I watched a grand total of
106 Films In 2011. These are the nine that I loved most of all:
X-Men: First Class - I didn't think that there could be actors who could inhabit the roles that Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart made famous in the first two films. I was wrong. And boy am I glad that I was. Talk about brought kicking and screaming back into fandom;)
Jane Eyre - A magnificent re-telling of one of my all time favourite books. It did not hurt that
my crush of the year is in it too. Although, I still would have gone to see it... because!
Shame - Technically, this should be on the 2012 list. It may still be *but* I saw this for the first time at the London Film Festival and it blew me the hell away. It's by no means an 'easy' film to watch but it is worth it and it's rewarding and wow!
Warrior - On the surface, there is only one reason to watch this movie. The naked men, shallow as a spoon and no apologies! But that's doing this movie a great disservice. It's not about the fighting, it's about family and love and... It didn't do as well as it should have done at the box office but I entreat everyone to go see it when it comes out on DVD because? It is a joy. The final five minutes are just wonderful.
Source Code - Duncan Jones follows up the superb
Moon with another corking SF film. It might not have the wondrous soundtrack that blessed his first flick, but @manmademoon delivers the goods. I would have given this more thought but I got sidetracked by finding out that I was going to be an auntie;)
Kick Ass - Yes, this was originally released in 2010, but I saw it, at the cinema, in 2011, so it counts. Matthew Vaughn delivers a seriously demented superhero film but one that has moments that take you out at the knees as well. No wonder he did such a good job with XMFC!
127 Hours - Danny Boyle could direct a school play and I'd watch it. A master storyteller and very nice chap, who is not above bemusing audiences by referencing
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? when talking about this movie. And I even kept my eyes open during the climax scene as well - which I am still chuffed about;)
Arthur Christmas - And the 'Pixar' spot goes to... A Christmas movie by Aardman! Which was sarky, sweet and lovely and they did it with worry and melted my heart. And
Professor Hottie was adorable in this as well;)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011) - I walked into this with no real expectations... and was utterly bowled over by it. It is the archetype slow burner of a film - Gary Oldman as Smiley was wonderful but Mark Strong broke my damn heart without saying a word. Wonderful!
Honourable mentions go to:
Thor,
The Artist,
Rango,
Captain America: The First Avenger and
Pina (3D)