It’s that time of year again. The end.
The end of December is the time for film critics and movie fans alike to comprise their lists of the “Best” & “Worst” that cinema had to offer over the previous twelve months. It’s an annual tradition I revel in being a part of, and I’m thrilled to be sharing my list with GlobalGrind. There are lots of BIG things on the horizon with me, Russell, and his amazing team at GG in 2012 so stay tuned…
I’ve always enjoyed hearing and reading everyone’s various rankings of the movies that inspired, moved, disappointed, and entertained us as much as the imposing construction of a countdown of my own favorites. And that’s just what they are. Personal favorites. Nothing more, nothing less.
The most responsible and respectable film critics have always been passionate, knowledgeable, and honest when it comes to their opinions about movies. I’ve been reviewing films professionally on TV, on the radio, and in print for eight years now and those are the three qualities I’ve always wanted my own reviews to embody, and I’ve worked hard over the years to ensure that.
Let’s face it, in today’s 21st Century “sharing” culture, when everyone has a platform just by logging on, uploading, or hitting SEND, we all are critics, some of us just get paid a little bit for it, but everyone is more than welcome to chime in and take part in the conversation if they adhere to these three standards.
“Passionate” in the sense that they respect the craft of movie making and enjoy the experience of seeing the end results. “Knowledgeable” meaning that they have actually SEEN the movie they are so passionately praising or panning (trust me, you’d be surprised how often this is overlooked), and “honest” in that they are speaking from their heart, even if their sentiments don’t fall in line with the status quo and the sensibilities of their contemporaries.
So as 2011 winds down, here are my personal favorites. I have eleven films on my list. Why? Because I wanted to and it’s my list and I can do whatever I want. Got a problem with that? Didn’t think so. Let the discussion begin…
Drive (Nicolas Winding Refn)
My favorite movie of 2011 was ‘Drive’. The unforgettable opening sequence sucks the audience into a seedy LA underworld filled with ferocious criminals, and lost souls looking for redemption.
The movie has a style all it’s own, and is fearless in taking chances. From the perfect against-type casting of Albert Brooks as a heavy, to the captivating soundtrack and score that becomes another character unto itself, every moment seems unafraid and unconventional.
With a patient and understated performance, Ryan Gosling shows once again why he is among the best actors of his generation, if not the #MJ23. ‘Drive’ is not for the faint of heart due to some brutal moments of graphic violence, but in an age of forgettable, contrived, over-produced studio heist movies, this one stands out as something special.
The rest of “My Favorite Films of 2011” are ranked alphabetically, NOT numerically.
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50/50 (Directed by Jonathan Levine)
I told Will Reiser, the writer whose own battle with cancer in his 20’s inspired the film, when I interviewed him that the film made me “weep like a teething infant”. It’s true. I lost it.
While I’m lucky I’ve never faced anything as serious as cancer, I had some major health issues and scares growing up and this film, thanks largely to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s terrific performance, hit really close to home. And I thought some of the one liners were funny as sh*t…
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The Artist (Directed by Michel Hazanavicius)
I remember watching and enjoying many silent films when I was a kid from the likes of Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin.
The story of a silent movie actor on top of the world, who falls out of favor with the invention of “talkies”, ‘The Artist’ is a tale of redemption and second chances that despite taking place in the first half of the 20th century, has many themes relevant to today.
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Attack The Block (Directed by Joe Cornish)
#Fresh! ATB has a cool “B” movie or student film feel and encompasses exactly what is FUN about going to the movies. It’s unpredictable and free spirited, a refreshing approach to an over-saturated genre.
Soon to be a household name, John Boyega plays Moses, the leader amongst a group of friends in a London housing project who are forced to defend their “Block” from an alien invasion.
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Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey (Directed by Constance Marks, Phillip Shane co-director)
In a year that saw The Muppets come back in style, this documentary that I saw at Sundance tells the story of Kevin Clash, the incredible child prodigy who grows up to bring one of Sesame Street’s most beloved residents, Elmo, to life.
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The Descendants (Directed by Alexander Payne)
Alexander Payne waited seven years between making movies, and it was well worth it (The critically acclaimed ‘Sideways’ was released in 2004). In 2011 we saw plenty of films about broken families and this is easily among the best.
Clooney plays Matt King, a Hawaiian businessman whose life changes forever when he learns that his wife, suffering from a coma, had been cheating on him. This is arguably the most emotionally conflicted character of his career and his performance, along with his daughter’s turn, played by Shailene Woodley, are effective and deeply moving.
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Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Directed by David Yates)
The perfect ending to the biggest film franchise of all time. Harry and the Hogwarts crew went out on top, which was no easy task. Like millions of Potter fans around the world, I’m anxiously looking forward to seeing what these young stars do next.
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Midnight in Paris (Directed by Woody Allen)
Fellow die hard New York Knicks fan Woody Allen’s story of a man (played surprisingly well by Owen Wilson) who goes back in time each night in Paris to rub shoulders with the likes of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Salvador Dali had all the staples of what makes Woody Allen…Woody Allen.
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Page One: Inside The New York Times (Directed by Andrew Rossi) and Bill Cunningham New York (Directed by Richard Press)
Two documentaries paint the macro and micro picture of the ever-changing media landscape, and the individual lives it effects.
Page One: Inside The New York Times provides unparalleled access to the inner-workings of the most important and influential paper in the world, The New York Times. Struggling financially to stay afloat and learning to embrace and adapt to technology to remain relevant, the newspaper’s fate is in the balance, which to many, myself included, is a scary thing.
Bill Cunningham New York is the story of famed photographer Bill Cunningham, who is well known for taking pictures of fashionable people on the streets of New York and Paris. His work has been seen all over the world, but primarily The New York Times. Words as simple as “quirky” and “eccentric” don’t serve Cunningham’s unique approach to life justice.
I grew up across the street from where Bill lived most of his professional life and fondly remember seeing him, in his signature blue shirt, riding his bike around midtown snapping away. The film captures human happiness in it’s purest form and inspired me to always remember that life is what you make it, so make yourself content.
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A Separation (Directed by Asghar farhadi)
This intimate family story that is brilliantly written and executed starts with the divorce between a middle class husband and his wife, and due to differences between the man, and a pregnant woman he has hired to look after his dying father, quickly spirals into a legal thriller with surprising twists and turns making every line feel important and grand.
The movie addresses issues surrounding trust, moral responsibility, loyalty, and compassion. The film honestly portrays modern Iranian life but the struggles the characters endure and the challenges they face are universal.
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Honorable Mention: War Horse, Beginners, Hugo, Life in a Day, The Ides of March, Crazy Stupid Love, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
As for the “Worst” films of 2011?
A few quickly come to mind like The Green Lantern, I Melt With You, The Hangover 2, Transformers: Dark of The Moon, and Bad Teacher. I don’t want to write anymore about these because they wasted enough of my time having to sit through them. Hours of my life simply gone forever.
So there you have it. What do an Iranian family drama, a franchise’s final chapter, three documentaries, and a British alien invasion movie have in common? They were all on my list of favorite films in 2011. What makes your list?
Looking forward to a great year of movies in 2012. Thanks GlobalGrind for letting me be a part of the family…
Best,
Ben Lyons
