Film Comment, the highly respected film magazine that is the publishing initiative of New York's Film Society of Lincoln Center, has thrown its hat into the ring of the current awards season with an announcement this week of its Top Ten Films of the Year. Since the film journal is known for its international and eclectic taste, the list is not a carbon copy of the ones that are the mainstay of the awards roundelay, but point to lesser known titles that are worthy of greater attention.

The list, which is compiled from the suggestions of film critics, journalists, film section editors, and past and present contributors to the publication, reflects the auteur sensibilities of the magazine's publisher and audience. Taking the top three positions on the list are Oliver Assayas' CARLOS, David Fincher's THE SOCIAL NETWORK and Claire Denis' WHITE MATERIAL, all currently in theatrical release.  Other films making tthe cut have not yet received North American distribution but have registered strongly on the film festival circuit, including the Film Society's own New York Film Festival held in the Fall. Such titles include Apichatpong Weerasethakul's UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES, Jean-Luc Godard's FILM SOCIALISME and Lee Chang-dong's POETRY.  

Film Comment's Top 10 Films Released in 2010 are; 1.Assayas' CARLOS, 2. Fincher's THE SOCIAL NETWORK, 3. Denis' WHITE MATERIAL, 4. Roman Polanski's THE GHOST WRITER, 5. Jacques Audiard's A PROPHET, 6. Debra Granik's WINTER'S BONE, 7. Charles Ferguson's INSIDE JOB, 8. Alain Resnais' WILD GRASS, 9. Maren Ade's EVERYONE ELSE, 10. Noah Baumbach's GREENBERG. In the overall rankings of 100 films in consideration, other titles making strong showings during the awards season are Lee Unkrich's TOY STORY 3 (#12), Lisa Cholodenko's THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (#16), Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN (#24), Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION (#30), Joel & Ethan Coen's TRUE GRIT (#42), Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH (#44) and Derek Cianfrance's BLUE VALENTINE (#47).    

Luckily, the Film Comment survey does not limit itself to films that have found theatrical release but champions those that have made their mark on the film festival circuit and deserve greater exposure. The Top 10 Unreleased Films in 2010 are 1. Weerasethakul's UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES, 2. Godard's FILM SOCIALISME, 3. Chang-dong's POETRY, 4. Kelly Reichardt's MEEK'S CUTOFF, 5. Cristi Puiu's AURORA, 6. Raúl Ruiz' MYSTERIES OF LISBON, 7. Andrei Ujica's THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NICOLAE CEAUSESCU, 8. Michelangelo Frammartino's THE FOUR TIMES, 9. Abbas Kiarostami's CERTIFIED COPY and 10. Radu Muntean's TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS. The complete lists of films and poll participants can be found and Filmlinc.com and in the January/February issue of Film Comment which hits newsstands January 10.

THE COMPLETE FILM COMMENT 2010 BEST-OF FILMS LISTS

RELEASED 2010

1. Carlos  

Director: Olivier Assayas

2. The Social Network

Director: David Fincher

3. White Material

Director: Claire Denis

4. The Ghost Writer

Director: Roman Polanski

5. A Prophet

Director: Jacques Audiard

6. Winter's Bone

Director: Debra Granik

7. Inside Job

Director: Charles Ferguson

8. Wild Grass

Director: Alain Resnais

9. Everyone Else

Director: Maren Ade

10. Greenberg

Director: Noah Baumbach                             

UNRELEASED 2010

1. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul

2. Film Socialisme

Director:Jean-Luc Godard

3. Poetry

Director:Lee Chang-dong

4. Meek's Cutoff

Director:Kelly Reichardt

5. Aurora

Director:Cristi Puiu

6. Mysteries of Lisbon

Director: Raúl Ruiz

7. The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu

Director: Andrei Ujica

8. The Four Times

Director: Michelangelo Frammartino

9. Certified Copy

Director: Abbas Kiarostami

10. Tuesday, After Christmas

Director: Radu Muntean

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor