I personally found 2011 to be a pretty solid year in movies. Many have disagreed with that statement, and big box-office draws were down this year, yes, but I think the overall quality of films was much more significant than in 2010. Oddly enough, I had an easier time creating my best of list for the past year, only mulling on where to put a few films. To me, there was something for everyone this year.
Comedies really shined this year, with the likes of Bridesmaids, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and even Horrible Bosses giving us unforgettable laugh-out-loud moments, and terrific characters.
Action movies were at their peak in 2011, with Marvel coming on strong with Captain America and Thor paving the way for The Avengers this summer. X-Men: First Class also impressed, breathing new life into the dying franchise. And, Harry Potter went out in style, with one of the most thrilling movies of the summer.
David Cronenberg returned to the director's chair with A Dangerous Method; Tom Cruise showed us there's still life in Ethan Hunt with Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. The Muppets gained new fans, young and old. Rooney Mara dazzled as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Warrior became the Rocky for the MMA generation.
I've seen 61 films from 2011; here now are my favorites. I'll begin, just like last year, with seven films that just missed the cut of being on my top ten, and then I'll move on to the ten films that defined 2011, and made it great. I must note that, sadly, I have yet to see the highly touted Iranian film A Separation, which will not be released in Cleveland until this Friday, and that is far past the deadline I set for my top ten. Perhaps I'll revisit this list once I see it, or maybe I'll include it on my 2012 list. Either way, here are my favorites from 2011. Enjoy.
Bridesmaids
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| Directed by Paul Feig Written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo Produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend |
Crazy, Stupid, Love
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| Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa Written by Dan Fogelman Produced by Steve Carrell and Denise Di Novi |
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
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| Directed by David Fincher Written by Steven Zaillian Produced by Ceán Chaffin, Scott Rudin, and Søren Stærmose |
The Ides of March
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| Directed by George Clooney Written by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon Produced by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Brian Oliver |
Margin Call
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| Written and Directed by J.C. Chandor Produced by Robert Ogden Barnum, Neal Dodson, and Corey Moosa |
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
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| Directed by Thomas Alfredson Written by Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Robyn Slovo |
Young Adult
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| Directed by Jason Reitman Written by Diablo Cody Produced by Jason Reitman, Diablo Cody and Charlize Theron |
And now, the top ten:
10) 50/50
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| Directed by Jonathan Levine Written by Will Reiser Produced by Evan Goldberg, Ben Karlin, and Seth Rogen |
50/50 is able to do something that would almost seem impossible: take the dramatic story of fighting cancer, and create comedy around it. Reiser's semi-autobiographical script is so well written and thought out that, with better performances from the supporting cast, would have ended up higher on my list. It's a shame no one knew how to market this film.
9) The Descendants
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| Directed by Alexander Payne Written by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash Produced by Alexander Payne, Jim Burke, and Jim Taylor |
Payne's newest film may be about a death, but it is more about how those around the death handle it. It questions just how well we can know someone in our life. Yet, most importantly, it's about how families, even the most dysfunctional, can come together during a crisis.
8) The Help
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| Written and Directed by Tate Taylor Produced by Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, Brunson Green |
It's rare to find an adaptation that captures its characters this well. The Help may cover its racial tensions up a little too much, and try to solve and understand decades of racial inequality, but the film is driven by the terrific performances, particularly from Viola Davis.
7) Hugo
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| Directed by Martin Scorsese Written by John Logan Produced by Graham King, Timothy Headington and Martin Scorsese |
The original novel made for such stunning images that it would have been hard to mess this film up. Yet Scorsese is able to take the original material to a level not usually seen in a "kid" movie. Terrific performances from the entire cast, and the visuals are some of the best of the year.
6) Midnight in Paris
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| Written and Directed by Woody Allen Produced by Lefty Aronson, and Stephen Tenenbaum |
The less you know about Midnight in Paris before seeing it, the better. Reading about all the nuances and tidbits that went into this film make each viewing of it reveal something new that wasn't noticed before. Although lacking the depth of some of Allen's early work, this is still a smart, highly enjoyable film.
5) The Tree of Life
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| Written and Directed by Terrence Malick Produced by Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner, and Grant Hill |
To call The Tree of Life Malick's most ambitious film is an understatement. Encompassing all life in the universe, Malick is able to show that our lives may not be so important in the grand design. The amount of Christian symbolism throughout the film is staggering, yet never weighs the film down into being a "worship" film.
4) Shame
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| Directed by Steve McQueen Written by Abi Morgan and Steve McQueen Produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman |
We've seen movies about addiction before. What makes Shame standout is the terrific direction from McQueen. Other directors would choose to go overboard with shot selections and camera angles, trying to draw the audience into the addiction. McQueen instead chooses easy shots, letting Michael Fassbender's acting do the showing.
3) Drive
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| Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn Written by Hossein Amini Produced by Michel Litvak, John Palermo, and Marc Platt |
Taking the prize as the "coolest" film of the year, Refn doesn't do anything remotely new with Drive, yet he's able to create one of the finest "superhero" movies in years. The character study behind The Driver is something that may be analyzed for years. Carried by the best score of the year, the movie is terribly polarizing, but one hell of a ride.
2) The Artist
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| Written and Directed by Michel Hazanavicius Produced by Thomas Langmann |
I've always loved movies that take the nostalgic route of creativity. The Artist is able to create through honoring the silent films it appreciates in almost every scene. Yet the film's enduring message is that true art should never be afraid of embracing new forms and ideas.
1) Moneyball
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| Directed by Bennett Miller Written by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Produced by Michael De Luca, Rachel Horovitz, and Brad Pitt |
Maybe it's my love for baseball. Maybe it's because no other film has been able to capture statistical analysis in sports, and make it so easy to understand. There's a million reasons I love Moneyball, but the one that stands out the most is the fact that the movie humanizes the sport. Even though stats drive its longevity, this is still a game people love, and romanticize over.
So there you have it. Agree or disagree? Be sure to check back all week for various end of the year and Oscar shenanigans!
So there you have it. Agree or disagree? Be sure to check back all week for various end of the year and Oscar shenanigans!
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