Courtney’s Top Ten Films of 2011

Sadly, another year has passed us by in the blink of an eye. But before we get out the noisemakers, put on our party hats, and sing “Auld Lang Syne” as the year fades in our memories, we here at VeryAware just wanted to take a moment to say what a fantastic year it was for cinema. Each of our critics are standing by to run down the films we feel you shouldn’t end the year without seeing.

So many clever and inventive films almost made it onto my list. However, there can be only ten to make it to the top. So let’s get on with this, shall we?

THE SKIN I LIVE IN: One of the most deliciously wicked foreign films that I’ve seen in quite some time. The film tells the story of Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), an eminent Spanish plastic surgeon, and his guinea pig-prisoner, Vera (Elena Anaya). It plays with themes and concepts of identity and twists and turns (similar to the DNA helix that plays under the end credits) abound. Bold, brash and brazen, SKIN will crawl under yours and stir up some thought provoking discussions.

DRIVE: I will still be clinging to my love of this movie long after this year ends. And shame on those who still haven’t seen this thrilling and super stylish film. It’s got fast cars, an incredibly handsome and laconic dude with no name behind the wheel (Ryan “Baby Goose” Gosling), a killer soundtrack, and one of cinema’s great auteurs behind the camera (Nicolas Winding Refn). What more could you ask for?

THE ARTIST: This high-concept silent movie about the silent movie era is sure to please and charm the pants off audiences once it gets a wider release – that is once the award nominations start rolling in. Writer-Director Michel Hazanavicius has painted a loving portrait of a displaced man in a new world he’s reticent to accept. There is more clever visual storytelling in two minutes of this film than in two hours of most others. Uplifting, heartbreaking, and delightful, THE ARTIST is not to be missed. While you can tell what the basic plot points will be, getting there is full of magic, wonder, and delight.

SHAME: Even with a fairly uncomplicated logline at its core – one man’s sex addiction takes a startling downhill journey further into depravity when his sister (Carey Mulligan) comes to visit – this film from Director- Co-Writer Steve McQueen is incredibly complex, thanks mostly to the stellar and envelope-pushing performance from lead Michael Fassbender. This is the kind of movie that will leave you feeling both conflicted and haunted by it days after viewing. And in my book, that equates to some damn fine filmmaking.

CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF: For anyone who loves the movie making craft as much as we do around here, this is an awe-inducing and inspiring look into the world of cinematography. Director Craig McCall’s portrait of British cinematographer Jack Cardiff, is like two years’ worth of film school for the small price of a ticket. He worked with some of the best directors in the biz (Huston, Hitchcock, Pressburger and Powell) and shares many fascinating behind-the-scenes stories with viewers. Now on DVD, this makes a lovely companion piece in any film lover’s collection.

BRIDESMAIDS: In the words of writer/leading lady Kristen Wigg, “I’m ready to PAAAARTY!” In the film, her character Annie’s life is thrown into a tizzy when her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) announces she’s getting married. Tasked with being the maid-of-honor, Annie winds up supremely (and hilariously) mucking it all up. Surprisingly poignant, it does wonders for showcasing female friendship (and comedy) in a healthy and real way.

MELANCHOLIA: Writer/Director/Cannes rabble-rouser Lars Von Trier has gifted audiences with his highly stylized, apocalyptic vision. While the film is not engrossing in terms of “oh these characters are so interesting,” the end of days situation and how it plays out at the end is so harrowing, it makes you think about your own life and your own loved ones. The film is structured into two chapters, each representing sisters Justine (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and Claire (Kristen Dunst). Where the first chapter is slow to develop and feels a little like #whitepeopleproblems, the second chapter belonging to Justine is where the film really hits its stride.

SENNA: Sure a simple search on Wikipedia could tell you what happened at each of F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna’s races, but it wouldn’t come close to what this film does. It’s astounding to see how the assemblage of archival footage can be molded into a dramatically meaty narrative better than most Hollywood blockbusters. We get to see what drove the man who drove so beautifully.

BEGINNERS: An adorable “talking” dog, a meet-cute to end all meet-cutes, and an incredibly poignant and engaging story about a son (Ewan McGregor) coming to terms with his parents’ divorce after his recently-out-of-the-closet father’s (Christopher Plummer’s) passing. There’s not much in the way of traditional forms of conflict; it’s all driven by inner conflict. It’s a clever, touching, and witty little gem.

TREE OF LIFE: If you told me a year ago that a Terrence Malick movie would be on my best of list, I would’ve called you insane. Not having been much of a fan of the reclusive filmmaker in the past (I absolutely hated THE THIN RED LINE), I never would’ve guessed this existential journey would have connected with me. And this film can be equally as maddening, but there is a lot to like here. Both ephemeral and ethereal, the imagery (with help from cinematographer and Oscar shoe-in Emmanuel Lubezki) is beautiful and astoundingly engaging.

So there you have it folks! Do you agree with my list? What were your top ten pics of 2011? Did I leave any off? Stay tuned throughout this week for our other critic’s top ten picks!