84 replies to this topic

[Overstreet]

Do we not have a thread for *our* 2011 lists beyond the "Halftime Report" thread?

If not, might as well get one started since at least one of us has posted that list already.

I'm working on my list. It feels kind of like this.

Edited by Overstreet, 23 December 2011 - 05:32 PM.

[Christian]

Overstreet, on 23 December 2011 - 05:28 PM, said:

It feels kind of like this.

??

I don't get it.

[Overstreet]

There are so many interesting films, finding ways to choose one over another sometimes feels ridiculous.

But the power of the picking-favorites habit is strong.

[Darrel Manson]

Overstreet, on 23 December 2011 - 05:41 PM, said:

There are so many interesting films, finding ways to choose one over another sometimes feels ridiculous.

But the power of the picking-favorites habit is strong.

Yeah, I started the sorting process last night, and since I usually do a dozen films I get a couple extra from those who usually do a top ten, so I usually have two less to mourn over not making the cut. This year I'm considering tacking on a bonus dozen.

My prelim list (the further down the list, the more iffy it's exact location):
Of Gods and Men
The Mill and the Cross
Tree of Life
Certified Copy
Nostalgia for the Light
Tyrannosaur
Warrior
Midnight in Paris
The Kid with a Bike
Higher Ground
A Separation
The Way
Pina
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Bill Cunningham New York
The Help
Wish Me Away
Coriolanus
Attack the Block
Hugo
Tabloid
Rango
The Adjustment Bureau
(yup, looks like my annual dozen is going BOGO)

Favorite revisits or discoveries from the past:
Disney Dream
Ben-Hur
Exodus

Edited by Darrel Manson, 29 December 2011 - 05:16 PM.

[Ryan H.]

As I get my end-of-year list ready, I'm finding myself more and more indifferent to 2011 as a year for film. There were one or two surprises, but really, the best films I saw this year were all films from past years. So if we're looking at my top ten films I saw for the first time in 2011, then the list looks like this:


BLOW OUT (1981, dir. Brian De Palma)
DEAD RINGERS (1988, dir. David Cronenberg)
FEMME FATALE (2002, dir. Brian De Palma)
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE (2004, dir. Mamoru Oshii)
HOUR OF THE WOLF (1968, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
THE MAGICIAN (1958, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
MYSTERIES OF LISBON (2010, dir. Raul Ruiz)
SENSO (1954, dir. Luchino Visconti)
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957, dir. Alexander Mackendrick)
THE DAY OF THE LOCUST (1975, dir. John Schlesinger)


Compared that list, any 2011 Top Ten I could put together looks like mighty meager.

Edited by Ryan H., 24 December 2011 - 10:19 AM.

[Ron Reed]

Could I request that people post their lists in progress? Rather than waiting for our final, official, "now that I've seen everything I'm going to see" lists? Add those later, or update what you've already posted - but post earlier drafts now? These lists are only mildly interesting to me after the fact: they are immensely helpful to me in process, as a viewing guide to what I might want to watch as the year ends and the next one begins.

Thoughts so far?

I've seen far fewer movies this year than any year since 1998. Alas. But I do want to do some catching up now: what should I see?

The new films I've seen this year that I've had a particular affection for, or interest in, include...

Tree Of Life, Bill Cunningham New York, Margaret, The Way
The Mill and The Cross
The Descendants, Another Earth, In A Better World
Midnight In Paris, Ides of March, Moneyball, half of Super 8

And one older film in particular that became an instant lifetime favourite
George Washington

Edited by Ron Reed, 05 January 2012 - 04:01 AM.

[J.R.]

Top 10 (in alphabetical order)

The Adventures of Tintin
The Artist
Attack the Block
Hugo
Insidious
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Moneyball
Super 8
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tree of Life


Honorable mentions: The Descendants, Cold Weather, Rango, Win Win, Take Shelter, Being Elmo, 13 Assassins, The Guard

Overrated: Bridesmaids

Edited by J.R., 27 January 2012 - 12:36 PM.

[Ryan H.]

Ron Reed, on 29 December 2011 - 11:31 AM, said:

But I do want to do some catching up now: what should I see?

I'm sure everyone's tiring of my constant support for this film, but ya gotta see MYSTERIES OF LISBON.

