My Top 15 of 2011

This is the defining film of 2011 to me. I have never seen such incredible camera work. (Director Of Photography) Emmanuel Lubezki gives his shots a distinct personality that completely encapsulates the inherent beauty of life and the world. Writer/Director Terrence Mallick has given us a film that uses a loose narrative to convey some of the most complex questions in philosophy. The Tree of Life is certainly not for everybody, but anybody with patience or an appreciation for film will not be disappointed. Lastly I encourage all who have an interest in filmmaking to watch the half hour documentary on the production of The Tree Of Life as it gives a brilliant insight to the unorthodox method of Terrence Mallick and Emmanuel Lubezki. I'm sure it can be found online.

There is so much to Drive that I find it nearly impossible to summarize it with words. From it's inventive and catchy soundtrack, to it's incredibly cool photography, Drive is the ultimate action movie. My favourite thing about Drive however, is that (director) Nicholas Winding Refn understands that you can say more with a smile between characters than a million lines of dialogue. The relationship between Driver (Ryan Gosling) and Irene (Carey Mulligan) is the best on-screen romance I have seen since Lost In Translation. Also Nicholas Winding Refn is one of the coolest people in the world.

A masterpiece by a master. Hugo is a brilliant piece of work that perfectly captures the wonder of the cinema. Scorsesse's love and passion for film bleeds into every frame of the film. Another strong element of Hugo is the impressive 3D work by Robert Richardson.

The Descendants won't be remembered for it's groundbreaking cinematography or editing, but it is nonetheless a fantastic film. Alexander Payne uses restraint in order to tell a character-driven, human story.

One of the most inventive filmic narratives I have ever seen. Martha Marcy May Marlene creates a powerful relationship between the audience and the film as the viewer tries to navigate between memory, dream and reality with the film's title character Martha (Marcy May). After this film I have a lot of faith and interest in writer/director Sean Durkin for how eloquently he layers this film, (cinematographer) Jody Lee Lipes for his darkly exposed rural landscapes, (editor) Zachary Stuart Pontier and lead actress Elizabeth Olsen.

"You think I'm crazy? Well, listen up, there's a storm coming like nothing you've ever seen, and not a one of you is prepared for it" From the lions club dinner scene to the last frame, Take Shelter took me on a roller coaster of emotions and expectations. Michael Shannon gives an unforgettable performance and Jessica Chastain fails to disappoint. Perhaps the most remarkable talent on display here however is writer/director Jeff Nichols. To any reading this list who have yet to see Take Shelter I encourage you to give it a chance, it may be difficult to get in to but I ensure you the payoff is worth it.

My first impression of 50/50 led me to believe that it would either be another forgettable Seth Rogen movie, or an interesting dramatic-comedy (one of my favourite genres). I got the chance to see it's world premiere at TIFF and was happy to learn that I was correct with the latter of the two presumptions. I struggle to find any complaints about this film. Well shot and well cut and emotionally poignant.

As a filmmaker who has found the most success in the documentary genre, Project Nim appeals to me on a very artistic level. Firstly I love any documentary that takes itself seriously as a film (a medium that is defined by it's visual delivery) rather than a vessel for information. Despite the fact that the majority of the footage was "home-movies", director James Marsh managed to craft a film that communicated in a visually intriguing manner. The way that Project Nim manages to present it's subject (a chimpanzee named Nim) as equally sympathetic and despicable is truly remarkable.

It's tough for me to definitively decide how I feel about The Artist. It's a great theatrical experience, and well worth the ticket price and of course I love a film that tells it's entire story on a purely visual basis. Despite the things I love about it though, I can't justify to winning best picture. There's simply not enough to it. It's a small, linear story that, while pleasant, fails to deliver a thought-provoking impact. My favourite element of The Artist however is what it represents to the current revolution in the film industry. When sloppy post-production 3D films are dominating the box office it's reassuring to see a silent, black and white film win over critics and the rest of the film industry. As an advocate for the survival of celluloid I have tremendous respect for The Artist. As a storyteller and filmmaker, I have a mild appreciation for it. At the very least I encourage everyone to see it, regardless of my criticisms.

David Fincher. Trent Reznor. Jeff Cronenweth. Rooney Mara. What's not to love? The mediocre nature of the story is completely overshadowed by the film's unsettling tone and style and the relationship between Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara).

First and foremost I am a huge fan of Wally Pfister (the cinematographer) and his work on Moneyball. Pfister masterfully uses his camera to set the tone for the film. I imagine it surprises people to hear that the academy award winning cinematographer also shot the incredibly visceral Inception. Aside from the photography at display in Moneyball, I love it for it's challenging pace and lack of polish. I really respect Bennet Miller for his honest approach at work in Moneyball.

As much as I hated the cookie-cutter advertising for the film, I have to admire how it would have increased the impact for unsuspecting audiences. Though less visually inspired then his other films (which was intentional on his part) Young Adult still went to prove the sheer merit of Jason Reitman as a filmmaker. He is certainly one of my favourite directors working today.

What can I say? It's impossible not to enjoy. A perfect nostalgia piece and a brilliant exercise in levity.

Few films can draw you in like Contagion does. The film has been hailed for it's chilling realism, but I contend that it works because of the characters more than anything. Every character feels genuine, rather than being pawns to progress mild horror fare. Another strength of the film is it's simplistic but effective photography.

A smart, fun blockbuster that renewed my faith in the X-men franchise. One of the more entertaining comic book movies around.