Another great year for movies, with nearly 100 films released this year that I’ve seen that have had something to recommend them (as well as a number of others that don’t). Whittling this list down to 10 has been near impossible, but I’ve finally done it by selecting the 20 that I enjoyed the most (and those that stayed with me) and considering the merits of each. In another year, the 11-20 could comfortably have fitted into the top 10.

I don’t need to say it, but I will anyway – film is, like most things, very subjective so what appeals to me may annoy you – I tend to make my decisions about what to see by trusting a few critics (Kermode, Bradshaw, Ebert), and they rarely (though occasionally) let me down. So whilst I’m no film critic, if you’ve seen some of the films recommended and like them, you might take that as a recommendation to see something else you’ve yet to catch.

Before we hit my final 20, a word on the films worthy of mention that didn’t make the final list (continues in comments).

Before it gets too late to post this sort of thing (if it isn’t already), I thought I’d weigh in with my list of favourite movies from last year. It’s been the best year for film that I can remember, one when I’ve tried to see at least one film at the cinema every week (despite the best efforts of the cinema distributors in Belfast), and in a year when I’d struggle to name 5 albums I really cared about, my only struggle with this list was limiting it to 10 (the addendum indicates I failed). So here goes:

1. The Social Network – pure entertainment, beautifully scripted, acted and directed, taking a potentially dull subject and being totally enthralling for two hours. Unlike many a year, deserves all the awards it’s going to get.
2. Another Year – I’m no Mike Leigh fanatic, but this was perfection. A heartbreaking performance from Lesley Manville, and the first film I’ve been to in years where the audience applauded at the end.
3. Enter The Void – By turns enthralling, dazzling, intense, weird, over-the-top and even a bit boring at times (it was 20 minutes too long), this was nevertheless a must-see one-of-a-kind by a true original, a film trying (and largely succeding) to do something new in cinema, and one I can’t wait to see again.
4. The Secret In Their Eyes – the big surprise of the year for me, a film that beat “A Prophet” and my favourite film of 2009 “The White Ribbon” to the best foreign language film Oscar and almost deserved to, this Argentinean thriller / love story is an absolute gem and one that deserves to find a much bigger audience.
5. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – never read the book so didn’t know what to expect, but got a dark nasty thriller with strong characterisations and a plot that never lets up – the sequels weren’t as good (different director), but were still satisfying.
6. Kick-Ass – by a country mile, the best comic book movie of the last 10 years – I should qualify that by saying I’m not a huge fan of this genre, but with great characters, terrific plot and dialogue and not a little panache, this really pulls it off.
7. The Arbor – another complete original, this told the tragic story of playwright Andrea Dunbar (who wrote “Rita, Sue & Bob Too”), before dying at the age of 29. Just when you think her story is sad enough, you get to hear her daughter’s…
8. A Town Called Panic – simultaneously the best comedy and best animation (though not best animated) film of 2010, this is basically the Cravendale milk adverts spun out to 75 minutes with a ludicrous plot and hilarious dialogue – an absolute gem, and one no-one who sees it ever seems to regret.
9. A Prophet – Epic storytelling on a small scale, this was one of the most sustained narratives of last year – once it takes hold it never lets go. Justifiably lauded.
10. Skeletons – A very small budget British film and again a true original, this gem builds intrigue as to what is happening before relaxing into a strong character piece – perfectly cast and beautifully made.

That wasn’t all the great films of last year of course, or my claim at the start of it being the best I could remember wouldn’t hold up – I have to give honourable mention to:

Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll, The Father Of My Children, Carlos - The Jackal, Up In The Air, The Scouting Book For Boys, Shutter Island, Cemetery Junction, The Disappearance Of Alice Creed, Dogtooth, The Ghost, I Am Love, How To Train Your Dragon, Four Lions, Heartless, White Material, Cameraman – The Life & Work Of Jack Cardiff, Iron Man 2, Gainsbourg, Down Terrace, Leaving, Splice, The Illusionist, Toy Story 3, Cherry Tree Lane, Mother, Inception, Buried, Made In Dagenham, The Other Guys, Winters Bone, Easy A, We Are What We Are, The American, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Of Gods And Men.

And I haven’t seen Catfish yet!

So over to you – what did you like in 2010, and why?

Heard this track "Slow" on Radio Two and assumed it was a lost Carpenters album track - in fact it's a brand new track by someone called Rumer, and it's just gorgeous - no Youtube yet...
http://www.myspace.com/rumerlovesyou
Other tracks sound promising too...

if this is anything to go by...

Some recent entries on this forum got me to thinking about the critics I most trust to point me in the right direction for new stuff, particularly films. Whilst I'd love to think that I'd find great new product all on my own, inevitably, with film at least where otherwise you'd rely on trailers or word of mouth, there are some critics I really trust.
For me, I look for a consensus between the BBC's Mark Kermode and Peter Bradshaw from the Guardian - both guilty occasionally of putting me off films I ended up enjoying or encouraging me to see stuff I didn't care for, but I usually find if both like something there's a strong chance I will too. Individually, if one really loves something I will probably give it a go. I also like Roger Ebert (although he has recommended some real drivel, he at least talks authoritively and with passion when he does), and historically the late, great Pauline Kael.
With that in mind, who are the critics you trust the most in the field of movies, TV, music and/or books?