Best Films of 2010: Honorable Mention, Part 1

I decided that I've waited long enough to begin my top films of 2010 list, so I figured tonight was as good of a time to start as any. However, I want to preface this list with a shorter list of films that I haven't gotten a chance to watch yet that I believe have potential to at least my honorable mention list. I reserve the right to add any of these to my top films list:

Get Low
Never Let Me Go
Four Lions
Hereafter
I Love You Phillip Morris
Rabbit Hole
Blue Valentine
The Illusionist

...and any others that turn out to be better than expected. Having said that, this list will be a bit shorter than my Best of 2009 because there are fewer films worth mentioning. Anyways, here's the list. The honorable mentions are numbered this time too, with a few thoughts. Spoilers (maybe)!

32. Welcome to the Rileys

Director: Jake Scott

Starring: James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, Melissa Leo

If Kristen Stewart could get away from those silly Twilight films, she might turn into a great actress one day.

31. Agora

Director: Alejandro Amenabar

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella

Rachel Weisz is so sexy. That is all.

30. Please Give

Director: Nicole Holofcener

Starring: Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Amanda Peet

Kind of a mean premise, but the film pulls it off (mostly) successfully.

29. Salt

Director: Phillip Noyce

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor

It makes little sense, but there's usually one movie a year that I enjoy in spite of how stupid it is. This year, it's Salt.

28. Nowhere Boy

Director: Sam Taylor Wood

Starring: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff

Interesting note: although this film is about John Lennon's early days, the filmmakers were not allowed to actually say the word "Beatles" at any time in the film.

27. The Town

Director: Ben Affleck

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall

Not as good as Affleck's first directed film, Gone Baby Gone, but still worth seeing.

26. Jack Goes Boating

Director: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz, Daphne Rubin-Vega

Tip: Philip Seymour Hoffman, please don't ever sport dreadlocks again.

25. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Director: Niels Arden Opley

Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist

Warning: This is a foreign language film. There are also scenes of rape.

24. The Other Guys

Director: Adam McKay

Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg

It's probably too early to say that Will Ferrell is back, but this movie was much better than I expected.

23. Get Him To The Greek

Director: Nicholas Stoller

Starring: Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Sean Combs

Even with one of the worst titles of the year, Greek ended up being hilarious. Also, along with The Other Guys, it has one of the best "drunk daze" scenes in film history.

22. Howl

Directors: Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein

Starring: James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Jeff Daniels

Interestingly, James Franco's "other" film of 2010 explores the life of the "other" guy from the Beat Generation. The film is presented in a very original way.

21. Date Night

Director: Shawn Levy

Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco

Another fish-out-of-water comedy. I like this genre though, and the talents of Carell and Fey elevate Date Night from generic comedy to pretty damn funny.