The best films of 2011 and the most anticipated 2012 releases
If humans needed to take a month out of the year to hibernate, you can bet every movie lover would choose January. It has become the pre-Oscar dumping ground, where every theater that isn’t a ghost town probably should be because paying to see most January releases is like some kind of warped charity. That’s why, instead of focusing too heavily on current releases, we’re going to look back at some of the best films of 2011 (all of which will have been released on DVD as of January 31st), then forward to the 2012 films that should be worth waking up for.
Best Oscar Nominees of 2011
Drive
When you see that rare perfect film, it can be frustratingly difficult to determine exactly what made that film perfect. In the case of “Drive,” maybe it was Ryan Gosling’s masterful feat of acting almost solely through facial expressions as the quiet and nameless Driver. Maybe it was the unnerving synth score pulsing at varying rates throughout or the consistent ‘80s vibe or the insanely rapid-smooth pacing. It could also be the way Nicolas Winding Refn’s eerie restraint occasionally blips to reveal grisly violence or near-suffocating chase sequences. I’m gonna watch it again and again until I figure it out, which I’m hoping will take a long time.
Nominated for a 2012 Oscar for Sound Editing – and was snubbed in many other categories, in my opinion.
The Tree of Life
God bless Brad Pitt for escaping his seemingly inevitable fate as a typecast next-gen Redford earlier in his career. Had he not done so, he never would’ve been in the position to act as the powerful anchor of Terrence Malick’s latest exercise in film mastery. “The Tree of Life” has been that one film of the year that just won’t go away even months after viewing, and I’m beginning to think of it in terms of this whole decade. Through a small-town Texas family, viewers witness nothing less than the creation of the universe and the escalating tangle between humanity and the idea of God, perfectly acted and poetically crafted, with imagery that can steal your breath. Watch it twice.
Nominated for 2012 Oscars for Best Picture, Cinematography and Directing
Midnight in Paris
The legendary Woody Allen has made some of the best and some of the worst movies I’ve seen, but if there’s one thing he always does with excellence it’s capturing the character of the cities his stories take place in. With that being said, I wanted to see “Midnight in Paris” as soon as the title was revealed. Surprisingly this time, after over a decade of turning out mediocre films, Allen delivers one that gets everything just right – alluring depiction of Paris included. Sure, it’s a bit less daring than some of the other movies on this list. And yeah, you could argue that Owen Wilson talks a bit too much. But there’s something enchanting and irresistible about “Midnight in Paris,” and witnessing great literary heroes of the 1920’s come to life is pleasantly nostalgic. This is Woody Allen still gripping onto his signature cynicism and dark humor, but with a remarkably gleeful countenance.
Nominated for Best Picture, Art Direction, Directing and Writing (Original Screenplay)
Best Sleeper Comedies of 2011
Trollhunter
This comically self-aware Swedish film in the style of “The Blair Witch Project” and the spirit of “Shawn of the Dead” took a little while to catch on in the U.S., but those who were exposed to “Trollhunter” are ensuring its continued spread through American family rooms. The only film that’s ever made me laugh while cringing in suspense while dumbified in dazzlement, it had me in a vicious troll-grip from the very beginning. I could get into the film’s hysterical abuse of its characters or its charmingly twisted treatment of Norwegian folklore, but the less you know the better.
Win Win
This is a comedy-drama in the way that real life is often heavy and occasionally hilarious. Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan give acting lessons as they inhabit their roles, leaving the natural quality of the script unscathed. On the surface, this is just another feel-good film focusing on a middle-class American family – which is why its power to impress left me temporarily perplexed. But, after some thought, I think I figured it out: “Win Win” derives emotion organically, never forcing its characters in certain directions. It explores friendships and family dynamics candidly; it’s gritty and heartfelt and cynical in equal measure. Also, it’s centered around wrestling – and I still liked it.
2012 films to watch out for
If the world ends this December, at least the apocalypse had the courtesy of holding off until we got the chance to see some of the most exciting movies to come around in a long time. The following are just a handful of what the coming months have to offer.
Blockbusters:
The Hunger Games (March 23)
No popular book series is safe from the ever-watchful eye of Hollywood, but unlike a certain vampire trilogy, this one looks like it may be worthwhile. The novel was the fourteenth best-selling book of 2010, meaning a lot of people were interested in reading about kids fighting to the death. I’m betting even more will be interested in actually seeing it.
Marvel’s The Avengers (May 4)
In a sense, this movie has had four feature-length “trailers” to promote it. Marvel Studios has spent the past few years making sure that Avengers is perpetually in the back of audience’s minds. Comic book lovers have been separated into two camps, including resolute obsession and unbridled disdain. So in May, when Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America and the rest of the elite gang shows up to save everybody, they better be damn entertaining doing it. If not, Batman won’t be too far behind. And he always gets the job done.
The Dark Knight Rises (July 20)
If the trailer is any indicator, this final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s unrivaled Batman series could become “The Godfather” of the superhero genre. It’s safe to say that Nolan simply did it right, and I’m excited to see what the innovative director tackles next. And here’s to hoping Hollywood doesn’t pull a Spiderman on the franchise. Leave Batman alone.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (December 14)
Peter Jackson takes us back to Middle Earth in this first installment of the long-awaited two-part project. Anticipation is currently contained to widespread murmuring, but expect the buzz to swell into worldwide obsession as December approaches.
The Great Gatsby (December 25)
There’s something to be said about the timing of bringing F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel back to the screen. An examination of extravagant and indulgent lifestyles with tragic destinations, it’ll be interesting to see how the tale resonates with this generation. And, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carrey Mulligan in the lead roles and the revered reputation of the novel in the hands of director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!), “The Great Gatsby” is certain to reach a massive audience.
These films may be smaller dots on the Hollywood radar, but they have the potential to sneak up and shoot the others out of the sky:
Argo / Ben Affleck (September 14)
With each film, Ben Affleck is shaping up to be one of the best actor-turned-directors of his generation. Who saw that coming?
Frankenweenie / Tim Burton (October TBD)
It would be a bland year without one of Tim Burton’s morbidly charming stop-motion features, and this resurrection of an ‘80s short about a boy who brings his dog back to life could rank up there with Nightmare. At the very least, it’s almost guaranteed to have the coolest title of any movie this year.
Lincoln / Steven Spielberg (December TBD)
Daniel Day Lewis is one of the last method actors alive, and he only takes one role every few years. His turn as Abraham Lincoln could put his own name in future history books.
The Master / Paul Thomas Anderson (TBD)
Paul Thomas Anderson is holed up in his laboratory concocting his follow-up to “There Will Be Blood,” and his lab assistants are Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix. He’s becoming one of those rare directors who generates interest while trying not to.
