Top 20 Movies of 2011

I'm not a big fan of making film lists. They inevitably seem inspire reader complaints. But I suppose that's the beauty of these lists. Anyway, below is my top 20 films of 2011. Enjoy.


20. Black Swan
Released: January 21
Talent: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassell, Darren Aronofsky (Director)

Darran Aronofsky's second film in a row about a tormented artist driven to desperate measures by their need to perform. Except the Wrestler never had Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis engaged in lesbian clinches. A career high point for Portman.






19. Shame
Released: press screening
Talent: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, Steve McQueen (Director)

After 'Hunger', McQueen has immersed himself in a wholly different world and made a film that is similarly distinctive and exploratory and grasps you from beginning to end. One of Michael Fassbender's best performances.








18. Blue Valentine
Released:
Talent: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Derek Cianfrance (Director)

Years in the planning and it showed. Total commitment from nakedly emotional stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams made Derek Cianfrance's time-hopping study of a relationship's rise and fall into arguably the definitive example of its genre







17. Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of The Unicorn
Released:
Talent: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Andy Serkis
Steven Spielberg (Director)

Spielberg's first animated film is a performance-capture 3D version of Tintin's initial encounter with Captain Haddock. After Unearthing a clue to the treasure of ancestor Sir Francis Haddock, they set out together to find it, with protection from a prison escapee. Daniel Craig voices villainous pirate Red Rackham. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
voice identical detectives Thompson and Thompson. Peter Jackson's Weta Digital do the animation. And the movie's biggest strength is the incredible humanity in the animation - Tintin (Jamie Bell) is ageless, graceful, likable, while Haddock (Andy Serkis) is drunk, bumbling, wistful, and there isn't a single dead-eye in sight. This is Spielberg back to his adventuring best.





16. Thor
Released:
Talent: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins
Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Kenneth Branagh (Director)

All this year's major comic book movies (Thor, Captain America, Green Lantern) had the distinct advantage of being based on comic books that were relatively unheard of by the general public. But only the first two of these managed to create heroes worth caring about, and Captain America was a little too uneven to make this list. Kenneth Branagh's Thor benefited by taking its subject extremely seriously, despite the obvious fantastical nature of a Norse deity sent to Earth to help keep mankind from harm. The Asgardians were explained away as Aliens whose technologies were so advanced that the ancient Vikings hailed them as Gods, and Thor's ability to travel between planets were reconfigured as a result of successful experiments. However, none of this would've counted for anything, if not for the great performance from Chris Hemsworth, and one of the years best villains in the shape of Tom Hiddleston's Loki. Both will return in next year's Avengers...Can't wait.





15. Source Code
Released: 1st April
Talent: Jake Gylenhaall, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Duncan Jones (Director)

Critics complained that Duncan Jones' 'Moon' made no sense whatsoever, but Source Code was superbly paced, old-fashioned Sci-Fi Thriller with one of the darkest twists of the year. When I first heard about Source Codes' Quantum Leap style plot line, it seemed as if Jones had jumped on the Hollywood gravy train. But the director's second film confirms his the most exciting new British director since Christopher Nolan, precisely because it was unlike anything else you watched in 2011.






14. Moneyball
Released: 25th November
Talent: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright Penn, Chris Pratt, Bennett Miller (Director)

Moneyball boasts the smartest dialogue of the year, as well as a thought-provoking story that celebrates the story of the underdog. Moneyball explores that central paradox - the losers win. But their entire careers have been reduced to data points - without beating us over the head with black and white solutions, and that is to its credit. This is one of the movies that can be watched again and again.






13. The King's Speech
Released: 7th January
Talent: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bohnam Carter, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Tom Hooper (Director)

A little film about a king with a public speaking problem snowballed into award-hogging glory thanks to Colin Firth's fantastic performance. Fully deserved all the awards and praise.








12. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2
Released: 15th July
Talent: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Helena Bohnam Carter, David Yates (Director)

Part 8 - and the final film in the Harry Potter universe, but far from outstaying its welcome, the Potter finale proved an exhilarating send-off. Arguably the best film in the whole series and proved that Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint can indeed act.







11. Fast and Furious 5
Released: 21st April
Talent: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Justin Lin (Director)

Former cop Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) break Dom (Vin Diesel) out of custody and flee to Brazil where they must pull off one last job to gain their freedom. But a hard-nosed federal agent (Dwayne Johnson) is on their trail. Johnson actually brings a lot to the movie and helps elevate this to the best film in the series.






10. Hugo
Released: 2nd December
Talent: Asa Butterfield, Chloe G Moretz, Sir Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Ray Winstone, Martin Scorsese (Director)

After watching to first trailer for Hugo. I went away feeling very unconvinced by it all. How wrong I was. I actively enjoyed every single moment of watching Martin Scorsese's shot at a family movie. It also restored my faith in 3D and filled my eyes with wonder.







9.Bridesmaids
Released: 24th June
Talent: Kristen Wiig, John Hamm, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Terry Crews, Melissa McCarthy, Paul Feig (Director)

Hands down the comedy of the year, one that still has you laughing out loud even after repeated viewings and weirdly, managed to increase the so called 'Girl-power' by demonstrating that women can experience intense distress just as hilariously as men can.








8. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Released: 11th August
Talent: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Tom Felton, Freida Pinto, Rupert Wyatt (Director)

This movie proved that CGI is not, after all, the worst thing to happen to modern cinema. It was director Rupert Wyatt's debut Hollywood venture, an entertaining reboot of an old franchise that, to be honest, most people didn't want to see return. Whether Caesar the ape's engaging presence came about entirely as a result of Andy Serkis' fine work in the mo-cap studio, or was touched up by the geniuses at Weta Digital, the leader of the simian revolution was as captivating a protagonist as any in cinema this year, and all with a word barely spoken. One of the surprise hits of the summer.






7. The Help
Released: 26th October
Talent: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Tate Taylor (Director)

It would seem that Emma Stone doesn't know how to make a bad movie. The Help, a film about a white woman caring enough to write a book about the plight of the help (African-American maids) in 60's America, is as delicate as a rose petal, for lack of a better term. It's funny, touching and incredibly humane - so don't be afraid to turn on the waterworks.







6. Super 8
Released: 5th August
Talent: Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney, Ryan Lee, J.J Abrams (Director)

Set in 1979, this is homage to Spielberg's '70's and '80's science action films, written and directed by J.J Abrams. Super 8 tells the story of a group of small town children who are filming a home movie on their Super 8 Camera when a train derails, releasing a dangerous prescence into their neighbourhood. E.T., Close Encounters, Goonies, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, all have story threads or shots lifted from them, and while some make think it overdoes the tribute this is ultimately nostalgic for a style of film that is solely missed. It's a blast to watch.






5. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Released: 16th September
Talent: Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberpatch, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Kathy Burke, Tomas Alfredson (Director)

A brilliant portrayal of British cold war spies based on the John Le Carre Novel. The film is a gloomy and ethereal espionage thriller that is the most subtle edge of your seat thriller you were likely to see this year. This film has an affinity for quiet tension and Gary Oldman's performance is bloody perfect.







4. The Fighter
Released: 2nd February
Talent: Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, David O'Russell (Director)

For his dream project about Boston boxer Micky Ward, star/producer Mark Wahlberg surrounded himself with real life brawlers for a punch drunk cocktail of hugs, hits and coarse humour. Christian Bale and Melissa Leo give two of the best performances in 2011.










3. Warrior
Released: 23rd September
Talent: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison, Gavin O'Connor (Director)

Brothers Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton take each other on in a mixed martial arts championship. I don't think I've seen a film where I wanted both fighters to win. This failed to reach the box office takings it thoroughly deserved. But, I'm convinced this will do the business once it's released on Blu-ray. Simply outstanding.







2. Senna
Released:
Talent: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Asif Kapadia (Director)

Fiction director Asif Kapadia brings his flair for a narrative to a zippy drive-by of F1 legend Ayrton Senna's turbulent life and tragic death, using only footage for an authentic driver's view. Senna got snubbed at next year's Oscar's for best Documentary, which is an absolute disgrace as it's one of the best documentaries you'll ever see.









1. Drive
Released: 23rd September
Talent: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan: Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks, Oscar Issac, Ron Perlman, Nicolas Winding Refn (Director)

Nicholas Winding Refn's beguiling thriller about a stuntman and getaway driver who falls in love with another man's woman, was meant to just be nothing more than an arty gangster film. But, the Danish director has made it clear he sees Ryan Gosling's The Driver as a modern day superhero, and - with that super cool white scorpion jacket and the ability to engage in impressively orchestrated extreme violence at any given moment - it would be very hard is disagree. In a movie that that went back to the 1980's insouciantly paced work of Michael Mann, with a bit of 1970's grind house thrown in for good measure, Gosling's enigmatic creation proved the year's coolest character. Hands down the best film of 2011, and one of the coolest film you'll ever see.




There were many other great films in 2011, some fully the equal to the list above. Including;
Tree of Life, True Grit, Crazy Stupid Love, X-men First Class, Ides of March, Rango, Arrietty, Midnight in Paris, Closer to the Edge, Another Earth, Contagion, Attack The Block. Take Shelter, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Kill List

Finally, I have to comment on 2012 and what's looking like the best line-up of films released....Ever!
Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, The Amazing Spider-Man, Carnage, The Avengers, 007: Skyfall, Young Adult, War Horse, J.Edgar, The Iron Lady, The Descendants, The Hunger Games, Prometheus, Expendables 2, Margin Call, Haywire, The Raid, Coriolanus, The Darkest Hour, The Raven, Mirror Mirror, We Bought A Zoo, Wrath of the Titans, American Pie: The Reunion, Titanic 3D, Battleship, Men in Balck 3, Rock of Ages, GI Joe 2: Retaliation, Ice Age 4, Snow White and the Huntsman, Brave, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Safe House, Total Recall, Woman In Black, The Bourne Legacy, Dredd, Taken 2, Looper, Gangster Squad, Savages, The Sweeney, The Muppets.....to name a few ;)