Films of 2011

I don’t get paid to review films. I get free DVDs, free festival passes and other occasional bonuses, but generally if i want to go to the cinema i have to pay. For this reason i don’t get chance to see everything and occasionally just can’t afford to get to the flicks. For this reason, my top ten films of the year can be selected only from those i’ve seen – meaning the likes of Hugo and Drive miss out. I’ll catch up on them asap and i’m sure i’ll review them in full then. As it is, here’s my favourite films to have received a UK release in 2011 (click the film’s title for my full review)...

Tyrannosaur
A stunning directorial debut from Paddy Considine. Tyrannosaur tackles difficult subject matter (alcoholism, domestic violence, religion) sensitively and powerfully and features astounding acting performances from stalwarts of British cinema Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan. The real star, however, is Olivia Colman. She’s absolutely heartbreaking in the lead and deserves to win award after award. My film of the year without doubt.

Benda Bilili
A wonderful feel-good documentary about paraplegic Congolese musicians making records and touring Europe. Their journey is both touching and hilarious - and the star of the show is a Jimi Hendrix wannabe who entrances everyone he meets with he virtuouso displays on a self-made one-stringed guitar/biscuit tin!

Meek's Cutoff
I’m a sucker for a Western, but Kelly Reinhardt’s movie is quiet, calm and poetic – not traditional Wild West fare. The pictures really tell the story - the cinematography is amazing and many scenes are allowed to play out quietly and contemplatively. The ending is controversial - but i couldn't think of a better way to leave things.

The King’s Speech
Is there anything left to say? At its heart The King’s Speech is a bromance between two disparate characters which really ought not to work. It does thanks to the generous performance of Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth’s steadfast refusal to go OTT in his portrayal of the stammering monarch-in-waiting.

127 Hours
Essentailly a one-man show where the audience already knows how it will end. Thankfully, Danny Boyle’s adrenaline pumped direction and James Franco’s mesmerising intensity ensure that 127 Hours flies by in what feels like 12.7 minutes.

La Quatro Volte
It’s virtually a silent movie about goat farming and making charcoal. I couldn’t care less. It’s amazing. One of the most beautiful films i’ve ever seen and a powerful reminder that the medium of cinema is not reliant on big budgets, clever scripts are star names. Stunning.

Kill List
A thoroughly uncomfortable film with echoes of The Wicker Man. It’s not without its flaws but it’s brave, uncompromising and brilliantly acted from all involved. A great character study studded with moments of graphic violence – and some moral dilemmas for the audience to puzzle over.

True Grit
It’s been a good year for the Western genre. Jeff Bridges is magnificent in the role initially played by John Wayne, the cinematography is wonderful and the supporting cast are uniformly excellent. The Coen brothers really are good at this kind of thing and anyone who enjoyed O Brother Where Art Thou? ought to enjoy this too.

The Guard
Like an 80s buddy/cop movie with the cheese removed and replaced with Brendan Gleeson’s politically incorrect, soft-hearted bastard of a policeman. No film made me laugh as loud or as often in 2011 and i refused to to write a full review as i’d rather just bask in its glory rather than try to analyse it. Brilliant, hilarious and strangely moving.

The Skin I Live In
Predictable and silly, but beautifully made and visually stunning. Antonio Banderas attempts to create the perfect woman to atone for his past failings – but things are not as they seem. Director Pedro Almodivar is in his element here and that sense of fun transmits itself easily to the audience.