Ever since I posted “In Print: EW’s Best Films of the Year” two weeks ago, I’ve been thinking a lot about what my own Top 10 would look like. After a little while to think about it, I’ve chosen ten of my favorite. Before I dive into my Top 10, here are ten others that are worthy of honorable mention: (500) Days of Summer, Avatar, Away We Go, District 9, Duplicity, Notorious, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Up in the Air, Whip It, and Wolverine.
10. Funny People
(Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana; directed by Judd Apatow)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Sandler and Rogen were good; I always enjoy seeing comedy actors in serious roles; disagree with other critics that it was an off-film for Apatow
9. The Blind Side
(Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron; directed by John Lee Hancock)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Good enough to make a grown man tear up; lived up to my high expectations
8. Zombieland
(Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin; directed by Ruben Fleischer)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Much funnier than I expected; the foursome had good on-screen chemistry
7. I Love You, Man
(Paul Rudd, Jason Segal, Rashida Jones; directed by John Hamburg)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Rudd and Segal were hilarious; the ultimate buddy comedy
6. Terminator Salvation
(Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Anton Yelchin; directed by McG)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Solid performance all around; made me forget about T3
5. Star Trek
(Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Zaldana, Eric Bana; directed by J.J. Abrams)
Ballas’ Bottomline: J.J Abrams strikes again; made a Trekker out of someone with no prior Star Trek knowledge
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint; directed by David Yates)
Ballas’ Bottomline: I never considered myself a big Harry Potter fan until I saw this film.
3. The Hangover
(Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong; directed by Todd Phillips)
Ballas’ Bottomline: I saw Hangover three times in theaters, and it was nearly as funny each time.
2. Slumdog Millionaire
(Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto; directed by Danny Boyle)
Ballas’ Bottomline: A real feel-good movie; easy to understand why it won so many Oscars
1. Gran Torino
(Clint Eastwood; directed by Clint Eastwood)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Clint Eastwood was great in his final acting role.
10. Funny People(Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana; directed by Judd Apatow)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Sandler and Rogen were good; I always enjoy seeing comedy actors in serious roles; disagree with other critics that it was an off-film for Apatow
9. The Blind Side(Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron; directed by John Lee Hancock)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Good enough to make a grown man tear up; lived up to my high expectations
8. Zombieland(Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin; directed by Ruben Fleischer)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Much funnier than I expected; the foursome had good on-screen chemistry
7. I Love You, Man(Paul Rudd, Jason Segal, Rashida Jones; directed by John Hamburg)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Rudd and Segal were hilarious; the ultimate buddy comedy
6. Terminator Salvation(Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Anton Yelchin; directed by McG)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Solid performance all around; made me forget about T3
5. Star Trek(Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Zaldana, Eric Bana; directed by J.J. Abrams)
Ballas’ Bottomline: J.J Abrams strikes again; made a Trekker out of someone with no prior Star Trek knowledge
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint; directed by David Yates)
Ballas’ Bottomline: I never considered myself a big Harry Potter fan until I saw this film.
3. The Hangover(Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong; directed by Todd Phillips)
Ballas’ Bottomline: I saw Hangover three times in theaters, and it was nearly as funny each time.
2. Slumdog Millionaire(Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto; directed by Danny Boyle)
Ballas’ Bottomline: A real feel-good movie; easy to understand why it won so many Oscars
1. Gran Torino(Clint Eastwood; directed by Clint Eastwood)
Ballas’ Bottomline: Clint Eastwood was great in his final acting role.
