Ten Best Films of 2011

[CMJ]

For about the last fifteen years I have made top 10 lists for the year in Film (kinda tried in 1996, but my first real one wasn't done till the following year). Now these lists are usually not settled until several months into the following year (once I catch up on some of the more noteworthy titles I missed), and they're always up for revision years later - which I have done on a few occasions (like say The Big Lebowski which didn't even make my original list in 1998, now sits at #6, and I consider putting it higher every now and then).

ANYWAYS, having said all that it is time to give 2011 a once over. Here follows my first stab at the year in film.


1. Tree of Life --- Terrence Malick is not for everyone. That said, I am among his fans, and this film is simply astounding. In an attempt to make a film about life, the universe, God, science, death (and basically everything you could think of) - Malick created one of the greatest films of all time. And I do not say that lightly.
2. The Artist --- A wonderful, loving, homage to the silent film era. Tremendously creative and endlessly charming, this was the feel good movie of the year.
3. Drive --- Michael Mann eat your heart out. This is LA Noir at its very best. Style to spare and great acting headline this one.
4. Hugo --- Scorcese's tribute to the silent era of film and and argument for film preservation, wrapped into a "childrens" film is pure magic.
5. Moneyball --- Are all the facts of how Billy Beane changed the way baseball execs do business (with the Oakland A's magical season of 2002)? Not really. True to the spirit? Hell yes. Not a baseball movie as much as a film about being a radical thinker, willing to take chances.
6. Margin Call --- Under seen gem inspired by the banking meltdowns of 2008. Well acted, written, and paced. Most shockingly, I never felt any of them were made into villains (well, maybe Jeremy Irons), as one would expect, but as complicated individuals.
7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes --- This was the most shocking "great" movie of the year. Never expected it to be THAT good. Serkis owns.
8. Warrior ---- What an absolutely tense and thrilling film this is. Great performances by the three principles. The fight scenes are probably the best I've ever seen.
9. Adjustment Bureau -- Fascinating premise, but mostly made the list because of the off the charts chemistry that Damon and Blunt had. It's been quite awhile since I have seen a screen coupling have those kinds of fireworks together, which makes Damon's refusal to let the hand that he has been dealt believable.
10. Girl With a Dragon Tattoo --- David Fincher's adaptation of the best selling novel was everything you'd expect from him (seems kinda tailor made for him given his filmmography). Fantastic performance by Rooney Mara in the lead role

[Lilaena De'Ville]

:( I've only seen one of those - The Adjustment Bureau. I do think it was an excellent movie though!

[CMJ]

At least rent Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

[Rutabaga]

:( I've only seen one of those - The Adjustment Bureau. I do think it was an excellent movie though!

Ditto. I really liked it.

I have some of those other titles in my Netflix queue, so I'll definitely be seeing them eventually.

[Cor Leonis]

I haven't seen any of those if I'm honest... Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Adjustment Bureau are the only two that appealed based on the trailers/etc that I saw. I may have to add a couple more of these to my list, though!

I'm not sure I actually saw ten movies this year, let alone ten good ones. :uhoh

[CMJ]

Yeah, I know....I am strange in that I see dozens of movies every year.

[CMJ]

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[CMJ]

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[CMJ]

I'd post the other ones, but I feel like I probably already put too many of them up anway. Not to mention, if I decide to fiddle with my list, it's gonna get to be a real pain. I am fairly confident these five will at least stay in final grouping of ten though, can't imagine five better films than these that I have yet to see.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

At least rent Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

*headdesk* I saw that one too! Somehow when I went back over the list to check which ones I'd seen I missed that you'd listed it. Anyway, I thought it was excellent. Totally a surprise! I appreciated that they even tipped their hat to the Tim Burton Planet of the Apes.

It was funny, I had been trying to get Ty to take me to see Contagion, but then when we watched the end credits I got the feeling that Contagion must be the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. ;)



:( I've only seen one of those - The Adjustment Bureau. I do think it was an excellent movie though!

