2011
Cinema
Thoughts on and an Overview of 2011 Cinema:
2011 contained a mixed bag of
movies. The great films ranked among the best films I’ve ever seen, and the
worst films ranked among the worst films I’ve ever seen. At the beginning of
2011, smart comedies ruled over Hollywood. As the months passed and the year
came closer to its end, dark and bleak films (whether comedy or drama) seemed
to show up all over the place. It was a wild roller coaster ride for 2011
cinema. I have to say that these movies are really memorable. They truly left
lasting impressions upon me. Also, the performances this year were some of the
most amazing feats of acting that I’ve ever seen. 2011 was an extra competitive
year. Enjoy this year’s extra long list, and thanks for reading!
The Best Female Performances of 2011:
Side Note: I’m
choosing 7 performances in each category. Why 7? There were too many great
performances this year. I snubbed a lot of performances. What a competitive
year 2011 was.
Supporting:
7. Kate Winslet
in Carnage
6. Jessica
Chastain in The Help
5. Melissa
McCarthy in Bridesmaids
4. Octavia
Spencer in The Help
3. Berenice Bejo
in The Artist
2. Shailene
Woodley in The Descendants
1. Carey
Mulligan in Shame
Lead:
7. Kristen Wiig
in Bridesmaids
6. Michelle
Williams in My Week with Marilyn
5. Rooney Mara
in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
4. Viola Davis
in The Help
3. Charlize
Theron in Young Adult
2. Kirsten Dunst
in Melancholia
1. Elizabeth
Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene
The Best Male Performances of 2011:
Supporting:
7. Tom Hardy in Warrior
6. Daniel Craig
in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
5. Brad Pitt in The Tree of Life
4. Christopher
Plummer in Beginners
3. Ryan Gosling
in Crazy, Stupid, Love.
2. Armie Hammer
in J. Edgar
1. Albert Brooks
in Drive
Lead:
7. Leonardo
DiCaprio in J. Edgar
6. Thomas Horn
in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
5. George
Clooney in The Descendants
4. Jean Dujardin
in The Artist
3. Chris Evans
in Puncture
2. Ryan Gosling
in Drive
1. Michael
Fassbender in Shame
Technical Achievements:
Best Costume
Design: Jane Eyre
Best
Cinematography: The Tree of Life
Best Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Makeup: My Week with Marilyn
Best Art
Direction: Midnight in Paris
Best Visual
Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Best Original
Song: “The Living Proof,” The Help
Best Original
Score: Drive
Best Sound
Mixing and Editing: Drive
Best Adapted
Screenplay: Drive
Best Original
Screenplay: Bridesmaids
Best Directing:
Nicholas Winding Refn, Drive
Side Note: There
were a lot of technically great movies this year. Although I didn’t love War Horse, the cinematography and
editing were gorgeous. Martha Marcy May
Marlene had some of the most intriguing editing and directing of the year. Lars
Von Trier, David Fincher, Terrence Malick, Martin Scorsese, and Michel
Hazanavicius also directed amazing pictures.
The Worst Films of 2011:
Side Note: 3D
done badly can really ruin the quality and entertainment of a movie.
5. Moneyball- I hate to say it, but I
didn’t enjoy Moneyball. I really
wanted to like this movie. I really did. But everything about this film is
underwhelming. It’s both boring and repetitious. Brad Pitt is the only good
thing about this film. There’s not much else I can say. Some of the writing is
clever and some of the scenes are nicely directed, but everything else is so
dry. I kept checking my watch. This story of Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s, and
statistics is just too slow to enjoy. The biggest disappointment of the year.
4. Glee: The 3D Concert Movie- When I first saw the Glee movie, I enjoyed it ever so slightly. I took it as dumb and
simple entertainment. As I reflected back upon the film, I kept getting
angrier. What a stupid and pointless movie this is. Even as a Glee fan (well I’m not anymore, but I
was before), I couldn’t appreciate this film. The song choices were really poor
(I felt like checking my watch during the film because the songs/performances
were so boring), there was great evidence of lip-syncing (really disappointing),
and the separate storylines about the “Gleeks” were so incredibly sappy. (We
get the point that Glee unites
outcasts. We don’t need to hear it from other random people. It completely
ruins the point of a “concert movie”). The most baffling thing about this movie
was the behind-the-scenes/backstage footage. Why have the actors stay in
character when they’re backstage? This makes no sense. We want to see the real
actors! We don’t need to see the characters when we can see them every week on
TV. Oh and should I mention that the 3D is really bad? Seriously? Having
confetti popping out at the audience during a concert film is not great,
immersive 3D. It’s stupid. And many of the scenes aren’t even filmed in 3D.