[Overstreet]

Ron Reed, on 29 December 2011 - 11:31 AM, said:

The new films I've seen this year that I've had a particular affection for, or interest in, include...

Tree Of Life
Bill Cunningham New York
The Mill and The Cross
The Descendants, Another Earth, In A Better World
Midnight In Paris, Ides of March, Moneyball, half of Super 8

Ooh, now I'm tempted to include half-films. I'm with you on "half of Super 8."

Ryan H., on 29 December 2011 - 12:59 PM, said:

Ron Reed, on 29 December 2011 - 11:31 AM, said:

But I do want to do some catching up now: what should I see?

I'm sure everyone's tiring of my constant support for this film, but ya gotta see MYSTERIES OF LISBON.

I would if I could!!

[Darren H]

I'm still waiting to see Lisbon, too. That one, A Separation, and Margaret are the three gaping holes in my 2011 viewing.

[M. Leary]

Still haven't caught A Seperation, Margaret, or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I really want to catch the latter before pulling the trigger.

I do like Mysteries of Lisbon, but can't imagine when I could give it a requisite second viewing seeing as it is 97 hours long. At this point, I don't know if it would make my list.

[Darren H]

Saw another one today you might like, M: Putty Hill. It's kinda like The Arbor meets Paranoid Park but set in East Baltimore.

[M. Leary]

Seen it. Liked it well enough that it was on my list in that earlier thread about favorites from 2011. Is it eligible, though? I lost my link to the NY theatrical release list.

What did you think about it? Between this and The Arbor, I am becoming increasingly intrigued in cinema as a space for confession. (Which would make a great A&F list some day: Best Films about Confessions.)

[Ryan H.]

M. Leary, on 29 December 2011 - 03:23 PM, said:

Still haven't caught A Seperation, Margaret, or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I really want to catch the latter before pulling the trigger.

TINKER just made it to Philadelphia. I can't wait to see it.

M. Leary, on 29 December 2011 - 03:23 PM, said:

I do like Mysteries of Lisbon, but can't imagine when I could give it a requisite second viewing seeing as it is 97 hours long.

Yeah, you definitely have to carve out a real chunk of time to give MYSTERIES OF LISBON a watch. My local theater was kind enough to offer the opportunity to see the first half of the film one night and the second half later in the week. I stuck it out for a single super-long viewing, though.

I'm interested to see the full, six-hour version.

Edited by Ryan H., 29 December 2011 - 07:02 PM.

[M. Leary]

Ryan H., on 29 December 2011 - 06:59 PM, said:

I'm interested to see the full, six-hour version.

A local university had it for one night in toto. It was, I admit, too much for me in one fell swoop.

[LibrarianDeb]

Here's my list of faves so far, there's plenty I haven't seen yet.

(Not necessarily in order)

Of Gods and Men
Tree of Life
Certified Copy
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
Win Win
Bridesmaids
50/50
Muppets

[Overstreet]

By the way, for those frustrated by the inaccessibility of MYSTERIES OF LISBON, be frustrated no more. It's streaming on vudu.com for about five bucks. I haven't used this service before. I'm hoping it's as convenient as it looks. Now, if I can just find 386 uninterrupted minutes. In a row.

[BethR]

So many I have yet to see that I don't think I can make a list until next year.

[Andrew]

Here's my Top 12 so far:

1. Cave of Forgotten Dreams
2. (tie) The Way and A Dangerous Method
3. Hugo
4. Nostalgia for the Light
5. Bill Cunningham New York
6.Martha Marcy May Marlene
7. Moneyball
8. Meek's Cutoff
9. Attack the Block
10. MI-4
11. Young Adult
12. Rise of the Planet of the Apes


Still need to see Melancholia and Le Havre

Edited by Andrew, 05 February 2012 - 09:25 PM.

[Christian]

I feel like all I did was watch movies the last two months, but as I sit down to put together my Top 10, I learn that these movies are still unseen by me:

Take Shelter (placed first because I imagine it would claim a spot on my Top 10, maybe high up)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Senna
Beats, Rhymes and Life
The Help
Pina
Rise of the Planet of the Apes

EDIT: And no Tarr, Ceylan or Dardennes either.

Edited by Christian, 01 January 2012 - 04:50 PM.