Films of 2011

Without preface, here are my favorite films watched in 2011!

English Language

1. The Tree of Life (2011) - Some art just strikes a chord. This is such a one.

2. True Grit (2010) - Old fashioned fun with fantastic characters and the Coen brothers' dark comedic touch.

3. The Help (2011) - Up there with the best of chick flicks.

4. Creation (2009) - Lovely exploration of Charles Darwin's struggle with the death of his daughter and the completion of On the Origin of Species.

5. Jane Eyre (2011) - From another post: Several of Jane Eyre’s iconic scenes may have been edited out or truncated in this theatrical version (as in Pride & Prejudice 2005), but what is left is a superbly crafted mood piece. Jane Eyre has plenty of Gothic elements but, oddly enough, many of them were downplayed or cut out altogether. It’s Fukanaga’s unique touches that bring back the spirit of the novel, rather than rehashing what we’ve seen before. And I’ve never seen Jane and Rochester acted so well (the Michael Fassbender love among my sisters still hasn't let up).

6. The Man Who Knew too Little (1997) - How have I never seen this fabulousness before? Bill Murray has the unique distinction of starring in 2 mainstream comedies of the last 20 years that I actually like. Seriously, wow. I'm now convinced that my distaste for modern comedy is not because I have a contrary fetish for '40s screwballs. It's because it's either not that funny, or the crassness takes all the humor out of it. Case in point: I have oh, such pleasant memories of the first 5 minutes of The Other Guys (the "aim for the bushes" scene), but the rest of the movie was kinda trash. But who am I to judge? I still think poop jokes are funny.

7. I Know Where I’m Going! (1945) - With The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, A Matter of Life & Death, and A Canterbury Tale, Powell & Pressburger were some of the most skilled British filmmaking contemporaries of Hollywood's Golden Age. I watched a slew of their films this year, and I Know Where I'm Going! was my favorite. Wendy Hiller (who actually played a sharper Eliza Doolittle in 1938's Pygmalion than Audrey Hepburn's fair lady) plays a headstrong young woman on her way to a Scottish Island to marry a rich, older man. Both the people around her and the forces of nature seem to want to keep her from her destination. Does she really know where she's going, or is her stubbornness going to keep her from finding happiness in an unexpected place? Mixed with a legendary curse on the local Laird, the story results in a richly atmospheric conclusion.

8. Sita Sings the Blues (2008) - This film has two things going for it. First, the creator, Nina Paley, released it in the public domain, so you can watch it anywhere. Second, it's like nothing I've ever seen before--a retelling of parts of the Ramayana juxtaposed with Paley's own experience with marriage, using several different styles of animation, including one replicating traditional Indian Shadow Puppets, and several bluesy musical numbers. Both funny and insightful. Don't judge this marvelous film by my inadequate description, just watch it.

9. Hereafter (2010) - This film was much more organic than I expected, but considering Clint Eastwood directed, I shouldn't have been surprised. Those expecting a typical Matt Damon role were probably bored out of their minds, but although I had no idea where it was going I found the film very moving and, particularly in the subplot with Bryce Dallas Howard, realistic (after suspending disbelief about Matt Damon's psychic abilities, of course).

10. Since I haven't made it to the theater in months, there are several movies that might be on this list but aren't (Midnight in Paris, Hugo, Tintin, War Horse, The Artist, possibly Moneyball) Rather than filling this spot with one of the many films I liked but didn't love,  I'll give a shout out to my favorite tv shows of the year. The first one is, of course, "Downton Abbey". But only the first season. The second show, I just watched this week: "Sherlock". Benedict Cumberbatch (soon to be Smaug!) and Martin Freeman (soon to be Bilbo!) as modernized counterparts to the world's most famous detective and his friend are marvelous. I normally don't care for crime shows, but in this one the investigations are well integrated with a superbly written character story. At 90 min a piece, the (so far) 3 episodes are paced almost like movies. And the dialogue is pure gold.

