Two Eastwoods, a Clooney, and a Gervais

I hate leaving any good movie out in my search for my top ten, and it seems to me that I missed out on a few more films worth a mention before I reveal my best list. (I swear it will come within the next few hours.)

Changling/Gran Torino: We were privileged this year to see not one but two Clint Eastwood films in the theatre. Eastwood hasn't done that since, well his last two films "Flags of our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima". "Changling" gave Angelina Jolie one of her best performances as a mother who loses her son only for her case to be part of a police cover up. In "Gran Torino", Eastwood returns to the screen in what many call his swan song from acting (even though he made the same comment about "Million Dollar Baby"). Eastwood plays to his strengths as an aging war vet who isolates himself from his family and his multi-cultural neighbours, until he befriends one family after he helps them from gang violence. Both of these films are flawed in some little way, but Eastwood continues to intrigue with his dark tales of American history and culture, which shows why he's one of the most respected mainstream artists around.

Leatherheads: If you recall back in the spring, George Clooney came out with this little comedy gem that hearkened back to the screwball comedies of the past. The film got average reviews at best and suffered from bad box office. However I was charmed by the film which suffered a bit by its script, but the film had an intelligence to it and sophistication lost in some comedies today. It also shows Clooney growing into more of an auteur before our eyes. I'm intrigued to see what his next directing project will be.

Ghost Town: Another charming old fashioned romantic comedy that passed people by. I'm not sure if this part of the world will ever fully embrace Ricky Gervais which is a shame since he's quite possibly the funniest man on the planet. Gervais gets a great first starring role as a man who can't stand people but when he accidentally dies for seven minutes on the operating table, he wakes up able to see ghosts who do nothing but pester him. The film is somewhat predictable, but Gervais is a joy to watch and this film is just plain sweet to see.