While everyone else is compiling their “Best Movies of 2013,” only I offer the “Top 10 of 2010!” For complex reasons, this has been in cold storage for several years. Meanwhile, here is my basic concept: roughly in 2006, I noticed that I watch about 10 movies a year, so it’s quite easy to assemble a Top 10 List. I simply place the movies in order. This year I saw a whopping 12 films; below is my Top 10 list.
1) “The Crab, the Crocodile, and Love in Cuba.” Directed by Sylvie Collier. A documentary about Jose Fuster, an artist on the outskirts of Havana who is creating a massive ever-expanding artwork of cartoony sculpture and mosaic.
2) “Everyday Black Man.” Directed by Carmen Madden. A feature film set in Oakland about a fruitstand owner named Moses.
3) “Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune.” Directed by Kenneth Bowser. The outlandish and tragic history of the “second greatest songwriter” of Greenwich Village.
4) “Journey from Zanskar.” Directed by Frederick Marx. The true story of two Buddhist monks leading a group of tiny children over the Himalayas to reach a school. Monks make great leading men.
5) “St. Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie.” Directed by Michelle Esrick. From beatnik poet to Merry Prankster to philanthropic clown, the heroic tale of Wavy Gravy. Communes can succeed!
6) “Toy Story 3.” Directed by Lee Unkrich. I watched this in French on an Air France plane. Like everyone, I wept for those toys.
7) “South of the Border.” Directed by Oliver Stone. No one saw this movie about the anti-imperialist leaders of South American nations. Oliver Stone pals around with Hugo Chavez!
8) “L’âge de Raison (The Age of Reason).” Directed by Yann Samuell. A gentle French comedy about a corporate woman who realizes she’s wasting her life. (I also saw it on Air France.)
9) “Howl.” Directed by Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman. The best movie ever made about the Beats, except for the ones they made themselves.
10) “The Social Network.” Directed by David Fincher. I always suspected Harvard was totally creepy!
I saw “Journey from Zanskar” and “Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune” at the Woodstock Film Festival. I watched “Everyday Black Man” at the Teaneck International Film Festival. The two movies I left off my list: “Inception” (which sucked), and “True Grit” (which was a little pointless). Writing this list, I realize what a fucking Marxist I am!
