The story of a whisky-swilling curmudgeon, a ballet dancer's journey into madness and an animated depiction of a teen's friendship with a gentle dragon are among the year's Top 10 films as selected by the writers and editors of The Canadian Press.

In alphabetical order, the films are:

"127 Hours" -- What didn't James Franco do in 2010? The recently moustached university student appeared on "General Hospital" and "30 Rock," published a short story collection, played Beat legend Allen Ginsberg in the film "Howl" and agreed to host the Academy Awards. And, oh yes, he also starred in Danny Boyle's gripping "127 Hours," about real-life hiker Aron Ralston, who cut off part of his own arm after it became trapped under a boulder. With its pulsating soundtrack and eye-popping use of colour, Boyle creates an almost unbearable degree of suspense -- a nifty trick given that many viewers already know the film's outcome going in. Though he is barely able to move for most of the movie, Franco is mesmerizing as he grunts, weeps, strategizes and -- perhaps most amazingly --shows a wicked sense of humour during the ghastly ordeal.

"Barney's Version" -- It took 12 years and a lot of chutzpah for Canada's uber-producer Robert Lantos to wrestle Mordecai Richler's sprawling, four-decade tale into a feature film, but he achieves it here with style, humour and a stellar international cast. Paul Giamatti leads the way as the cantankerous, cigar-chomping Barney Panofsky, while Dustin Hoffman is a scene-stealer as his foul-mouthed father Izzy. The film wisely focuses on Barney's pursuit of his third wife (and the love of his life) Miriam (Rosamund Pike). An unfortunate casualty is the intriguing storyline of his best friend Boogie (Scott Speedman), which supplies the biggest payoff in the novel but is so waylaid here it barely registers on the big screen. It's not a perfect adaptation, but thanks in large part to Giamatti's sweetly romantic portrayal, "Barney's Version" is a satisfying tribute to a beloved Canadian literary figure.

"Black Swan" -- After a break with the more conventional drama "The Wrestler," director Darren Aronofsky returned to his auteur filmmaking ways with this stunningly off-kilter tale of a ballerina who is pushed to the emotional and physical brink after winning the lead role in "Swan Lake." Natalie Portman's commitment to the demanding role -- she trained relentlessly for nearly a year to convincingly play an elite ballerina -- has already earned the actress a Golden Globe nomination and it will be a huge surprise if she's overlooked for an Academy Award nod. Aronofsky is also the subject of major awards buzz. Here's hoping the visionary director who brought us "Pi" and "Requiem for a Dream" will finally be rewarded for daring to be different.

"Daydream Nation" -- Rife with nods to the work of David Lynch and the Jake Gyllenhaal cult favourite "Donnie Darko," this fully realized tale of angst in a rain-swept small town is a bold debut from Canadian writer-director Mike Goldbach. Kat Dennings is wonderful as a headstrong teen whose charms enthral a hunky teacher and stoner student, neither of whom have any idea what they're getting into with the complicated, confused Caroline. And with a score from Broken Social Scene and a title borrowed from a classic Sonic Youth album, "Daydream Nation" is accompanied by one of the year's finest soundtracks.

"Easy A" -- Those who pine for the days of Hughesian teen comedies past received a rare cinematic gift with this whip-smart popcorn pleaser. Emma Stone puts in a star-making turn as brainy high schooler Olive Penderghast, who -- embarrassed to admit she spent a weekend alone -- fabricates a story about losing her virginity. When the fib ricochets through the halls at warp speed, plucky Olive decides to make the most of it. Soon, she's making up all kinds of sexual tall tales to help out persecuted male classmates, even adorning her clothes with a scarlet "A" (a nod to the Nathaniel Hawthorne classic she is studying in English). Peppered with sly nods to cinematic gems of the '80s, and bolstered by hilarious performances from veterans Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson and Thomas Haden Church, "Easy A" may actually resonate more with parents than their progeny. For them, Olive's story -- cleverly related via webcam -- will no doubt stand as one of the best teen films in years.

"How to Train Your Dragon" -- This fable fortunately avoids the typical hallmarks of Dreamworks' animated fare: no winking pop culture references, no flailing attempts at comedy and few distracting cameos from celebrity voice talent. No, like its spiritual ancestor "The Iron Giant," "Dragon" is a winsome fairy tale that aims for timelessness instead of the rapid-fire gags of, for instance, the "Shrek" series. With Montreal native Jay Baruchel voicing the film's lead role, "Dragon" (adapted from Cressida Cowell's popular children's book) focuses on a skinny kid in a Viking village where capturing a dragon is a rite of passage. The awkward adolescent instead forms a unique bond with one of the creatures and tries to steer the community away from its ritual violence. Like the similarly excellent "Toy Story 3," this family film evokes an emotional response beyond what many of the year's Oscar-baiting dramas could hope to achieve. And it was one of the only films released in 2010 whose intricate effects actually justified the extra money for a 3D ticket.

"The King's Speech" -- The perfect film to shake off your period-piece phobia or historical-drama disdain. This true story of an unyielding speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) who helps King George VI (Colin Firth) overcome a crippling stammer amid a looming war is both touching and hilarious and actually makes the royals relatable. Scenes between Firth and Rush are like a master class in acting while Helena Bonham Carter is equally exquisite as the King's wife, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (the Queen Mother). With members of the Royal Family in the news so much lately, "The King's Speech" is a timely commentary on how the monarchy shapes its image. As George VI says in the film, in the past, all a king had to do was look good on a horse -- but now, they've "become actors."

"The Social Network" -- Is "The Social Network" a true-to-life portrayal of baby-faced Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, or a one-sided character assassination? And does it really matter? Whatever the real-life story, the film stands as a fascinating look at how anti-social geeks are winning over the cool crowd in this digital age and becoming some of the world's most powerful people -- even if they often lack the necessary charisma and personality traits to handle relationships in the non-virtual world. Director David Fincher allows his stellar cast to shine, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin lets scenes go on and on with his characteristically witty, bantering dialogue, and Trent Reznor's prominent, moody score lends just the right edge to the battle over the phenomenally popular site.

"Splice" -- This sci-fi/horror film inspired outright revulsion by shocking some theatregoers with its grotesque sexual twists, but a willingness to dive into ever-horrifying scenarios is what makes "Splice" one of the most intriguing films of the year. Sarah Polley is captivating as a hotshot geneticist so bent on glory she will manipulate human nature itself to achieve stardom, while Adrien Brody plays her more cautious partner. Their bold secret experiments lead to the creation of a surprisingly complex and captivating creature they coddle like a child, but they are not prepared for its rapid and exceptional development. Fierce ambition gives way to darker impulses and by the time that line is crossed, the question of whether the story is believable or not becomes entirely beside the point.

"Winter's Bone" -- An unvarnished and unflinching look at rugged life in Missouri's Ozark Mountains, this drama based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell is a standout in every regard. Jennifer Lawrence knocks it out of the park as Ree, a hard-bitten teen who is determined to find her missing drug-dealer father as she cares for her two young siblings and her mentally challenged mother in their ramshackle home. John Hawkes delivers a chilling performance as Teardrop, Ree's bristly uncle. And director-co-writer Debra Granik draws out stellar raw performances from the rest of the cast members, many of whom are locals who had never acted before.

- Compiled by Canadian Press reporters Victoria Ahearn, Andrea Baillie, Michael Oliveira, Nick Patch and Cassandra Szklarski

Note: Some films were seen on the festival circuit and will not open in theatres until the new year.