Friday, December 30, 2011 at 2:52PM Editor's Picks: Top 5 Films of 2011
Before I start my Top 5 list it should be noted that I haven't seen The Tree of Life or The Descendants yet. Both movies are creating a lot of Oscar buzz and are on many critics lists thus far. I'll probably completely forget to mention a film I liked too. It's bound to happen. Now we turn to my list of the Top 5 Films of 2011.
1. Drive
Here's our review of it.
Drive will go down as a dual winner of sorts for me as I thought it had the best soundtrack of the year as well. Nicholas Winding Refn's film about a movie stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who spends his evenings as a wheel man for robbers and such was an all around masterpiece. Moviegoers and critics expecting a Fast and Furious style action flick were severely disappointed, which led one angry (idiot) viewer to sue the studio for producing a misleading trailer.
That criticism was surprising, considering Drive had one of the most intense car related chase scenes I've ever seen in the films opening. Winding Refn deserves an Oscar nod for this incredible effort that was both beautiful and incredibly brutal and violent. Albert Brooks played an outstanding villain in Bernie Rose, and it's possible he'll win a statue for Best Supporting Actor in the new year.
2. Bridesmaids
It was easy to add my favorite summer movie, Bridesmaids, directed by Paul Feig (sorry Super 8) to my list, because it was just that damn good. Considered by many as a ladies' version of The Hangover, the super funny Kristen Wiig plays a down on her luck former baker, who struggles with her maid of honor duties for her best friend's (Maya Rudolph) wedding when another bridesmaid (Rose Byrne) tries to steal the spotlight. This delightful comedy is laugh out loud hilarious in most of its scenes, thanks largely in part to the phenomenal performances of Wiig and relative unknown (until now) Melissa McCarthy.
The end result is easily the best rom com I've ever seen. It's chalked full of laughs and actually turns out to be a pretty sweet loves story between Wiig and Chris O'Dowd.
3. 50/50
Check out our review here.
Don't let my ranking fool you, 50/50 could've just as easily been my number one or two film of the year if not for the grim subject matter. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's portrayal of a young man with potentially incurable cancer blew me a way and was far better than I expected. His character faces 50/50 odds that his rare form of cancer can either be treated or he dies.
His support network: his best friend's (Seth Rogen) motives behind his support (to get laid by women who feel sorry for him), his crazy, overbearing mother (Angelica Huston) or his inexperienced psychologist (Anna Kendrick). JGL's character can only really rely on himself and his friends with cancer to get through this dilemma. Rogen was very funny in his role as a dedicated sidekick, who has trouble expressing his true feelings to his sick friend. If you want to see a solid dramedy that may get some of you a little misty-eyed check out 50/50.
4. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
See Our Review Here.
I didn't believe the reviews that claimed Sherlock Holmes 2 was much better than the first film not even when GTBP's own reliable movie critic Josh Baldwin claimed it was. I had to see it for myself and was shocked to learn that everyone was spot on with their assessments. Game of Shadows was Sherlock Holmes on crack: More action, funnier lines and not so clever disguises by Robert Downey Jr. throughout, plus an incredible dynamic between our protagonists, Holmes and Watson (Jude Law) vs the antagonist of Professor Moriarty (played brilliantly by Jared Harris). Their rivalry with the evil professor is the heart and soul of the movie, as Moriarty is able to counter every move Holmes throws at him.
I've always been a die hard Guy Ritchie fan, and if not for Snatch, Game of Shadows would go down in history as the filmmaker's best ever. The beauty is, naturally, they left the story open for one more installment, and I for one can't wait!
5. Bellflower
Our Review.
Bellflower is definitely my under-the-radar pick on this list, because it didn't have a wide theatrical release. It didn't even land in the tiny art house theater in my small neck of the woods. In fact, watching the first few minutes of the film I wasn't all that impressed. The acting seemed atrocious at first. However, as it progressed I got sucked in for the final 103 minutes and was blown away by the end. This crazy ass movie was written, directed and starred Evan Glodell as one of two early-twenties guys, Tyler Dawson being the other, that spend all of their spare time creating flame throwers, shooting shotguns and working on cars for their gang "Mother Medusa" inspired by the classic film Mad Max. I gotta say the whiskey dispenser in the car's dash they make is cool as hell.
My description of Bellflower probably leads you to believe the movie is like a low budget Jackass more than anything else, but there's far more to it than that. There's also a decent love story between Woodrow (Glodell) the films main character and Milly (Jessie Wiseman) a sexy young woman Woodrow meets at a bar and immediately falls head over heals for. Milly warns him she will break his heart, and when she inevitably does, the second half of the movie becomes super intense as we experience what happens when Woodrow flips out.
I'd highly recommend all of these movies. Most of them can be seen on DVD and Blu-Ray, though I'd encourage everyone to see Game of Shadows on the big screen.
Honorable Mentions: Super 8, Immortals, Win-Win, X-Men: First Class, The Ides of March, The Devil's Double and Horrible Bosses.
What were some of you favorite films of 2011?
Reader Comments (3)
I would have to have Warrior somewhere in the Top 5. Great movie!
Honestly I didn't like Warrior nearly as much as everyone else.
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Litozin