This year, ten films are nominated for the award of Best Picture. I present to you in order of worst to best.

10. Winter’s Bone

This film is the reason why the Academy Awards should not have been extended to ten films. Here we have a boring film about a girl wandering from house to house asking, “Have you seen my daddy?”

9. The Social Network

Meh. It’s an okay film, but it’s surely not as AMAZING as everyone was saying it is. It’s an interesting tale, and it’s well filmed, and it’s well acted, but nothing in there is special. Worth watching at least.

8. 127 Hours

I wrote about this film earlier this year. I’ll say it again, decent film, not worth the fuss, James Franco’s not the right person for the role.

7. The Kids Are All Right

This is the point where the films start to get really good. This is the story of a family falling apart and the difficulty of marriage. The film watches well, and it’s another excuse to see Julianne Moore’s nipples, is there a single film where her shirt stays on? All five leads are excellent, and there’s not a moment that’s uninteresting.

6. The Fighter

Batman AND Marky Mark! Amazing. I really dug this film, it was interesting, but it left me asking the one question I ask about boxing films… why would anyone in their right mind want to be a boxer?

5. Inception

I think Inception was the first of the films I saw. I was bored one day. A friend said I should go see it. I watched the trailer. It looked like crap. I didn’t go see it.

Later, another friend invited me to join her for the film, and I figured, “why not?” Mostly because that friend is awesome. So we went to the see the film. Surprise, it was awesome! It’s a fun romp, and interesting, both the visuals and the narrative.

Also, Claire adds, “Leo’s hot.”

4. The King’s Speech

Hooray for films about the monarchy! Hooray for films with Colin Firth! Hooray for films with Helena Bonham Carter! Hooray for films with Geoffrey Rush!

Carter’s performance as Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mum, not the reigning monarch) was excellent.

3. Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 is not a kids’ movie, definitely not, certainly not. For one, it’s scary! For another reason, it’s really about interpersonal relationships… between toys. The film follows the formula of the previous two Toy Story films, in which toys are stranded away from home, and have to get back, but this time the difference is that this story has even more depth than the first two, which aren’t shallow films. I need to watch this again.

2. True Grit

Another film I wrote about previously. This is a damn good film, and while Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon are fabulous in this film, Hailee Steinfeld steals the show. Steinfeld’s performance is stellar. If it wasn’t for Black Swan, this should win, hands down.

1. Black Swan

But there is Black Swan and we cannot ignore the brilliance of this film. While I’m not a big fan of Darren Aronofsky, I cannot, without a doubt, deny how amazing this film is. The visual storytelling uses the medium of film better than any of these other films, it is the best example of great cinema. Visually this film is stunning, upsetting, and uncomfortable all at the same time. While it’s a film I will probably never want to watch again, I think everyone should see this.

In 1995 Pixar released one of the most important films of the past few decades, Toy Story. This film was historical if only because it was the first feature film completely computer generated. That alone is enough to put this film in high regard, but it’s not enough for me. What made Toy Story so good in my mind was the quality of the storytelling.

Toy Story was about two toys, Woody, a cowboy sheriff, and Buzz Lightyear, an intergalactic superhero. Woody, as the leader of the group of toys sees his comfy life as the favourite toy challenged when Buzz Lightyear shows up at Christmas. After much adventure, they become the best of friends.

Toy Story 3, begins with a recollection of the life they once had, the fun adventures of a toy who’s played with, but then flashes ahead to present day when Andy’s grown up. Andy’s about to head to University, as his mother asks him what he’s doing with his old toys.

Much like the other two Toy Story films, the movie revolves around a simple, but effective concept, get back to Andy. While this concept is extremely simple, the three films are so unique to one another, and so well constructed, that it barely matters. The audience is in for a great adventure, because the characters are so good. Woody and Buzz are such very strong leads that there are so many possible stories for these two characters.

The film is supported by the best of the characters from previous Toy Story films, Hamm, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head, Slink, the Pizza Planet Aliens, T-Rex, and unfortunately Jessie and Bullseye.

The film is great. It’s fun, hilarious, heartwarming, sad, and many other emotions. The film puts a great highlight on how great Pixar films are and always have been. I don’t want to give much away, but like most recently Pixar films, there’s moments of tears, and moments of pure glee. They’ve become quite adept at luring the audience in to love their characters.

Amongst the discussion from the night was listing Pixar films from worst to best, here’s my go:

10) Cars
9) A Bug’s Life
8) Ratatouille
7) Toy Story 2
6) Finding Nemo
5) Monsters, Inc.
4) Toy Story
3) The Incredibles
2) Wall-e
1) Up

I think I would put Toy Story 3 between Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo.