Andrew Buckle’s Top 10 Films of 2011
Personally, 2011 was a fantastic year for film. It was a year of opportunity, where I was able to see more films in a cinema than I had ever seen before. I don’t want to dwell on the negatives, because those films were quickly forgotten, but I found this year to be full of pleasant surprises. Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Warrior were far better than anyone expected, while Rango, the year’s best animated film was the first great 2011 film to hit Australian cinemas – and completely unexpected.
The Sydney Film Festival exposed me to a lot of great films (and a few of them made this list) in a short space of time, but there has been something (and often multiple films) to recommend every week. This list could have been 20 films deeper, there were so many films that I enjoyed. I’d also like to note that I haven’t seen some of the big Oscar buzz films like The Artist, Hugo, Shame, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, My Week With Marilyn, Young Adult and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – so if anyone is wondering why they are excluded, when they potentially could be some of the year’s best, it’s because they have not hit Australian shores.
I hope you enjoy this list. Would love to hear feedback and discussion regarding the selections.
10. The Skin I Live In
From my experience with Almodovar films (everything since All About My Mother) there is usually a central romance, and a crime of passion or lust. Here, these themes are an undercurrent to a series of macabre body horror themes, but set in a a world where scientific possibilities have been enhanced and perfected by master surgeons. It’s a sinister tale of kidnapping, of male voyeurism, of forced manipulation, abuse of skill and graphic sexual abuse. Simply, it has everything – and though it is often extremely unsettling and graphic in it’s depictions of sex, it always remains fascinating and it is ultimately unforgettable. Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya are perfect, and though it’s not as accessible as Almodovar’s other masterpiece, The Skin I Live In, for me, is his best work since Talk to Her in 2002.
9. Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen’s latest effort is an absolute delight. His highly intellectual screenplay (which is his most wildly imaginative in some) is infused with plenty of wit and channels the neurotic qualities of his persona through Owen Wilson, who delivers a stellar performance. It is one of the most recommendable film experiences of the year. Gil Pender (Wilson) finds himself blown away by his magical discoveries on the streets of Paris amidst a perplexing realm of nostalgia – which is Woody Allen’s way to honor the writers, artists and filmmakers has was inspired by and continues to admire, and capture a city he clearly loves. Midnight in Paris is a deft blend of ridicule against the pedantic, arrogant variety, a critique of criticism, a whimsical romanticism of the artist and the intellectual and a charming, emotionally resonating tale about individualism, and the desire to wholeheartedly fulfill one’s desires and beautiful fantasies.
8. Take Shelter
Michael Shannon is outstanding (as is Jessica Chastain) in this patiently crafted masterwork from Jeff Nichols (only his second feature film following Shotgun Stories). The conclusion is thought-provoking, and in addition to telling a sensitive and sympathetic story about the crippling effects of mental illness on a loving husband and father, it addresses some very real contemporary fears (not just ecological, but economic). A brooding, ominous and slow-burning thriller, but a rewarding one you won’t forget anytime soon.
7. Drive
Drive is certainly a film that improves on repeat viewings. There’s something about this brilliantly crafted film that gets under your skin and stays with you. Is it the catchy soundtrack? The shocking, unexpected bursts of violence? The uber-cool, stylish aesthetic? It’s destined to be a classic, but riding a wave of hype there’s no doubt it will leave some viewers disappointed (and it has). But for an extraordinary experience of pure filmmaking, don’t miss it. Gosling is superb – and my heart didn’t beat as hard in a cinema as it did during the second half of Nicolas Winding Refn’s neo-noir masterpiece.
6. We Need to Talk About Kevin
Based on the acclaimed 2003 novel by Lionel Shriver, this is a densely plotted, powerfully acted (and Tilda Swinton is worthy of a statue as the strong-willed but emotionally fragile woman constantly at odds with one of the most beautiful roles offered to females – motherhood) and genuinely affecting drama. The film seamlessly blends together, in a style that equates to that of a waking-dream, chapters of Eva Khatchadourian’s fractious relationship with her malevolent son, Kevin. There is this ever-present paranoiac sense of dread as the horrifying realism of Kevin’s personality, intuitions and sadistic desires, is revealed. Director Lynne Ramsay does a great job generating suspense and shot entirely through what she suggests. It’s an unsettling, thought-provoking, and divisive experience, but I was in shock following the viewing.
5. Project Nim
A brilliant documentary from James Marsh (Man on Wire). The story of Nim Chimpsky is a harrowing account of the tragic life of a very special animal. It is what happens when human emotion botches well-meaning science. Blending archival footage with contemporary interviews, this tale is both funny and horrifying and altogether extraordinary. While Nim’s story is front and center, what we learn about the humans involved in his life is just as unsettling.
4. Incendies
Every now and then a powerful, emotive and chilling political tragedy endowed with harrowing realism will come along that forces a viewer to cower in horror at the state of the world they live in. Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies is one such film. The means by which the plot lines converge and how the secrets culminate is a masterstroke of dramatic filmmaking. You will leave the cinema feeling like you have been punched in the stomach.
3. The Tree of Life
A technical masterpiece (in every way) from Terrence Malick, one of cinemas greatest auteurs. The rich emotional resonance of the O’Brien family left a profound effect on me following the transformative second viewing. Expertly balancing something as monumental as the Big Bang with something as little as capturing a young boy staring intriguingly at his baby brother is something few of us have seen before. The performances from Hunter McCracken, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain are unforgettable and this often puzzling film is immensely compelling and even more powerful. It’s an ambitious film everyone should ‘experience’ at some point in their lives and I think part of the reason it is so special is because everyone will experience it in a different way. I wish those cosmic sequences went on forever.
2. A Separation
Winner of Berlin’s Golden Bear earlier in the year, this compelling Iranian drama is patient, subtle and relatively simple in it’s plot development, but later reveals stunning complexity in its portrayal of morality, class, gender and religion amidst the social, political, legal and psychological context of contemporary Iran. It features a mechanically flawless screenplay and outstanding performances from its ensemble. An absolute stunner that has won major awards at film festivals all around the world.
1. Senna
You don’t have to be a Formula One fan to be brought to tears by Senna. This vibrant, engrossing, powerful and ultimately tragic portrayal of the life and untimely death of beloved sporting icon Ayrton Senna is exhilarating entertainment. From British director Asif Kapadia, and featuring a fantastic accompanying score, this brilliantly edited film (using exclusively archival footage) is documentary filmmaking at its most exciting. We witness some of Senna’s most incredible driving feats, see his battle with the politics of the sport and his rival Alain Prost, we discover his inspirations, and his pride, modesty and generosity that made him a beloved icon in Brazil.
Honorable mentions mine are: Moneyball, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Warrior, Rango, Armadillo, The Muppets, The Ides of March, The Descendants, 13 Assassins and Win Win.
Any thoughts? Let it be known in the comments!
29 Comments
I was with you until “Senna.” I don’t think I’m cinematically oblivious, but I haven’t heard much of anything on “Senna” in most publications. “Tree of Life” has been talked up ad nauseum and “Drive” somehow became immensely popular with mainstream audiences, which puzzles me because it’s far from accessible; same with “Tree of Life.” I loved both movies but don’t quite understand how they became so popular when movies of that kind tend to linger in relative obscurity, enjoying success only on sites such as this, and in The New Yorker (which has one fantastic critic and one bleh one). Glad to see “Skin” get some love, too. I’m waiting to see “The Artist” and “Melancholia” because they only opened near me this week.
Senna has been widely praised, but hasn’t been appearing on too many lists so far, which I find curious, because it is a phenomenal documentary and the single best cinema experience of the year for me. It transcends Formula One – and because it uses completely archival footage it feels like you are watching Ayrton Senna’s extraordinary racing career unfold, rather than be recounted. Ben backs me up (below) but it’s definitely worth a look. I loved The Tree of Life and Drive (more after a second viewing) but I don’t match a lot of people’s enthusiasm for Melancholia. As I said, this could have been a Top 30 list (and I actually posted one such list on my site) but these are the ten that stood out. Thanks for reading Greg.
Totally agree with you on Senna. I am a BIG F1 fan, but I’m so glad that this was done in such a way that it could move and touch so many people from outside of the F1 world… and ultimately bring a wonderful story to life, and in such a clever and well executed manor.
I think that it fully deserves all of the hype and positive criticism it got.
Great list!
Thanks Ben. Yeah, I totally agree. It is very well put together – and creates laughs and tears, anger and joy. The whole final third is extraordinary. I have now seen it three times and have not had dry eyes yet. I’m not even an F1 fan!
Interesting list Andrew. Haven’t seen Senna and A Separation yet but I know you were very high on these from the reviews you wrote. Very indie oriented list
Yeah I guess it is indie oriented. I just realised I have three foreign language films and two documentaries. The only film I have given 10/10 to on AM is SENNA. It was never going to be anything but #1. Thanks for posting Castor.
Great list! Anything with Take Shelter in the top ten makes me happy.
It’s amazing. I hope Michael Shannon gets an Oscar nom.
Great picks!
Have heard 1derful things about all of these films. Unfortunately there wee not enough hours for me to watch everything. I really wanted to see the Kevin film and the Skin I Live In – the latter looks nuts!
Well 2011 is still not completely closed and I am seeing a few other films before we close it out.
I hope you get the chance to see them both. They are the two most confronting films on the list, and yes SKIN is pretty nuts. It takes a very unexpected turn.
Mister Buckle, I didn’t knew that you write on Anomalous Material!:)
Yes, I have been contributing reviews to AM all year, just not very often recently. I hope to be more involved and send more reviews through to Castor in 2012
Great List Mr B
I still need to see a couple of the films you list. Although I share some films there are some differences too.
Nice job matey and Happy new year!
Thanks Scott! Happy New Year! Here’s to an equally great year of films in 2002.
2002? LOL
Oops. Well, you know what I mean
Great list Andrew!! I take mental note to some of those movies. I didn’t want a lot of 2011 movies. I should watch more current movies.
Take Shelter and We Nedd to talk about Kevin are 2 movies I have been eyeing for a while.
why does no one like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? its my favorite movie of the year.
At the top of the post I listed a few films that haven’t been released in Australia yet, and that I haven’t seen. DRAGON TATTOO was one of them. I wasnt a big fan of the original, but I expect I’ll like Fincher’s version. Also, there were lots of films I liked this year that didn’t make this list – it’s been a great year for cinema.
I’m honestly a little surprised at a few of these, especially number 1. Still, great list, unlike a lot of others who go with the basics!
I’m glad you put The Tree of Life so high too…
I adored Senna. For me personally, it was a phenomenal cinematic experience (watching this at a festival in a packed session) and it’s impact has not lessened on repeat viewings. Also, I haven’t seen some of the big releases (Hugo, The Artist) so this might change, but some of the films a lot of people are picking – Melancholia, Beginners, Super 8, Rise of the Planet of the Apes etc. are films I liked, but fall below the Top 10 and the honourable mentions for me personally. Man, Tree of Life was wonderful. Shows how good the top 2 are.
I haven’t seen many on that list, thanks to some useless timing on my half and limited releases, but definitely agree with placing Senna at #1. I don’t think I had a single bad word to say about it. It was so brilliantly made and never overly sentimental. It felt like a film and that’s a feat for a film that’s stitched together with footage and narrated by the long gone driver.
You nailed it. Exclusive archival footage and use of interviews as accompanying voice-over. You feel like his life is unfolding, not tragically ended and long gone. There are several moments in the film where he is talking about having “so much more to do” and “having plenty of time to achieve his goals” and you get this wave of sadness – and this growing sense of dread at the approaching tragedy. It’s extraordinary storytelling. Thanks for reading Jaina!
Yes, ‘Senna’ at Numero Uno I like to see that Andrew! One film I haven’t seen this year is ‘A Separation’, but after browsing a few lists, it is held in really high regard by many (including yourself) so I think I’ll buy that off of Amazon tomorrow.
It really is essential viewing. Glad everyone is liking the #1, too!
Fun list. As with many, I was quite surprised at your choice for number one. I quite enjoyed Senna myself (one of the best docs of the year), but it did not even make my runners-up list. But that what is great about all these lists – the surprises.
I look forward to checking out your list Kevyn. I saw a lot of great films this year, and any of the honourable mentions could have found a way into the Top 10 – especially Moneyball, MMMM, Warrior and Rango, which were there for part of the year. But, it’s often a surprise the films that resonate the most.
Fair few I haven’t seen yet, but from what I’ve heard of the films you’ve got down, I’d more than likely be inclined to agree. Great to see some more love for A Separation as well! Good job.
As soon as I saw A Separation at Sydney Film Fest. I knew it would feature near the top. Stunning.
Trackbacks