAST OF THE CITY -- I watched it to see Wallace Ford, and was fascinated! Early Gangster movie, focusing instead on the life of cops; and one such cop's involvement with an extra-sexy, dancing Jean Harlow! Yowza.

YOUNG TOM EDISON -- I watched it to see Bobby Jordan, and was shocked when I not only enjoyed Mickey Rooney more, but enjoyed Mickey Rooney period! I never thought it would happen in my life.

CASS TIMBERLANE -- What I just said about YOUNG TOM EDISON? Replace 'Bobby Jordan' with 'Spencer Tracy', and 'Mickey Rooney' with 'Lana Turner'.

THE MORTAL STORM -- I guess I doubted the pairing of Stewart and Sullavan could ever again produce the greatness of THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. But damn it, THE MORTAL STORM, rating-wise, matched it!

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Biggest Surprise AND Biggest Disappointment:

THE CAT'S PAW (1934) -- I watched it for Harold Lloyd. Plus the added bonus of seeing Una Merkel as the romantic leading lady! And a story akin to MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON?? Gosh, I was in Heaven!! Then...well, it's too bad about the ending; Mr. Lloyd lost his head.

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Worst Movies I Watched, 2010:
Movies rated two-and-a-half stars, or less.

GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE

SKY LINER

MIDNIGHT MANHUNT

THE RETURN OF DOCTOR X

GAS PUMP GIRLS

ZIS BOOM BAH

FRAMED (1975)

ROAD TO ZANZIBAR

ANGEL'S ALLEY

SMUGGLER'S COVE

FIGHTING FOOLS

SATURDAY'S HEROES

CHALK

THE TOWN WENT WILD

LOVE, HONOR, AND OH BABY!

-- Out of the above fifteen titles, ten of them involved at least one Dead End Kid.

Now let that be a lesson to you. ;)

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The Absolute Worst Movie I Watched All Year!

GAS PUMP GIRLS -- Of all the messes I encountered while pursuing the Dead End Kids, this title was, by far, the most putrid. I have never seen such atrocious performances by actors in all my life. The girls were fine (by exploitation film standards). The Aged Kid was fine. But the boys? The young ones?? Like a bunch of super-size Ken dolls impersonating a four year's old interpretation of James Dean.

Unless James Dean is a terrible actor. I wouldn't know; I've never seen him.

If so, my apologies to four-year-olds everywhere.

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My Absolute Most HATED Movie of 2010!!

ROAD TO ZANZIBAR --Road to freakin' Zanzibar. I hated this movie so bad, I will never, ever again watch a single film starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby together. Alone, Crosby is fine. I find him attractive, and thoughtful. But together?

They're completely unfunny.

And one thing I can't stand, is when a famous person thinks he's so funny, he has this sort of smugness about him, with a constant smirk: and Bob Hope has it. Not a single time did I actually laugh at him! I had to force myself through this, just to see Una Merkel, and yes, Leo Gorcey, who I had read was in this film, but unless I fell asleep, or passed out, due to my TOTAL annoyance, I never saw him.

Still, I did give ROAD TO ZANZIBAR two-and-a-half stars, compared to GAS PUMP GIRLS receiving one-and-a-half stars, but at least GAS PUMP GIRLS, in its own horrible way, was once or twice, charming, thanks to the main girl singing a song I related to, but have since forgotten -- I believe it was, "I'm lonely, and I need a friend..." -- and a close-up of a much older Huntz Hall saying a tender goodbye.

And it should be noted (mainly for my own amusement, since no one's still reading this, are they?) I think I watched GAS PUMP GIRLS when I was a kid -- so it may not even count for 2010 -- possibly while obsessed with the USA Network's weekend late-night programing block, known as Up All Night. I was a big fan, of the edited soft porn, and of host Gilbert Gottfried.

So there. I don't like Bob Hope, and I used to love Gilbert Gottfried. I'm fine with these truths, but if you want to throw stones at my head, be my guest.
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Personal Favorites of 2010:
Movies I loved most, no matter how many stars I gave them. Also: The titles of all five-star movies are withheld until the end of this post, despite their equal classification as personal favorites. 

TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS (1940)

MY BILL

LITTLE TOUGH GUY

THE ESCAPE ARTIST

A DAY AT THE RACES

GIVE US WINGS

THE MANCHU EAGLE MURDER CAPER MYSTERY

THE BEAST OF THE CITY

MONKEY BUSINESS

HORSE FEATHERS

LISTEN, DARLING

THE CLOCK*

THE MORTAL STORM

ON BORROWED TIME

FREAKS (1932)

BOY SLAVES

THE PROWLER

ENCHANTED (2007)

THE SHOPWORN ANGEL

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Great Movies Watched in 2010:
Movies that received the 'near perfect' four-and-a-half stars.

A DAY AT THE RACES

DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935)

HORSE FEATHERS

NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950)

THE CLOCK*

THE MORTAL STORM

ON BORROWED TIME

FREAKS (1932)

MISSISSIPPI BURNING

TOY STORY 3 -- the only topical movie on my list. And I realize this movie was JUST nominated (and lost) for best picture, but to me, the first TOY STORY rates Four Stars, and TOY STORY 2 rates Five Stars; I think this one is in between.

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

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The Absolute Best Movies I Watched All Year!
Movies that rated the 'perfect' Five Stars.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

THE FRESHMAN (1925)

DUCK SOUP

THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (1925)*

If I had to choose the best out of these four, in cinematic terms, I'd probably go with THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN. And as you can see by the asterisk, I watched part of it, years before, during my mute phase. Since it didn't matter whether a movie made sound or not, I used to watch a lot more Silent Films.

As for my personal favorite, out of the 'Best' titles, I'd probably pick A NIGHT AT THE OPERA. But we all know where my head is, these days. And with whom...all four of the whoms. ;)

And speaking of those devils, I'd like you to rest peacefully (but not in peace; not yet!) that along with this post, dies my nostalgia kick. It's time to get back to current events! And by current events, I mean I have thirty-eight posts scheduled, for the new month upon us, all concerning the Marx Brothers.

-- March equals Marx Madness!!

So if you're not a fan, you may want to skedaddle. ;)

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Thanks, times a million, for reading this!

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