“The Social Network” and “The King’s Speech” will ultimately duke out for the year’s top prize, but there are other nominations and categories to consider.

Here are my predictions, as well as a few long-shot picks that deserve more respect. Official predictions are in bold.

Best Picture
If there were only five nominees, it’d be easy: “The Social Network,” “The King’s Speech,” “The Fighter,” “Inception” and “Black Swan.” They’ve all appeared in pretty much every Oscar precursor (Guild nominations, critics’ lists, etc.). The other good bets: “Toy Story 3,” “True Grit,” and “The Kids Are All Right.” The final two slots will go to one of these three: “Winter’s Bone,” “127 Hours,” and “The Town.” Gut feeling: Ben Affleck’s excellent heist film just misses the cut.

Needs More Respect: Edgar Wright’s brilliant video game epic “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” (more…)

The concept of Seth Rogen as a superhero in “The Green Hornet” isn’t so far fetched once you realize he wrote the script for himself.

Together with his “Superbad” writing partner Evan Goldberg, Rogen drafts “The Green Hornet” much like his previous star-vehicles — the lead character is a pop-culture nerd/drunken man-child who rambles on about every topic and situation. Most of the actual hero stuff is handled by sidekick extraordinaire Kato (Jay Chou).

Your tolerance of the Seth Rogen archetype will probably determine your overall feelings for “The Green Hornet,” a middle-of-the-road superhero movie with lots of good ideas but little execution. The movie has a unique visual appeal thanks to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” director Michel Gondry, but the script leaves its interesting array of characters dangling. (more…)

Years from now, esteemed film scholars will decide the true great films from 2010. Until then, critics’ awards and Top 10 lists only give us an impulsive view of cinema in the past year.

A Best-of list so soon after the new year can only be a gut feeling. With limited time and opportunity for repeat viewings, the selections that make up this list are the movies that made the strongest first impressions. Some are technically dazzling. Others explore wrenching human emotions. Some just put a smile on your face– a tall order these days.

Here, out of the 110 films from 2010 I saw last year, are the 20 (ish) movies more than worth a second experience.

Editor’s NOTE: This is the first edition of my list of the best movies of 2010. Stay tuned for updates as I get around to seeing more of the late-2010 contenders (including “The King’s Speech” and “Blue Valentine”).

1. 127 Hours
Based on the incredible true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston, “127 Hours” is an exhausting moviegoing experience that, by the end, makes you feel lucky to be alive.

Director Danny Boyle, while still utilizing his dynamic photography and editing style, has crafted a more cohesive narrative than his Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire.” The script by Simon Beaufoy turns what is essentially 90 minutes of a man stuck on a rock into one of the most enthralling tales of survival to ever be put to screen.

The key to the experience is James Franco in an Oscar-worthy, one-man show. He makes you feel stranded on that rock alongside him, exhausting every last ounce of water, levity and hope. He’s so good, you even feel the sting in the arm when it comes time for one final choice.

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