Top 10 Films of 2011

I decided to do the top ten films of 2011, while it may not be relevant, I wanted to do it as I simply enjoy making lists. 2011 wasn’t exactly my idea of a great in film, but there were still some gems to be found here.

10. We Need to Talk About Kevin

While it is a flawed film, there is not denying how effective it is. While it was easy to understand where the film was going, the ending left me disgusted and disturbed in a way that few films can accomplish. It is an interesting character relationship study that may not be a fun film to sit through, but is very worth it in the end.

9. The Artist

Charming, creative, funny, touching; there are many words that can be used to describe this very fun film. Having a film about the silent era, as a silent film, may sound very gimmicky, but the filmmakers employ multiple creative sequences, taking advantages of the film being a silent film.

8. Melancholia

Whilst the previous film will leave you with a smile on your face, this will leave you unable to even smile at all. Danish auteur Lars von Trier channels his own depression through the characters in this film about inescapable death and unavoidable apocalypse. The film needs to be complimented for its beautiful and haunting visuals and excellent use of classical music.

7. Senna

Documentaries are always hard to judge, as their credibility may be difficult to determine. Yet what a good documentary should do, is not even necessarily show reality, but convince you that this is reality, and Senna did this perfectly. The film feels as exciting as a good thriller and as engaging as a good biopic, while trying to tell its story, creating a both informative film, but also one that is more thrilling and engaging then most films out there. 

6. 50/50

This cancer-comedy is about- wait cancer-comedy? That really sounds like a bad idea when you think about it, cancer is a subject that is far too frightening and affects far too many people that it can be funny. Yet somehow this film pulls it off. Mixing a good bro-comedy, with a drama about coping with cancer, we get something that is both hilarious, yet will have you in tears in the end. Both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogan give the best performances of their career.

5. Warrior

Bane, the early days. An excellent sports drama about two brothers competing in a MMA tournament filled with amazing performances from Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte. However it is not the fighting itself that makes this film so special, it is the metaphorical way it is presented and the well-written characters and relationships displayed in the film.

4. Midnight in Paris

As someone who is not a fan of Woody Allen, this is probably my favourite film of his. It has one of the funniest plots in recent memory. Owen Wilson stars as Woody Allen (by which I mean, he would have played this role if he wasn’t too old) and quite frankly he does it better then Allen himself and manages to not be annoying the way Allen is. A wonderfully fresh love-letter to the city of Paris and to a time long passed.

3. Drive

This marks the second Dane to make his appearance on this list, with Refn´s film Drive. While not as good as his previous film, Bronson, this stylish and dangerous crime-thriller was something straight out of the 80s. Gosling is exciting to watch as a man trying to turn his life around, but as we all know, getting out of a life of crime isn’t just anything. It is visually extraordinary and while going for a style over substance approach, it works on every level.

2. The Descendants

George Clooney gives his best performance ever here, as a dad trying to deal with his wife being in a coma, and he all of a sudden has to solely take care of his two daughters, well knowing that he has never been a great father. It is a very honest, un-Hollywood film about moving on, about family, and about dealing with crisis. It may not sound fun, but it is surprisingly funny thanks to a witty script, with good characterizations as well as pitch perfect directing from Alexander Payne.  

1. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

 I will admit I was a little confused the first time I saw this film and I, which I do suppose, is somewhat of a flaw, but I cannot stop by being baffled by how amazing this film is. Tomas Alfredson does the best directing job of the year, getting the pace and feel of this film just right, while somehow making it visually interesting. Gary Oldman shows me once again why he is one of my favourite actors of all time, as we are unable to take our eyes off him as he acts in this film. When the way he acts becomes part of the clue to understand the film as we are never allowed into his thoughts, but have to read it off of Oldman´s acting.

Honourable mentions: Shame, Tree of Life, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II