[The Bad Guy]

So I've seen roughly 120 films from 2011 and the vast majority of them were good. That made getting this year's list down to "only" 50 picks a real challenge, since I was forced to leave off a lot of films that I enjoyed.

Even though I've done my best to see everything there are still a few films that I haven't been able to track down due to terrible distribution, like Into The Abyss, The Yellow Sea, Tyrannosaur, Being Elmo and The Kid With A Bike. Rather than wait until March or April to write this list I figure it's best to write it now while 2011 lists have a bit more relevance. Besides, there's no shortage of good movies as it is.

A quick note about what qualifies as 2011: This list was pieced together based on U.S. release dates. I do have a grace period for foreign films that can carry into February, but foreign release dates and film festivals do not count. If you live in another country, downloaded something, or attended a festival you may have seen some of these films in 2010 or even earlier. The reason I have this system is to avoid disqualifying most foreign films. I try to support the arts legally whenever I can, but I realize that this often results in seeing foreign films a year after their native release dates. The most important question for me is "could I have seen this legally?"

20 Honorable Mentions In No Order:
Contagion
Meek's Cutoff
X-Men First Class
Outrage
Hanna
Source Code
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams
The Trip
Super
Batman: Year One
The Descendants
Certified Copy
Ip Man 2
Pina
Hobo With A Shotgun
Le Quattro Volte
Page One: Inside The New York Times
Waste Land
Super 8
Another Earth

Top HM /#51: Martha Marcy May Marlene

[The Bad Guy]

50. Senna


U.S. Theatrical Release: August 12 2011
U.S. DVD Release: March 6 2012

No Fear. No Limits. No Equal.

This documentary about F1 racer Ayrton Senna is composed entirely of archival footage. Director Asif Kapadia manages to take these clips and create a seamless, expertly crafted work of storytelling. There's hardly any narration or obvious agenda here.

Like many Americans I was totally unfamiliar with Ayrton Senna's Formula 1 legacy. While this documentary has been highly celebrated among F1 Racing enthusiasts, it's probably best to go in knowing as little as possible. It's such a layered and complex life story that I was excited by the twists, the controversies, and the sense of danger. This is an entertaining and emotional ride that's worth taking, even if you have no interest in sports.


49. The Turin Horse


The Turin Horse is one of the most unique films I've seen in years. It's also one of the most polarizing, as it caused quite a few walkouts even among art house movie crowds. The reason for this? It's slow... almost painfully so. Director Bela Tarr has said that the film was intended to portray the crushing monotony of daily life, and he has certainly succeeded in doing so with this uncompromising vision.

That's not to say that The Turin Horse isn't captivating. It has some amazing camera shots, a haunting theme music that plays throughout the film, and it can be intensely provocative at moments. I walked away from this film feeling that it was the cinematic portrayal of that famous Socrates quote "the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being". Mere survival is not good enough.


48. Tucker & Dale vs Evil


This horror/comedy sitcom isn't exactly highbrow entertainment, but it's filled with plenty of morbid humor. It's definitely worthwhile viewing for anyone that enjoys films like Shaun of the Dead.

It involves two redneck buddies who invest in a fixer-upper cabin, looking for some simple rest and relaxation. However, they run into a band of college kids who mistake them as a threat. One things leads to another and suddenly Tucker and Dale are in over their heads, as the kids begin to take drastic measures to protect each other from these otherwise harmless vacationers. As you might expect this is a bloody and twisted affair, but if you can appreciate a very dark brand of humor this is one to look out for.


47. Fast Five


Yeah, a Fast & The Furious movie made this list. I'm as surprised as you are that Fast Five ended up being this good. I even put off seeing this for a while because I doubted anything from this franchise could live up to this amount of hype. However, after nearly a dozen personal recommendations and an impressive 78% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes I knew I had to check it out.

What I learned was that this movie is indeed "the big box awesome". It never pretends to be anything other than a full throttle action film with physics-defying stunts and plenty of eye candy. If you're looking for philosophical depth or naturalism look elsewhere. I found myself falling for this film in spite of myself. In a year of great action films, this may not be the best but it certainly deserves a mention on this list. The final chase scene is worth the price of admission by itself.


46. Mysteries Of Lisbon

U.S. Theatrical Release: August 5 2011
U.S. DVD Release: January 17 2012

When I first saw the run time for Mysteries Of Lisbon I assumed it was a typo. I soon learned that it's stated 4hr32m length was accurate, complete with a theatrical intermission.

Based on the 19th century Portuguese novel, this adaptation by director Raul Ruiz is a rare kind of immersion into a foreign world. Despite it's length it flows at a brisk pace thanks to it's colorful characters and complex intertwined narratives. This story spans three generations across Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. Joao's journey of discovery is the closest thing we get to a central narrative, but there is no real protagonist here.

If you are adventurous enough to take the plunge I feel that this is a rewarding experience. Ruiz' use of cinematography adds a surreal element to the film and the period is so beautifully realized that it's easy to lose yourself in this epic.

[Captain Dills]

Here we go.

[The Bad Guy]

45. Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol


Brad Bird's Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol was adored by critics and audiences. Many have declared it the best movie in the series, which is probably a fair assessment. The film moves at a blistering pace and is jam packed with impressive effects sequences. The rogue team is filled with likeable characters who have a sense of humor in addition to their obvious skill sets.

The only major criticism I have is that the film seems to skip around a lot, playing fast and loose with the plot. In a lot of the scenes we barely know who anyone is outside of the main crew, other times we're barely given any information at all. This is complicated by the lack of a central villain... and while I don't necessarily need something on the level of Phillip Seymour Hoffman from MI:3 it would have helped if there was more of a protagonist/antagonist dynamic.

In the end MI:4 is a fun roller coaster ride that I really enjoyed seeing on the IMAX screen. It could have been more than that, but I appreciate it for what it is.


44. Submarine


This Welsh coming-of-age film is extremely eccentric, but it also captures the experience of adolescence in a way that few others can. It has a lot in common with Wes Anderson films, but Richard Ayoade's Submarine is a bit more grounded in reality because it's intended to be a semi-autobiographical story.

While it's quirky style might not resonate with everyone it definitely worked for me. It's a warts and all depiction of childhood love that deals with some painful subjects, yet it's also one of the funniest movies of the year. It's hard not be succumb to its charms.


43. I Saw The Devil

U.S. Theatrical Release: March 4 2011
U.S. DVD Release: May 10 2011

It sometimes seems like South Korea is the land of a hundred revenge movies, so even though I Saw The Devil is another in a long line of films addressing that theme it does so in an original way that should keep viewers guessing what will come next. This is a film in which there is no real hero to root for, only immoral behavior ranging from bad to monstrous.

Kim Jee-Woon's revenge thriller is certainly not for the faint of heart. It's extremely violent and disturbing even by the standards of it's genre. However, I don't consider this is not an exploitation piece. It's an uncompromising film that makes us think about how to confront evil, both in others and ourselves.


42. Once Upon A Time In Anatolia


On the one hand Ceylan's film is a straightforward story about a murder investigation, while on the other it's a surreal and philosophical work. The stark realism is juxtaposed with moments of fantasy, where aspects of life and death are dealt with as if they were out of a fairy tale. These themes of objective reality and myth come full circle in the film's final act.

This Turkish import takes a while to get going, but it has beautiful scenery and a rich atmosphere. It's an intriguing film that will stay in your head for days or weeks after seeing it, so for those who don't mind it's languid pace it will be a rewarding experience.



41. Tomboy


Celine Sciammi's Tomboy is a beautiful coming of age story that addresses it's gay/lesbian subject matter with great empathy and heart. There's never a moment where any of the characters feels unbelievable in their role. This is partly because it's a film that's more concerned with characters' psychological motivations than plot devices. I appreciated the style and the way in which it addressed Michael's gender struggles with an open-ended approach.

While it does deal with issues of gender identity this film should remind anyone of what it was like to be this young and innocent. There are beautiful scenes of children at play outside the apartment complex that took me back to a simpler time in my own life.

[Rumpled 4 Skin]

Well your doing well so far.. i just can't believe you found 50 good movies in one year?

...and especially better than X-Men:First Class

Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text

I`m guessing the top slot will either be a film about autistic synth-pop or southern panty-sniffing

[TripFontaine]

I really liked Tomboy an Submarine. Good stuff so far.

[Methuselah]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

So I've seen roughly 120 films from 2011 and the vast majority of them were good. That made getting this year's list down to "only" 50 picks a real challenge, since I was forced to leave off a lot of films that I enjoyed.

Even though I've done my best to see everything there are still a few films that I haven't been able to track down due to terrible distribution, like Herzog's Into The Abyss. Rather than wait until March or April to write this list I figure it's best to write it now while 2011 lists have a bit more relevance. Besides, there's no shortage of good movies as it is.

A quick note about what qualifies as 2011: This list was pieced together based on U.S. release dates. I do have a grace period for foreign films that can carry into February, but foreign release dates and film festivals do not count. If you live in another country, downloaded something, or attended a festival you may have seen some of these films in 2010 or even earlier. The reason I have this system is to avoid disqualifying most foreign films. I try to support the arts legally whenever I can, but I realize that this often results in seeing foreign films a year after their native release dates. The most important question for me is "could I have seen this legally?"

Honorable Mentions:

Contagion
Meek's Cutoff
X-Men First Class
Outrage
Hanna
Source Code
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams
The Trip
Super
Batman: Year One
The Descendants
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Another Earth
Ip Man 2
Pina
Even The Rain
Hobo With A Shotgun
Le Quattro Volte
Page One: The New York Times

Waste Land

I think you have a typo in your list Bad Guy, you accidently typed in Xmen First Class.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Rumpled 4 Skin

Well your doing well so far.. i just can't believe you found 50 good movies in one year?

...and especially better than X-Men:First Class

Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text

Ever since I started doing these lists I've never had trouble finding 50 movies I like. The challenge is always deciding what makes the cut and what doesn't. 2011 was an especially difficult year for that due to the number of quality films that came out. Where would X-Men rank on your list?

Originally Posted by TripFontaine

I really liked Tomboy an Submarine. Good stuff so far.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Methuselah

I think you have a typo in your list Bad Guy, you accidently typed in Xmen First Class.

Meaning it definitely deserves to make the list... or that it's so bad it shouldn't even be mentioned?

[The Plan]

One of the lists I look forward to every year, along with Missing Reel's. Subscribed.

Good write ups so far. You only remind me that I still have a boat load of films to watch from '11.

The only one I've seen so far from your list is Submarine, which I semi-enjoyed. It's shot very well and its quirky and funny. Still, the constant voiceover got to me, and I had to shut it off about halfway through. Just couldn't stand it anymore. Maybe I should give it another go.

Looking forward to rest though.

[Hizzyfitz]

I do look forward to your lists. I always have pencil and paper ready to jot down movies you review that I haven't heard about. So far I have Mysteries of Lisbon, Once Upon A Time in Anatolia and Tomboy.

Re Submarine. One of the few times that voice over really works.

[Paroxysm]

Awesome start.

[Rock]

It always takes me a couple of years to catch up on what I missed in any given year, so I will be keeping an eye on this list.

I'm a little surprised to see Batman: Year One in the HMs (as DTV films tend to get left out of most year end lists). What did you think about it? I was pretty lukewarm on it - the visuals were a bit too glossy to properly capture the look of the graphic novel, and the film seemed to drag a bit. I don't think it's one of the better DC Animated DTV films.

[Carlos Keith]

I can't believe you put MI4 on this list. Given Brad Bird is a good director. This film is still pure cabbage at its best.

top 5 of 2011

1 take shelter
2 hugo
3 drive
4 war horse
5 ides of march

[Resistance]

120 movies is quite impressive. I don't even think I've seen 50. Well, looking forward to the rest of the list.

[Sammael]

I love your year end lists, subscribed brah.

