ting the tone for the final installment of the 'Harry Potter' franchise, 'Deathly Hallows' proSet!), and Harry, Hermione and Ron faced their fair share of road blocks (getting tortured by Death Eaters, anyone?). But Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint handled the acting challenge like pros, and the thrills and excitement experienced in 'Part I' has us itching to see 'Part II' next summer. RIP Dobby
9'The Fighter'
David O'Russell ('I Heart Huckabees,' 'Three Kings') packs a real punch in his inspirational take on boxer Micky Ward's (Mark Wahlberg) journey to become junior welterweight champion. Mark Wahlberg is wonderful in the title role, and is supported nicely by Amy Adams, who plays Micky's bartending girlfriend, Charlene. But the real reason to see the film Oscar frontrunner Christian Bale, who, at the risk of using another boxing pun, gives a knockout performance, as Ward's crack-addicted brother.
8. 'The Town'
After wowing critics and audiences in 2007 with 'Gone Baby Gone,' Ben Affleck returned to the director's chair this year to helm 'The Town,' a tense and wonderfully acted story about a bank robber (Affleck) who falls in love with one of his hostages (Rebecca Hall). With thrilling chase scenes and a frighteningly good supporting performance by Jeremy Renner ('The Hurt Locker'), 'The Town' confirmed Affleck's comeback and established him as one Hollywood's most promising directors. Suddenly, this former punchline is on his way to becoming the next Robert Redford.
7. 'Kick-Ass'
Behold the post-modern comic book movie. A superhero movie -- starring characters who get their training from other superhero movies -- has all the exaggerated violence and black comedy that the subject demands, and is one of the few hard-R-rated films in which the excessive language and gratuitous violence is earned. The film features not one, but two show-stealing performances: Nic Cage, whose manic craziness is harnessed pitch-perfectly as vendetta-crazed Big Daddy, and 13-year-old Chloe "Hit Girl" Moretz, who shocked audiences with an action-packed character far older than her age lets on. The comparisons to Jodie Foster in 'Taxi Driver' are well-deserved.
6. 'The King's Speech'
Sure, 'The King's Speech' may seem like your typical Oscar-bait at first, given its principal cast (Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter) and award-winning director (Tom Hooper). But seconds into the movie, you realize it's so much more. Writer David Seidler based the remarkable story around King George VI's real friendship with his speech therapist, Lionel, who helped the monarch overcome his nearly career-ending stammer. It's an endearing and at times funny movie that makes the Royal Family relatable to the average moviegoer. The film is also impeccably acted, especially by Firth, who is a shoo-in to win this year's Best Actor Oscar.
5. 'True Grit'
This love letter to the old Western was more an adaptation of the novel than a straight remake of the John Wayne classic. The latest from writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen follows a whip-smart, hardened 14-year-old girl (Hailee Steinfeld) who teams with a drunken, washed-up U.S. Marshal (Jeff Bridges) and a slightly inept, yet heroic Texas Ranger (Matt Damon) to hunt down the man who killed her father. With breathtaking scenic shots, addictive wordplay and top-notch performances all around (especially from up-and-comer Steinfeld), the Coen brothers once again find themselves at the top of their game.
4.'Shutter Island'
When is a horror film just a little bit "more" of a horror film? When folks like Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio lend their inestimable talents to a crafty new take on a very old story. A charmingly old-fashioned "haunted asylum" thriller on one hand, and a fascinating rumination on the deceptive powers of madness on the other, the film succeeds on equal doses of moody atmosphere, clever storytelling and some powerfully good acting. Although it probably won't rank among Mr. Scorsese's all-time best, 'Shutter Island' stands as a testament to the man's love for cinema
3. 'The Social Network'
From Aaron Sorkin's masterfully crafted script to Jesse Eisenberg's stellar and spot-on performance as Mark Zuckerberg, 'The Social Network' easily became so much more than "that Facebook movie." Director David Fincher creates a tight universe of young people careening toward something that will change the world and co-star Andrew Garfield gives a moving performance as the betrayed Eduardo Saverin. The film is crisp and modern and beautifully brought to light the story behind Facebook, the invention that defined a generation.
2 'Black Swan'
Natalie Portman's performance as Nina Sayers will tie your stomach in knots in this suspense-filled thriller, about a ballerina forced to draw out her evil, seductive side in order to deliver the perfect lead performance in 'Swan Lake.' As her dark side struggles to take control, Nina's grip on reality begins to fall apart, threatening the most important role of her life. If you haven't seen it already, be prepared to talk about it the next day.
1. 'Inception'
Does the totem keep spinning? Does it matter? Whether or not Christopher Nolan's visually stunning sci-fi mind-bender about a team of "extractors" -- corporate spies who have developed a technique for stealing information from people's dreams -- hired for a risky mission all adds up is secondary to the thrill of tagging along with Leonardo DiCaprio and pals on their wildly inventive ride through the subconscious mind.
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