Anyway, time for retrospective. While I have more than enough entries for this list, my movie-going year wasn't quite as epic as 2010. Again, I haven't seen EVERY movie that came out, but my pickings were far more numerous by this point last year. Keep in mind, I had seen plenty of the Oscar nominees for Best Picture in advance of the announcements, including Inception, both my favorite movie of that year and a new all-time favorite of mine. Another factor that comes into play was my goal to save money for my eventual move to New York, therefore less time for trips to the theater.
That isn't to say, however, that the movies I saw this year weren't great. There were great performances, engaging stories, and a variety of emotional investment on my part (more of these came close or succeeded in bringing a tear to my eye than I expected). So, without further ado...
My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2011
While the actual Top 10 are truly great, this year there were plenty of others that I felt deserved a little more attention than a mention. So, in a deviation from last year's list, I'm showing my honorable mentions first, along with a brief summary about what I liked and why they aren't in the higher rankings:
Honorable Mentions
20) Paul
What I liked: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's undeniable chemistry in a new scenario with hilarious comedy. Also, Paul himself is a fully-realized character and, despite being voiced by Seth Rogen, doesn't fall into the typical Rogen traps (*cough*Green Hornet*cough*).
Why it's not in the 10: It lacks the pacing that aided the humor in their past collaborations (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) so well.
19) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tide
What I liked: The best in the series since the first one (which remains THE best). Thank you, Disney, for dropping the over-complicated plot twists and keeping it to what a pirate movie should be: a swashbuckling treasure hunt. Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush return in full force as well.
Why it's not in the 10: While I'm glad most of the side characters from the previous three films were dropped, the new ones really weren't that interesting, especially the villain. When Ian McShane isn't interesting, that's a problem.
18) Rise of the Planet of the Apes
What I liked: One heck of an exciting reboot of the franchise. Plus, Andy Serkis' motion-capture performance as Caesar is the heart and soul of the movie, making his best performance since Gollum in Lord of the Rings.
Why it's not in the 10: James Franco's wooden, auto-pilot performance. And while I DID enjoy it, the final sentence in Roger Ebert's review sums in up best; "This is the movie you may have been expecting. No more, no less."
17) Crazy, Stupid, Love.
What I liked: This one rides on the strength of its non-typical story and acting ensemble. Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, and even the younger actors all give solid engaging performances.
Why it's not in the 10: Occasionally gets predictable and falls under the cliches of the rom-com genre. Yes, Carell does have to get in front of a crowd and give an impassioned impromptu speech towards the end. That should give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
16) Puss in Boots
What I liked: Antonio Banderas' Puss is just as fantastic a character as ever, showing that he is plenty capable of carrying a movie on his own. The comedy is great, and this also has to be some of the most beautiful mainstream CGI I've seen this year.
Why it's not in the 10: The story lacks some of the real substance Dreamworks has shown in recent films like the Kung Fu Panda series and How to Train Your Dragon. Also, Zach Galifinakis's Humpty Dumpty is an uneven character, and at times can steal too much focus.
15) Cars 2
What I liked: While most critics bashed this one, I still had a good time! It has plenty of excitement and thrills, and offers some laughs in the process. The animation is just as good as the original.
Why it's not in the 10: Some of that critical scorn IS earned to a degree, though. While Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) made good comic relief in the last one, he's not good lead character material, and the hokey "be yourself" message doesn't hold a candle to the deeper, more emotional themes of the rest of Pixar's work. Plus, the violence inflicted on the characters is surprisingly graphic (you do want KIDS to see this, right?).
20) Paul
What I liked: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's undeniable chemistry in a new scenario with hilarious comedy. Also, Paul himself is a fully-realized character and, despite being voiced by Seth Rogen, doesn't fall into the typical Rogen traps (*cough*Green Hornet*cough*).
Why it's not in the 10: It lacks the pacing that aided the humor in their past collaborations (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) so well.
19) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tide
What I liked: The best in the series since the first one (which remains THE best). Thank you, Disney, for dropping the over-complicated plot twists and keeping it to what a pirate movie should be: a swashbuckling treasure hunt. Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush return in full force as well.