It’s just pointless. What a loud, dumb, and sappy film this is. During the
previews for this film, Jane Lynch tells the audience to “save your money cuz
this thing sucks.” This is supposed to be a joke. Ironically, it’s not. Never
before has Sue spoken truer words. Take her advice, everyone. This movie is a
mess, just like the show.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides-
What an utter disappointment. I really enjoy the Pirates series. The films are fun and action-packed. They feel like
good summer movies. So when I was getting ready to see this film, I was
excited. Then after I finished watching the film, I couldn’t believe what I
just saw. What a bad movie this was. The story makes absolutely no sense and is
confusing right from the beginning. The action sequences were not nearly as
good as the action sequences from the previous films, and I just kept waiting
for the film to end. It greatly tested my patience. I also hated the 3D for
this film. There was no need for 3D. It just made the whole film look dark and
ugly. And lastly, I can say that this is the first film that’s ever made me
doze off (I was in the theaters). Seriously, the other films were so good. This
series now seems dead. They should’ve stopped with the 3rd film.
2. The Hangover Part II- To begin, I should
first start off by saying that I wasn’t a huge fan of the first Hangover. I thought it was mildly
amusing at times. There were a few good laughs, but everything else was
overrated. I will admit that the concept was clever, and the sense of mystery
really added some intrigue to the film. However, where do we begin with Part
II? Wow. This is lazy Hollywood filmmaking. The
Hangover Part II is the exact same movie as the first Hangover. There is nothing new. I did not find this film to be funny
at all. It was just stupid and pointless. Why remake the same movie? Where is
the mystery? Where is the cleverness? Where is anything that differs from the
first film? The Hangover Part II
really made me angry. There are filmmakers struggling all over the world trying
to get their movies shown in theaters. Here are some lazy people trying to
generate as much money as possible while doing as little work as possible. What
an utter disgrace to Hollywood cinema.
1. Conan The Barbarian- This is without a doubt
one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. This is the only film that received the
dreaded “half-star out of four” rating from me in 2011. I almost gave it 0
stars. There literally is nothing good in this film. It’s extremely loud and
incredibly dumb (no pun intended). The performances are really bad (except Rose
McGowan who tries her hardest to elevate the already terrible script). The
cinematography is pretty terrible (things were too shaky, the lighting is bad,
it’s hard to see what’s going on on-screen). And most importantly, it’s the
worst use of 3D I’ve ever seen. Seriously, the 3D did nothing for it.
Everything about this film is a mess. There’s no plot (I would try to tell you
the plot, but there is no story besides a stupid guy trying to get revenge),
there’s no fun, there’s no camp, and there’s no life. This is just a dull train
wreck. Avoid this film at all costs.
Great films of 2011:
Side Note: These
stand-out films barely missed the honorable mention list.
Water for Elephants- This elegant and beautifully made film
reminds me of Classical Hollywood pictures. This Depression-era story that
chronicles life and love in the circus is one of the most enchanting and
magical films of the year.
Warrior- Warrior boasts
some really excellent performances, especially Tom Hardy. It also boasts one of
the saddest stories of the year. Each brother has his own reason for winning
the MMA championship, and their strained relationships with their father is
heartbreaking.
Captain America- The finest superhero movie of the year.
Chris Evans gives an excellent performance as the little guy, Steve Rogers, who
fights in World War II after undergoing a transformation into Captain America.
The backstory is truly compelling, and the sepia-toned look of the film is
gorgeous.
Horrible Bosses- Horrible
Bosses is one of the funniest films of the year. The story about three
frustrated men who want to kill their bosses is absolutely ridiculous, but it’s
also a lot of fun. Charlie Day and Jennifer Aniston steal every scene.
J. Edgar- Clint Eastwood’s stunning masterpiece
about J. Edgar’s life in the FBI is one of the more interesting biopics of the
year. DiCaprio and Hammer give extraordinary performances, and this film is my
pick for the best and the most tragic romantic story of the year.
Contagion- Arguably one of the most realistic and
disturbing disaster outbreak movies of all time, Contagion is a first-rate thriller pulsing with intrigue and
tension. Contagion boasts one of the
best ensemble casts of the year, and it is an intelligently crafted piece of
filmmaking.
