2010 in Film

Favourite films from 2010:

First: my absolute favourite of the year was Never Let Me Go, which was tremendously powerful. It has that wonderfully still quality that I associate most with Stephen Daldry's films. The actual director, Mark Romanek, wasn't really on my radar, but the two other films that Wikipedia lists as directed by him are films that I've enjoyed: Static (incredible example of a sharp change in tone in the film) and One Hour Photo (which totally surprised me by not being the type of movie I pegged it as). I'll probably make a point of seeing any other film with his name on it. Although it looks like he's gonna direct a Ben Stiller movie, so I might hafta rethink that.

Second: As if I Am Not There -- one of the films that I saw at the film festival. Incredibly powerful story about the use of rape as a tool of war in the Bosnian conflict. Juanita Wilson seems like another director to watch (she was previously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2010).

Third: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -- okay, everyone's reading the books these days, but I think that the film is very well done. The book is also quite good, but I'm comfortable with the idea that films are not books, and I don't expect them to be exactly the same. I think that the film is pretty close to the book, even though the film omits some stuff that I quite like in the book.

Fourth: The Trotsky -- surprisingly, a comedy. I loved this film. It made me laugh harder than any comedy I've seen in a long time.

Fifth: Inception -- after seeing it opening weekend, I wasn't sure that it was as good as some of the other Christopher Nolan films that I've seen. After watching it a number of times (I like that his films are layered) my appreciation for it has increased.

Other films I liked (Some of these came out in 2009, but I didn't see them until 2010): I Am Slave -- another film from the film festival. Hard to watch. An Education -- the film I would have chosen as Best Picture for the 2010 Academy Awards. Up in the Air -- I really like the fact that because Vera Farmiga is the love interest, Anna Kendrick gets to Do Something Else! It's kinda shocking how rare that is.

The American: again, a quiet and slow film. I enjoyed Scott Pilgrim versus the World a lot more than I thought I would (Michael Cera. Ugh.) And The Town was enjoyable. I was strongly reminded of Heat -- in fact, I think there's a brief clip of a scene from Heat playing on a TV at one point in the film.

I thought that The King's Speech was just fine, but I don't think it's quite as amazing as people seem to make it out to be.

Cuba and Haiti

President Rene Preval thanked Cuba for its support of the Haitian people in the fight against cholera and sent a congratulation message to the people of Cuba on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

“Cuba, in spite of its own difficulties, is the country that helps Haiti the most. They were present even before the earthquake hit us, assisting us in the education and health sectors; and, after the earthquake, this assistance increased,” he told Cuban reporters in Haiti.

“The Cuban State, Government and people, and particularly Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, have paid close attention to Haiti. He has dedicated more than five of his Reflections to our difficult situation,” Preval told Granma newspaper.

“More than 500 Haitian doctors have been trained in Cuba and we will soon have 1,500 Cuban health professionals working in the most remote places of my country in the fight against cholera. It is the most important and effective help we have received,” he added.

“On the occasion of the double anniversary of the Cuban and Haitian revolutions, on behalf of the Haitian people and Government, on my behalf and in particular on behalf of those who benefit from the Cuban medical assistance, I wish the Cuban people a happy new year. Forever onward to victory! We will conquer!,” Preval concluded.

As of December 31, 2010, the Cuban Medical Brigade saved more than 50,000 Haitians infected with cholera and reduced to 0.54% the mortality rate of the disease in the health institutions under their management.

— "President Rene Preval Thanks Cuba for Its Cooperation with Haiti"

It's really fascinating to compare the assistance that Cuba gives to Haiti with the assistance that rich countries like Canada or the US give to Haiti. It's impossible to deny that incredible role that Cuban doctors have played in Haiti for years and years.