Top 15 Films of 2011

Finally.

Yes, people. I made it through about one fourth of the jillion films that came out in 2011--and I feel like one fourth of a jillion is enough to scrounge a top 15 out of. I didn't do this last year, but before we get on with the list, I want to say a few things about 2011 as a whole.

By the fact that I upped my number from 10 to 15, it's fair to say that a high volume of good movies came out last year. But, while this may be true, the number of GREAT films released in 2011 was surprisingly low. All of the films on this list are good, but I'd argue that only one or two were truly great. For clarification, a great film is one that stays with me. I enjoy it long after seeing it and entertain the idea of watching it many, many more times in the future. 2011, while full of good movies, contained very few that I'd be interested in watching again.

Now, with that downer out of the way, here we go: my top 15 films of 2011!

15. ANOTHER EARTH
A film that explores the devastating consequences that just one mistake can make in someone's life. After Rhoda (newcomer Brit Marling) accidentally kills a mother and child while driving drunk, she tries her best to improve the crumbling life of the man most affected by that accident--the father. Throw in a subplot about the discovery of a planet identical to Earth floating in space, and you have one of the most original and effective films of 2011.

14. BRIDESMAIDS
This film about a woman who implodes after her best friend gets engaged received a lot of attention in 2011--and rightfully so. It's hilarious and, surprisingly, full of heart. While I think there are definite highs and lows to Bridesmaids (a very slow start...doesn't get hilarious until Melissa McCarthy shows up), the relationship between Kristen Wiig's character and Chris O'Dowd in this is so adorable it hurts (in a good way). So much attention was paid to the gags and the pooping in the sink that I think a lot of people missed that.

13. A DANGEROUS METHOD
An intense, sexy, and oftentimes disturbing look at the psychological world during the rise of legends Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud. The acting from all the leads (Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, and Keira Knightly) leave nothing to be desired, and although the ending loses a bit of the momentum and fizzles out, it's still one of the most interesting and intense films of 2011.

12. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
I had high expectations for this film, and as someone who's read the novel by Steig Larsson, I have to say--Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo perfectly captures the tone of the original work. Unfortunately, much like the novel, the plotting is inconsistent. I chose not to blame the film, though, which beautifully executes the big moments in a way that left me completely satisfied. And the acting...just wow. Rooney Mara is definitely here to stay. Her potrayal of the damaged Lisbeth Salander paired with Fincher's distinctive style as a director gave us the most compelling slow-burn thriller of the year.

11. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PT. 2
A satisfying end to a mostly bumpy series of 8 films. While I have my personal objections to how faithful this movie was to the book (I am a nerd, after all), as a film it was an acheivement all around. It's one of the most action-packed, heart-wrenching movies of 2011...silly epilogue aside.

10. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Woody Allen's biggest hit in years that embraces the whimsy and beauty of Paris. I knew nothing about the plot going into this--and honestly, I think that's the best way to enter this film. It takes you places you don't expect to go, and for lovers of perfect writing, English Lit, and beautiful sets, Midnight in Paris is one you don't want to miss. As opposed to the several psychological thrillers included on this list, if you're looking for a lighthearted movie that will just make you feel good, I'd point you to this one.

9. SUPER 8
A big-budget action film that doesn't skimp out on heart or characterization for the sake of explosions. Super 8 was dismissed by a lot of critics as just another alien blockbuster, but at the center of this film is a story about young love, friendship, family, and J.J. Abram's adoration of filmmaking.

8. WAR HORSE
A lot of people have accused this film of over-sentimentality and falling into melodramatic cliches we've seen over and over again. And you know what? They're right. At the same time, if a formula works, it works, and the formula definitely worked for War Horse. I knew as a viewer that I was being manipulated by the dramatic score and the emotional monologues, but I honestly didn't care much. I loved that horse, dammit, and that's why this earns a spot in my top 15 films of 2011. Also, if you're not interested in the story, PLEASE watch this for the beautiful visuals. The last scene of this film is stunning.

7. DRIVE
Drive was 2011's sleekest and just coolest film of the year. From the beautiful look of the film, the minimal dialogue, the masterclass acting (Gosling, Brooks, and the oft overlooked performance by Bryan Cranston), the realistic violence, and the awesome soundtrack, Drive delivered on almost every level.

6. THE HELP
I've noticed that The Help is a film generally loved by the average viewer and criticized by your average film buff. I've seen this film criticized for its cliches and emotional manipulation (much like War Horse), but you know what? Just like War Horse, it works, so who cares? Yes, The Help is uplifting, and it's not unlike a few stories of the same nature that've already been told before, but, manipulated or not, I left this film teary-eyed and deeply invested in all of the characters. It's also a visually beautiful film with perfect acting across the board, specifically from Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis, who might both walk away with a golden statue later this month.

5. TAKE SHELTER
This film puts you in the head of its lead, played to perfection by Michael Shannon, and presents you with a question you will struggle to answer throughout the whole movie: is this man crazy or not? Curtis (Shannon, who deserved at least a Best Actor nod), keeps having violent dreams about an approaching storm. He hears and sees things that no one else can see. Frightened by this, he begins obsessively working on a tornado shelter for his family. Should you root for him or not? Should he continue funneling his struggling family's money into this shelter, or should he just declare himself cuckoobananacrazy and ship himself off to a clinic? We don't know, and that's what makes Take Shelter so fascinating.

