Best of 2011: A Recap

So, yeah...it took me way, way longer than I thought it would to get through my Top 10 list for 2011.  Those long reviews take a while to write, people.

Anyway, now it's done and I can move on to more pressing and timely posts.  But, before doing that, I thought I'd just recap the list so that people can look at a single post to remember my Top 10...er...Top 12.

1.  The Tree of Life
2.  Take Shelter
2.5. A Separation
3.  Hugo
4.  Drive
5.  Win Win
6.  Melancholia
7.  Rango
8.  Warrior
9.  Rise of the Planet of the Apes
10 (tie).  The Descendants
10 (tie).  The Artist

Best of 2011: #1 The Tree of Life

Anyone who's talked to me over the last nine months or so probably knew that The Tree of Life was going to be at the top of this list.  While I went back and forth on which movies should appear on the list and in what order, this one was never really in doubt.

That said, as I've gone through these blog posts, I've been looking forward to this particular review with equal parts dread and anticipation.  I saw this movie back in May, just a couple weeks after my son was born -- something that gave this movie added significance for me -- and I've been wanting to write about it ever since.  But, quite honestly, I haven't been able to figure out what I want to say. On a few occasions, I actually sat down to write blog posts about the movie only to give up after being unable to figure out how to begin.  In fact, now that I think about it, I haven't any in-depth conversations about this movie with anyone.  I recounted a few details and my general impressions to some friends in person and in email, but that's about it.

Long story short, I hope you'll bear with me if this seems a little convoluted and disjointed...because, at this point, I don't know where I'm going with this post.

Best of 2011: #2 Take Shelter

I hate starting a review by talking about a performance by one of the actors.  I don't know why.  Perhaps it's because focusing on the performance right out of the gate can imply that the rest of the film -- the story, the characters, the technical aspects -- is only so-so.  But, I'm fairly certain that I'm the only one who feels that way, so here I go...

In Take Shelter, Michael Shannon gives what is the best performance I saw in any 2011 film.  He is spellbinding.  Every move he makes and every line he utters pulls the audience in, conveying both the outer stoicism and the growing fear that's ever present underneath.

Best of 2011: #2 and 1/2 A Separation

Remember a while back when I said that I saw a movie that I just couldn't keep off my Top 10 list, even though I had already compiled it?   This is that movie.

Like I said, I was already about halfway through in unveiling my list when this little gem fell into my lap.  Okay, it didn't really fall into my lap, I had to go out and see it in the theater...paid a babysitter and everything.  Come to think of it, it was really cold outside that night too...

I couldn't just rewrite my list at that point, shift everything down a point.  That would just be too complicated.  So, instead, I'm just going to slip it into this cozy little spot -- right between Hugo and my original Number Two movie, which I hope to unveil some time soon.  Honestly, aren't you all getting annoyed at how long it's taken me to get through this stupid list?

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about A Separation.  

Best of 2011: #3 Hugo

Most people I know that have either seen or heard about Hugo have come away wondering why on Earth Martin Scorsese decided to make this movie.  There are no gangsters in the movie, there's very little violence, and it has no good roles for Robert DeNiro or Leonardo DiCaprio.  But, when you realize that one of Scorsese's personal passions in the preservation of old movies, particularly silent films, it makes perfect sense.

At it's heart, Hugo is Martin Scorsese's love letter to the cinema.  It just takes a little while to get there.

Best of 2011: #4 Drive

There's a scene near the end of the end of Drive that perfectly captures the entire existential complexity of the story and characters as well as the exquisite style of the filmmaker.  This one scene will tell you everything you need to know about this movie.

If you've talked to anyone about this movie, you've probably heard about it already.  But, I should probably just say it...SPOILER ALERT.

Updates and Upheavals

Yeah...I'm as annoyed s you are that I haven't posted an entry to my Top 10 list in over week. I promise that I'll be getting the final four movies on the list out of the way in short order.

The reasons for the long delay are twofold. First and foremost, I wanted to see my Number Four movie again before writing about it. Second, I actually saw another movie that has thrown my list out of whack.

The list is done...complete. But, this new movie, though it was technically a 2011 release, wasn't playing nearby until very recently. Normally, I wouldn't care. My list is made and I need to finish writing about it. But, this is a Top Five level movie, folks. It needs to be on the list.

So, here's what I've decided to do: I'm going to continue to count-down my list and the new movie will be thrown in right before I drop my Number One as sort of an alternate...a sixth movie in my Top Five. Now, I know none of you care about this. But, these are the geeky things I think about.

 As you were...