The Best and Worst Movies of 2011
As I've done a few times before, here are the lists of my favourite and least favourite films that I saw in 2011. As always, please chime in with your best / worst movies of the year in the comments.
THE BEST
10) The Innkeepers - After the superlative House of the Devil, Ti West proves that he's one of the most interesting filmmakers working in the horror genre right now.
9) Cafe de Flore - Featuring an intriguingly fractured narrative that spans decades and weaves together two seemingly unrelated stories, and some of the best use of music I've seen in quite a while, this is definitely a movie that sticks with you.
8 ) The Artist - Though it sounds gimmicky on paper, this is a surprisingly delightful film, thanks in large part to the two charismatic leads (and the most adorable movie dog ever, pretty much).
7) The Tree of Life - This is definitely a love it or hate it type of film, with no narrative to speak of, and an extremely deliberate pace. It's also the most beautiful film to come out this year, and enchantingly hypnotic.
6) Hanna - With Joe Wright's stylish direction and The Chemical Brothers' propulsive score, this is definitely a film that takes a seemingly routine premise and turns it into something special.
5) Super 8 - Though film pays extensive homage to '80s cinema like E.T., it's definitely its own thing -- an exciting, fun, well made big summer popcorn movie (an increasing rarity, these days).
4) A Separation - A fascinating, downright riveting film about the aftermath of an altercation gone seriously wrong.
3) Drive - An awesomely stylish, badass movie that recalls the crime movies of the '70s, and that features one of the most memorable performances of the year from Albert Brooks.
2) The Descendants - Another low-key masterpiece from Alexander Payne.
1) Attack the Block - Seriously, if you haven't seen this, watch it now. So much fun.
THE WORST
10) Cowboys and Aliens - There are probably movies more technically deserving of this spot, but I had to include this movie for taking such an awesome premise and turning it into something so disappointingly dull and lifeless.
9) In Time - Though I'm a big fan of Andrew Niccol, and I like Justin Timberlake as an actor, this movie took an intriguing premise and turned it into a complete mess of groan-inducing time puns and heavy-handed social commentary.
8 ) Sleeping Beauty - This almost plays like a parody of a pretentious art-house film.
7) The Change-Up - An unfunny, overlong bore. And I actually LIKE body-switching comedies!
6) Battle: Los Angeles - Features a surfeit of uninspired shaky-cam action and a group of generic soldiers who couldn't be more boring.
5) Bad Teacher - Meh. The biggest problem here is that Cameron Diaz's character is a boringly one-note jerk who is a completely misguided main character for a movie.
4) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - A completely lifeless film that's just a chore to sit through.
3) Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Features some impressive action and special effects, but it's hard to care when the movie itself is so horrible.
2) Larry Crowne - Why, Tom Hanks, why? I'm a big fan of Hanks, but here he's surrounded by an overstuffed cast of unreasonably quirky characters, and has absolutely zero chemistry with Julia Roberts in what is ostensibly a romantic comedy.
1) Ong Bak 3 - I'm not even sure if this counts as a real movie, but it came out this year so I'm including it. A haphazard, incomprehensible mess of a film. Even the action, which should have been the saving grace of this movie, was completely mediocre. I would say that this is the last nail in the coffin for Tony Jaa's once-promising career, but apparently he's making a movie with Sammo Hung, so there's hope for him yet.
THE BEST
10) The Innkeepers - After the superlative House of the Devil, Ti West proves that he's one of the most interesting filmmakers working in the horror genre right now.
9) Cafe de Flore - Featuring an intriguingly fractured narrative that spans decades and weaves together two seemingly unrelated stories, and some of the best use of music I've seen in quite a while, this is definitely a movie that sticks with you.
8 ) The Artist - Though it sounds gimmicky on paper, this is a surprisingly delightful film, thanks in large part to the two charismatic leads (and the most adorable movie dog ever, pretty much).
7) The Tree of Life - This is definitely a love it or hate it type of film, with no narrative to speak of, and an extremely deliberate pace. It's also the most beautiful film to come out this year, and enchantingly hypnotic.
6) Hanna - With Joe Wright's stylish direction and The Chemical Brothers' propulsive score, this is definitely a film that takes a seemingly routine premise and turns it into something special.
5) Super 8 - Though film pays extensive homage to '80s cinema like E.T., it's definitely its own thing -- an exciting, fun, well made big summer popcorn movie (an increasing rarity, these days).
4) A Separation - A fascinating, downright riveting film about the aftermath of an altercation gone seriously wrong.
3) Drive - An awesomely stylish, badass movie that recalls the crime movies of the '70s, and that features one of the most memorable performances of the year from Albert Brooks.
2) The Descendants - Another low-key masterpiece from Alexander Payne.
1) Attack the Block - Seriously, if you haven't seen this, watch it now. So much fun.
