The Top Ten Films of 2011 by Corben Carpenter
It’s the end of the year again, which means it’s time to present my annual list of the year’s best films. As 3D is implemented into a every film and adaptations and reboots are becoming increasingly popular, there is still a slate of great films to fall in love with. Here are my ten favorite films of 2011.
10. Beginners
What could have ended up as another opposites attract love story, Beginners avoids the familiarity with layered themes of love and acceptance from the people around you. Ewan McGregor and french actress Melanie Laurent share irresistible chemistry and Christopher Plummer shines as the newly outed gay father who suffers from terminal cancer. The relationships these characters share prove it’s never too late to start living and the barriers we put up to block the ones we love are not impossible to break down. Quirky and precious, this film consistently brings a smile to your face.
09. Martha Marcy May Marlene
After viewing the first scene of Elizabeth Olsen’s performance of Martha, it is a struggle to look away, despite the horrors that follow. She is a cult escapee who finds refuge with her older, married sister, but she is still psychologically disturbed and fearful for her own safety. It would be a disservice to spoil what happened in her past with the cult. Sean Durkin’s first feature is a haunting, freely paced thriller with a purpose to scar, not scare.
08. Rango
The most original film of the year. Rango is a celebration of the strange and offbeat. Johnny Depp is undetectable as the leading lizard Rango, who is whisked into the town of Dirt and must uncover the drought problem plaguing the town. Impressive animation mixed with an ugly cast of characters and explosive set pieces makes Rango a sure delight for audiences tired of safe, money-grubbing kid films. Some of the most memorable scenes come from out-of-nowhere, but are funny nonetheless.
07. 50/50
Who knew cancer could be so funny? 50/50 is a hilarious and deeply moving film with an incredible script written by Will Reiser. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues his streak of great roles playing the normal man who is diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. 50/50 does not push the boundaries of its genres, but what it does right it does extremely well. The off-color jokes do not dilute the more serious and tender moments. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to see this again.
06. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
David Fincher effortlessly directs Steig Larsson’s novel into a malicious and stylish mystery that left me on the edge of my seat throughout. Accompanied by another great score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an involving tale that shines light on the most evil of motivations and refuses to treat it lightly. Rooney Mara is stunning as the soon-to-be iconic Lisbeth Salander. You can honeslty sense the hard work and devotion she put into the role. This movie is not for the faint of heart.
05. Melancholia
I was deeply moved by this picture. It echoed my own personal visions of the end of the world, but with much more grace and fear. Kirsten Dunst plays an overly depressive newlywed who can barely appreciate the joys of life while her sister played by Charlotte Gainsbourg struggles to help her. After the wedding, a colossal planet known as Melancholia is destined to hit and destroy Earth. No film before has showcased the impending doom of world’s end with more humanity and poetry. A beautiful film that left me breathless.
04. Take Shelter
Sometimes a man’s instincts are more powerful and convinving than the opinions of his friends and family. Michael Shannon is ferocious as Curtis LaForche, a man fearful of a possible disaster who risks the stability of his home to build a bomb shelter. The setup of his family and community adds to emotional gravity of Curtis’s actions while the music and direction by Josh Nicholas brilliantly builds tension to the shocking climax. Engrossing and highly suspenseful. I was not worried about the disaster, I was distraught for Curtis’s mental health and the safety of his family.
03. The Descendants
George Clooney has outdone himself again, giving his greatest performance as Matt King, the father of two defiant girls and the husband of coma-stricken wife. News of the wife’s past sets up an emotional journey for Matt and his family in the deceiving paradise of Hawaii. Alexander Payne has created a joyous tale of discovering what matters most and the hardships of letting go. I grew to love the characters as my own family, fighting off tears of laughter and sadness til the very end.
02. Midnight in Paris
A delectable and enchanting comedy by the legendary Woody Allen. Owen Wilson is perfect as Gil, a struggling writer vacationing in Paris who magically transports himself to the 1920s when the clock strikes midnight. A longing for the golden age is the key theme here as Gil is torn between two women, his fiance from the present and an “art groupie” from the 20s. The cinematography is warm and inviting. The script is clever without being pretentious. Woody Allen has crafted a comforting and ambrosial film that will only get better over time. J’adore ce film.
01. The Artist
Yes, a silent black and white film is my favorite of the year. The Artist is a representation of why films are my favorite medium of storytelling. Jean Dujardin plays a famous silent film actor George Valentin who tragically falls to the rise of talkies in 1930s Hollywood. His former extra, played by Bérénice Bejo becomes the sound era’s new star, but she can’t bare to see the decline of George’s career and humanity. Every element of this film is superb. Increasingly charming, profoundly exciting, and highly satisfying. An inventive blend of the old and new, not restricted to the limitations of the silent era. I was pleasantly surprised throughout the entire film. This is a one-of-a-kind theater experience. The Artist is a triumph.
