-As a kick start to my new year's resolution of being a more active blogger, I figured I would start by summarizing my adventures at the movies this last year. Here are my top 15 movies that I have seen so far this year.
1. The Artist: Who would have thought that a black and white, silent movie could feel so fresh and exciting in a world dominated by special effects and technology. Perfectly walks the line between classic presentation and modern themes of fame and obscurity. My favorite of the year.
2. Drive: Easily the coolest movie of the year. Ryan Gosling oozes quiet, cool confidence as a wheel man who lives by his own rules.
3. J. Edgar: A dramatic historical ride through middle and late 20th century America, seen from the eyes of arguably the most powerful man behind the scenes. DiCaprio gives an award worthy performance as the insecure, power hungry man who was probably the most despised yet feared man in Washington.
4. Midnight in Paris: A nostalgic ride through the streets of 1920's Paris, a place where some of the most revered artists, authors and musicians called home. Woody Allen proves he still has it.
5. 50/50: How do you make a dramatic comedy about cancer? This movie has the answer. You will laugh and cry through a young man's struggle for survival and meaning.
6. War Horse: Classic Spielberg. This movie is breathtaking to experience through its dazzling cinematography, epic score and innocent love story between boy and horse. However at the end of the day it falls short of Spielberg's best for being overly sentimental and predictable.
7. The Descendants: George Clooney proves once again he has the mid-life crisis character down pat. An honest look at a life in paradise that is not always everything the surroundings suggest.
8. Like Crazy: Probably one of the best romantic dramas in recent years. The roller coaster ride of love complicated by the realities of life. Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones are two of the best young actors in the business.
9. Tree of Life: It is hard to put this movie into words. You will either love it for its grandeur and genius or despise it for being incomprehensible and foolishness. Terrence Malick attempts to explore the meaning of life, creation, nature vs. nuture, and man's relation to each other and to God, all encapsulated within a 1950's family in Waco, Texas.
10. Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows Pt. 2: A fitting end to a great series. The last two movies showed the maturation of the story along with the actors. What started out as an entertainment over substance series became moviemaking magic, effectively incorporating a coming of age theme within an exciting fantasy world.
11. Trust: A little seen movie that explored the dangers of social interactions online especially for young girls. A young teen is lulled into a sense of familiarity with a stranger online only to learn he may not be who he seems. Clive Owen's portrayal of a distraught father failing to protect his daughter coupled with his realization that he is guilty of playing into the marketing strategy that "sex sells", was one of the best performances of the year.
12. X-Men: First Class: A summer blockbuster that delivered on substance and style. A winning formula of talented young actors and an exciting script that didn't sacrifice character development for cheap thrills. Hopefully there will be a few more of these coming down the pike.
13. Crazy Stupid Love: If all romantic comedies were this good it wouldn't be as hard to get guys to go to one. A great cast coupled with an original story that provided strong characters and fun twists.
14. Moneyball: More of a character study than a baseball movie, Brad Pitt's portrayal of Billy Beane was one of the more entertaining performances of the year. An interesting and sometimes comical look at what happens when you decided to turn an industry on its head, buck tradition and defy the odds to try something original. Extra points for making the numbers of baseball entertaining for the casual viewer.
15. The Help: One of the most loved movies of the year didn't impress me as much as some. A poignant look at the 1960's deep south where racial tensions still soared, and focused on the black maids who managed the households of the white aristocracy. I enjoyed the great performances that carried the film, but felt it had an inconsistent tone along with lazy writing that produced stereotyped characters instead of real depth.
- I still have several films to catch before the list will be finalized but this is where it stands as of the first of year. Check back in for updates as Oscar season rolls in.
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