2010 Honorable Mentions (continued)

THE TOWN THE TOWN sounds a lot like an old-western and this modern day thriller feels just like one. Ben Affleck, just like Clint Eastwood, may find his best cinematic years behind, not in front of, the camera. Just like his directorial debut, GONE BABY GONE, Affleck captures the essence of his Beantown roots, creating authentic characters and intense confrontations from a plot that could have gone in the wrong direction. THE TOWN isn’t your average action film, one with brains and heart.

SHUTTER ISLAND Although SHUTTER ISLAND doesn’t break any new ground, it does feel frighteningly authentic thanks to director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. This psychological horror film centers around a police investigation at a remote insane asylum and is terrifically creepy thanks to the aura Scorsese creates and the determined character that Dicaprio encompasses.　

FROZEN FROZEN is a well-orchestrated thriller that shrewdly adapts its surroundings into its participants perils. Three friends are marooned at the top of a ski-lift during sub-freezing temperatures for the weekend, and writer-director Adam Green finds plenty of obstacles outside of the weather to give FROZEN all of the chills it needs.

EDGE OF DARKNESS EDGE OF DARKNESS is another thriller that benefits from the forceful presence of Mel Gibson as a father seeking revenge for his daughter’s death, and a screenplay that doesn’t let anyone off-the-hook. This personal and political pot-boiler has more brawn than brains, but there’s enough intellect in the subtext to keep it from masquerading as standard action fare.

SALT
SALT, on the other hand, is extremely well orchestrated standard action fare. Angelina Jolie is a spy, or an agent, or a double-agent in this crazy, exhilarating and utterly entertaining romp from director Phillip Noyce. Noyce, who’s most recent works have been more serious, cuts loose with this fun and completely ridiculous mystery.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Anchor Bay Films and Warner Bros. Pictures