Although box office revenues were down in 2011, it seems to have been a good year when it comes down to the quality of films released. So far I have only see eleven 2011 films (how appropriate!) but there are many that I still want to see. Here is my list (in no particular order) with some brief reasons for why I want to see these movies.
An independent science fiction movie that focuses on the characters and story instead of CGI and explosions? Count me in! Another Earth could be this year's Moon.
A Separation
A Separation is an Iranian film. It has gotten a lot of buzz and could be this year's Oscar winner for best foreign language film.
Attack the Block
Alien invasion films have been popular since the 1950s, but like the recent District 9 this one has a new spin on the genre as it is about a gang of teenagers defending their London home from an extraterrestrial invasion.
Moneyball
As a baseball fan I loved the book this movie is based on. That said, I'm not sure how this story will translate to film since its about the business behind the sport, but it has been well received by audiences and critics.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I never read the books but both the Swedish and American films have gotten a lot of attention.
Warrior
Tom Hardy warms up for his role as Bane!
Contagion
The only Soderbergh movie I've seen so far is Ocean's Eleven which I quite liked. Contagion seems like a good thriller that I'll check out when I get the chance.
Drive
This movie came out of nowhere to get critical acclaim and has shown up on tons of 2011 best of lists.
The Future
Although this indie movie hasn't gotten as consistently good reviews as others have this year, I thought the trailer looked interesting and want to give it a shot if/when I get the chance.
The Mill and the Cross
Rutger Hauer and beautiful art, need I say more?
Melancholia
I've never seen a Lars von Trier film before but this one seems interesting and got a solid amount of attention.
A Dangerous Method
I love David Cronenberg but before I see this I should probably see at least one of his newer non-horror/sci-fi movies (starting with Spider).
50/50
This movie looked like it could be a funny and well-written comedy-drama. It is loosely based on a true story. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the main character, a man in his 20s who gets a rare form of cancer.
Hugo
Hugo hasn't done well at the box office considering its large budget. However, the film has gotten great reviews and the visuals look stunning. When one thinks of family films Martin Scorsese does not come to mind but it seems like he made a very good film regardless of genre!
Take Shelter
Like The Future, this is another little film which had fascinating trailer that made me want to see it.
The Skin I Live In
The Skin I Live In was nominated for a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival before eventually losing out to The Tree of Life. This Spanish film stars Antonio Banderas and is about a plastic surgeon haunted by his past.
The Descendants
I'm not a big George Clooney fan but this film has gotten a very positive response from critics.
Midnight in Paris
I should probably watch more Woody Allen movies before I get to this one but I heard Midnight in Paris was very good so I'll see it eventually.
The Artist
Some might view a silent film made in 2011 as gimmicky but I thought the trailer was great and it seems to work well here.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
I haven't read the book but any movie featuring John Hurt and Gary Oldman is a must-see for me! Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, and Benedict Cumberbatch are also in the cast.
Hobo with a Shotgun
Based on a fake trailer made for a Grindhouse contest, Hobo with a Shotgun stars Rutger Hauer as the title character. I haven't seen Grindhouse yet (other than the fake trailers which are on YouTube) but I really liked similar movies Black Dynamite and Machete.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
I was pretty surprised to hear the praise this movie got, not to mention it performed better at the box office than I expected. I want to re-watch the original again before I see this one. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a clunky title (why not Rise of the Apes? People wouldn't think its a Planet of the Apes movie?) but as long as its better than Tim Burton's version I'll be happy!
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
I enjoyed the first movie of this "reboot" series even though its basically Sherlock Holmes for people who don't like Sherlock Holmes. I didn't like the villain of the first one so I'm glad they went with Moriarty this time around. Plus we get Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes!
In Time
In Time was written and directed by Andrew Niccol, the same mastermind behind one of my favorite movies, Gattaca (1997). While this one probably isn't as good as Gattaca, I still want to see it as well as other Andrew Niccol films.
Cowboys and Aliens
I have the comic that this movie is based on but haven't read it yet. Some time after I read it I'll watch the movie. It got mixed reviews and did not do as well as expected at the box office but I gotta see any movie with Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, and Sam Rockwell together!