Carnage- Roman Polanski’s little gem is one of the most outrageous
comedies made in years. There’s ingenuity in the fact that it consists of 4
people in [virtually] one room. Polanski does an excellent job of directing a
comedy that starts off quietly and turns into utter chaos. The script first
begins with parents sorting out their children’s messes, and then it touches
upon themes of parenthood, marriage, and business. These are four excellent
actors at the top of their game.
Honorable Mentions for the Best Films of
2011:
20. My Week with Marilyn- My Week with Marilyn is an absolutely
charming yet heartbreaking film that chronicles a film kid’s relationship with
the famous Marilyn Monroe. Michelle Williams absolutely owns the role of
Marilyn, capturing her sexiness, charm, wit, humor, sadness, and joy. She lives
and breathes Marilyn. And Kenneth Branagh gives a terrific supporting
performance.
19. Straw Dogs- This stunning film that follows
a young couple and their encounters with some hideous men is one of the finest
thrillers in years. It relies on a slow build-up that eventually erupts with
violence and menace. The interesting and well fleshed-out characters are great
(which is rare in horror films and thrillers) due to the excellent cast.
18. 50/50- 50/50 is one of the most impressive comedic dramas that I’ve seen
in years. Will Reiser’s excellent screenplay is both hilarious and
tear-inducing. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives an astonishing performance as the
young man who is trying to defeat cancer. The supporting cast is uniformly
fantastic.
17. Midnight in Paris- Midnight in Paris is a charming and gorgeous picture about a man’s
strange experiences on the streets of Paris whenever the clock strikes midnight.
The surprising twists and plot turns in this film will put a grin on your face,
and the cinematography in this film is lovely. The script touches upon some
really interesting themes, and Woody Allen uses his directorial genius to
create his best film in years.
16. The Descendants- The Descendants is a beautifully crafted and amazingly complex film
that follows a man who must come to terms with his wife’s accident and
infidelity. George Clooney gives one of his greatest performances ever,
Shailene Woodley proves to be one of the most interesting young actresses
working in Hollywood, and the rest of the supporting cast does a tremendous job
in one of the most depressing films of the year. This is ensemble acting of the
highest order.
15. The Ides of March- George Clooney did
just about everything in The Ides of
March. He starred, directed, co-wrote, and co-produced this intense film
that chronicles a young staffer who gets caught up in a web of deceit,
conspiracy, and treachery. Ryan Gosling gives an outstanding lead actor
performance, and the rest of the amazing cast does an incredible job with their
material. This is probably my favorite political thriller.
14. Young Adult- Young Adult stands out in my mind as one of the most original and
daring comedies I’ve ever seen. Charlize Theron is absolutely tremendous as the
woman trying to steal her old high school boyfriend back. Diablo Cody’s script
is truly a gem. It causes you to root for the most unlikable characters in years.
And the humor is spot-on, if a bit brutal. I winced a couple of times. The dark
humor has really got some bite. Patrick Wilson and Patton Oswalt give
incredible supporting performances, and Jason Reitman strikes the right tone
every time.
13. Puncture- Puncture is the little indie
movie that no one saw this year. And it’s really a shame because Puncture is one of my favorite movies of
2011. Chris Evans gives an extraordinary performance as a drug-addicted lawyer
who is trying to win a case that would force hospitals to invest in needles
that would prevent “accidental sticks.” Evans truly gives his character real
complexity and depth. What a thought-provoking and important film this is. And
I truly hope that Chris Evans gets more serious, dramatic roles in the future. Puncture proves what a fine actor he
is.
12. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- I
don’t understand the hate for this movie. What an extraordinary picture this
is. I must say that Extremely Loud and
Incredibly Close is one of the most emotionally draining pictures of the
year. It’s almost too heavy, and the imagery of 9/11 is hard to watch. But
missing out on this amazing picture would be tragic. Thomas Horn is tremendous.
He owns every scene and gives one of the best performances of the year. The
supporting cast is equally amazing. The mystery is engaging, the filmmaking is
inventive, and the story is heartwarming.
11. Hugo- Martin Scorsese has nothing to
prove, and yet, here he makes Hugo, his first family movie ever. And it’s in
3D. And how does he do? He does an extraordinary job. This magical little film
about a boy and his adventures and mysteries in Paris is so lovely. The visuals
in this film are absolutely gorgeous, the 3D in the film is jaw-dropping, and
the cast is amazing. I love how this movie seems to be so close to Scorsese’s
heart. Here we see his love for cinema, his thoughts on film preservation, and
his odes to the great filmmakers of Classic Hollywood.
