THR Critics Name 'Inception,' 'Carlos' Best of 2010

With award season in full swing, and the end of the year upon us, The Hollywood Reporter's critics Todd McCarthy and Kirk Honeycutt weigh in on the best films of 2010.   Todd McCarthy   1. Carlos An amazing epic that brings a shadowy terrorist career to life with a vivid credibility that scarcely seemed possible.   2. The Social Network Dazzling on every level, its success at zeitgeist-capture marks it for a time capsule.   3. Wild Grass A nimble, intoxicating, borderline-hallucinatory work from Alain Resnais, a very old director with a very young spirit.   4. A Prophet Prison as the best crime university has never been more powerfully or disturbingly revealed.   5. Sweetgrass An exceptionally beautiful documentary that casts one of the world’s oldest professions, animal herding, in a startlingly modern light.   6. Inside Job A devastatingly precise and articulate breakdown of the hows and whys of the financial crisis.   7. Toy Story 3 Pixar does it again, but even better.   8. Animal Kingdom The gangster film is alive and very well in Melbourne.   9. The Kids Are All Right A tricky chemistry experiment in which everything goes miraculously right.   10. Unstoppable It drives fast and hard and never goes off the tracks.   Kirk Honeycutt   1. Inception Christopher Nolan, already one of our most innovative filmmakers, outdoes himself with this mind-twisting sci-fi thriller.   2. The Social Network A fascinating character study that also highlights the best and worst aspects of a technology-driven life.   3. The King’s Speech Splendid acting brings to vivid life an intimate account of how a British king triumphed over a speech impediment.   4. 127 Hours Danny Boyle’s highly emotional, spiritually infused account of one man’s gripping ordeal is utterly transfixing.   5. True Grit The Coen brothers find true wit, adventure and insight in Charles Portis’ twice-filmed Western novel.   6. Carlos This mesmerizing portrait of a true-life celebrity terrorist from Olivier Assayas bristles with tension, drama and stunning insight.   7. A Prophet Jacques Audiard’s prison drama and a gangster film that brilliantly surveys the corrupting, corroding path to power.   8. The Kids Are All Right One of the more amusing and startling comedies about marriage and a midlife crisis in a long while.   9. Winter’s Bone Stark drama with an indomitable young female protagonist intensely explores poverty, drug culture and evil in rural America.   10. The Way Back Few films can match Peter Weir’s epic escape movie for sheer adventure, danger and, ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit.   How Other Critics Groups Saw It   New York Film Critics Circle Picture: The Social Network Actor: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech Actress: Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right Supporting actor: Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right Supporting actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter Screenplay: Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg, The Kids Are All Right Director: David Fincher, The Social Network   Los Angeles Film Critics Association Picture: The Social Network Actor: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech Actress: Kim Hye-ja, Mother Supporting actor: Niels Arestrup, A Prophet Supporting actress: Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network Director (tie): Olivier Assayas, Carlos; David Fincher, The Social Network   National Board of Review Picture: The Social Network Actor: Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network Actress: Lesley Manville, Another Year Supporting actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter Supporting actress: Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom Screenplay (adapted): Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network Screenplay (original): Chris Sparling, Buried Director: David Fincher, The Social Network   Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Picture: The Social Network Actor: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone Supporting actor: Christian Bale,The Fighter Supporting actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter Screenplay (adapted): Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network Screenplay (original): Christopher Nolan, Inception Director: David Fincher, The Social Network   San Francisco Film Critics Circle Picture: The Social Network Actor: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech Actress: Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine Supporting actor: John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone Supporting actress:Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom Screenplay (adapted): Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network Screenplay (original): David Seidler, The King’s Speech Director (tie): Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan; David Fincher, The Social Network   San Diego Film Critics Society Picture: Winter’s Bone Actor: Colin Farrell, Ondine Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone Supporting actor: John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone Supporting actress: Lesley Manville, Another Year Screenplay (adapted): Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network Screenplay (original): Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Chris Morris, Four Lions Director: Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan