Monday 2 January 2012

Best films of 2011

So the 2011 is at an end, the hangovers have hopefully subdued, and I appear to be babyless for the next 2 hours so I thought I'd give you a run down of my favourite films of last year. Before I get into that I'll give a little shout out to the films that just missed out on a place in the final 10.

Super 8 was outstanding and yet again proved that JJ Abrams can make the transition between TV and film. The Troll Hunter proved that I wasn't sick of mockumentaries, mainly due to it being fucking awesome. Drive Angry was the best film of the year that should have been horrific, but had me giggling in glee all the way through it, and I laughed so hard at Bridesmaids I nearly shat myself. Bugger I nearly forgot to give shout out to the outstanding Drive and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Dumbass.

But wait if those films aren't in the top ten, what the hell made it.

10. Beginners
Beginners was a rather unexpectedly beautiful film directed by Mike Mills. The film is principally about two relationships. Ewan Mcgregor and his recently deceased dad played by Christopher Plummer have their relationship played through flashbacks. Beginning with Christopher Plummer coming out after the death of Ewans mother. The other being a new possible romantic relationship between Ewan Mcgregor and Melanie Laurent, a film star who lives through constant transition.

The film manages to get a ton of emotion across without ever being overly schamltzy. As his father slowly dies of cancer in the flashbacks his relationship with Laurent blossoms, then stutters as real life plays it's part. I won't spoil any more of the film than I may have already have. Just get a hold of the DVD, it's a worthy addition to any collection.

9. Hanna

This film took me totally by surprise, I didn't really know what to expect other than it'd be well acted due to the amazing cast. I mean Joe Wright had previously only directed big epic films like Atonement, or Pride and Prejudice so an action film of this caliber completely fucked me up.

The film grabs you by the balls and leads you through a great story and a whole lot of character development which well surpasses the action film I thought I was going to see. Not since the first Bourne film has an action film had me gripped to the seat.

8. Tucker and Dale vs Evil
I previously reviewed this film in this very blog, it hasn't lost anything with repeat viewings. If you haven't seen this film and are in any way a fan of horror films you NEED to get this film. You will not be disappointed. It basically shows the hick side of the standard horror film and puts it on it's head in the most amusing fashion.

7. Tyrannosaur
Paddy Considines directorial debut is one of the most powerful films I saw this year. I'd be doing a disservice to the cast if I didn't mention them all by name but since I'm trying to get through this in a couple of paragraphs I'm gonna have to fly past it and just say they are all outstanding and well worthy of any accolades or awards they receive.

It's not a happy film, like Mullens NEDs last year it doesn't show a nicer side of life. It's a very bleak view of life. From the opening scene where Mullen kicks his dog (and best friend) to death you know you aren't leaving the cinema whistling dixie but the film is so powerful I found myself unable to move at the end of the film. I just had to sit there so I could process what I'd just watched. Words cannot do justice to how good this film is.

6. Stake Land
This is another film I previously mentioned in my blog, and I knew when I finally got a hold of the DVD that it'd be here at the end of the year as one of the best. It's a small independent horror film that far surpasses all the horror crap that Hollywood threw at us this year. The characters were well developed, the storyline well thought out and the acting was superb.

Last time I mentioned this film I spoke of the outstanding Danielle Harris who is the mark of a good horror film. I don't mean this in a creepy or pervy way, she's just an actress who only seems to have the midas touch when it comes to horror films. The rest of the cast are also phenomenal considering how little money this film cost. American independent horror is alive and well. Thank fuck for that.

5. Thor
The last few years my best of film lists have basically been all the awesome comic book films of the year in some order that most people disagree with. This year I decided to just put my favourite in here. Now don't get me wrong this was an outstanding year for the comic book films.

Green Lantern was great but showed that DC still have a lot to learn outside the big two. Cowboys and Aliens managed to be both a great western and the best alien invasion film of the year. Dylan Dog dead of night was fucking immense and if you haven't caught it you really have to check the rather wonderful affair about a supernatural private eye starring Brandon Routh. And Marvel yet again tickled our testicles in preparation for The Avengers with Captain America and my favourite Thor.

Now I've been a huge fan of Thor since I was a kid, but to be honest I wasn't expecting much from this. I just didn't see how the you could make a genesis of Thor film without it being a mess. Luckily Kenneth Branagh and all those involved did. It was thoroughly enjoyable and did indeed get the juices going for the upcoming Avengers film.Awesome.

4. 5050
A comedy about cancer, how the hell is that going to work. Oh wait, base it on the your own life and make it about the weird awkwardness of people confronted by it and you have a rather wonderful film. Again it doesn't get too schmaltzy, even when confronted with moments that could have easily had me reaching for the sick bag. Add to that some stellar performances by all involved and you get a damn fine film.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is quickly becoming an actor which will lead me to see a film regardless of knowing anything else about it. Thankfully since most actors seem to chase the money regardless of the content of the film. Wait he was in GI Joe, cuntballs.

3. Source Code
Yet another film I previously reviewed here, and yet again it still stands up. It's not too long and could be slightly simplified as groundhog day gone horribly wrong but there's just something about Duncan Jones film that keeps bringing me back to watch it again and again. It's like an episode of the outer limits, the twilight zone or The Ray Bradury theatre.

It's like the kind of film M.Night Shymalan should be making by now instead of slowly drifting into madness. I'm just waiting for the announcement that his next film is going to be about a priest that fucks reanimated corpses. Seriously, what the fuck happened to that guy. Wait, source code, yeah it's fucking awesome.

2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
You know that moment when you hear that they're making a prequel to that movie you love and your like, "What the fucking fuck, why can't they leave things the fuck alone? Like Tim Burtons abortion of a film wasn't bad enough we have to get some new shit." Yeah that was seriously my reaction when I heard they were doing this. How fucking wrong can one man be.

This film completely and totally blew me away, by the end I was rocking back in forth giggling uncontrollably, there was a moment when I though I was just going to explode in a fountain of cum. Seriously I still can't get over how good this film was. It was worth the price of admission just for the scenes between Caesar and John Lithgow alone.  

1. Warrior
Up until putting this list together I had no idea what would be my number one film of the year, it was between the top three but I just couldn't make up my mind, but Warrior is the worthy winner of that accolade. Yeah that's how awesome I am, I bet Tom Hardy is like fuck me that's amazing. Actually he's one of the main reasons this became number one. He's had an amazing year. Nick Nolte is the best I've seen him for a long time. It was good to see his return to glory, like that of an old alcoholic friend that you love regardless of how destructive he is around you coming good. It was genuinely great to see him being awesome again.

The MMA was well shot, and barring a few glaring moments towards the end was believable. It was a film made with love. Like Rocky for MMA with two brothers fighting for a grand prize. I can't wait to see this film again. The DVDs out in February, so hurry the fuck up February. If you haven't seen this film, regardless of your interest in MMA go and see it. You don't have to be a fan of American Football to enjoy Any Given Sunday, or Remember the Titans. Or a fan of Baseball to enjoy Field of Dreams or Major League. But what can I say, I love a good sports movie, where the fuck's my copy of bad news bears. I've got films to watch.