In retrospect 2011 was a pretty good year for new releases and also re-releases. I had the opportunity to see Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven (1978) and Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures (1994) on the big screen and what a delight it was. 2011 was certainly the year of the documentary with memorable films such as Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010), Tabloid (2010) and Dreams of a Life (2011) pushing the boundaries of the genre. It was also a great year for British cinema with Attack The Block (2011), Kill List (2011) and Tyrannosaur (2011) injecting some originality and British flair into our multiplexes and a nostalgic Hollywood blockbuster showed how it should be done, the brilliant Super 8 (2011). One film stood out in many critic's end of year lists that you will see is absent from mine, Malick's latest offering The Tree of Life (2011), a film I found thoroughly dull and a huge let down. But enough of the bad, here are the ten films I feel deserve a place in my best of the year list. The only rules are the film must have had a theatrical release in the UK in 2011 and festivals do not count.
10. Attenberg
2010 and 2011 saw Greek cinema enter the film radar with Lanthimos' bizarre Dogtooth (2009) starting things off and Athina Rachel Tsangari's Attenberg confirming the Greeks are here to stay with their distinct and original vision.
9. Take Shelter
Michael Shannon is an amazing actor who has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years and this psychological drama sees him really show off his talent. Tense, moving and beautifully shot with astounding acting from Shannon and lady of the year Jessica Chastain.
8. Troll Hunter
TROOOLLLL!!!! An unforgettable experience with breathtaking special effects, Troll Hunter redefined the mockumentary and offered a fun and frightening journey. It is truly one of a kind.
7. The Skin I live In
Pedro Almodovar's latest offering did not disappoint. A truly modern horror story that saw Antonio Banderas go back to his roots and give his career a fashionable 'injection'. Twists don't come much more shocking than this.
6. Miss Bala
Occasionally a film comes along that you immediately know will become a classic; it will stand the test of time and be a requirement in any self-respecting cinephile's film collection. Miss Bala is one of those films. Daring, surprising and dealing with a very current topic, this is the new City Of God (2002).
5. We Need To Talk About Kevin
Lynne Ramsay's third feature film was certainly worth the wait. A deliciously dark story told from the point of view of an unreliable narrator with incredible acting and visually stunning throughout.
4. Hugo
Yes, I too was hesitant about Scorsese making a family film but his love letter to early cinema makes perfect sense and sees 3D used in the way it should be. A charming and beautiful film and Scorsese even manages to educate audiences about film preservation! Well done Marty!
3. Melancholia
There is no denying that Lars Von Trier's film is the most beautiful film of the year. The stunning shots combined with haunting music make this an experience to behold. Kirsten Dunst is mesmerising, a sentence I never thought I would say.
2. Drive
The coolest film of the year. A killer soundtrack with splendid acting particularly from man of the year Ryan Gosling.
1. The Artist
What is there left to say about this wonderful film that hasn't already been said? It is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word, go and see it!
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