I feel obliged to make my annual list of best movies of the 2011 season, but I have to-HAVE TO-put in a serious disclaimer that I have not seen many movies this year! I haven't seen "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo", "Tree of Life", "Drive" or other interesting fare, but I'm pleased to report that I have also avoided execrable abominations like "Twilight 12", "Transformers 8", and "Fast Five 5", or whatever that stink is. I like good stories and inspired direction. Mostly, I want to see something I've never seen before. That's my goal.
Here be my EXTREMELY incomplete list, counting up to my favorite.
"Red State" -Kevin Smith's attempt to tackle serious, adult fare. I wish I liked his movies as much as he does. Nice acting here, but Smith CAN NOT handle action fare.
"Super 8"-JJ Abrams' love letter to Spielberg. Fun, fun, fun, but pretty disposable and I never need to see it again. JJ, get to work on Star Trek 2!
"Timer" -a 2009 indie movie just now getting released. Average acting and direction, but a really great concept for a movie that begs to be discussed by anyone who remembers the fear of finding your soulmate. Caution-chick flick status.
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"-I was very impressed by the quality of this film. It had heart, nerve, and a digital hero in Caesar the chimp that we haven't seen the likes of since Gollum broke our collective hearts a few years ago. (also voiced by the underestimated Andy Serkis) See this quality entry if you haven't already and forget the terrible Tim Burton disaster from years ago.
"Bridesmaids"-The ladies finally get a funny movie! I've never seen my lovely bride laugh so hard in 15 years. Stone cold funny and quote worthy.
"Captain America" It's too long and has some weird action bits, but HOLY CRAP THEY FINALLY MADE A CAPTAIN AMERICA MOVIE! If y'all know me, then you know I've been obsessed with Marvel comics since about 1975, so I am loving that Marvel is hiring good directors, good actors, and are generally trying to make good, faithful movies of these wonderful characters that are so beloved by so many. Marvel doesn't jack around. They got the perfect villain in Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull, and were smart to hire Tommy Lee Jones and Stanley Tucci in small but pivotal roles. Hayley Atwell was solid and not too painful to look at, either.
"Thor". Another Marvel movie that should have stunk. They got so much right! A newcomer in Chris Hemsworth NAILING the lead role, and getting the always fascinating Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins (!) to really sell the movie. Tom Hiddleston as the villain was excellent as well. This movie was so entertaining, and I was able to take my brilliant 8 year old to it as well. Wow!
"X-men First Class"-Yet another Marvel related movie! Good actors, great director, and some retro feel and history to boot! Fox tried to mangle this one, but Matthew Vaughn is just too smart and gifted to let the studio ruin his baby. Welcome back, X-men!
"The Muppets"- This is the white whale of movies. You can take the whole family to it and enjoy it. No adult jokes to sail over kid's heads, and no simple minded pandering to the kiddos. Just pure funny and wonderful, I say-wonderful songs. Bret Mckensie wrote some great songs that haven't left my cranium yet and I hope they stick around. Life's a happy song, indeed!
This was the year of being surprised for me, and I look forward to a big 2012 of huge, entertaining, and FREAKING AWESOME movies! Just can't wait. Bring it, Joss Whedon!
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Dude I have seen even less movies than you this yr. Enjoyed Super 8, Disappointed by Bridesmaids...maybe hyped up too much before I finally got around to seeing it? Apes was the best surprise of the yr. From never wanting to see it to actually enjoying it a lot. But 2012 should blow away the 2011 movies. TDKR, Avengers, Prometheus, Hobbit, Django Unchained, Hunger games etc. Unfortunately like most lists I've read, yours is good, but I think it also reflects a down year from movies.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a down year! We saw "Bridesmaids" before it was a hit and had no clue what we were walking into. "Django Unchained" is next year? Nice.
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