Though some may have their reservations about the cinematic offerings of 2011, there were undoubtably some good movies that came out this year. Assistant Arts Editors Adam Keller and Richie Starzec, who are both film (freaks) aficionados, weigh in on their five favorite movies of the year, complete with honorable mentions.
ADAM’S PICKS
5. Bellflower
A breakup movie for the ages, “Bellflower” proves we need more tortured misogynistic wackos in the indie circuit. This post-apocalyptic mumblecore romance/revenge flick reads like it started with a dare involving fridge magnets, but it turns out to be a lovably overblown and incoherent meditation on man’s most intense emotions. What really elevates “Bellflower” to cult status is its uncompromising DIY aesthetic: beautifully made for less than 20 grand, hopefully it’ll be a war cry for poor aspiring filmmakers coming into the new decade.
If you’ve still got any Adderall left over from finals, try and figure out this cold and twisty caper from the director of “Let The Right One In.” Its daintily composed vision of 70s London’s atmospheric grit stands toe-to-toe with any of the year’s cinematic universes. Out of its ridiculous British cast, star Gary Oldman as MI6 agent George Smiley and Benedict Cumberbatch as his in-over-his-head lackey are the standouts. A delicious motorboat of paranoia and cynicism.
3. Margin Call
How was this not the movie of the moment? Released when the Occupy movement was still gathering steam, this restrained and empathetic portrayal of Wall Street guys (and Demi Moore!) shitting themselves on the day leading up to the financial crisis deserved to be one of the year’s highest-profile releases. You’d think newcomer writer-director J.C. Chandor has been making movies for 20 years, but despite the all-star cast, most people ignored this one. Don’t make the same mistake.
The tagline is Inner City vs. Outer Space—if you’re not already onboard, I don’t know what to say. Vicious aliens invade the London projects and the hooligans, drug dealers, and white people inside have to band together to survive. An energetic crowd-pleaser that blends laughs, scares, and heart. Watch with subtitles if you didn’t go through an embarrassing UK grime phase in high school, or see it at the Film Series on February 10th.
1. Shame
“Aaaagghhhhh”—if you’ve got a soul, that’ll be your reaction to this gutwrenching psychodrama about a sex addict in New York. In the Year of Michael Fassbender, “Shame” stands above his three other successes; reuniting with Steve McQueen, the director of his breakthrough “Hunger,” the instant star gives his best performance yet. Ditto for Carey Mulligan as his nutty sister. McQueen distills the admirable but scattered artistic ambitions of “Hunger” into a haunting poem on compulsion and intimacy. Be warned: “Requiem For A Dream”-level trauma.
Honorable Mention: Moneyball:
Maybe the best sports movie ever made, Moneyball chronicles my troubled home team as they squeeze their Cro-Magnon heads together and figure out how to stop being embarrassing for one season. The dialogue gives moviegoers their Sorkin fix after last year’s “Social Network,” and the acting is subdued, but on-point. A moving underdog story and a class act in sports mythmaking.
RICHIE’S PICKS
5. Hugo
Martin Scorsese directing a children’s movie seemed an odd choice at first, but it turned out as one of the most well-received films of his illustrious career. Earning the most nominations at the Academy Awards, Scorsese’s own love letter to the early days of cinema serves as a great companion piece to “The Artist.” The story follows the young Hugo Cabret as he traverses the city of Paris in the 1930s searching for the answer to a mystery his father left behind. Along the way, he meets George Melies (Ben Kingsley), one of the most important pioneers of early cinema, in an encounter that changes both of their lives forever. Probably the only film released in 2011 that was actually worth seeing in 3D.
4. Warrior
Two brothers in need of money enter the same mixed martial arts tournament and end up having to fight each other for the big prize. What makes this movie so great is how powerful the story is without forcibly trying to make the audience sympathize with the characters. By the time we reach the final fight, it’s extremely difficult to decide which of the brothers to side with. Brendan (Joel Edgerton) is a respected teacher trying to keep his family off the street, while Tommy (Tom Hardy) is a scarred veteran from the marines whose intentions aren’t revealed until the final moments of the film. With Nick Nolte rounding out the cast as their father searching desperately for reconciliation, this is a must see for all fans of the Rocky series.
3. Drive
What was originally planned as a big budget summer movie ended up turning into one of the best films of the year. Ryan Gosling stars as the nameless Driver, our mostly silent protagonist who is constantly found doing one of two things: kicking serious ass or staring into the abyss. What helps put this film over the top is the skilled direction from Nicolas Winding Refn and the electronic soundtrack composed by Cliff Martinez. Together the two have crafted an edgy thriller that pays homage to film noir, B-movies, and art house features and proves that a good action movie doesn’t have to be riddled with explosive stunts and rapid pacing.
2. Shame
This is the most horrifying film I’ve witnessed in years but it has also produced the best performance I’ve seen since “There Will Be Blood.” A pulsating thriller revolving around the life of a sex addict, Michael Fassbender pushes this initially slow-paced film towards a finale that scathes the mind forever. If this film were easier to watch, it probably would have been my favorite of the year [NOTE: Apparently Adam did not have the same problem]. One of the great things about this movie is ultimately how difficult it is to put into words. The NC-17 rating is unfortunately the most likely reason it didn’t receive a Best Picture or Best Actor nomination.
1. The Artist
From the moment the opening credits began I was beaming with delight. This is a truly magical motion picture that must be seen by everyone who believes they wouldn’t like a black and white silent film. Many will be surprised at how amazing it actually is. The story follows fictional George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a much-adored silent film actor who is brushed aside once studios start producing only talkies. His only remaining fan is the woman who replaced him and eventually tries to save his career, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo). The story is tragic yet uplifting and ultimately beautiful. Superb direction, brilliant performances, and a magnificent score make this the film to beat this year at the Academy Awards.
Honorable Mention: The Tree of Life:
With the most luscious cinematography used since “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Terrence Malick has crafted a film so polarizing that no one could have predicted that it would end up being so well received. Jumping back and forth between a young child’s life in rural Texas, the creation of the universe, and the afterlife, Tree of Life greatly succeeds in its ambition and scope. While I admit that a few moments made me laugh at the idea of it all, I found that I was more commonly staring at the screen with my jaw on the floor. This is a movie that needs to be seen more than once to be fully appreciated.
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