Why it's not in the 10: While I'm glad most of the side characters from the previous three films were dropped, the new ones really weren't that interesting, especially the villain. When Ian McShane isn't interesting, that's a problem.
18) Rise of the Planet of the Apes
What I liked: One heck of an exciting reboot of the franchise. Plus, Andy Serkis' motion-capture performance as Caesar is the heart and soul of the movie, making his best performance since Gollum in Lord of the Rings.
Why it's not in the 10: James Franco's wooden, auto-pilot performance. And while I DID enjoy it, the final sentence in Roger Ebert's review sums in up best; "This is the movie you may have been expecting. No more, no less."
17) Crazy, Stupid, Love.
What I liked: This one rides on the strength of its non-typical story and acting ensemble. Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, and even the younger actors all give solid engaging performances.
Why it's not in the 10: Occasionally gets predictable and falls under the cliches of the rom-com genre. Yes, Carell does have to get in front of a crowd and give an impassioned impromptu speech towards the end. That should give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
16) Puss in Boots
What I liked: Antonio Banderas' Puss is just as fantastic a character as ever, showing that he is plenty capable of carrying a movie on his own. The comedy is great, and this also has to be some of the most beautiful mainstream CGI I've seen this year.
Why it's not in the 10: The story lacks some of the real substance Dreamworks has shown in recent films like the Kung Fu Panda series and How to Train Your Dragon. Also, Zach Galifinakis's Humpty Dumpty is an uneven character, and at times can steal too much focus.
15) Cars 2
What I liked: While most critics bashed this one, I still had a good time! It has plenty of excitement and thrills, and offers some laughs in the process. The animation is just as good as the original.
Why it's not in the 10: Some of that critical scorn IS earned to a degree, though. While Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) made good comic relief in the last one, he's not good lead character material, and the hokey "be yourself" message doesn't hold a candle to the deeper, more emotional themes of the rest of Pixar's work. Plus, the violence inflicted on the characters is surprisingly graphic (you do want KIDS to see this, right?).
14) X-Men: First Class
What I liked: An excellent story with a cast of well-developed characters handled with such great care by its cast, especially the chemistry between James McAvoy as Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Magneto.
Why it's not in the 10: The pacing does tend to drag at certain points.
13) Horrible Bosses
What I liked: The second-funniest movie of the year. An absolutely hysterical comedy with six strong leads in both our heroes (Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day in a role that should cement his career in film) and their bosses (Kevin Spacey, and the unexpected turns from Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell)
Why it's not in the 10: Some running gags and character traits, such as Sudeikis' sexual exploits, lose their polish as the film progresses.
12) Happy Feet Two
What I liked: Has the same charm and fun of the original, with a new touch of enjoyable absurdity. Hank Azaria is a nice addition to the voice cast as Sven, and Brad Pitt and Matt Damon's Will and Bill the Krill steal the movie.
Why it's not in the 10: The story starts all over the place, only gaining more focus as it progresses.
11) Captain America: The First Avenger
What I liked: The best superhero movie of the year! Fantastic action, direction, and design; a strong lead in Chris Evans; an equally strong villain in Hugo Weaving; and a great supporting cast. Captures a perfect tone; exactly how an adaptation of a '40s comic should be.
Why it's not in the 10: I ran out of room. Seriously, that's why.
What I liked: An excellent story with a cast of well-developed characters handled with such great care by its cast, especially the chemistry between James McAvoy as Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Magneto.
Why it's not in the 10: The pacing does tend to drag at certain points.
13) Horrible Bosses
What I liked: The second-funniest movie of the year. An absolutely hysterical comedy with six strong leads in both our heroes (Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day in a role that should cement his career in film) and their bosses (Kevin Spacey, and the unexpected turns from Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell)
Why it's not in the 10: Some running gags and character traits, such as Sudeikis' sexual exploits, lose their polish as the film progresses.
12) Happy Feet Two
What I liked: Has the same charm and fun of the original, with a new touch of enjoyable absurdity. Hank Azaria is a nice addition to the voice cast as Sven, and Brad Pitt and Matt Damon's Will and Bill the Krill steal the movie.
Why it's not in the 10: The story starts all over the place, only gaining more focus as it progresses.
