It took me a while to compile this list, and in doing so, I got the feeling that last year’s slate of films weren’t overall as good as they could have been. My 2010 Top Ten had 23 films in it, plus Honorable Mentions. Not so this year.
Also note, since I’m no professional, there are a few films I hoped to see but have not yet. Can’t see everything, I suppose, and I want to post my Top Ten before summer. The films I hope to see soon (which I wager might have a shot at the list): Albert Nobbs, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Tyrannosaur, Pariah, Melancholia, and Of Gods and Men.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Descendents, Drive, My Week With Marilyn, A Separation, Tomboy
10. Take Shelter - Terrific performance by Michael Shannon, in a film filled with such a slow build of faceless anxiety that it becomes surprisingly infectious.
9. Like Crazy - One of those quiet little indies that finds great actors and lets them work. A very unromantic romance, in that the demands of the real world overshadow those precious little moments that lesser films dwell on.
8. Le Quattro Volte and The Tree of Life - Both films strive to tell a huge story - the meaning of life - in completely opposite ways. Le Quattro Volte is a wordless, simple look at a few related organisms in the countryside. Malick’s ambitious but flawed film tries to get everything in, from the creation of the cosmos to the afterlife. Neither are perfect, but they compliment each other, and are such admirable efforts in filmmaking that they both made this list.
7. Buck - My favorite documentary of the year. One of those happy instances where the filmmaker’s subject is so damned fascinating to watch that all they need do is just point the camera.
6. Warrior - Probably benefiting from a late release (in my house), and from the fact that I was so unprepared to be so moved by it. Subtle performances, an assured pace, and a surprisingly powerful story.
5. Moneyball - Kind of like this year’s The Social Network, in that it’s such a solid all-around film. Script, direction, performances. Plus my favorite sport.
4. Midnight in Paris - When Woody hits it, he hits it far and true. This film contains so much delightful magic, so much character and wit, and paints Paris with such a lovely brush.
3. Beginners - It’s impossible not to be sucked into the whimsy and truth of Mike Mills’ film. Great performances, and inventive little flourishes from Mills that keep it fresh throughout.
2. We Need To Talk About Kevin - So much to love about this film, but the main thing is how wonderfully visual it is. The colors and imagery are almost wholly responsible for the rising feeling of dread and violence. Combine that with Tilda Swindon’s unreliable narrator, and it makes for a visceral experience that had me grinning with dark glee.
1. The Artist - As a film nerd, I love being able to write that my favorite film of 2011 is a black and white silent picture. This simply beautiful film is the perfect love letter to cinema. I adore it.