[The Bad Guy]

40. Moneyball


Aaron Sorkin's script for Moneyball has more to do with leadership and outside the box thinking than it does about sports. Most films in this genre focus solely on teams or athletes, but Moneyball is about the men like Billy Beane and Peter Brand who work behind the scenes to build a contender. But for anyone who knows anything about modern day baseball, the game is won and lost on payroll. The lack of a salary cap is the driving engine behind this tale of saber-metrics. The Athletics try to compete with teams like the Yankees and Red Sox... not by outbidding them, but by outsmarting them.

The film really captures the struggle and anguish of sports, as well as the joy of rooting for an underdog. As someone who doesn't even watch regular season baseball I was still caught up in the drama. Sorkin's script helps humanize these characters and draw us in, even if we don't know the first thing about OPS.


39. Shame


Shame is a film that's more about addiction than it is about sex. Brandon seems like a character that a many men would envy, but as we watch his life through his own eyes we realize that he's a deeply troubled individual. Despite his professional success and sexual conquests, he is unable to establish an intimate connection with anyone - not even his own sister. Brandon's insatiable need leads him down a path that causes harm to others and is ultimately self-destructive. His pleasures are fleeting by their very nature and all he can do is reiterate them as many times as he is able.

This film features strong performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. Steve McQueen's direction gives the piece a very distinct and spellbinding feel. Shame's distribution was hurt by its NC-17 rating so if your theaters were unable to show it I'd recommend renting or streaming it once it's available.


38. Pariah


When I first saw the trailer for Pariah I didn't have much interest in seeing it. It looked as though it was some kind of emotionally manipulative dramatic cliche, the kind that tries too hard to win you over with it's lack of subtlety and cloying sentimentality. But then it started getting rave reviews...

It turns out that Dee Rees' film is an extremely authentic and complex drama about sexuality and identity. Not only are the actors (particularly Adepero Oduye) great, but the characters they portray are rich and complicated. Even when we see people display shocking behavior we're able to understand how it fits into the context of their environment and upbringing.

Pariah is a small movie about a very big subject. It's simultaneously tender, enlightening, and heartbreaking. It just might be the best film I've seen about homosexuality.


37. Henri Georges Clouzot's Inferno

U.S. Theatrical Release: None
U.S. DVD Release: April 26 2011

Henri Georges Clouzot is considered one of the giants of French cinema to this day. This documentary is about a film he worked on in 1963 titled "L'Enfer". Because of his incredible reputation Clouzot was given full creative freedom and an unlimited budget. He took full advantage by hiring many of the biggest stars in Franc at the time. He booked three different camera crews, ran up countless overtime, and began experimenting with avant garde film techniques that he believed would revolutionize the genre.

But the film was never even released. The whole project was a disaster and the celluloid was hidden away in a dusty archive for nearly half a century... until now.

This is the story of the movie that never got made. It's a fascinating and cautionary tale about artistic hubris that has to be seen to be believed.


36. Young Adult


I give the creators of Young Adult a lot of credit for having the guts to make this film. Nearly everything about it flies in the face of conventional, modern comedies. Some have argued that Bridesmaids pushed the envelope with it's unlikeable female protagonist, but this is a different kind of animal. Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is so profoundly self absorbed and immature that it would take serious effort to empathize with her. However, this allows for some edgy dark comedy and makes the movie one of the funniest of 2011.

The whole film revolves around Mavis' desire to return to her hometown and steal her high school sweetheart Buddy back because (in her mind) the two of them are meant to be together. The only problem is that Buddy Slade is happily married with a newborn baby. As you might expect there is a great deal of twisted humor and painfully awkward moments. It's the kind of unapologetic, dark film that offers no real redemption... so it shouldn't come as a surprise that audiences are split on it. I personally loved it, but Young Adult is currently sitting at 58% fan approval on Rotten Tomatoes.

Patton Oswalt and Charlize Theron turn in very impressive performances here, each understanding the subtlety of their parts and breathing life into this unconventional script. If you're tired of the typical Hollywood comedy you should definitely seek this out. It's one of the funniest movies I've seen in years.

[Jyan]

Thanks, now I'm stuck adding even movies to my "Need to watch before making Top 25 List" list.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Forget The Plan

One of the lists I look forward to every year, along with Missing Reel's. Subscribed.