Although this indie movie hasn't gotten as consistently good reviews as others have this year, I thought the trailer looked interesting and want to give it a shot if/when I get the chance.
The Mill and the Cross
Rutger Hauer and beautiful art, need I say more?
Melancholia
I've never seen a Lars von Trier film before but this one seems interesting and got a solid amount of attention.
A Dangerous Method
I love David Cronenberg but before I see this I should probably see at least one of his newer non-horror/sci-fi movies (starting with Spider).
50/50
This movie looked like it could be a funny and well-written comedy-drama. It is loosely based on a true story. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the main character, a man in his 20s who gets a rare form of cancer.
Hugo
Hugo hasn't done well at the box office considering its large budget. However, the film has gotten great reviews and the visuals look stunning. When one thinks of family films Martin Scorsese does not come to mind but it seems like he made a very good film regardless of genre!
Take Shelter
Like The Future, this is another little film which had fascinating trailer that made me want to see it.
The Skin I Live In
The Skin I Live In was nominated for a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival before eventually losing out to The Tree of Life. This Spanish film stars Antonio Banderas and is about a plastic surgeon haunted by his past.
The Descendants
I'm not a big George Clooney fan but this film has gotten a very positive response from critics.
Midnight in Paris
I should probably watch more Woody Allen movies before I get to this one but I heard Midnight in Paris was very good so I'll see it eventually.
The Artist
Some might view a silent film made in 2011 as gimmicky but I thought the trailer was great and it seems to work well here.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
I haven't read the book but any movie featuring John Hurt and Gary Oldman is a must-see for me! Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, and Benedict Cumberbatch are also in the cast.
Hobo with a Shotgun
Based on a fake trailer made for a Grindhouse contest, Hobo with a Shotgun stars Rutger Hauer as the title character. I haven't seen Grindhouse yet (other than the fake trailers which are on YouTube) but I really liked similar movies Black Dynamite and Machete.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
I was pretty surprised to hear the praise this movie got, not to mention it performed better at the box office than I expected. I want to re-watch the original again before I see this one. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a clunky title (why not Rise of the Apes? People wouldn't think its a Planet of the Apes movie?) but as long as its better than Tim Burton's version I'll be happy!
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
I enjoyed the first movie of this "reboot" series even though its basically Sherlock Holmes for people who don't like Sherlock Holmes. I didn't like the villain of the first one so I'm glad they went with Moriarty this time around. Plus we get Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes!
In Time
In Time was written and directed by Andrew Niccol, the same mastermind behind one of my favorite movies, Gattaca (1997). While this one probably isn't as good as Gattaca, I still want to see it as well as other Andrew Niccol films.
Cowboys and Aliens
I have the comic that this movie is based on but haven't read it yet. Some time after I read it I'll watch the movie. It got mixed reviews and did not do as well as expected at the box office but I gotta see any movie with Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, and Sam Rockwell together!
Sucker Punch
Even though this movie has gotten negative reviews I want to see it because I really liked director Zack Snyder's work on 300 and Watchmen. This movie is his first not based on pre-existing material. Considering the poor reception Sucker Punch has received Snyder probably won't be allowed to direct original material anymore. I'm kinda curious to see how bad Sucker Punch is. Hopefully Snyder's Superman movie (Man of Steel coming in 2013) will fare better.
Let me know if there are any 2011 movies I should add to this list! Tomorrow's post will be about 2012 films I am looking forward to.
I want to see most of those, too. Although I have seen a handful of them...
ReplyDelete-Drive
Absolutely fantastic film! An organization of French bloggers named it the best film of the year...and if it wasn't for "Tree of Life"...I might agree!
-Melancholia
It's...alright. Don't make it your first Lars Von Trier film. First watch either "Dancer in the Dark" or "Anti-Christ." Trust me on this one.
-Hugo
Scorsese's best film in a LONG time!
-Midnight in Paris
I've seen it four times. Easily Allen's best film in decades.
-Hobo with a Shotgun
It is THE guilty pleasure film of the year!
-Sucker Punch
On par with Transformers 2. Let that sink in.
I'll be sure to watch one of those Von Trier films before I see Melancholia. Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDelete