It's been a pretty busy few weeks but I've finally gotten my best of 2011 locked down and dammit if I'm not going to post it here on ScreenAnarchy. I've included my initial thoughts via my tweet and a link to any review I may have filed. This list is directly drawn from my massive 50 Beautiful Films from 2011 (and 5 Ugly Ones) posted on my personal blog enderzero.net. Check that out for numbers 50-11 as well as the low down on what I'm down on. Now on to my faves.
10. Natural Selection - Robbie Pickering's SXSW sweeping coming-of-age road comedy between a barren middle aged church wife and her husband's illegitimate son is equal parts hilarious and touching - and all parts marvelous.
My Review of Natural Selection
9. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - This ultra-smart spy thriller is perfectly scripted by Peter Straughn and the late Bridget O'Connor and directed with inspirational detail by Let the Right One In's Tomas Alfredson. But the real masterpiece factor comes from the incredible performances by just about every amazing actor in Europe today; including: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, and the inimitable Benedict Cumberbatch. Best ensemble in a long time.
8. Super 8 - It has its detractors, sure, but J.J. Abrams take on what made the films of our youth so great took me exactly where I wanted to go and again made me believe in that magical quality of cinema.
My Review of Super 8
7. The Raid - The best action movie in decades was also one of the most exhilarating film watching experiences I've had in a long time. It was so cool to be part of the first audience to see the movie at the Midnight Ryerson Toronto screening, hooting and hollering with every head kick, the whole crowd well aware we were witnessing something that everyone would soon be freaking out about.
My Review of The Raid
6. Bullhead - Actor Matthias Schoenaerts and director Michael Roskam exploded onto the scene with this taut and touching crime story set in the Belgian bovine hormone trade underworld. Don't fuck with Belgian farmers.
5. Like Crazy - The most buzzed about film at Sundance was also my favorite film I caught there. Drake Doremus's long distance heart wrencher works so well because it so honestly depicts how hard we work to fool ourselves into thinking we can get back there again.
4. Melancholia - Rarely have I enjoyed a film so thoroughly with so little motivation to defend it. I simply accept this movie didn't work for some people. Some people hate it. All I can say is that I was completely on board for every moment. Call it my unapologetic love for Kirsten Dunst, but I was transfixed by her performance, her world, and this film.
3. Oslo, August 31st - Joachim Trier moves up one spot from his #4 finish for Reprise on my 2008 Top 10. Watching this remarkable depiction of addiction with a stellar performance by Anders Danielsen Lie, I was suddenly struck with the precognition that Trier will someday be recognized amongst the most talented directors in Europe.
My Review of Oslo, August 31st
2. Senna - Asif Kapadia has put together one incredible documentary with his chronicle of legendary Formula One racer Ayrton Senna. That that film is completely assembled from over 15,000 hours of archive footage makes it one of the most impressive projects ever completed. Knowing that a 6 hour cut exists out there is enough to make me feel like a kid on Christmas morning. Let us see it, Kapadia. Let us see it.
My Review of Senna
1. Drive - The big numero uno is actually pretty easy for me this year. I knew the moment I walked out of Nicolas Refn's Hollywood debut that this was going to be it. A second viewing only cemented its position. With the perfect of mix of tension and explosive action, Drive does absolutely everything right. Not only is this my favorite kind of movie, this is, without a doubt, my favorite film of the year.
My Review of Drive
Check out my full list: 50 Beautiful Films from 2011 (and 5 Ugly Ones)