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Here we go again. It is the end of the year and at least half of the country is shoveling snow while the other half is treading water. Not conducive to movie-going, yet enthusiastic film audiences are still appreciative of the art of filmmaking and so I compile my list of the Ten Best and Ten Worst Films of 2010. To everyone to whom going to a movie is a pleasure, have a good year.  Now to begin. My Ten Best and Ten Worst Films of 2010 are listed in alphabetical order.

The Ten Best Films of 2010

Black Swan (Fox Searchlight)---An innovative view of the road to perfection and the toll it takes on the person on the road (Natalie Portman), her family (Barbara Hershey) and those around her. It is not a pleasant journey, but definitively acted and dance scenes put the audience on the floor.

Farewell (partially subtitled) (Pathe)---A spy thriller that gives you the perspective of seeking someone to be a spy, holding your cover, and being aware of what is happening around you. Based on a true incident concerning weak U.S. spy observances during the Cold War.

Last Train Home (documentary) (subtitled) (Canadian Council for the Arts)---An eye-opening documentary on Chinese families who leave children to be raised by grandparents as the parents travel to find work in China. The film centers on one particular family with teen problems.

Mother and Child (Sony)---Annette Bening is having her year as an actress. She was good in “The Kids Are All Right,” but I think she positively sparkles here as a woman who spends a lifetime seeking the child she gave up for adoption. Her scenes with Jimmy Smits, as a suitor, are emotional.

Sweetgrass (documentary) (Harvard Sensory)---Filmed several years ago in the county of Sweetgrass, Montana, the film was released this year. We follow a season in the life of sheep herders.  In present day, the ranch is no more and this life style is almost non-existent, but the beautifully photographed film takes you back to the Old West.

The Ghost Writer (Summit)---Roman Polanski directs a subdued story of a man (Ewan McGregor) who is hired to be a ghost writer for a politician (Pierce Brosnan) and finds a mysterious and threatening life style. The chill portrayed by fog is still with me.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo/The Girl Who Played With Fire/The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (subtitled) (Music Box)---What a trio of films and who can choose which is better? Noomi Repace has made the character of Lisbeth Salanger her own in a brilliant display of acting.

The King’s Speech (Weinstein)---Colin Firth does a complex portrayal of King George (Queen Elizabeth II’s father) and Geoffrey Rush is the man who helps him gain confidence and overcome a speech problem.

Vision (subtitled) (Zeitgeist)---Barbara Sukowa takes on the role of the multi-talented 12th century nun, Hildegard von Bingen in a well-photographed and scripted film of a woman who goes against tradition in a world where men have all the power.

Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions)---Filmed in the southern part of Missouri, this film adapted from a novel, tells of a teenager’s search for her missing father. All amid the meth state of the country where secrets are kept forever and betrayal can mean death. Jennifer Lawrence owns this role.

Extra:

Fair Game (Summit)---The film tells the true story of Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) who was spitefully used as retaliation against her husband’s (Sean Penn) political comments. Goes behind the scenes of power.

How To Train Your Dragon (animated) (DreamWorks)---Family film with colorful and active animation about a world of Vikings who are supposed to kill dragons, but somehow that doesn’t always happen. Shows the relationship between a father and his son, also.

100 Voices: A Journey Home (documentary) (Mod3)---A moving film of a group of cantors who travel to Poland and present a concert on the site of a former concentration camp. Stunning music.

The Town (Warner)---Ben Affleck both acts and directs in this hard-hitting film of a group of bank-robbers who have a problem with a hostage. Jeremy Renner steals his scenes as a man with quite a temper.

The Ten Worst Films of 2010--alphabetical order

Alice in Wonderland (Disney)---Will Helen Bonham Carter ever stop screaming dialogue in her movies? (Here and in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I”). This film is so far out on a limb you need binoculars.

Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore (Warner)---Directed at families, it is a nonsensical story with low humor and plenty of time (about 90 minutes) to go out for popcorn.

Clash of the Titans (Warner)---a sort of “epic” film, we wait most of the film for the classic “Release the Kragon” statement and a beast that wandered in from somewhere near the “Ice Age” films. At this rate the Titans have clashed and lost.

Get Him To The Greek/Cyrus/Dinner for Schmucks (Universal/Fox Searchlight/Paramount)---Movies of supposed comedy that must look good on paper but don't translate to the screen. They highlight mainline actors (Russell Brand, John C. Reilly and Steve Carell) then let them do what they want on  screen and we are supposed to laugh? Enough already.

Gulliver’s Travels 3 D (20th Century Fox)---Jack Black’s backside and a stream of fluid take this PG film straight into outer space. Production company: what were you thinking?

Little Fockers (Universal)---Hopefully, the last film with a title that the audience hesitates to pronounce and Ben Stiller getting his patience tried to the nth degree---again.

Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount)---Did anyone stay awake to find out if there was film in the camera?

Piranha 3 D/Jackass 3 D/Saw 3 D/ and any exorcism film (Weinstein/Paramount/Lionsgate)--3 D is great when there is a story to go with it. Murderous fish? Dangerous stunts? Jigsaw’s 6th or 7th life? Exorcisms a-gore and you have what constitutes a bad film day.

Takers/Killers/Splice/Skyline (Screen Gems/Lionsgate/Warner/Universal)---“Takers” and “Killers” are about cops, robbers, and/or spies. Take your pick. None got far out of the starting gate. “Splice” and “Skyline” opted for science fiction with gene splicing/slicing and an alien space invasion also slice and slice. A storyline would be helpful in these four films or people would just walk into a theater, buy popcorn and walk out again.

The Prince of Persia (Disney)---All the sand in the desert can't bury this storyline far enough.

Thus goes the year, and hopefully 2011 will be brighter movie-wise. At least, there is the “Green Hornet” to watch for, plus another “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “The Green Lantern,” final “Harry Potter” film and “Captain America.” Looks as though comic book mania is back.