LAURIE COKER
This year I am doing things a bit differently. Instead of trying to do top TEN lists, I am putting down pretty much all of my favorites, making some lists longer than others and covering a wide array of films and genres.
I had a tough year and am delighted to say I found going to a dark theatre whenever I could a pleasing reprieve.
Laurie's Best Movies of 2011
1. THE ARTIST – Beautiful black and white films with a clear and timely message
2. IRON LADY – a magnificent performance by Meryl Streep as the Iron Lady herself, Margaret Thatcher
3. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS – Woody Allen’s original screenplay is simply wonderful
4. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN – Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh impress in this, as does Dame Judi Dench. I loved this film
5. J. EDGAR – Playing on the edge of rumor, Eastwood offers a look into the man and in the institution
6. EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLE CLOSE – Gives us a post 9/11 film different from all others
7. CARNAGE – Offers a virtual boiling pot of emotion when two couples convene to keep the peace and the results are hilarious!
8. THE DESCENDENTS - Clooney and his co-stars are wonderful
9. 50/50 – a touching film about cancer? This one is, and while some might find Seth Rogan over the top, Joseph Gordon Lovett is wonderful!
10. THE HELP – A blast back to an uncomfortable past with a wicked touch of humor
11. HUGO – finally saw this with my grandson and found it far more engaging than ‘War Horse’ the other Spielberg film out this year
Laurie's Worst Movies of 2011
1. RED RIDING HOOD – a film that manages to totally ruins a beloved children’s story
2. HORRIBLE BOSSES – the title says it all
3. SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA – more like seven days in hell
4. FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN – a total waste of time
5. HANGOVER II – proof not all sequels are created equal
6. JUST GO WITH IT – just go to a different movie
7. SOMETHING BORROWED – borrow another film, because this one is B-A-D
8. BEASTLY – a stupid, beast of a film
9. THE DILEMMMA – the only real dilemma is how to find all the copies of this film and burn them
10. COUNTRY STRONG – story weak
(Top)
RENEE' COLLINS
This year, I broke last year's record (40), with sixty films; WOW, what a year! This year was definitely a mixed bag and I bet my movie buddie thinks I am getting too picky about which films I see and I agree to do better next year. It is fun to rip them apart in my reviews. So, based on what I saw this year, here are my best and worst for 2011. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Renee's Best Movies of 2011
1. THE ARTIST
2. HUGO - as one might expect, I am a film fan and have studies the origins of film. Absolutely wonderful film.
3. THE HELP - brilliantly acted
4. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN - Michelle Williams better get an Oscar nod, fantastic
5. SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS - what a fun ride that was better than the first
6. ANONYMOUS - love Shakespeare and loved this film
7. CAPTAIN AMERICA - what a fun ride, immensly intertaining
8. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 - glad to finally see it all end, great film
9. SOURCE CODE - Robert Duncan's sophomore film is spectacular
10. 50/50 - moving
Renee's Worst Movies of 2011
1. SEASON OF THE WITCH - one of the worst I have seen ever. Cage must have needed to pay some bills.
2. GREEN HORNET - such potential squandered
3. SANCTUM - beautiful 3D cave scenes couldn't save this horribly acted film
4. CEDAR RAPIDS - funny at times but just not good
5. RED RIDING HOOD - also one of the worst I have ever seen. I want that part of my life back, please.
6. HOP - ?????
7. ARTHUR - absolutely no chemistry
8. GREEN LANTERN - awful
9. HORRIBLE BOSSES - films don't have to appeal to the lowest common denominator to be funny
10. CHANGE-UP - another lowest common denominator film, no creativity whatsoever
(Top)
LIZ LOPEZ
Liz's Best Movies of 2011
1. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
2. THE HELP
3. PUSS IN BOOTS
4. THE WAY
5. HUGO
6. THE SKIN I LIVE IN
7. THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
8. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL
9. THE ARTIST
10. WAR HORSE
Liz's Worst Movies of 2011
1. HALL PASS
2. BEASTLY
3. RED RIDING HOOD
4. YOUR HIGHNESS
5. THE HANGOVER II
6. ZOOKEEPER
7. CHANGE-UP
8. A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ORGY
9. BUCKY LARSON
10. BORN TO BE A STAR
11. JACK & JILL
(Top)
MARK SALDANA
To quote the famous Sinatra song, “And now, the end is near…” Well, the end of the year that is.
2011 got off to a really slow start without any real standout films until March when the animated film RANGO opened in theaters.
That would be the first release of this year to receive a 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) rating from me. I would have to wait until the summer before I gave a movie a full 4 star rating.
The summer time did have some fine movies to offer, but nothing particularly amazing.
I hate to sound so down on the state of film these days, but I probably saw most of the movies that are on my top ten list during the “for your consideration” rush between October and December.
So sadly, for the rest of 2011 I anxiously waited for high quality films to review, but had to sit through mostly the mediocre and sub-par instead.
I know that the producers and promoters for quality films want to release their films at just the right time, and not a moment too soon, to be considered for awards, but does that mean that the remaining nine months out of the year we have to be subjected to other pictures not worthy of their expensive ticket prices?
For one, I implore movie producers to cut down on remakes, please!
I am certain that there a plenty of hungry, struggling, but talented filmmakers searching for their big breaks with original story ideas.
These are the movies which should be green lit and funded well. Not a remake of a movie which didn’t need or possibly didn’t deserve to be remade.
Well enough of my frustrations regarding the state of film. As I toast in 2012, I can only hope that things look a little better, a little brighter, and more original than 2011.
So, without any more whining and complaining, here are my top ten list, my bottom ten list, and accolades for 2011.
Mark's Best Movies of 2011
1. THE ARTIST – Michel Hazanavicius’ homage and celebration of film in the golden silent era is a beautifully heartwarming journey which had me smiling until my face hurt. A true film-lover’s film.
2. TREE OF LIFE – Terrence Malick’s polarizing art film about grace vs. nature as exemplified throughout the world’s existence and as seen through the eyes of one man (Sean Penn) who grew up with a stern disciplinarian father (Brad Pitt) and a lovely, free-spirited mother (Jessica Chastain).
3. TAKE SHELTER – Jeff Nichols’ intense and frightening film about a man whose feels his world is about to end along with his sanity.
4. PARIAH – Dee Ree’s debut feature film about a teenage girl’s struggles in coping with her sexual orientation and the measures she must take to conceal the truth from her family. Simply heartbreaking.
5. NATURAL SELECTION – A hilarious comedy about a barren Christian wife who attempts to reunite her husband with his illegitimate son after the husband suffers a stroke.
6. THE HELP – This sad and hilarious commentary on racism in the south boasts excellent writing and an excellent ensemble cast.
7. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN – A week in the life of Marilyn Monroe on the set of a movie with Laurence Olivier. Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh are both incredible.
8. THE WAY – Emilio Estevez’s film about a father’s soul searching pilgrimage is pure brilliance.
9. BEGINNERS – An amazing film about an elderly father with terminal cancer who comes out of the closet and teaches his depressed son how to relish the good things in life, especially love.
10. HUGO – Martin Scorsese’s beautifully filmed 3D ode to film and film restoration, particularly the work of film pioneer George Melies.
Mark's Worst Movies of 2011
1. BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR
2. HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
3. RED RIDING HOOD
4. SEASON OF THE WITCH
5. SUCKER PUNCH
6. ARTHUR
7. PRIEST
8. ZOOKEEPER
9. LARRY CROWNE
10. HOP
