Top Ten Movies of 2011

2011 was the rare and beautiful year that was so packed with surprising and innovative films, it was seriously difficult to boil it down to just ten. It was a particularly fruitful year on the domestic front; beside the American films both independent (The Future, Take Shelter) and big-budget mainstream (The Tree of Life) included on my list, there were also just-barely-weeded-out gems like the hysterical Bridesmaids, left out only because I wanted more, more, more of the ensemble cast; the haunting film that introduced us to Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and the low-key but stunning Cold Weather, both of which are highly deserving of honorable mentions.

RATE IT!   |  

VOTE

CURRENT TOP 5 PICK YOUR OWN TOP 5

USERS WHO VOTED

NEW! CREATE YOUR OWN SLIDESHOW

 

Follow Farihah Zaman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/brandnewfarihah

Comments

[Forester]

07:57 PM on 01/24/2012

I really wanted to like Tree of Life but found it pedantic and ultimately unfulfilling.

It seemed to devolve into a noirish shampoo commercial for Jessica Chastain.

[bunzilla]

10:19 AM on 01/19/2012

I would really like to see Take Shelter and Trollhunter. I'm a huge fan of Michael Shannon's work and read great reviews about the film. Unfortunately, I live ina tiny community in Texas where a good movie theatre is hard to find! As for my own contribution to the list, I would definitely add Warrior which surprised me as being a really great film not so much about fighting but about the dynamics of a dysfunctional family. The great Nick Nolte stars as a dad who is badly damaged and has a lot of healing to do with himself and his sons. You will not be disappointed!

[Farihah Zaman]

06:54 PM on 01/13/2012

For those who have mentioned the difficulty in seeing some of these films in their hometowns, I should add that several are now available on DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon Instant, On Demand, or best of all because it's free with an account, Netflix Streaming! I hope you will check out what you can:

1) EXTRAORDINARY STORIES (Not yet available)

2) NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT (DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon Instant)

3) UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (DVD, Bu-ray, Netflix Streaming)

4) TAKE SHELTER (DVD, Blu-ray)

5) TREE OF LIFE (DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon Instant, On Demand)

6) LE QUATTRO VOLTE (DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon Instant, Netflix Streaming)

7) A SCREAMING MAN (DVD, Netflix Streaming)

8) TROLLHUNTER (DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon Instant, Netflix Streaming)

9) THE FUTURE (DVD, Amazon Instant, On Demand)

10) PINA (Not yet available)

[BrandonIsaacson]

10:59 AM on 01/12/2012

Appreciate seeing more of my kinda movies on here!

[O K Ali]

01:16 AM on 01/12/2012

I hope I can see even half of these films.

[VegasBabe]

11:01 PM on 01/11/2012

No mention of "The Help"? Sheesh!

[Farihah Zaman]

03:58 PM on 01/13/2012

I thought The Help was well made and well acted, but didn't feel as strongly about it as the films on this list...what else would be on your Top Ten for the year?

[LMPE]

08:00 PM on 01/11/2012

I actually saw "Troll Hunter" a day or two after the terrorist attacks in Norway. What a way to see the country!

[Elroy Jetson]

05:02 PM on 01/11/2012

You've watched these in a packed theater? I haven't even seen them in a local theater. Then again, I live in Bug Tussel.

[Ashlea Sisk]

04:39 PM on 01/11/2012

first