ANNA IMHOF

My 10 Favorite Movies of 2011

10. BELLFLOWER (dir. Evan Glodell)
Starring Evan Glodell, Tyler Dawson, Jessie Wiseman
Granted, the whole thing might feel a little immature, and by the end of it, you probably can’t hear the word “dude” for a couple of days, but these aspects make the film unbelievably real. Bellflower is a creative and explosive portrait of a young man who totally flips out over a break-up, and he does so in a very exaggerated and dramatic way (and yeah, there’s the self-pity, too). Shot on a shoestring budget with hand-made cameras, the film’s style is very unique, everything is a little yellow, sometimes it gets blurry, and most of the time most of the characters are self-involved douchebags — but somehow it just works. A special film, a bold experiment, and boy, does it burn. 

9. WIN WIN (dir. Thomas McCarthy)
Starring Paul Giamatti, Alex Shaffer, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale
This isn’t McCarthy’s best stuff, but in a pretty weak movie year, he still put out one of its brighter gems. As usual, he portrays everyday people, and with them, tells a simple story of growing up and taking responsibility. A lost boy with a secret talent for wrestling shows up in the life of an unsuccessful lawyer and angsty family man. An unlikely friendship forms, both are challenging each other, and I guess ultimatively they are both learning what it means to be a man. It is sprinkled with relaxed humor, lovable characters and very natural acting. Coming-of-age meets midlife crisis.

8. THE ARTIST (dir. Michel Hazanavicius)
Starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman
Back to the basics with charm. A silent movie with a big heart. Engaging and spirited, it’s impossible not to laugh and cry. I wrote a longer review here.

7. TYRANNOSAUR (dir. Paddy Considine)
Starring Peter Mullen, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan, Ned Dennehy
I have never warmed up to Paddy Considine as an actor, and now I know why — he is clearly meant to write and direct! Tyrannosaur is his first feature, and it is simply fantastic. Exceptionally well written, and directed with an unbelievable sensitivity, this drama tells it like it is. It’s obvious this comes from a person who must have witnessed (domestic) abuse up-close, understands the complex inner workings of the matter, and knows how to translate it without any kind of explaining going on. This is an absolute gem, stark and bullshit-free, and I really hope to see more, much much more, of Considine as a filmmaker. 

6. MONEYBALL (dir. Bennett Miller)
Starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright
Moneyball is a really solid movie, and I loved everything about it. It is exceptionally well-made without showing it off. It’s pretty much flawless, but very nonchalant about it. It’s got uncoventional casting choices, a great chemistry between Brad Pitt and his sidekick Jonah Hill, and it’s all based on one hell of a script. The writing is unbelievably tight. I like how Pitt always adds a little quirkiness to even his dramatic roles. I love how they didn’t turn the underdog into a hero, that there isn’t a big character arc. This movie is much smarter than that. Moneyball is definitely one of the most intelligent movies of 2011, and without a doubt the best adapted screenplay of the year (nope, not The Descendants, are you kidding me?!).

5. TAKE SHELTER (dir. Jeff Nichols)
Starring Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain 
Mind you, this film moves slow, but the patient will be rewarded. I was a little skeptical when I started watching it, but in the end I was sitting there, open-mouthed and wide-eyed, in pieces and blown out the window. I kinda hated Michael Shannon in everything I’ve ever seen him in up to now, but after this, I gladly hop on the Shannon bandwagon. This part of a young family man who faces a tragedy that might or might not be real looks like it’s been written specifically for him. I like how the film fucks with your brain a little, and ponders over the definition of reality. Any director who leaves room for interpretation and doesn’t answer all the questions that pop up deserves extra applause. I never understood why people go to the movies for answers ⎯ it’s all about raising questions for me. I think Nichols did a great job with this, in every aspect. It’s a courageous, brilliant film that unfortunately didn’t get the credit it deserved. Everybody who’s seen it seems to love it, though. 

4. WARRIOR (dir. Gavin O’Connor)
Starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison, Nick Nolte
Oh my, do I love this film hot and heavy. It has incredibly intimate directing and, hands down, this is the best acting by an ensemble I’ve seen all year (Nick Nolte was simply amazing in his vulnerability). I like how the film wasn’t afraid to be a little melodramatic, especially at a time when realism is playing an ever-growing role in cinema. It’s just one of those big movies they don’t really make anymore. If I had any say, I would have thrown Oscars at this one like fucken popcorn. It presents itself with an almost Shakespearean plot about two estranged brothers who end up in the ring together. And the ending is just epic — while The National’s About Today is playing. Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff. Beautiful cinematography, too. Definitely the most underrated movie of the year for me. Warrior is an instant classic, a dedicated piece of cinema. My Rocky.

3. A BETTER LIFE (dir. Chris Weitz)
Starring Demian Bichir, Jose Julian
The most touching film of the year tells the story of an illegal immigrant living in L.A., trying his best to teach his son good old values in a corrupt world. Giving a voice to those who might not often be heard, it’s a beautiful, beautiful film with a stellar performance by Demian Bichir. God, was I excited when he got an Oscar nomination, I almost peed my pants. A Better Life is a story about people who just never seem to get a break, no matter how hard they try. A movie about dreamers and fighters, a gentle and honest portrayal of those who lay in the gutter but are looking up at the stars. 

2. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (dir. Woody Allen)
Starring Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates
The best Woody Allen movie in a long long time, and definitely the most romantic film of the year (okay, I gotta say I really liked Friends With Benefits, too). An intellectual fairytale, with a really fantastic performance by Owen Wilson at its core. I was seriously infuriated that he didn’t get an Oscar nod. I’m not sure Wilson will ever get a chance to shine like this again. He was just plain adorable. This film has it all: Charm, wit, brains, nostalgia, poetry, decadence and walks amidst pretty city lights. The most imaginative film of the year.

1. THE TREE OF LIFE (dir. Terrence Malick)
Starring Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Sean Penn
This was my favorite film of the year. My neighbor said that it struck him as very removed, that it doesn’t quite let you be part of it. To me, it was the total opposite. To me, it felt like this movie came from inside of me. But it does take a certain openness from the viewer, a willingness to be consumed. The Tree of Life speaks directly to the soul, and it is there it will be understood. I especially loved the performance by the young boy, Hunter McCracken. There is such a profound sadness in his eyes, it just ripped me apart. I’ve have never seen a film that caputured the loss of innocence so well, so wordlessly, so painfully. This film made me feel incredibly homesick, and filled me with a longing for a place I am not sure I ever really knew. The Tree of Life is a masterpiece. I’ve never seen anything even remotely like it, and I doubt we’ll ever see something like it again.