The Best Films of 2011:
Side Note #1: In
2011, my top 3 favorite films were the only films that received the perfect score
of “four stars out of four” from me. So, go see these! They are “must sees.”
Side Note #2: I
usually agree with the academy’s choices for the best pictures of the year.
(Oscars). I think it’s worth pointing out that only 3 of my choices in the top
10 are actually best picture nominees this year. (There are 9 best picture
nominees this year).
10. Martha Marcy May Marlene- The craziest
movie title of the year in one of the craziest movies of the year. Martha Marcy May Marlene is a haunting
and stunning psychological thriller that gives insight into a young girl’s
paranoia after she flees from a cult. Elizabeth Olsen gives a star-making
performance that is nothing short of riveting. Without a doubt, it’s the best
female performance of the year. And Sean Durkin makes one of the most
impressive directorial debuts I’ve seen. He crafts and directs this film with
such interesting techniques. It’s really quiet and dark. The tension steadily
rises with such subtlety that you won’t realize how nervous and shaken you are
until the final moments of the film. The cinematography and editing are beautiful
and ethereal. What an incredible thriller this is.
9. The Artist- What a lovely and charming
film The Artist is. It pays tribute
to the golden age of Hollywood and chronicles the transition from silent
pictures to “talkies.” Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo light up the screen and
have smiles that are totally infectious. Even though this film is in black and
white and is virtually silent, you won’t mind. The film’s story is easy and
accessible for all. I would say that The
Artist is the biggest crowd pleaser of the year. It’s light and joyful, and
it will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride.
8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo contains
quite possibly some of the greatest technical achievements of the year. David
Fincher directs this film with an icy, stylish, and sexy tone. He does a
perfect job of handling the difficult mystery that involves murder, rape,
incest, and deceit within a Swedish family. The cinematography is gorgeous, the
editing is seamless, the score is chilling, and the performances are
exceptional. Rooney Mara gives a star-making performance and absolutely owns
the role as Lisbeth. She captures the dark, sinister, brilliant, complex, and
compelling nature of the character. Daniel Craig is excellent in turning Mikael
into a cool and confident character. The film remains very faithful to the book
and surpasses the already great Swedish original in almost every respect.
7. Crazy,
Stupid, Love.- This film really put a smile on my face. What a clever and
lovely little comedy this is. I love how it can appeal to anyone. The slapstick
is crazy, the humor is witty, the love stories are charming, and the familial
drama is compelling. The all-star cast is tremendous and the way that the
characters and their stories collide is outrageously funny and clever. It’s so
rare to see such a smart and clever comedy. Crazy,
Stupid, Love. is truly a treat.
6. The Help- Even though this movie came
out earlier in the year, it still is ingrained in my mind as one of the best
and one of the most powerful films of the year. The all-star cast is
extraordinary in telling one of the most important stories of the year,
regarding the stories of southern maids and the oppression that they faced.
It’s wickedly funny, beautifully told, and impressively constructed. The Help is simply a beautiful movie
that packs a powerful wallop. It’s absolutely heart-wrenching.
5. Bridesmaids- The greatest comedic cast
of the year in the greatest comedy of the year. I absolutely loved this film.
Not only does it prove that women can handle dirty and outrageous comedy, but it
also proves that there can exist female-led comedies that can be enjoyed by all
audiences. I truly believe that this is the funniest film that I’ve seen in
years, and it ranks among one of the best comedies I’ve ever seen. Kristen Wiig
gives an amazing performance, and Melissa McCarthy is truly a scene-stealer.
The script is incredibly witty and deep, and the film is one of the smartest of
the year.
4. The Tree of Life- Forewarning. This
movie is not for everyone. The first time I saw The Tree of Life, I was completely baffled. I appreciated the
imagery but was so confused by the non-linear storytelling. On the second
viewing, I declare it as one of the best and one of the most memorable movies
in years. It’s the most visually stunning movie ever created. The
cinematography is breathtakingly gorgeous, and Terrence Malick’s sheer ambition
must be appreciated. I mean, come on. Attempting to show us the creation of the
universe and its parallels to a grieving Texas family? Only the most daring
would even begin to touch upon such philosophical, religious, and spiritual
themes. Never before have I seen a more bold, creative, and original piece of
filmmaking. It’s strange, haunting, maddening, confident, and incredible.
