Top 10 Movies of 2011

It’s a little late, but here are my choices for the best movies of last year.  Truthfully, I didn’t get to see many movies last year and still have a few more to check out.

Need to See:

-          Killer Elite

-          The Artist

-          The Descendants

-          Mission Impossible

-          Warrior

Honourable Mentions:

-          Paul

-          The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

-          Captain America

-          Thor

-          Scream 4

-          The Muppets

#10 Conan O’Brien: Can’t Stop

This was one of the best documentaries of the year.  It looked at how Conan dealt with being bumped off the Tonight Show after a short stint then taking his comic genius on the road.  We get to see all sides of the funniest late night talk show host since Johnny Carson and I enjoyed every minute of it.

#9 Horrible Bosses

This was quite possibly the funniest movie of the year.  It is the best thing that Jason Bateman has done since Arrested Development.  Charlie Day proved that he shine on the big screen.  Jason Sudeikis also was priceless throughout the film.  Add in 4 memorable performances by Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and the lovely Jennifer Aniston and you have one hell of a comedy. 

#8 X-Men: First Class

This is the film that single-handed saved the X-Men franchise.  James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender delivered fine performance as young Professor X and Magneto.  Betty Draper and Kevin Bacon added some memorable scenes, especially Bacon who hammed it perfectly playing the baddie.  Overall, it was a great superhero movie that was on par with the original movie, but not quite as awesome as X2.

#7 Super 8

I had such high hopes for this film and it delivered right up until the last 10 minutes that were too convenient for my liking.  That being said, the film was one of the best for keeping me on the edge of my seat.  The kids were fantastic and Coach Eric Taylor was his usual brilliance.  JJ Abrams is fine director and can play with the big boys when it comes to making blockbusters, having now made Star Trek, MII 3, and now this gem.

#6 Moneyball

Baseball is not my favourite sport, but I still love any sports movie.  Moneyball is one of the best baseball flicks since The Rookie.  Brad Pitt delivered another mesmerizing performance as the real-life Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s GM.  Jonah Hill showed his acting chops and proved that he can handle serious roles.  Aaron Sorkin wrote yet another brilliant screenplay and could/should be up for Best Adapted Screenplay come Oscar time.

#5 Hugo

Marty Scorsese can do no wrong in my books.  This brilliant director can take any story and shoot it in such a way that it literally takes your breath away.  He tries his hand at a 3D movie and made the best one since Avatar.  The film was so beautiful to watch.  It was a perfect way for Marty to show off his love of restoring old movies.  The actors, including heavyweight Sir Ben Kingsley, funny man Sasha Baron Cohen, and newcomers Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz, all deliver fine performances, especially the young Butterfield who did an amazing job carrying the film. 

#4 War Horse

I didn’t think I would like this film as much as I did, but that’s Spielberg for you.  He delivered one of his best movies in a long time.  Like Scorsese, Spielberg shot a movie that was incredibly stunningly beautiful.  The story of a horse surviving all that Joey does is so powerful and will have you getting all emotional over a bloody horse. 

#3 The Ides of March  

Most of you faithful readers of my blog know how much I love The West Wing and anything political.  The Ides of March is one of the best political movies in years.  It was the movie where Canada’s own Ryan Gosling proved that he play with the big boys, such as George Clooney, Paul Giamitti, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Gosling not played with the heavy hitters, he carried the movie that had so many great actors in it.  Clooney also did a solid job behind the camera, directing an amazing political movie.

#2 50/50

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is no longer that kid from Angels in the Outfield or even the kid from 3^rd Rock from the Sun.  He has established himself as one of the finest young actors out there.  His performance as Adam, a young man who finds out he has cancer and his journey through it was nothing short of brilliant.  He had great chemistry with Canada’s new favourite comedic genius, Seth Rogen, who also delivered a great performance as Adam’s best friend.  Rogen had almost all of the laughs throughout the best comedy-drama of the year.  Anna Kendrick and Bryce Dallas Howard were both fantastic in their limited roles as Adam’s psychologists and girlfriend, respectively.  Overall, the film had a great mix of comedy and drama as it tackled the touchy subject  of cancer. 

#1 Drive

As most of you have read in my previous review of this brilliant film, it is my generation’s Taxi Driver.  The film is also the best thing that Ryan Gosling has ever done.  The young man has matured into one of the finest things that Canada has produced since Wayne Gretzky.  His portrayal as the titular Driver is one for the books.  He barely speaks, but yet he is so intense that you can’t help but to cheer for him even when he goes a little off the deep end at times.  Carey Mulligan also delivered a mesmerizing performance as Irene, the next door neighbour and love interest of our hero.  Throw in solid outings by Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman and the lovely Christina Hendricks and you have yourself the best movie of 2011.  Sadly, the film will probably be overlooked by the Academy, but it is the clear winner in my mind.