2011 in Review, Best Films

I conclude this look back at 2011 with my list of my favorite films of 2011. This is the last day of the year, so it's fitting that this be my final post of the year. Hopefully you'll enjoy this list, and check out some of the films on it. I've also included my picks for the best performances of the year.

If you'd like to get my list of the worst films of the year, best TV shows, and the books I read this year, check out my posts from earlier this week.

2011 was an interesting year for films. There were a lot of films that weren't very good (hence it's own big list this year). In addition, though there were a number of good films, it is hard to pick one that stands out above the crowd. I could make a case for about a half dozen films being my favorite, but I finally settled on the list in this order. As always, the list is in ascending order, and features the top 15 of the year.

15. Hugo — I originally gave this film three stars, but it has been a film I haven't been able to forget about. It's very different for a Martin Scorsese film, but it's beautiful in a way. I still have some problems with this film — the first hour is a bit slow and there are stories that don't get resolved well. But the final hour of the film, the beautiful way it celebrates film, and the incredible performance from Ben Kingsley stayed with me. This isn't a perfect film, but it's a beautiful film.

14. Cedar Rapids — This film came out early in the year and wasn't seen by a large audience, but it was probably my favorite comedy. "Bridesmaids" and "The Hangover, Part II" might have made more money and gotten more headlines, but this was the better film. Great performance from Ed Helms, and just a funny, off-beat comedy here.

13. X-Men: First Class — This was a great summer blockbuster, and the best of the "X-Men" franchise. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, who was everywhere in 2011, give great performances. This was a fun origin story that really ties the whole "X-Men" universe together.

12. The Muppets — Who knew that we missed these cute puppets so much! You might not have, but I certainly did. Watching this movie was like a beautiful piece of nostalgia. It was funny, warm-hearted, and true to the history and legacy of the Muppets.

11. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol — Easily the best of the "Mission Impossible" films, and possibly the best action film of the year. This movie delivers great action and a fun story. Good performances, and incredible work from director Brad Bird in his first live-action feature.

10. Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 — The "Harry Potter" franchise has been a stalwart at the Box Office for a decade. It's hard to imagine them crafting a better cinematic ending to one of the biggest franchises of all time than the film we got in July. It was a great ending, and a perfect way to cap a memorable decade of films.

9. Sarah's Key — This was a great movie that, again, few people checked out. Based on the novel from Tatiana De Rosnay, this is a beautiful story, beautifully told, that focuses on a sometimes overlooked part of history. Great anchor performance from Kristen Scott Thomas in a great movie.

8. The Rum Diary — This is an off-beat, funny film. Johnny Depp wanted to make this in tribute to his friend, Hunter S. Thompson, who wrote the novel upon which the film is based. It's a strange and delightful film. You can't help but laugh through some of the outrageous sequences. Great work from Depp and Giovanni Ribisi, who plays a wacky character that defies description.

7. Super 8 — This was my favorite film of the summer, and is probably a bit of a sentimental pick. Just some great work from writer-director J.J. Abrams. This was a beautiful story, with great characters, that was one of the most fun cinematic experiences. This is a movie that will be largely overlooked during awards season, but it was one of the best of the year.

6. Moneyball — This is a sports movie that is more about the people involved than sports. It's an exceptional job of adapting a book about a statistical model for building a baseball franchise to compete in an arena where the deck is stacked against you. Great performances from Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. This is a movie so enjoyable it sort of makes you forget that it's not super accurate from a sports standpoint.

5. The Help — This is a beautiful and movie film based on the novel by Katherine Stockett. Great performances all the way around and beautiful storytelling. This is a film that will likely be a major player during awards season, and for good reason. Viola Davis delivers and incredible performance in the lead role.

4. Ides of March — George Clooney the director delivers again with a gripping and moving political film. In the year of Ryan Gosling, this was easily his best film and his best performance. This isn't a feel good film, but it seems like a realistic portrayal of what it costs you to get ahead in the arena of American politics.

3. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo — This is another win for director David Fincher, who delivers his best crime drama since "Se7en." This movie features great lead performances from Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, and Fincher does an excellent job of adapting the somewhat dark story into a compelling film.

2. War Horse — This is vintage Steven Spielberg, mixing his ability to get to the heart with family films and his gift with war films. This film, based on a children's book and a stage play of the same name, is a rare gift. It's a beautiful and touching tale, and Spielberg shows his ability as a director by building large emotional sequences of the film around horses. And the dialogue free scenes between the beautiful animals are as great as any of the scenes with humans.

1. The Descendants — I loved this beautiful film from writer-director Alexander Payne. This might easily be George Clooney's best performance, and it comes in a movie that is moving, funny, and compelling. In a year where there were a lot of great films, this is one that keeps coming back to my mind, which is why I feel it was the best film I saw in 2011.

Individual Honors:

Actor:

1. George Clooney, "The Descendants" — Just a great performance from an under-rated actor.

2. Ben Kingsley, "Hugo" — Kingsley's work was the best thing about "Hugo." He took it from good to great.

3. Brad Pitt, "Moneyball" — It's a subtle performance, but an important one. He brought to life the character of Billy Beane and became the heart of the film.

Actress:

1. Viola Davis, "The Help" — One of the most moving and beautiful performances of the year.

2. Rooney Mara, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" — This movie wouldn't work without a strong Lisbeth Salander, and Mara nails it.

3. Charlize Theron, "Young Adult" — It's tough to play a totally unlikeable character and get the audience to care. Theron does that in spades with this role.

Supporting Actor:

1. Jonah Hill, "Moneyball" — He was the perfect foil to Pitt and showed his range in this role.

2. Kyle Chandler, "Super 8" — I loved him on "Friday Night Lights" and I thought he was perfect in this film.

3. Patton Oswalt, "Young Adult" — One of the sneaky best performances of the year.

Supporting Actress:

1. Octavia Spencer, "The Help" — There are probably about four ladies that could fit this category, but Spencer was the best of the lot.

2. Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants" — She was the perfect foil to Clooney, delivering a knockout performance.

3. Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids" — I didn't love "Bridesmaids," but there's no denying that McCarthy was the best thing in the film.

Director:

1. David Fincher, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" — At some point, Fincher is going to be recognized for his great work. He did a great job adapting this film as only he could.

2. Alexander Payne, "The Descendants" — This was my pick for best film, and a lot of credit for that goes to Payne's work to write and direct the film.

3. Steven Spielberg, "War Horse" — This film was vintage Spielberg, and it helps you remember why he's probably the greatest living American director.