THE WORST
10) Cowboys and Aliens - There are probably movies more technically deserving of this spot, but I had to include this movie for taking such an awesome premise and turning it into something so disappointingly dull and lifeless.
9) In Time - Though I'm a big fan of Andrew Niccol, and I like Justin Timberlake as an actor, this movie took an intriguing premise and turned it into a complete mess of groan-inducing time puns and heavy-handed social commentary.
8 ) Sleeping Beauty - This almost plays like a parody of a pretentious art-house film.
7) The Change-Up - An unfunny, overlong bore. And I actually LIKE body-switching comedies!
6) Battle: Los Angeles - Features a surfeit of uninspired shaky-cam action and a group of generic soldiers who couldn't be more boring.
5) Bad Teacher - Meh. The biggest problem here is that Cameron Diaz's character is a boringly one-note jerk who is a completely misguided main character for a movie.
4) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - A completely lifeless film that's just a chore to sit through.
3) Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Features some impressive action and special effects, but it's hard to care when the movie itself is so horrible.
2) Larry Crowne - Why, Tom Hanks, why? I'm a big fan of Hanks, but here he's surrounded by an overstuffed cast of unreasonably quirky characters, and has absolutely zero chemistry with Julia Roberts in what is ostensibly a romantic comedy.
1) Ong Bak 3 - I'm not even sure if this counts as a real movie, but it came out this year so I'm including it. A haphazard, incomprehensible mess of a film. Even the action, which should have been the saving grace of this movie, was completely mediocre. I would say that this is the last nail in the coffin for Tony Jaa's once-promising career, but apparently he's making a movie with Sammo Hung, so there's hope for him yet.
22 Comments
dystopianfuturetodayDid not see many movies this year, so I've only got 6 total on my list, which you should be thankful for, because I can't write film reviews worth a damn. Thanks for posting your list Sarzy, you've got great taste.
The Good
1) Drive - Awesome, like a more commercial, modern day Vanishing Point. Minimalist, tightly paced male action-fantasy with art-house nuance and an effectively simple score by Angelo Badalamenti. A real human being... and a real hero....
2) Super 8 - A nice homage to the Speilberg of the 80s, with some violent Abramsisms tossed into the mix. Not as deep as Spielberg, but still a great time at the theater.
The Bad
1) Harry Potter: Part 7: Part 2: Part 1 - booooooooooring
2) Melencholia - boooooooooooring. Remember when Lars Von Trier used to make good movies like Dogville and Dancer in the Dark? No more. The movie focuses on a loathsome, uninteresting family during the last few days of the Earth's existence. Very little happens. Then they die. The opening credits are beautiful and have more to say than the entire rest of the film.
3) Cowboys & Aliens - Complete failure to combine some tried and tested elements (The Western, Sci Fi, Harrison Ford and Jon Favrau).
The Ugly
1) Sucker Punch - It's a bold, beautiful, ambitious and highly imaginative disaster. Ridiculously stupid story. If you like terrible movies, this is one to put on your list. Supposedly the directors cut is even better/worse.
eric3579Best I Saw This Year
Moneyball
The Descendants
Hugo
Entertaining
Bridesmaids
The Company Men
The Ides of March
Take It Or Leave It
Drive
Hanna
Super 8
Walked Out
Thor
Mission Impossible
eric3579*quality Gonna have to check out a few off your list
siftbotAwarding Sarzy with one star point for this contribution to VideoSift - declared quality by eric3579.
RyjkyjI found Hanna completely bizarre. The "facility" she escapes from that looks more like a Prada runway with convenient hidey-holes that aren't even air-ducts, yet somehow lead to all the important rooms. The whole "never-heard-music" thing. What? Her dad can't sing her a fucking song? "Mary had a little lamb?" He didn't bring a cassette tape? She interacts socially with one person her entire life and then functions completely normally in society?
And I realize that the violence in movies is never realistic, but Hanna was just ridiculous. And not even in a good Matrixy-kind-of-way or a brutal Old Boy style. The whole thing played out like a teenage super-model's revenge fantasy. Like if Paris Hilton were to make a movie about her worst enemy.
Not that I think less of anyone for liking it. I was really excited to see it and it was certainly better than the latest "Pirates" turd.
deathcowI liked the Prometheus trailer better than any 2011 films
FusionautThe Artist was my favourite movie this year. I saw it on New Year's Eve to boot!
Sarzy>> ^Ryjkyj:
I found Hanna completely bizarre. The "facility" she escapes from that looks more like a Prada runway with convenient hidey-holes that aren't even air-ducts, yet somehow lead to all the important rooms. The whole "never-heard-music" thing. What? Her dad can't sing her a fucking song? "Mary had a little lamb?" He didn't bring a cassette tape? She interacts socially with one person her entire life and then functions completely normally in society?
And I realize that the violence in movies is never realistic, but Hanna was just ridiculous. And not even in a good Matrixy-kind-of-way or a brutal Old Boy style. The whole thing played out like a teenage super-model's revenge fantasy. Like if Paris Hilton were to make a movie about her worst enemy.