Ditto. I really liked it.

I have some of those other titles in my Netflix queue, so I'll definitely be seeing them eventually.

I appreciated that while The Adjustment Bureau used the Christian idea of God and Angels and Predestination that it didn't go overboard with weird theology and alter things. I suppose that was all calculated so as not to alienate people like me (Christians), but it did start making me nervous wondering where they were going with some things, and I was pleased to find that they did a pretty good job (while keeping everything suitably vague, of course).

[Jedi Master Carr]

I am way behind but haven't been to the movies much this year. I ave only seen two movies on your list. I don't dare make a list from what I have seen yet. I usually wait till at least March when I have seen all of the December movies.

[Yog]

I have been a bit underwhelmed by some of the 2011 releases I have seen so far. Here are my top 7 movies that I feel reaches the standard for a list.

1. Drive
2. Melancholia
3. Oslo, 31. August
4. La piel que habito
5. The Adjustment Bureau
6. Margin Call
7. Headhunters

----------
Runner ups: Rango, Limitless, Unknown, Source Code


In my queue to see:
Tree of Life
50 / 50
Adventures of Tin Tin
The Artist
Girl With a Dragon Tattoo
The Muppets
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Attack the Block
The Descendants

Will update with top 10 once I get through some of these.

I am going to see Tree of Life and Girl With Dragon Tatoo very very soon.. (have high expectations for both!)

[Dasquian Belargic]

I've been really lazy when it comes to seeing films this year, so I guess this thread will be a good way of queuing up what I need to watch in the future :)

[d'Art Lefou]

I can't remember anything I saw this year aside from Harry Potter and Weekend. o_o

Also: thank fucking Christ, I think this is the only list I've seen that hasn't included frothing praise for Bridesmaids.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

CMJ doesn't watch comedies. ;)

I really want to see Attack the Block.

[Rutabaga]

I have Attack the Block in my queue, I've heard nothing but good things about it. :)

[Morgan Evanar]

I just saw Drive. It is a dark movie. Soul consuming darkness.

[CMJ]

I didn't think it was THAT dark. Was that violent though. :lol

[CMJ]

Still have some films to see, but I did slightly alter my list after seeing Warrior the other day. Here are a few Honorable Mentions in no particular order.


Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
A Better Life
War Horse
Rango
The Help
X-Men: First Class
Like Crazy

[Vince]

I still haven't seen the Tree of Life. I am duly disappointed in myself.

[CMJ]

I have a hard time recommending it to people, because Malick is such an acquired taste. But it was brilliant.

[Park Kraken]

I've seen Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-men First Class, and Warhorse from 2011, that I can remember off-hand. Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Warhorse vye for the number 1 spot in my list.

[Xel-Naga]

I did not see many movies this year, or any year for that matter, but out of the ones I did see I think X-Men: First Class was the best among them. This movie surprised the hell out of me. I assumed it was going to be terrible and even avoided seeing it until I was forced to watch it (a friend got me involved with a First Class based roleplay) and I was blown away by the notion of a comic book movie that was good and also not Batman.

I missed every other movie listed on anyone's lists so far.

[Mu Satach]

I am ticked off that Drive only got one Oscar nod... :mad
By far it was my favorite movie from last year.


I have a hard time recommending it to people, because Malick is such an acquired taste. But it was brilliant.

I'm the only one I know of in my small cadre of film nerds that liked Tree of Life. We all agree it was stunning to watch, but my fellows felt Terrance was presumptuous and reaching with the story.

[CMJ]

Interestingly, in my circle of film friends, it is very highly regarded.

[Yog]

I liked Tree of Life a lot. It resonated with me far more than The Artist.

But my favorite movie is still Drive.

[CMJ]

Just because.


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One of the true masters of the craft.

[Mu Satach]

I'll probably try and catch the artist this weekend.

[CMJ]

I have seen so many films the last month or so as part of my Academy Awards cram session Mu. :)

I will be seeing A Separation today.