Top Ten of 2011

460: The number of films I watched from 1/1/11 - 12/31/11

131: The number of those films that were released in 2011

805: Around the amount of hours I spent watching films in that time.

 This post is to try to bring the reader into my world. I believe that everybody has a relationship with film, most people have seen over 20 movies this year. I do realize that mine can be over the top but because everybody has a relationship with film mine can be judged easily because there is a scale to balance it on. Now, if I had a hobby of collecting baseball cards, stamps or playing an odd instrument there wouldn’t be a scale to balance it on and the number of hours I put into it wouldn’t seem so excessive. Some people like to come home from work and have a drink or watch reality television I enjoy putting on a movie. 

Another misconception about my relationship with film is the word escapism. Because, most of the world does watch films in order to escape from the hardships of everyday life it is implied that I am always doing that. I would like to point out that I very rarely watch films for escapism. Although, there are a few exceptions (such as It’s a Wonderful Life) I try to keep a barrier between watching for knowledge and watching to escape. 

I mentioned that the main reason I have made this post is to invite you into my world and I hope that is exactly what this does. Most of you will skim through it and not bother which is perfectly fine but if one person gives one of these movies a shot whether it is in the cinema or on Netflix, everything that I have written here will have a purpose

I would like to note that these are my personal favorite films of the year and not the best. If you have seen and hated one of these movies that is perfectly fine. 

10. Submarine

Submarine is a quirky coming of age tale by first time director Richard Ayoade. I didn't expect much going into Submarine but found it amusing while hitting on real life issues. It explores the line between what one may think things should be like and what they actually are. The idea is reflected through main character Oliver Tate who’s perceptions of love, family and life is shattered by real life. The difference between this clever movie and one like The Artist is subtly. Submarine is all about the movies but doesn't broadcast it. Instead it “tributes” film with the camera and sound. 

9. Melancholia

My initial problem with Melancholia was that there weren’t any grand scenes or amazing moments. I didn’t realize that the affect that was meant was achieved. Melancholia captures the feeling of depression. The only way to portray it would be to push the feeling onto the audience. Watching depression would be extremely dull but capturing the feeling is really something that needs to be recognized. There are two stories to Melancholia. Kirsten Dunst the depressed protagonist in a “happy world” and Charlotte Gainsbourg the “normal” protagonist in a world that is near the end. Melancholia definitely deserves to be seen in a theater with its loud music during the beautiful opening scene.

8. Martha Marcy May Marlene

Martha Marcy May Marlene may be one of the most disturbing films I have seen all year. It is a very dark look into the world of cults and self image. Everybody has been raving about Elizabeth Olsen's performance, which is fantastic but cult leader John Hawkes' performance is perfect. Hawkes was nominated for Best Supporting Actor last year for Winter's Bone but matches that performance in this film. Martha Marcy May Marlene is edited by jumping between the cult life and traditional life leaving questions that ask about what is usually normal and taboo. 

7. I Saw The Devil

Korea is one of the most promising areas for new film. Every year there is at least one great film that comes out of Korea and this year it is I Saw The Devil. Jee-Woon Kim puts forward constant action and some shots that leave you wondering how did they even managed to pull it off.

6. Young Adult

Mavis Gary is a train wreck of horrible destruction that you can’t look away from. There is always an idea of what she is going to say next but it is hard to believe that she will go there, and she does, every single time. Chalize Theron in one of her better performances plays Mavis Gary one of the best “worst” characters. The screenplay is written by Diablo Cody of Juno fame but Cody is much more mature of a writer in Young Adult than in Juno. It is hard to look away from the destruction but the film is very much rewarding.

5. Take Shelter

 With all the “end of the world” movies during the year Take Shelter is the best. It is a descend into madness through the eyes of the main character Curtis played by Michael Shannon. Shannon is one of the best working actors right now and watching him slowly loose his mind is heartbreaking. The trailer gives the idea that Curtis is crazy but what is wrong with Curtis isn’t that easily answered.

4. Hanna

Hanna is the most fun film on the list. Joe Wright mixes a fairy tale with a kick ass action thriller. What is really exciting about Hanna is that it is an action movie that isn’t hard to follow visually. Today in movies such as Transformers and Battle LA we get action scenes that are quick cut with shaky cameras that just don’t make any sense. Hanna lets the characters do there fighting with out cutting away instead we know exactly where everybody is an can see what is happening. This is really captured during a tracking shot that is one of the best  fight sequences of the year. On top of all this is an exhilarating Chemical Brothers score.

3. Hugo

This trailer is absolute shit. It takes everything that Hugo is and turns it into a conventional child adventure film. Martin Scorsese makes a much more complex film than this trailer shows. It connects the bond between “watcher” and “creator”.  It is a celebration of film itself and turns into a film lesson of a true story that many people don‘t know about. The 3D for this film is the answer to why 3D can be the future of film. It is quite sad that this film won’t be able to be seen in 3D after it is out of theaters. 

2. Drive

Drive is a retro call back to 80’s heist films that is handled so well by director Nicolas Winding Refn which makes every scene memorable. Gosling really pushes limits in this film being mostly silent throughout. The opening chase scene engages the audience and doesn’t let go. Also, the soundtrack and score to this film is a major part of it setting the tone for what is to come. 

1. Tree of Life

Tree of Life is the one film that I wouldn’t recommend to everybody. A quote at the end of the trailer says “And well understand it all… all things” and that is exactly what Tree of Life is about… all things. The film isn’t a “lighthearted  Brad Pitt drama” it is a three hour meditation of life. Although, I wouldn’t recommend it to everybody, I do believe that everyone can find something to relate too in the film whether its throwing a baseball on top of the roof or learning the difference between good and bad. Tree of Life is one of the best portrayals of childhood juxtaposed with the creation of this planet. It shows the stages of growing up, and why even our most complex problems are some of the smallest. 

Honorable Mentions:  Beginners, Ides of March, 50/50, The Skin I Live In, Life In A Day, Midnight In Paris, The Arbor, Attack The Block, Certified Copy