Not that I think less of anyone for liking it. I was really excited to see it and it was certainly better than the latest "Pirates" turd.
Yeah, but that movie is supposed to play out like a stylized fantasy. All the fairy tale references aren't there by chance.
Sarzy>> ^deathcow:
I liked the Prometheus trailer better than any 2011 films
I don't know if I necessarily agree with that, but 2012 is definitely going to kick 2011's ass, cinematically. You've got Prometheus, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, Star Trek 2, John Carter, Skyfall, Cabin in the Woods, not to mention new films from people like Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Rian Johnson, Derek Cianfrance, Steven Soderbergh, Alfonso Cuaron, Nicolas Winding Refn, and a movie directed by Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis. Plus: not one, but TWO NEW ARNIE MOVIES! 2012 -- best year ever? Possibly.
direpickleI have not seen a single one of the movies any of you listed. I thought you'd all want to know!
berticusI haven't seen any of your worst 10 which pleases me greatly.
Hanna, Super 8, Tree of Life, and Melancholia all fall into "ok/good but not great" for me.
Drive is teetering on the edge of awesome just for style alone... or perhaps I'm just biased because Ryan Gosling is such a fucking babe. (But he really is a great actor too -- everyone should see Lars and the Real Girl and Half Nelson.)
I really enjoyed X-Men: First Class.
I haven't seen it yet but I'm excited about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy because of the fucking amazing cast.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
My faves for the year:
1. Midnight in Paris
2. Moneyball
3. Melancholia
4. Hanna
5. The Guard
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
Here's a good preview of what to expect from SF films in 2012:
http://io9.com/5872776/70%252B-science-fictionfantasy-movies-to-watch-out-for-in-2012
Most excited about Prometheus and Cloud Atlas.
marinaraMoneyball (good story and acting) , Transformers (engaging and beautiful) and Sucker Punch (personal and entrancing) were very good.
RyjkyjWow, just watched the trailer for "The Innkeepers". I'll have to go see that one.
Sarzy>> ^Ryjkyj:
Wow, just watched the trailer for "The Innkeepers". I'll have to go see that one.
Definitely check it out (I liked it quite a bit, obviously), but I should warn you that the trailer is right up there with the Drive trailer in terms of being really misleading about the tone/content of the film. The Innkeepers is just as much a low-key drama (with a fair amount of humour thrown in) as it is a horror film, despite the fact that the trailer plays up the horror elements exclusively. I think 95% of that trailer is footage from the last 40 minutes or so of the film. It's a great movie, but if you go in expecting the straight horror film that the trailer promises, you'll probably be disappointed.
kymbosI really enjoyed Warrior. Beautifully delivered, solid performances all round.
RyjkyjJust watched "Insidious" last night. That was pretty fun. Not the greatest of horror films but it's pretty freaking relentless with the sound effects and awesome music.
garmachi>> ^dag:
Here's a good preview of what to expect from SF films in 2012:
http://io9.com/5872776/70%252B-science-fictionfantasy-mov
ies-to-watch-out-for-in-2012
Most excited about Prometheus and Cloud Atlas.
This comment sent me on an internet tangent which lasted well over an hour. I wound up about 7 links downstream, shook myself out of the haze and thought "haven't surfed like that since the early days of the net."
Thanks @dag
dystopianfuturetodayOops, I guess the version of Drive we saw was not the final edit. It had Badalamenti listed as the composer, so maybe it was a temp track or they had initially wanted to go with AB. Who knows?
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
Yep - there's some good ones in there. It could be a good year for SF. Duncan Jones - director of Moon is also working on a Bladerunner homage! http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/duncan-jones-mute-stalled-but-homage-to-blade-runner-is-next/>> ^garmachi:
>> ^dag:
Here's a good preview of what to expect from SF films in 2012:
http://io9.com/5872776/70%252B-science-fictionfantasy-mov
ies-to-watch-out-for-in-2012
Most excited about Prometheus and Cloud Atlas.
This comment sent me on an internet tangent which lasted well over an hour. I wound up about 7 links downstream, shook myself out of the haze and thought "haven't surfed like that since the early days of the net."
Thanks @dag
dystopianfuturetodayWe've been catching up on our 2011s and I have to add 3 more.
Midnight in Paris - I don't want to give anything away, just go see it, but it's probably our favorite of the year.
Descendents - Very real. Very human. Great writing, if you liked Sideways and Election.
War Horse - There are plenty of reasons a critical person could take this movie apart, but I've got room in my heart for happy endings and Spielbergian splendor.
Issy wants to make fun of dag for liking Melancholia, but he also liked Midnight in Paris, so it all evens out.
We'll necropost some more in a few weeks when we legally view some more movies in a movie theater.
Discuss...
Enable JavaScript to submit a comment.