As 2011 draws to a close, we’re compiling some of the years biggest highlights.
The year in review series continues here with a look at the top ten films of 2011…
It was an interesting year for cinema, a bittersweet farewell to Harry Potter (aww), no Saw films (phew!) and the new Pixar film wasn’t very good (shame).
Amidst the surprises and disappointments there were a solid bunch of films and we’ve picked ten of them as our top ones.
Not always necessarily the best films, but ten damn fine examples of film-making and their genre that we hope you have seen and if not you should make it your duty to watch before the top 10 films of 2012.
Here they are in no particular order.
Bridesmaids
Kristin Wiig proves that rom-coms can be funny and still sweet and that women in these films can have actual characterization.
If you’re one of the few who avoided this in theatres because you suspected another Bride Wars or 27 Dresses, put your preconceptions aside and pick it up.
One of the sleeper hits of the year, people called it the female Hangover? It’s ten times better.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Two films on this list prove that action scenes don’t have to be endless CGI robot fights that become boring but can actually be exciting and tense, Super 8 (below) and its train crash and ROTPOTA’s climatic battle on the bridge.
Why does the scene work so well? Because it’s preceded by the fascinating, touching and involving story of Caesar (a motion captured Andy Serkis who deserves an Oscar), a super smart ape and his rise to power.
This isn’t just a film for fans of the franchise or sci-fi nerds, this is just a great story, so brilliantly told that’ll it’ll suck all types in.
Super 8
If you are to learn one thing from Spielberg, it’s how to cast and direct children in films, from Jaws to War of the Worlds, the child stars are pitch perfect and rarely irritating.
JJ Abrams has taken that lead with Super 8, it’s the funny and endearing cast that make it and also has one of the most exciting, tense, jaw dropping train crash scenes in cinema.
Add to that a 80’s nostalgia and some great set pieces and you have one of the most fun films of the year.
Source Code
We have Inception to thank for the green-lighting of this interesting sci-fi thinker, Jake Gyllenhaal is repeatedly put into the body of a man on a train eight minutes before a bomb goes off and kills everyone.
He has to work out who is responsible and report back to a secret government agency. A really cool and exciting concept pulled off brilliantly. Think sci-fi Groundhog Day.
The Muppets
Everyone seems to love the Muppets, but their films can be hit and miss, the first Muppet movie is a classic as is The Muppets Christmas Carol but the less said about the likes of Muppets in Space the better.
This however is a return to form and the ticket sales prove it. The combination of Kermit and friends, Jason Segal and a director who knows his comedy (James Bobin- Flight of the Conchords, Da Ali G Show) is a winning formula.
Unfortunately many readers will have to wait till next year till it’s released in their country.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The eighth and last Potter film did not disappoint. It delivered an exciting, touching and fitting finale to the film franchise that has been running for 10 years.
Even the most cynical viewer can’t help get a little excited when Harry faces down Voldemort for the final epic battle and what a battle! There was blood, deaths and even a swear word. Brilliant.
Captain America: The First Avenger
The offering of comic films has been poor of late, Thor and Green Lantern took silliness to new places. So who’d have thought one of the silliest comic characters would produce such a fine film?
Captain America was fun, just the right level of silly, looked great but still based itself in some sort of reality and even beautifully explained his lame costume and name. Roll on the Avengers.
Limitless
Struggling broke author takes a super pill that unlocks parts of his brain he didn’t know existed and he becomes quick thinking, quick talking, quick learning genius.
A real treat starring people magazines sexiest man of the year Bradley Cooper, loaded with style and panache. Check it out if you missed it first time around.
50/50
A bromance starring the excellent Joseph Gordon Levitt (on his long rise to super-stardom) and Seth Rogan.
Loosely based on the screenwriter’s real life experience, this about the relationship between two friends when one is diagnosed with a rare and possibly terminal type of cancer.
What follows is a sweet, raw but funny portrayal of dealing with the disease and friendship.
Contagion
Another massive box office hit, a nasty-ass disease is spreading throughout the world, killing people left right and center, it’s doesn’t care who it knocks off, Gwyneth Palthrow dies first for God’s sake! None of the massively famous cast are safe!
A tense and painfully real portrayal of how such a disease would spread and how humanity would deal with it. It’ll make you want to punch the next person you see who coughs without covering their mouth.
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Credits: This post was produced for rukkle by Bren Murphy