11) Captain America: The First Avenger
What I liked: The best superhero movie of the year! Fantastic action, direction, and design; a strong lead in Chris Evans; an equally strong villain in Hugo Weaving; and a great supporting cast. Captures a perfect tone; exactly how an adaptation of a '40s comic should be.
Why it's not in the 10: I ran out of room. Seriously, that's why.
And now, the main course...
The Top 10
10) Bridesmaids
Proof that it is possible to make an R-rated comedy with a lot of heart. Bridesmaids is the funniest movie of the year, and the basis of that comedy comes from the honesty and chemistry shared between each and every member of the cast. Character relationships provide the film's backbone, be it Annie's (Kristen Wiig) friendship-with-benefits with Ted (Jon Hamm), Becca (Ellie Kemper) and Rita's (Wendi McLendon-Covey) drunken airplane confessional, or Annie and Helen's (Rose Byrne) rivalry for Lillian's (Maya Rudolph) friendship. The more we believe these interactions, the more the comedy makes us laugh and the intimate moments warm our hearts. Standouts include Melissa McCarthy, one of the year's most celebrated performances, and Chris O'Dowd, one of the most underrated.
9) Kung Fu Panda 2
You almost made me cry, Dreamworks! You almost made me cry! The first Kung Fu Panda was a major change for the studio; it did away with its established-but-tired reliance on pop culture references (which only REALLY worked in the Shrek films anyway) and followed the Pixar path of putting the story first. It was great, and they continued on this path with the even better How to Train Your Dragon. But to say that Kung Fu Panda 2 was better than I expected is an understatement. It improves on every aspect of the original; a story with higher stakes, a more interesting villian, and a further fleshing out of the characters to the point where you forget about the A-listers voicing them, especially our lovable hero Po (Jack Black) as he finds himself on a journey to discover his true origins. It's Dreamworks' best since Shrek 2, and that's a major accomplishment.
8) Win Win
Haven't heard of this one? Don't worry, I hadn't either. In fact, most people probably haven't due to its limited theatrical release. However, if there's any way I can help this one find new life on DVD, I'm more than happy to. Win Win tells the story of Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti), a struggling lawyer and high school wrestling coach who, for selfish reasons, becomes the legal guardian of an elderly client (Burt Young). Things get complicated when the man's grandson, a teenage runaway named Kyle (Alex Shaffer), comes to live with his grandfather. Mike takes Kyle in, allows him to join the wrestling team, and the two begin to bond. Things are threatened, however, when Kyle's greedy mother (Melanie Lynskey) comes looking for him. This is a wonderfully written original dramedy, with strong performances from the entire ensemble, including Amy Ryan as Mike's wife, Jeffrey Tambor as his assistant coach, and an absolutely hilarious Bobby Cannavale as his best friend. If you come across this one, watch it; it's well worth your time.
7) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
7) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Oh, how I love a good finale! I don't think I'll be met with much objection when I say this is easily the best entry in the series. The entire cast, which is a build-up of all major characters from the past seven films, give this their all (especially Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort and Alan Rickman, who, if this were a perfect world, would win an Oscar for his performance as Snape within the entire series), and the action reaches an intensity not seen in the others. The only fault to be found is that it can only be enjoyed at its best if you've seen the ALL of the other movies, but trust me, it's a fully worthwhile prerequisite.
6) Contagion
You remember what Psycho did for showers? Or what Jaws did for going to the beach? Or what Nightmare on Elm Street did for going to sleep? Well, that's what Contagion does for TOUCHING ANYTHING!!! All joking aside, this is a very effective thiller, with top-notch performances from the entire cast (including Gwyneth Paltrow, who has the least screen time but wins for best death scene of the year...no, that's not a spoiler, it's in all the trailers). It a great portrayal of society on the brink of collapse in the face of something it doesn't understand, and gives us a wide array of characters, from those who help, to those who manipulate, to those being manipulated, and those just trying to get answers and survive. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
5) Rango
5) Rango
I've never seen an American animated movie like this. So wildly imaginative, so inventive, so fully enveloped in the world it's created, and yet so dark, so quirky, so quick-witted, so off the wall and against the norm. These reasons alone make this the best animated film of the year, and I'll be rooting for it come Oscar time. Something like this doesn't normally come from a mainstream wide release, which might explain why many shied away during its theatrical release. But there's plenty to love about this, even more than what I've already said. While I might have mentioned earlier that Puss in Boots' animation was the most beautiful, Rango's is the most unique. So much life is breathed into this world of reptiles and rodents, dirty and gritty yet feeling very real. And Johnny Depp's no-holds-barred voice work provides so much fun (an improvement over his forgettable character in his last animated outing, Corpse Bride)! Don't be fooled by the fact that this is from Nickelodeon Studios, though; this is not for the under-8 crowd. It wasn't at all what many were expecting, which made me love it even more.
