2011 in Film

Publishing a “best of” list of films for any year before the Academy Awards air is a difficult thing to do under normal circumstances. Add to that the fact that all of us non-critics don’t see even a simple majority of the films released (less than 15% in my case) and that living in Europe means most of the consensus bests aren’t even available to see yet, and you have an incredibly unrealistic self-imposed deadline. This is the first year, though, that I feel uncomfortable living with my current choices, as there are enough films I have yet to see that could realistically change the whole list. So, here is a first attempt at 2011, look for a possible second version to come:

(Updated November 2012 and again November 2013)

Top Personal Films of 2011: 

14. "Hugo"
13. "The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn"
12. "Moneyball"
11. "War Horse"
10. "Super 8"

9. "Jane Eyre"
8. "The Adjustment Bureau"
7. "The Muppets"
6. "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
5. "Tree of Life"
4. "Midnight in Paris"
3. "The Help"
2. "Rango"
1. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"

Most Disappointing, (though not necessarily worst made) Let Downs of 2011: 

-5. "Fright Night"
-4. "Cars 2"
-3. "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"
-2. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"
-1 "Melancholia"

15 Films I have yet to see that could change all of this:

"The Adjustment Bureau"
"The Artist"
"Attack the Block"(seen)
"Carnage"
"The Descendants"
"Hanna"(seen)
"The Ides of March"
"Jane Eyre"(seen, see above)
"Martha Marcy May Marlene" (seen)
"Melancholia" (seen.  see above)
"The Muppets" (seen. see above)
"My Week with Marilyn"
"A Separation"
"The Way Back"
"War Horse" (seen, see above)