Best Films of 2011

IT'S TIME...

I gave up on writing extensive entries for each film I've seen over the past year. No real explanation... I think I had adequately exercised my writing chops and just wanted to make sure I kept a record of all the movies I watched. But as much as I resist end of year sentimentality, I think I have to hold on to some summary ritual that attempts to wrap up my experiences in a nice little bow.

I will say that the films I liked this past year really didn't provide an absolute level of escapism that one might say represents the pure movie-going experience. In fact, after my top movie of 2011, the films drop down both in their ability to transport me to another place and in their overall package of complete quality that would make them really timeless. What we have instead are very unique character experiences and derivative ideas that, despite their limitations, are executed nearly perfectly. Even if you couldn't tune out the rest of the world very easily with these movies, the engagement that these films both big and small had with real moments and consequential topics kept me grounded in reality in a good way.

So, just to remind you... my rules for the top 10, with very few exceptions, are films that I saw in theaters in 2011. That means that the many times I did a whole cost-benefit analysis with my time and money and determined to use my astronomically expensive cable connection to see an older movie at home (streaming, on-demand, etc.) instead of the blockbuster as the local theater, then those older movies will NOT appear on this countdown and instead live on as long as the Internet is up and running with their single film log entry in past blog posts. Or maybe they could appear later in a special topical countdown. Who knows?

I'll start next time with a quick recap of honorable mentions and the disappointments with a few short comments. Covering those will actually fully cover all of 2011's eligible films, believe it or not. Stay tuned...

TINY FURNITURE / MIAMI BLUES / SPECIAL WHEN LIT

IT'S COMING.... MY 2011 FILM IN REVIEW! Can't wait... or I probably will.

Anyway, this is the first film log entry of 2012... wrapping up what I watched on my holiday break.

TINY FURNITURE (2010)

"I just got off a plane from Ohio. I am in a post-graduate delirium."

Criterion #597

Watched via Sundance Free On Demand

I vaguely heard of this movie when it was listed as playing at the great Music Box Theatre in Chicago. I dismissed it when it popped on as one of the free on-demand offerings but then it got the upcoming Criterion blessing so it became a viable movie watching option.

Pretty quirky and honest... and it is once again refreshing to hear people talk like normal 20 somethings. The honesty is understandable once I found out that the writer-director-star's real sister and mother played the character's sister and mother, and the bohemian Manhattan house that the movie was shot at was also the actual family home. Didn't like the ambiguous abrupt ending though which didn't seem to symbolize anything for me.

MIAMI BLUES (1990)

New Cult Canon

"Where IS the whipping cream?"

Watched via Movieplex HD on Demand

One of the very first entries in AV Club's New Cult Canon feature, this was also not on the top of my list, because... well, a movie from 1990 with Alec Baldwin as some kind of criminal seems like it would just look soooo dated. But it was all right. The feeling I get from most of these almost great cult movies is that there are really weird engaging completely unique moments at a pretty good clip, but they are often interspersed with scenes that can remind you how much time you're wasting. It was a great performance to watch though, and I can understand it's charm.

SPECIAL WHEN LIT (2009)

WIFF selection

Watched via Hulu Plus

A documentary from a previous Wisconsin Film Festival available via my new Hulu account... that ISN'T available via Netflix. Music to my movie-accessing ears/eyes/whatever. Not bad... gets a little fragmented at times, but a nice window into the weird world of pinball fans. A nice looking film too... it reminded me of how neat pinball machine art is, but also how confusing all those pinball bonuses could be. Also a reminder that Chicago is the historic pinball capitol of the world.... I can't believe I haven't taken advantage of that fact in my time in Illinois!

Last Tuesday CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS / EASIER WITH PRACTICE

What's this? The last Tuesday of the year? That means a top 10 films of 2011 is coming soon. Although there's a slight chance a weekend movie viewing of some well reviewed action blockbusters might be in order which will increase the field of eligible films.

For now though, a couple of movies, including the first watched using my new system for deciding which 'Criterion' releases to see. Now that Hulu has some (but not all) criterion films I'm selecting 5 random titles from their selections, choosing what I want to see, and then seeking the best format to watch it. Meaning if a hard copy Blu-Ray or HD version is available I'd prefer that to Hulu streaming, so I can see the best version of one of their highly regarded movies.

So...

CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS (1966)

Criterion #131 - Watched via Hulu Plus

Selected because of my vague memories of Time's 100 Best Films of All Time List. Deceptively simple and narrow-minded... it sort of requires reading some film critics praise in order to understand and appreciate its context.

and

EASIER WITH PRACTICE (2009)

WIFF 2010 selection

Pretty engaging indie with a real patience to it, and a good twist that is given time to breathe.

HOW I ENDED THIS SUMMER / YOUNG ADULT

HOW I ENDED THIS SUMMER (2010)

Available via Hulu Plus

2011 WIFF selection

Important because this was a movie I missed at the 2011 WIFF in order to get home from Madison early. It's nice several months later to make up the loss.

YOUNG ADULT (2011)

Seen at Landmark Century Chicago

I didn't much on the Descendants, but one key distraction of that otherwise excellent movie was the narration. Moreover, the narration wasn't used consistently, it just set things up at the beginning. Compare the use of voice-over narration to the incredibly well written Young Adult, where actions and performances shape the backstory. I can't help but think that there might of been a better way to use George Clooney's excellent acting chops to make the point of the movie better without some disembodied monologue. Anyway, both excellent movies... Patton Oswalt is incredible.

THE DESCENDANTS / LIFE DURING WARTIME

It's really late and a stressful work week, but in other circumstances I might elaborate a while on the movie-watching high I was on this weekend. That's because I got to watch the latest from two unique directors that have a filmography that I've completely watched since 1995.

First...

THE DESCENDANTS (2011)

Directed by Alexander Payne (#5)

Viewed at Sundance Cinema Madison

Then...

LIFE DURING WARTIME (2009)

Directed by Todd Solondz (#5)

Criterion Blu-Ray - Spine #574

Pre-Turkey Report

URBANIZED (2011)

Gene Siskel Film Center - Chicago

An urban planning documentary that isn't perfect... but it's good to see my profession presented in an attractive inspiring way.

PRECIOUS (2009)

Blu-Ray

Oscar Count - Best Picture 7/10 - Best Actress 1/5 - Best Supporting Actress 1/5 - Best Director 4/5 - Best Adapted Screenplay 3/5

Movie Report

WINTER'S BONE (2010) - BLU-RAY

Is this gonna be our time?

Oscar Count - 2010 Best Picture 8/10 - Best Supporting Actor 3/5 - Best Actress 2/5 - Best Adapted Screenplay 4/5

THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974) - HD ON DEMAND

I don't know. Maybe they just oughta leave it the way it is. Kind of a shrine to all the bullshit in the world.

Oscar Count - 1974 Best Picture 4/5 - Best Supporting Actor 4/5

KICK-ASS (2010) BLU-RAY

Mindy, no more homework, Babydoll. Time for Frank D'Amico to go bye-bye.

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) ON DEMAND

Okay. You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if we're not back by dawn... call the president.