KAI’S TOP 10 FILMS OF 2011

EXCLUSIONS: There are a handful of films that I still had not seen prior to going to print that I think had a shot of making this list. They include The Muppets, The Artist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo and The Descendants.

10. SOURCE CODE.

Ah, the dreaded sophomore film. Everyone was blown away with Duncan Jones debut film Moon. The beautiful Sci-Fi film made on a shoe-string budget. The boy showed he had some promise but this was his chance to prove himself and I think he did a damn good job. I remember seeing the film and not understanding some of the early bad reviews the film had received. Jones toys with the time travel, in a manner very similar to something like Groundhog Day, and creates a fun entry into not only his filmography but the sub-genre as well.

9. INSIDIOUS.

This film is proof that the creative forces behind the original Saw film have talent when it comes to Horror… as long as you exclude the Horror movies they made with puppets… that aren’t riding bikes in movies called Saw. I had very low expectations for this film because (a) it didn’t look like anything special and (b) I hate Ghost movies. They just never scare me. However, I like Patrick Wilson so I checked it out and I’m glad I did because this is a great throwback Horror film. A throw back to the 70s when Horror was at it’s peak. Much more than homage too… a damn good time at the movies.

8. ATTACK THE BLOCK.

Allow me to jump on the ATB bandwagon. Everyone has been praising this film since its release and I can hardly disagree. Edgar Wright continues to prove that everything he touches turns to gold, even when it’s in a producing capacity. The only fresh thing I can say about this film, as everything that can be said just about has, is that it succeeds in spite of itself. A silly premise (aliens attack one block?) featuring mumbling hooligans (right, bruv?) fighting ridiculous looking creatures (shadows with glowing teeth) could easily have gone down in flames. Yet, the film does not. It entertains from start to finish.

7. SUPER 8.

J.J. Abrams’ homage to Spielberg films of the 80s turned out to be just that… an homage. A great one. Good for us because it could’ve turned out to be a horrible carbon copy. I wonder sometimes what kids a little older than mine would think of a movie like this. In a world of today’s cinema, where the PG-13 rating exists. Truthfully, though, I don’t really care because the kid in me drank this film up. I continue to think that Abrams is one of the best working directors in Hollywood and also look forward to seeing what some of the child actors, featured in the film, do in the years to come because they were all great in it.

T-6. THOR/ CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER.

I couldn’t really separate them so I didn’t even try. Truth is, Marvel turned in two stellar superhero movies in 2011. Admittedly, they don’t reach the levels of a Dark Knight or, their predecessor, Iron Man. However, they are certainly better than most comic book fair and light years ahead of things like The Green Lantern. If I had to pick between them, I think I would lean towards Thor. Thor was really only held back from being great by it’s lack of a climax. Though, I must say, I think Captain America is a much funner watch and may have a larger rewatchability factor than Thor. Either way you cut it, they’re both pretty damn good films.

5. DRIVE.

I rarely edit these lists. I usually just omit the films I haven’t seen and leave it be. However, I managed to finally catch Drive the night after I posted this and it definitely lived up to the hype. I’ve been a fan of Refn since his first film (Pusher) came out. The guy can certainly shoot a beautiful film and Gosling kills in the lead role. I will say that I feel like the film is a little overrated. It’s damn good but it’s not nearly the best film of the year. I had a problem with some of the scenes being too sparse and wasn’t a fan of how it ended. Still, the movie just kicked ass and shot up to my Top 10 with ease.

4. REAL STEEL.

AKA: Rocky Sock ‘Em Robots. Anyone who didn’t like this movie can kiss my black ass. Yes, I’m black from the waist down. This is yet another Summer Blockbuster movie that ended up delivering when it looked as if it could only fail. Hugh Jackman is great as a retired fighter who accidentally reconnects with his son after years of being absent in his life. The father/son stuff is actually quite compelling and the movie only gets better when you get to sit back and enjoy robots pummeling each other into pieces. Those scenes bring out a feeling only comparable to, the obvious comparison, the climax of all the Rocky films… which everybody loves!

3. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4: GHOST PROTOCOL.

Did anyone expect this film to be as good as it was? Or, like me, did you expect an inverse to the Star Trek curse where all the odd number movies are good and the even ones are shite? Well, I stand corrected. This film was non-stop action that kicked off right from the opening scene and didn’t let up to the very end. I have two small complaints: (1) Jeremy Renner is severely underused and (2) anything that followed the Abu Dhabi scene could never live up to the action that scene delivered. However, these are minor complaints as this film was a ton of fun. It might be the best film in the franchise since the first. It also proved that Cruise still has “it.”

2. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

Before this film’s release, Entertainment Weekly theorized that this film might reinvent Romantic Comedies. I’m not sure it did that but it’s certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen, putting it in rare company with films like Love Actually. I just prayed, after all the hype around it, for it not to suck. Luckily, it turned out to be a great film. It features my favorite character of the year (Gosling’s Jacob Palmer) and my favorite scene of the year (the backyard scene where all the storylines come together). It also features a toned down Carrell that doesn’t feel as forced, or as intended, as it does in films like Little Miss Sunshine or Dan in Real Life.

1. WARRIOR.

I really don’t know what to say other than this film just came along and knocked me on my ass. I’ve been recommending it to anyone who asks me what good movies are out to see right now and everyone keeps coming back to me with a similar reaction. A UFC-style movie should fail, and has onscreen before, but this film remains focused on the characters and drives home a solid drama that features some kick ass fight scenes. I was tempted to put some flashier films ahead of it but it’s the film that won me over more so than anything else released in 2011.