3. Melancholia- You won’t believe how
incredibly stunning and how mind-numbingly ambitious this film is. This movie truly left me in awe of
its beauty and execution. Lars Von Trier has directed a stunning picture that
chronicles a wedding gone awry that coincides with the end of the world. Every
moment of this film rings with meaning and beauty. The beginning of the film is
absolutely gorgeous, with ambiguous imagery flashing across the screen to
foreshadow the events to come. The beginning of this film sets the tone for the
rest of the movie. I was engrossed the entire time, and I wasn’t sure exactly
where it would go. As the second act of the film was coming to a close and
Melancholia was approaching earth, I was literally terrified. What a breath of
fresh air it is to experience Melancholia.
This is a complex movie that really provokes thought. I can guarantee you that
if you see this film, you’ll be thinking about it for days to come. You won’t
know what hit you. The highest praise must be given to Kirsten Dunst, who gives
the best performance of her career as the bride who can’t rid herself of
depression. She elevates this extraordinary film to astonishing heights.
2. Shame- I wish people would stop criticizing
Shame for its NC-17 rating. If they
could simply watch the film with an open mind and accept the fact that this is
a dark film that deals with a difficult topic, then maybe they’d see what a
masterpiece it is. I’ll first start off by saying that this film completely messed
me up. Some of the scenes were so difficult to watch that I literally felt my
heart sink into the pit of my stomach. The pain and sadness were almost
unbearable. But because the film is so mesmerizing, I couldn’t take my eyes off
the screen for a minute. This story about a sex addict trying to cope with his
internal urges and his external relationships is absolutely gripping. Michael
Fassbender truly gives the best performance by any actor this year, male or
female. It’s stunning to watch him in this film. I just cannot stress how good
of an actor he is. Every emotion, every subtle gesture, and every movement
rings with such truth and emotion. It’s astonishing. Carey Mulligan is also
excellent as his damaged and disturbed sister. Steve McQueen masterfully
directs this picture by using long static and tracking shots that go unedited
for 5-10 minutes. It’s amazing. The production value in this film is perfect,
and this film is beautifully shot. While this film completely reduced me to a
wreck, I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Any other year, Shame would have easily been my pick for
the best film of the year. It’s quite simply a masterpiece, and it’s without a
doubt one of the greatest films I’ve ever seen.
1. Drive- Oh man. Drive. Where to begin? I don’t even know how to convey in words the
overwhelming sense of joy and awe that I felt when watching this film. Drive is the only film that I’ve seen in
theaters 3 times. Drive is the only
film to leave me speechless from beginning to end. Drive is the only film that has given me goosebumps every single
time that I’ve watched it. And I doubt that I’ll stop having goosebumps when I
see it again in the future. Drive tells
the terrific story of Driver (seriously, how cool is that), a Hollywood stunt
driver by day, and a criminal getaway driver by night. He falls in love with
his neighbor, Irene, and her son, Benicio. When he helps Irene’s ex-convict
husband with a final heist, all hell breaks loose, and Driver has to fight
against some terrifying mobsters in order to save himself and the people that
he loves. Drive is quite simply the
best film I’ve ever seen. This movie is a breath of fresh air. It exudes cool
and style. From the hot pink titles to the amazing synth-pop score, this film
captures the essence of the ‘80s effortlessly, even though it doesn’t take
place during the ‘80s. The film perfectly captures nostalgia and modernity in
the best way possible. This film begins with the most magnetic intro I’ve ever
seen in a film. I literally felt like I couldn’t breathe. To breathe would ruin
the mood of this film. The film is so excellent in that it knows exactly what
masterful cinema is. The quiet moments are gripping. The film has this lovely, unique
tone to it, and when the moments of extreme violence interrupt the quiet of the
film, Drive bursts with shock, and
you will be stunned. I was shaking during some of the action-packed sequences
such as the stunningly executed chases and ultraviolent fight scenes. And the
infamous “elevator” scene is one of the finest cinematic sequences I’ve ever
seen. Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, and the rest of the cast
give incredible performances. Nicolas Winding Refn directs this film with so much
style and coolness that you lose yourself in the world of the film. The
cinematography, editing, and sound are all flawlessly incorporated into the
film. (The Drive soundtrack is
currently my most played album on iTunes. I find myself singing the ultra hip
songs periodically throughout the day without even realizing it). The
screenplay is among the finest ever because it’s so understated and says so
much with so few words. Ah, Drive.
What an amazing film it is. I can now easily say that Drive is and will always be my favorite movie of all time.
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