{Favorite Films of 2011}
The Tree of Life
Terrence Malick envisions the origin of the universe and ponders some of life's deepest questions. It has it's flaws, but it's strengths far outweigh them if you buy into his vision.
View the trailer here.
The Debt
This underrated film is told in flashbacks about a covert mission three agents undertook and the personal cost it played in their lives.
View the trailer here.
Beginners
This film is about about love and family, more specifically about a son and his dying gay father.
View the trailer here.
Waiting For Superman
Davis Guggenheim's documentary on the plight of America's public school system is altogether poignant, engaging, and enraging.
View the trailer here.
The Skin I Live In
Pedro Almodóvar's latest is a thriller about an obsessive plastic surgeon that keeps a beautiful young woman imprisoned in his home using her as a guinea pig.
View the trailer here.
The Trip
Michael Winterbottom's latest film follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (loosely playing themselves) as they travel to fine restaurants in northern England, philosophizing and bickering along the way. Music peeps will love the scene where Coogan sets up Joy Division's "Atmosphere" for a drive through the countryside and food peeps will love the scenes at (Michelin star rated) L'Enclume.
View the trailer here.
Hanna
Fairy-tale qualities are in abundance in this first rate thriller about a teenage assassin.
View the trailer here.
Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen's latest features Owen Wilson rubbing shoulders with famous dead writers, painters, etc. of Paris' past.
View the trailer here
13 Assassins
Takashi Miike's samurai tale of love, revenge and liberation features one of the best (and longest) battle scenes I can recall.
View the trailer here.
Win Win
In this film Paul Giamatti moonlights as a high school wrestling coach who stumbles across a troubled teen that has natural talent for wrestling, only for things to get complicated.
View the trailer here.
I Saw The Devil
This violent revenge thriller is both disturbing and engaging. Not for the faint of heart
View the traier here.
Bridesmaids
It's witty, it's crude, and it's arguably one of the funniest films of the year.
View the trailer here.
Submarine
Richard Ayoade's (of the IT Crowd) debut feature is a coming of age story about love and family drama.
View the trailer here.
Beats, Rhymes, and Life
Michael Rapaport's documentary about influential hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest, plays like one of the best Behind The Music episodes.
View the trailer here.
Bill Cunningham New York
Richard Press's documentary follows New York Times “On the Street” fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, but really it's about the man behind the camera. I really can't say enough good things about this.
View the trailer here.
13
This remake of 2005 French shocker 13 Tzameti was directed by original director Géla Babluani. This film is about an intense game of Russian roulette.
View the trailer here.
Drive
Ryan Gosling stars as a wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles by night.
View the trailer here.
X-Men: First Class
This reboot/prequel of the x-men comic book franchise did a great job on building the storyline of how it all started.
View the trailer here.
The Ides of March
I've never been one for political dramas, but this is an excellent film about what goes on behind the scenes in the world of politicians.
View the trailer here.
La Casa Muda (The Silent House)
This Uruguayan horror film is based on a true story and was shot in just one take.
View the trailer here.
50/50
This is a dramedy about a young man with cancer.
View the trailer here.
Armadillo
This Danish documentary follows troops in Afghanistan into a firefight and its aftermath.
View the trailer here.
Happythankyoumoreplease
This romantic comedy was written and directed by How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor
View the trailer here.
The Future
Miranda July's art-house film is a whimsical tale of lovers in Los Angeles.
View the trailer here.
The Inerrupters
This documentary is a study of a community crushed by deprivation and violence.
View the trailer here.
Uncle Boonmee Remembers His Former Lives
This is a slow moving mystical drama from Thailand, about a man that chooses to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside.
View the trailer here.
Tuesday, After Christmas
This Romanian drama is about the fallout from one man's infidelity.
View the trailer here.
Le Quatrro Volte
This slow-moving film contains no dialogue, no music, no narration and almost no camera movement. It is about an elderly goat herder in rural Italy.
View the trailer here.
Poetry
This Korean film is about a woman finding purpose in a poetry class after being diagnosed with a medical condition and the discovery of a heinous family crime.
View the trailer here.
Viva Riva!
This is a Congolese gangster flick, heavy on the sex and violence.
View the trailer here.
Contagion
This film follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days.
View the trailer here.
Crazy Stupid Love
This is a romantic comedy about relationships and overcoming obstacles.
View the trailer here.
Captain America
This comic book adaption relies on its story over its special effects.
View the trailer here.
The Names of Love
Never mind for a moment that the lead actress is drop dead gorgeous and nearly naked throughout the film. This quirky French dramedy is sure to win over anyone who enjoyed Amelie.
View the trailer here.
Rampart
It's Los Angeles, 1999 and Woody Harrelson plays a dirty cop in the Rampart Precinct.
View the trailer here.
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
I've got a soft spot for Harold & Kumar films. As long as they keep making these funny stoner movies, I'll likely keep watching 'em.
View the trailer here
Snowtown
This is a true story of an infamous Australian serial killer. It will likely make you feel uncomfortable, but it is interesting nonetheless.
View the trailer here
As of yet, I haven't seen these films, but am looking forward to watching...
The Artist
Shame
Hugo
Meloncholia
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Attack The Block
Meek's Cutoff
Another Year
The Human Resources Manager
Certified Copy
Nora's Will
Of God's and Men
A Somewhat Gentle Man
La Doppia Ora
Bellflower
Girl with A Dragon Tattoo (remake)
Young Adult
My Week with Marilyn
