Sweet, Sweet Procrastination; Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Pick My Best Films of 2011
In some ways it almost seems overly nonchalant to spend time on a list of the best films of 2011, considering how truly remarkable the last year has been. Between earthquakes, massive financial meltdown and the Arab spring, not to mention the fact that I’ve finally, FINALLY started my dissertation, who’s had time to go to the cinema?
That’s right. Me and that intrepid band of movie-goers known as filmsoc. As such, I present to you my own favorite films of 2011.
1. La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In)
There’s something about this film that I really loved. The individual elements that make up the plot are, quite frankly, ridiculous, and in the hands of anyone other than Almodóvar this likely wouldn’t work. He manages to bring everything together superbly though. It’s just so damn macabre, it impressed my greatly.
2. Drive
Yes, this film again. I think every blog here mentions Drive as one of the best films of 2011, and I don’t intend to disappoint. While the individual elements of the film have been all done before, Drive managed to stick them all together and make something that not only worked, but was damn compelling viewing despite the paucity of dialogue for large portions of the running time.
3. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Now, I’ll admit that this falls right in the middle of one of my areas of academic interest, so I was almost predetermined to like it. That said, it’s still a very well done adaptation of le Carré’s tale of Cold War espionage. IT has this wonderfully gloomy, dilapidated feel to the cinematography which seems to perfectly evoke this image of the 60′s on both sides of the iron curtain. One thing I really can’t decide on is whether Gary Oldman or Alec Guinness make a better George Smiley.
4. Midnight In Paris
Some people who know me may be confused as to why this film is here, considering my… strained relationship with Paris and Parisians. I’ll admit that I’m not the greatest fan of the city, but there are aspects that I do like, and those come across in this film. It’s not one of Woody Allen’s finest, but it’s a perfectly enjoyable romp through the false nostalgia we all indulge in from time to time. Plus, Marion Cotillard’s in it, which is reason enough to enjoy it.
That’s more or less it for my favorite films of 2011. On the other end of the spectrum in the “Sweet Jesus I Will Never Get That Time Back Again” I will put one film.
The Tree Of Life.
I appreciate that many, many people have seen and loved this film. I’m also rather fond of several of Terrence Malick’s earlier films. But no, with The Tree Of Life it was not meant to be. It quite honestly felt like all the worst excesses of arthouse cinema had been distilled into a giant incoherent mess which irritated me more than it moved. Plus, it reminded me of The Fountain, which also irritated me to high heaven.
Well, that’s more or less it, although for the next few days I will be mostly watching more espionage-themes film nonsense. Namely “Our Man in Havana”. When in doubt, there’s always the Cold War. Well, there was.