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.