Good write ups so far. You only remind me that I still have a boat load of films to watch from '11.

The only one I've seen so far from your list is Submarine, which I semi-enjoyed. It's shot very well and its quirky and funny. Still, the constant voiceover got to me, and I had to shut it off about halfway through. Just couldn't stand it anymore. Maybe I should give it another go.

Looking forward to rest though.

Nice to have you back for this year's list. I'm trying to make this year's list a little more professional than in years past and I'm glad you're enjoying the write ups so far.

That's interesting that the voice-over for Submarine was a problem for you. I thought it worked well but I never gave it too much thought.

Originally Posted by Hizzyfitz

I do look forward to your lists. I always have pencil and paper ready to jot down movies you review that I haven't heard about. So far I have Mysteries of Lisbon, Once Upon A Time in Anatolia and Tomboy.

Thanks Hizzyfitz

I'm surprised you hadn't heard of those three but I suppose they are a bit under the radar. If you decide to check them out I hope you enjoy them.

Originally Posted by Mr Paroxysm

Awesome start.

[Q & T]

This is a very entertaining list so far. CONTINUE.

[Splitter]

Been waiting a long time for this. Your list is always one of the best annual treats GD has to offer

[paizlea]

Count me among those who were waiting for your list - it's always a good read.

Glad to see you enjoyed Fast Five so much. I was also surprised at how absolutely great it was at being mindless action fun.

[TripFontaine]

I was surprised how much I liked Young Adult. Easily the gutsiest comedy of the year.

[Rumpled 4 Skin]

OK i like the sound of this Young Adult + charlize theron

[The Bad Guy]

35. Beginners

After Oliver's mother passes away his father Hal steps out of the closet and begins to pursue a gay relationship at the age of 75. Despite his old age and a cancer diagnosis, Hal is undeterred in his quest to seek out companionship and realize his sexual identity. It isn't until Hal finally succumbs to his cancer that Oliver tries to end his loneliness by courting a new love interest named Hanna.

If you read the synopsis you might think that Beginners is a tear jerking film about self pity and lost opportunity.However, this is a genuinely lighthearted, funny, and whimsical movie. I found the whole thing to be delightful and even life-affirming. It has a lasting emotional impact without ever succumbing to melancholia.

This movie also has an awesome dog. I just thought I'd throw that out there...

34. Don 2

It seems like every year we get a dozen superhero movies. It's gotten to the point where nearly every comic book hero has been given a film adaptation or is in the process of being rebooted. These good vs. evil stories make for decent entertainment, but I have to admit that I get tired rooting for Superman to save the day.

Don 2 is a super-villain movie, which is probably why I found it so refreshing. The protagonist of the film, Don (played by Shahrukh Khan) is a cross between The Joker and James Bond. He's so effective at controlling the drug trade of southeast Asia that other mobsters fear him and conspire to kill him. A wanted man in every country, Don must devise a scheme that keeps him out of harms way while staying one step ahead of the law. I don't want to give too much away, but there's also a very ambitious heist attempt.

Although I enjoyed MI:4 I must admit that I got a lot more fun out of this Indian import. It's relentlessly entertaining and fast paced despite it's 2 1/2 hour run time. It does have some formulaic pieces and cheesy one-liners, but who cares? This is a movie where we can cheer for the bad guy as he tries to succeed against impossible odds... I love that.

33. Rango

Rango was hands down the best U.S. animated film of 2011. Granted, Pixar seemed content to take the year off, but it's still worth noting that this is streets ahead of competitors like Rio or Puss In Boots.

It's a movie that will delight younger audiences but it's also loaded with film references and adult appeal. Trying to categorize Rango is difficult... it's a film noir, a fish out of water story, an action movie, and a comedy. It can shift from slapstick comedy to philosophical introspection on a dime and it references everything from Chinatown to Clint Eastwood. It should also be noted that this is one of the most beautiful animated films I've ever seen. The detail of each character is astounding and watching it on Blu Ray is visual tour de force. There's one chase scene that has so many moving pieces you wonder how the animators were able to blend so much beauty and chaos onto the screen.

