by Susan Szakonyi

Due to my firm resistance to paying more than ten dollars to see a movie in the theater, my top ten list includes mainly movies that have been released on DVD in 2010 and a few television shows which I think are stronger than many movies that were released this year.

It’s become difficult to sift through the crap that finds its way to movie theaters and television screens. There’s just too much of it. I wish we lived in a time where only good movies with good plots and writing were made. But instead 90% of movies are crap. The budgets are too high and the expectations are almost never met.

So I turn to television–more specifically, television that I can obtain from my Netflix queue. I can’t put my finger on exactly why there are so many bad movies and television shows… but they continue to be made because people are watching them.

Take Dexter, Californication, Nurse Jackie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and of course Mad Men. Cable shows have more room to use profanity and to explore plots that would never been shown on the five major television networks (CBS, NBC, etc.). It’s Always Sunny would never be allowed on ABC–being on FX lets the show be rude and insensitive. But the real gems are on the premium channels, HBO and Showtime. True Blood and Dexter go places that most people find horrifying but the extreme sex and blood are also included with the fine acting and writing. Yes, it’s expensive to pay for premium channels, but given a choice I’d rather have HBO and Showtime rather than the other hundreds of channels. I don’t need another house flipping show or another lame game show or another Special Guest Star Betty White show. Give me something real.

Here’s my list. The following movies and television shows are in not ranked in any particular order.

The Other Guys

It’s not often that I laugh out loud during an entire movie, but the tongue-in-cheek comedy kills and the banter between Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell is the best of the year.

A Single Man

It can be hard to find a movie that cuts as deeply as this one, and makes you want to stop watching for fear that tears will flow. A true story of love and loss.

How To Train Your Dragon

I’m a sucker for animated movies and this one delivers plenty of laughs without overloading on the sappiness that so many children’s movies have these days. How To Train Your Dragon reminded me that Hollywood really doesn’t need to keep making Shrek sequels.

The Messenger

Too many war movies either focus on the violence or have too much of a political slant. I was completely taken back by the character development and my heart ached but I couldn’t stop watching.

Easy A

I refuse to watch teen comedies. The jokes are always the same, and the characters are too often cliché. But then comes Emma Stone, who shows she’s not above self-deprecating humor and can monologue like no other young actress.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Those who know me know that I will watch any movie that has John Cusack. Add Craig Robinson and some 80s jokes and I’m in heaven.

The Kids Are All Right

I was skeptical because of the all accolades. I figured The Kids Are All Right was getting press only because it has two lesbian main characters played by movie stars. But once I got into the movie, I realized it was the quality of the story that must have attracted Annette Bening and Julianne Moore to the script. It’s a film of quality and depth… about looking for the missing piece in your life and learning that everything doesn’t always add together perfectly.

Nurse Jackie (television)

Finally–a show about doctors that doesn’t feel like a soap opera. Addicts are a popular addition to movies and television shows–but here is an addict, an adulteress, and a woman who cares only when she deems necessary. Edie Falco brings on her usual grit, making us cheer for her ecstatic lack of moral boundaries.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (television)

This irreverent comedy has no shame and as long as you put your political correctness aside, this is the best comedy on television. The song and dance numbers are classic.

Bored to Death (television)

This detective show is breezy and silly… and isn’t that what we all need sometimes?