4) The Help
Yes, the hype is true: it's that good. I almost don't feel qualified to write about this one, since the story has spoken louder to women, but there was still plenty for me to appreciate and be moved by. The entire cast excels, led by a powerful Viola Davis as Aibileen. It perfectly captures the details of the setting; not just of the time period, but of the South and all of its sensibilities. When the story hits its lows, it breaks your heart, but only to repair it instantly when it hits its highs. Add this to the list of movies whose source material I now have to read.
3) 50/50
This one caught me completely by surprise. What seemed like a light-hearted take on how to deal with a serious illness actually contained so much more sadness, weight and heart than I expected. Screenwriter Will Reiser's loosely adapted retelling of his experiences dealing with cancer in his 20s is a terrific dramedy, grounded in depressing reality but also offering uplifting laughs. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives what will probably be the most overlooked great performance of the year in the lead role, displaying such a strong emotional honesty. Even when his character is at his lowest, even meanest, point, we never stop caring about him because he gets us to understand why. And while I might have grilled Seth Rogen earlier for his typical schtick, here it works to such an advantage (especially since, as it turns out, his character is actually based on himself). His friendship with Levitt gives the movie many of its best moments, and what seems like his typical Rogen-isms are backed by such heartwarming motivation. Kudos also to the rest of the ensemble (Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Anjelica Huston). 50/50 shows how life can still be enjoyed even when it seems to be at its lowest.
2) The Muppets
No, it's not deep. No, it's not thought-provoking. No, it's not the typical artistic gems you see around awards time. But you know what? This is the most fun I've had at the movies all year! The Muppets are back and in full force, sticking to the formula which made their original movies such classics: hilarious acknowledgement and breaking of the fourth wall mixed with fully realized and believable characters (because the Muppets are real, ok? THEY'RE REAL!). Their human counterparts this time around don't do too bad either, whether it's the leads or the surprising cameos. Plus a huge standing ovation Bret Mackenzie as music supervisor, who wrote 4 of the 5 outstanding original songs, put a Muppet spin on contemporary pop hits, and made sure to include some old Muppet favorites, including one that will bring a tear to the die-hard fans. I was raised on the Muppets, and as I sat through this movie, I was a kid again.
And my favorite movie of 2011 is...
And my favorite movie of 2011 is...
1) Super 8
This one made me cry. I'm not ashamed to say it. This film has been called a love letter to the early work of Steven Spielberg many times, and for good reason. Because what Spielberg does so well is take all of the wonder, excitement, and emotion of a story and its characters and find the perfect blend of it. That's something J.J. Abrams has always aspired to do and does with flying colors here. There are plenty of laughs and thrills to be had here and plenty elements to relate to (we all were kids like these, or at least knew those who were). It's exciting, but funny. Scary, but sweet. You want a 2011 movie that gives you everything that's great about the movies? This is it.
Now, for those who might be wondering...
The 2011 Movies I Still Need to See
- The Adventures of Tintin
- Arthur Christmas
- The Artist
- Cowboys and Aliens
- The Descendants
- Drive
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Hugo
- The Ides of March
- Midnight in Paris
- Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
- Moneyball
- My Week with Marilyn
- Our Idiot Brother
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
- War Horse
- Warrior
- Young Adult
So that's this year's list! Again, there's still plenty I haven't seen, so I'll probably post any revisions closer to Oscar time. Until then, feel free to voice your agreements or disagreements in the comments!
My next blog: My Top 5 WORST Movies of 2011
My next blog: My Top 5 WORST Movies of 2011
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