Mallard at the Movies Returns! (2011 Recap)
Hey folks! It's been awhile, but despite not posting in months, I have indeed seen a lot of movies. 2011 was a pretty decent year, and there are a lot of films that I still have yet to see. But here it is: my list of movies ranked from best to worst:
THE BEST:
1. Drive- Holy crap this movie is awesome. It's not just action-packed car chases, so if that's what your looking for, Fast Five is probably a safe bet. But for pure cinematic ecstasy, make sure to check out Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks absolutely killing it in this one.
2. Midnight in Paris- Just a delightful movie from start to finish. The ensemble cast is incredible, and Woody Allen knows how to capture the beauty of a city like no other.
3. The Artist- This movie's getting a ton of buzz right now for the Oscars. And now that I've seen it, it's very clear why. Jean Dujardin is phenomenal as the silent film star who falls from grace. Don't be put off by the fact that this is a feature-length black and white silent film. The format just makes it resonate all the more.
4. The Tree of Life- This would probably be my number one movie if it weren't for the Sean Penn storyline and unsatisfying conclusion. Still, I saw this movie months ago and it's really stayed with me. Terrence Malick is a true genius of the craft. Also, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain may be nominated for Moneyball and The Help, but this is the film in which they really shine.
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2- A perfect send-off to the movie series of a generation. Alan Rickman is incredible, the action sequences are epic, and it is a damn crime that it didn't get any Academy Award nominations (besides Art Direction, Visual Effects and Makeup, that is).
6. Super 8- A lovable group of junior high kids in the 80s, an alien on the loose, a military conspiracy, and the train wreck of the century. What more could you want? JJ Abrams has become a powerhouse storyteller, and I think he's only going to get better.
7. The Muppets- If you didn't like this movie, you must hate all good things in this world. Jason Segel and Amy Adams lead a cast of Muppets in this wonderful movie. Also, the song "Man or Muppet" is nominated for Best Original Song.
8. Bridesmaids- Kristen Wiig co-wrote and starred in this one, the year's best comedy. I'm glad to see that its getting awards recognition, especially for Melissa McCarthy in her role as Wiig's boisterous, well-intentioned friend.
9. 50/50- I had trepidations about this one at first, thinking it would be a lot like the movie "Funny People", another "dramedy" dealing with the unfunny subject of cancer. However, it's just a really solid movie, with a great screenplay and heartfelt performances. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Anna Kendrick are excellent.
10. Source Code- An intelligent, tightly-paced sci-fi with an interesting premise and plenty of twists and turns along the way. This movie probably won't blow your mind, but it was good enough to sneak its way into my top 10 for this year. Directed by David Bowie's son Duncan Jones (make sure to also check out his directorial debut, "Moon").
THE REST:
THE BEST:
1. Drive- Holy crap this movie is awesome. It's not just action-packed car chases, so if that's what your looking for, Fast Five is probably a safe bet. But for pure cinematic ecstasy, make sure to check out Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks absolutely killing it in this one.
2. Midnight in Paris- Just a delightful movie from start to finish. The ensemble cast is incredible, and Woody Allen knows how to capture the beauty of a city like no other.
3. The Artist- This movie's getting a ton of buzz right now for the Oscars. And now that I've seen it, it's very clear why. Jean Dujardin is phenomenal as the silent film star who falls from grace. Don't be put off by the fact that this is a feature-length black and white silent film. The format just makes it resonate all the more.
4. The Tree of Life- This would probably be my number one movie if it weren't for the Sean Penn storyline and unsatisfying conclusion. Still, I saw this movie months ago and it's really stayed with me. Terrence Malick is a true genius of the craft. Also, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain may be nominated for Moneyball and The Help, but this is the film in which they really shine.
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2- A perfect send-off to the movie series of a generation. Alan Rickman is incredible, the action sequences are epic, and it is a damn crime that it didn't get any Academy Award nominations (besides Art Direction, Visual Effects and Makeup, that is).
6. Super 8- A lovable group of junior high kids in the 80s, an alien on the loose, a military conspiracy, and the train wreck of the century. What more could you want? JJ Abrams has become a powerhouse storyteller, and I think he's only going to get better.
7. The Muppets- If you didn't like this movie, you must hate all good things in this world. Jason Segel and Amy Adams lead a cast of Muppets in this wonderful movie. Also, the song "Man or Muppet" is nominated for Best Original Song.
8. Bridesmaids- Kristen Wiig co-wrote and starred in this one, the year's best comedy. I'm glad to see that its getting awards recognition, especially for Melissa McCarthy in her role as Wiig's boisterous, well-intentioned friend.
10. Source Code- An intelligent, tightly-paced sci-fi with an interesting premise and plenty of twists and turns along the way. This movie probably won't blow your mind, but it was good enough to sneak its way into my top 10 for this year. Directed by David Bowie's son Duncan Jones (make sure to also check out his directorial debut, "Moon").
THE REST:
11. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Fincher)
12. Moneyball
13. Win Win
14. Red State
15. Troll Hunter
16. Mission Impossible- Ghost Protocol
17. Hugo
18. The Help
19. Captain America: The First Avenger
20. Scream 4
21. American: The Bill Hicks Story
22. Paul
23. X-Men: First Class
24. Kill the Irishman
25. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
26. Horrible Bosses
27. The Company Men
28. The Descendents
29. Kung Fu Panda 2
30. The Devil's Double
31. Paranormal Activity 3
32. Thor
33. The Green Hornet
34. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
35. Cowboys & Aliens
36. Your Highness
37. Hobo with a Shotgun
38. Cars 2
39. Contagion
40. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides
41. Limitless
42. The Hangover: Part II
43. Insidious
44. The Adjustment Bureau
45. Unknown
46. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
47. Arthur
48. New Year's Eve
49. Battle: Los Angeles
50. Green Lantern
I again need to thank you for recommending Kill The Irishman, it was wonderful and just further justified my love for Ray Stevenson.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's such bullshit that Drive got no real nominations!
Also also, Matt, seriously, you need to see Attack the Block. It's so goddamn good!
Bout damn time you came back lol. And yes SEE ATTACK THE BLOCK!!! Also Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. Both really fun movies.
ReplyDeleteBefore the nominations I knew that HP wouldn't get nominated for Best Picture. But then the nominees were announced and I was waay more pissed than I thought I'd be. Especially with the addition of "Extremely Loud" which I thought was not good at all. It got an effing ROTTEN rating on RT, and while that's not everything, I am just astounded by it's triumph over Harry Potter. Deathly Hallows got a better rating than 8 of the 9 nominees. I know it would never win, but come ON! Give it an effing nomination.
Bullocks...