Others I enjoyed: Son of Rambow, Unfaithfully Yours, The Adjustment Bureau, Source Code, Black Narcissus, Days of Heaven, Dean Spanley, Red, The Secret of Kells, Doctor Zhivago, Waterloo Bridge, X-Men: First Class, Rango, The Way Back, Meek's Cutoff, Super 8, Larry Crowne, and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.


Non-English Language

2011 wasn’t my greatest year for foreign films. That’s probably because my favorite Indian actors haven’t had as much output the past couple of years, and the films they do put out are unconventional roles for them. So I've cut my list to 5, with only the first 2 as absolute loves, and the 1st one is actually a rewatch.

1. Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005, India-Telugu) - Hyderabad is where it's at in South Indian cinema, as far as I'm concerned (as opposed to Bollywood, which is based in Mumbai). Magadheera is full of awesome (remember when the jeep flew into the helicopter? Let me give you a refresher), and I adore NVNV. Siddharth has all the charisma of a young Shahrukh in his role as Santosh, a spoiled NRI (non-resident Indian) who falls for Siri, a country girl he meets at his cousin's wedding. The first half has all the goofiness and contention that you would expect from an Indian romcom (no, that wasn't just a trick of the light or even a fantasy sequence--Siddharth wears that ostrich suit for real), but it's the second half that makes the film resonate. Siri's brother (played by the same awesomeness of an actor who drove that jeep in Magadheera), because of their traumatizing childhood experiences, won't give her up to a spoiled rich kid so easily. Santosh has to prove he's made of substantial stuff. Why don't I own this film?

2. Baran (2001, Iran) - I resisted watching this one for a few years because my previous experiences with Iranian cinema were sooo depressing. But Netflix kept throwing it in my face, so I finally caved. I can't say this is a happy film, but it's so sweet that it doesn't matter. Lateef is a teenager with a job serving tea to construction workers, until one of the workers is injured and his son is sent to take his place--or rather, Lateef's place, moving Lateef into manual labor. Lateef has it in for his replacement and continually tries to sabotage the boy's work until, one day, Lateef discovers that the boy is actually a girl. In a family of Afghan refugees the girl, Baran, has to work in order for her family to survive. Gradually, Lateef falls in love with Baran, resorting to any measures to help her, and although she doesn't say a word the entire film, it is clear from Baran's face that she cares for him as well. This is a very touching film about love and sacrifice, with visual images that leave a lasting impression.

3. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005, Germany) - I first heard of Sophie Scholl, a member of a anti-Nazi non-violent student resistance group, a few years ago from the book Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow. This film is a sharp and thought provoking account of her titular last days: her resistance involvement, arrest, and trial. The acting is tip top. I love hearing stories of German citizens around WWII who worked against the tyranny of their government.

4. Raincoat (2004, India-Hindi) - This may be inspired by O'Henry's "Gift of the Magi", but like most Indian adaptations, the final product has only the most basic of similarities to the original. Ajay Devgan and Aishwariya Rai play former lovers who meet to catch up, but as neither one's life has turned out like expected, they find it difficult to be honest with one another. The story is spare and naturalistic, in contrast to Bollywood's usual opulence, but I liked it because of the lovely music and the chemistry between the stars. It's one of Aishwariya's best performances.

5. M (1931, Germany) - This is a telling specimen of how shocking early cinema can be. It’s as high quality as a 1940s Hollywood film, but it covers a subject that wouldn't have been dared in America--a serial killer of children. Even farther than that, it delves into the psychology of the killer and makes him almost sympathetic in his derangedness. This would be impossible were it not for the masterful performance of Peter Lorre (who may be recognized from Casablanca or Arsenic & Old Lace). This is a seriously creepy movie for it's time!

Others I enjoyed: The Owl and the Sparrow (2007, Vietnam); I’ve Loved You So Long (2008, France); Dhobi Ghat (2010, India-Hindi); Dabangg (2010, India-Hindi); Yahaan (2005, India-Hindi)