Every December I contemplate the lengthy process of evaluating all the films I've seen throughout the calendar year. Posting a final top ten list is a common practice for full time critics across the country, who often don't pay for trips to the theater. But there are limitations for the average Joe who gets to the movies whenever possible without the demand for a published report. As such, releasing a complete analysis by year's end is somewhat unrealistic and dishonest for me, as I don't typically see all I need to in said time.
Furthermore, most critics rank films after a single viewing. By the time I see everything I want, some opinions have changed after seeing other titles a second or third time. This leaves me with a dilemma. For 2010, I posted a fairly comprehensive top ten list a few months into the new year, as having free access to all new dvds at the time sped the arduous process. For 2011, I have finally seen enough films to warrant a look back, but it's already July, 2012. And as the saying goes, old news is no news.
So I had a brainstorm to make things easier going forward. With half the year over, I'll briefly discuss the handful of movies I've most enjoyed between January and June, along with a few memorable performances. This serves two purposes. It leaves me a reference when compiling a year-end list, thus shortening the research process later. And it allows me to mention some fun titles with little to no shot of being remembered post holiday season.
Before proceeding, I must briefly acknowledge my favorite films from 2011. The majority of releases fell into the large, gray area of mediocrity, as I saw some 50-60 films in all. Not that there weren't other films worth seeing if you'd be interested in a specific genre or follow a particular actor. Three good examples were J. Edgar, The Help, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. But due to time constraints I will only mention 15, including the five biggest disappointments of last year. The latter are not necessarily among the year's worst (in two cases not even close), but are the films that left me feeling deflated having expected more.
Note: Among well-regarded major releases, I have yet to see Drive, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, or War Horse.
2011 Top Ten
1. Hugo
2. The Descendants
3. Midnight in Paris
4. The Muppets
5. 50/50
6. The Artist
7. Moneyball
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
9. Margin Call
10. Real Steel
I had trouble choosing my favorite film and could easily make a case for several, unlike many past years when a single title stood apart from the pack. Both The Muppets and Real Steel might be viewed as somewhat guilty pleasures, but I'm learning to reflect my opinion without regard for others, as each ranked among my best theatrical experiences last year. Midnight in Paris and Moneyball are the only two I've seen repeatedly on cable, with both rising considerably higher than I once expected. Each film on my list was nominated for at least one academy award with the exception of 50/50, the year's most underrated film. Five titles listed were up for best picture.
2011 Five Biggest Letdowns (in alphabetical order)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Hangover Part II
The Ides of March
Scream 4
The Tree of Life
Sequels to The Hangover and Scream were among the most uninspired movies I've seen in years and would represent the nadir for 2011 if not for The Dilemma, the only comedy I remember that failed to produce a single laugh. The much hyped adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was competently constructed, but at least an hour too long and did little to convince me as to why this relatively simple serial killer story became such a phenomenon. The Ides of March offered nice supporting performances and remained watchable until a ludicrous plot development that undermined every intelligent line of dialogue that preceded it. As for The Tree of Life, there's a reason this interminable snoozefest failed to find an audience, despite topping several critics lists and having Brad Pitt's name above the marquis. Maybe it was the 25 minute art display early in the film or the fact there was no plot. For a number of reasons, I was not swayed.
Stay tuned for an early look at the best offerings from 2012.
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