4. X MEN: FIRST CLASS
Roll your eyes all you want: a superhero movie was one of the best films of 2011. With fully-realized characters and able acting from the whole cast (notably Fassbender, who blew me away with his portrayal of the personally divided Magneto), X Men: First Class is not about special effects or even these characters' abilities. It's about how these individuals, so outcast and so feared by the rest of society, deal with this rejection. Do you embrace your differences, or do you just try your best to fit in with everyone else? These are universal questions that everyone at some point in their lives are faced with, and that's why X Men: First Class is much more than a film about blue hairy dudes and chicks made out of diamonds.

3. BEGINNERS
You will only hear this film mentioned at the Oscars for one thing--Christopher Plummer's performance. While he was amazing and WILL win for his portrayal of a 75 year-old gay man just coming out after 44 years of marriage, there's a lot more to appreciate about Beginners. It's a story about love, death, friendship, and the overwhelming fear Ewan McGregor's character has of those three things. Also, I can't think of a movie that's made me wish I was in a relationship more. I mean, Ewan McGregor and Melanie Laurent in this? TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. Not to mention the dog. Cute overload, guys.

2. ATTACK THE BLOCK
This film flew through my local theater in the summer of 2011, and while I had heard some minimal buzz about it, I figured another alien movie wasn't worth the price of admission. Man, was I wrong. After seeing Attack the Block placed on so many Top 10 and Best of the Year lists, I finally shelled out the money to rent it--and discovered one of the most creative and well-executed films of the year. Like Super 8, Attack the Block elevated itself above the status of 'alien movie'. It has real characters, a handful of amazing young talent, and the best-designed movie creature I've seen in a long time. It also does more with its small-scale sets than the more expansive Super 8 did. For these reasons, Attack the Block edges out Super 8 as the best alien movie of 2011.

1. THE ARTIST
I know I've already gone on and on about how great this film is in a previous review, so I'll try to keep it brief. While the story going on in The Artist isn't very complex or even original (female on the rise, male on the way out, or vice versa), the way it's told makes this a film you will remember. You may hear people claiming that the only reason this film is receiving so much hype is because it's silent and stylized, but basically...you need to slap those people in the face. The stylization and beauty of this film are defintely plusses, but at the end of the day The Artist succeeds because its characters are fully-established and its actors are absolutely commited. It's one of the most touching love stories I've seen in a long time, and it's one I'll come back to long after it presumably wins the big award come Oscar night. It's also the best film of 2011.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:

JANE EYRE
A slow-moving but ultimately fulfilling adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel. If you aren't interested in period pieces or romance, check this film out for Michael Fassbender's performance--the one that started off his series of great performances in 2011.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE
A nerve-grating, intense psychological thriller about a young woman's attempt to reenter normal society after escaping a dangerous cult. It's one of the most uncomfortable films of 2011 to watch, but it's also one of the most compelling. I am honestly shocked neither John Hawkes or Elizabeth Olsen received an Oscar nomination for their roles in this film. For shame!

SHERLOCK HOLMES: GAME OF SHADOWS
A fun, loud, brilliantly-acted action movie starring mega babes Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. An improvement over the first film in the series as well.

CRAZY STUPID LOVE
Unexpectedly funny and heartfelt. Also, I think this is where we might be able to pinpoint the beginning of the OMG SHIRTLESS RYAN GOSLING madness.

THOR
Despite the painfully-forced romance between Thor and Natalie Portman, it was still another solid Marvel film. Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, might also be the most captivating of all the Marvel villains.

THE DESCENDANTS
While this film is extremely overhyped and has a good chance of winning some awards it doesn't deserve come Oscar night, it's still a good film with a wonderful performance by George Clooney.

MONEYBALL
A smart, funny script and talented actors made a film about baseball interesting to me. It's a miracle.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
The movie that everyone expected to be awful actually turned out to be pretty great, huh? Rise of the Planet of the Apes was this close to landing on my list--it was just barely beat out by everything else. Because of a commitment from all the actors, including the outrageously snubbed Andy Serkis as Caesar, Apes wasn't campy or cheesy at all. It was one of the best films of the summer.

WHAT YOU EXPECTED TO SEE BUT DIDN'T:

THE TREE OF LIFE
Just don't even get me started, okay? Pretentious crap that's being lauded for it's attempt at breaking film boundaries and being grandiose. I'm sorry--an attempt is just an attempt. And The Tree of Life failed.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
I wanted to love this movie so much, but despite my efforts, I could not care. At all. The film makes no effort to connect you to its characters or its spy plot. It simply plods along with no regard for the audience whatsoever.

WHAT I MISSED:

MELANCHOLIA, HUGO, SHAME and YOUNG ADULT. All of these films are stuck in that terrible limbo between their theater run and DVD release. I hope to see all of these as soon as humanly possible and will alter my top 15 if necessary.

IN CONCLUSION, my Oscar predictions:
BEST PICTURE: The Artist
BEST ACTOR: Jean Dujardin
BEST ACTRESS: Viola Davis
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christopher Plummer
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Octavia Spencer
BEST DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese (for Hugo, which I haven't seen)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian (Moneyball)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)