So...
Not winning an Oscar anytime soon, but at least it went the distance.
10. Real Steel (Levy) - Yeah, this movie really surprised me. It wasn't anything fantastic at the preview screening a friend and I attended and when I left, I told the survey taker outside the theater it was 'aight'. But the fact of the matter was that I had a really good time with the movie, even with the cliches and the little boy who I really thought Hugh Jackman should've fun over when he had the chance. It was more than Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots the movie.
He saw you right back, motherfucker.
9. I Saw the Devil (Ji-Woon) - Several of my friends would assume I liked it because it has 'Devil' in its title. But if that were the case, I'd throw M. Night Shyamalan his first bone since 2002. No, the really big reason I went to see this is because when I saw the trailer before a screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Wright, , I immediately recognized Min-sik Choi and decided 'this'. But I got more than I bargained for. It was a really well-written piece and at times worked more as a spy picture that happened to be horror, with the help of some masterful cinematography. I had never paid much attention to Lee Byun-hun, despite seeing JSA (Chan-wook, 2000) and trudging through G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Sommers, 2009). But after seeing him here, this makes me excited for any other great movies he's done. Whoot, Korean cinema!
Boo! Come on, I'm under a sheet, I gots ta be scary, yo!
8. Red State (Smith) - Kevin Smith will always be a better writer than a director. However, there are some movies where he proves his directing takes charge more so. This was one. And while it could've been better executed, Smith still had enough of a grasp on the concept and setting to provide a eerie and unsettling feel throughout, no matter what's going on. Michael Parks was a hell of a revelation in the film and definitely the real star of the movie, but the rest of the cast holds up their marks too, despite very familiar faces. But I wasn't impressed by the picture quality for a RED camera. It probably was deliberate, but couldn't it have been cheaper to just use a lesser quality camera? Especially since you're intending to retire after Hit Somebody?
Where'd you get that font, Napster?
7. Hesher (Susser) - Particularly after trudging through G.I. Joe, I felt a sudden change of feeling in my critic's mind. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, based particularly on his performances in The Lookout (Frank, 2007), (500) Days of Summer (Webb, 2009), G.I. Joe and Treasure Planet (Clements/Musker, 2002), had become my favorite actor in 2009. But, until this movie, I could not find a single character he played that I could relate to. Voila! Here he is, as a pyromaniacal, vandalizing, speeding, lying, drinking, drugging, squatting, graverobbing metalhead who doesn't appear to give a shit. But at times will find a person in life who he will respect, such as T.J.'s grandmother, a just as wonderful performance by Piper Laurie. I can't decide which performance of the two was my favorite. But Hesher's definitely one of my favorite movie characters now. Thank you, JGL. Apparently, the character reminded Metallica of their former bassist, the late legend Cliff Burton, which led to them allowing their songs to be used in the movie. Which is awesome.
You didn't forget Sweetums again, did you?
6. The Muppets (Bobin) - It didn't start off really well and I was sort of afraid it would focus more on Walter and Gary than the Muppets themselves. But once the tour of the now defunct Muppets Studios occurred, this movie made me very happy. It was humor, but it was Muppet humor. It was the humor I witnessed as a child. And the nostalgia was a hit for me. And it was a classic Muppet movie. The one complaint I had was not seeing two of my favorite drummers drum battle. Dave Grohl vs. Animal was a missed opportunity. But 2010 was a busy year for Grohl, I'd expect he just appeared for his five seconds as a perk for 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' royalties. Well worth it in the picture, I'd hope Cobain would be amused.
Ah crap, not another one of these posters.
Fuck that. Last time I craned my neck for these, Lindsay Lohan was the scare.
5. Super 8 (Abrams) - There are points in this movie that don't make sense. There are points that are cheesy and unneeded. But this movie is just as much for children as it is for adults. So, I can forgive the tear-jerking ending. Hell, the child actors play it out of very well, so why am I going to hate on some very worthy work? But I'll tell you something, the best thing about this movie is that it is all mood. And that's why, if you really get into the picture, you won't notice or care about the flaws until the very end when you're out of it and remember that this was a movie. Besides, who the fuck was around to hear Charles Foster Kane's last words? That's what I thought.
Ay fuck, that's a big fucking troll.
4. Troll Hunter (Ovredal) - I'm not very much a fan of the 'found footage' type of horror. There's a couple that I found amusing, but the majority just seem hashes for the sake of just trying to be a phenomenon. This movie was not such a case. In addition to balancing the fantastical with the realistic and subtle politics in play, the mood itself was balanced between thrilling and funny, taking the main theme of the movie seriously, but recognizing the ridiculousness of the situation. From what I heard, the lead actor Otto Jespersen was a comedian, but I honestly couldn't tell. The character of Hans had a hell of a bitter streak though, sometimes pretty humorous. Oh yea, and the trolls look fantastic. Really imaginative and really well done.
A comedian and a pop star looking like they mean business.
Seems legit.
3. The Green Hornet (Gondry) - Okay, this looks like it's going to be the entry that will get the most raised eyebrows, especially so close to the top. Maybe it's that I was lucky enough not to be too familiar with the original Green Hornet. But, let me put it this way, ignore the fact that it's got the silly 3D gimmick, that'll probably take away half of the complaints. The movie was a surprise to me. It had its moments of lowbrow humor, but it also had hints of Gondry's imagination, like the everlasting multi-split screen, Kato vision and the car designs. Come on, it's a movie based on a radio show, you have to admit it sort of exceeded your expectations. Christoph Waltz is always fantastic to see in a film and Jay Chou surprised.
But really, probably my favorite movie moment of 2011 is (SPOILER - Move to the next movie if you don't want a spoiler) the final showdown at the newspaper building. Particularly the fact that, with a mistake that is completely in character of Seth Rogen's fuckery of a person, the important information to incriminate Scanlon and save the day is lost and with that Kato does the only possible thing left, drive the car completely off the fucking building, committing vehicular manslaughter while at it. Man, that was a hell of a Tarantino-esque scenario. Also the scene after where Reid gives an unenthusiastic eulogy to Scanlon ('y'know, these things happen...') and the staging of his shoulder wound. Well done. My one complaint is that the very last scene seemed an after thought. It could've been done better.
75 percent text poster? Wha?
2. Melancholia (von Trier) - It's 4 a.m., if I have to explain why Lars von Trier is one of the greatest filmmakers of our tim, this is gonna make me bitchslap somebody. I'm sorry, I'm tired, get smart.
Watch the movie and then you'll understand how I gave an entire speech about the Green Hornet and not Melancholia. Words can't describe this picture.
Well, I'm smelling the glove.
1. Drive (Refn) - Leave to the noir-est picture to get my top spot. Cannes has never let me down with their choice in pictures so far as I've seen. Refn was definitely deserving of the Best Director award. But this movie is probably the defining movie of the year. It has all the stars that are huge at the moment, Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, Carey Mulligan. It features that techno music, but thank god, doesn't delve that close to dubstep. (the soundtrack was the one detracting factor to me, but even it was catchy). It features fast action chases and tension, with some surprising amounts of uber-gore. And yet, the movie is still full of substance. I dare you to show this movie to anybody and see if they'll dislike it. If you do, let me know.