32. Midnight In Paris

I went into Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris with low expectations and ended up falling in love with it's science fiction premise. It's easy to be seduced by its unabashed love for Paris and the arts in general.

As Gil (Owen Wilson) is abandoned by his fiancee one evening he's left to wander Paris on his own. He soon finds himself being led into a magical cab that transports him through time to 1920s, an era he's deeply nostalgic for. He soon meets iconic figures like Fitzgerald and Picasso. Gil finds himself addicted to this past and finds himself returning to it each night.

It's a breezy, funny, and romantic film that's sure to delight fans of the city as well as many who have never been there. The film also challenges the notion that the grass is always greener, as some in the 20s are nostalgic for their past. We're reminded that while there may be plenty to like about prior eras the present is always full of exciting possibilities.

31. Cell 211

U.S. Theatrical Release: None
U.S. DVD Release: August 29 2011

Despite being a 2009 Spanish film, Cell 211 only played at a handful of U.S. film festivals and wasn't released on video until late 2011. It's a shame that it suffered such poor distribution, because this is one of the best prison movies I've ever seen.

The film involves a riot in a maximum security Spanish prison. One of the new guards gets left inside during his first day on the job, so he now must try to pass himself off as one of the inmates in an effort to make it out alive. It's a creative and topical idea that creates palpable tension throughout. As the story progresses we begin to constantly re-evaluate notions of morality, as seismic events occur one after the next. The audience is kept on the edge of their seat right up until the final minutes.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Rockatansky

It always takes me a couple of years to catch up on what I missed in any given year, so I will be keeping an eye on this list.

I'm a little surprised to see Batman: Year One in the HMs (as DTV films tend to get left out of most year end lists). What did you think about it?

I personally thought that Batman: Year One was the best superhero movie of 2011. I didn't order my HMs but if I did it would be near the top. It was a near perfect adaptation of that comic.

Originally Posted by Carlos Keith

I can't believe you put MI4 on this list. Given Brad Bird is a good director. This film is still pure cabbage at its best.

I thought MI4 was good fun

Originally Posted by Carlos Keith

top 5 of 2011
4 war horse

eww..

Originally Posted by Jyan

Thanks, now I'm stuck adding even movies to my "Need to watch before making Top 25 List" list.

That was my plan all along. Now you'll never finish... muahaha

Originally Posted by Sammael

I love your year end lists, subscribed brah.

Originally Posted by Q & T

This is a very entertaining list so far. CONTINUE.

Originally Posted by Splitter

Been waiting a long time for this. Your list is always one of the best annual treats GD has to offer

Originally Posted by paizlea

Count me among those who were waiting for your list - it's always a good read.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement, everyone. I really appreciate it.

[Bronco67]

You should probably say, "I saw a lot of movies this year. Here they are."

[Master King Sexington]

So far you've had a bunch of movies that'd be rather high on my list very low on yours. I'm interested what made the top of yours now. Good list so far.

I Saw the Devil should be higher!

[Monsieur Red]

Awesome. I was waiting for this. I'm waaaaaaaaaaaaay behind on 2011 (too much TV and TV DVD/Blu-ray's) and this will be a great guide.

[neumdaddy]

Okay, I'm here. You may now post your top 30.

[Missing Reel]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

46. Mysteries Of Lisbon

U.S. Theatrical Release: August 5 2011
U.S. DVD Release: January 17 2012

When I first saw the run time for Mysteries Of Lisbon I assumed it was a typo. I soon learned that it's stated 4hr32m length was accurate, complete with a theatrical intermission.

Based on the 19th century Portuguese novel, this adaptation by director Raul Ruiz is a rare kind of immersion into a foreign world. Despite it's length it flows at a brisk pace thanks to it's colorful characters and complex intertwined narratives. This story spans three generations across Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. Joao's journey of discovery is the closest thing we get to a central narrative, but there is no real protagonist here.

If you are adventurous enough to take the plunge I feel that this is a rewarding experience. Ruiz' use of cinematography adds a surreal element to the film and the period is so beautifully realized that it's easy to lose yourself in this epic.

What a gorgeous movie this was.