THE HACK: cheap views on pop culture

Top Ten Films of 2011

This is by no means a complete list. This is simply the best new films I saw in 2011. There are plenty I have yet to see. This explains why you may think this list is horrible. Well, that and my lack of taste.

10. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Who would've thought that this movie was going to be worth a damn? Well, it was. From Andy Serkis's Oscar-caliber performance as the film's lead Caesar to that "No!" this flick had so much. Hell, who would've thought anyone would be saying "Why cookie rocket?" in the summer of 2011.

9. Bridesmaids

Easily the funniest movie of the year. I was rooting for Melissa McCarthey to get an Oscar nod immediately after walking out of the theater as the credits rolled. Looks like her chances are really high. Oh, and Kristen Wiig. God, I love her.

8. Red State

And, the award for the movie most taken to the shit house be critics? Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked? Nope. Sorry. This title belongs to Kevin Smith's audacious Red State. Shit, I still can't believe Michael Parks is not going to get some love during awards season. Guess awards really don't mean much. Unless, of course, I win. Still, I loved the hell out of this film.

7. We Bought a Zoo

I went to see this movie for New Year's and it was a packed house. Leaving the theater, there was a line of about twenty people ready for the next showing. I'm hoping word-of-mouth helps Cameron Crowe's latest out. Because I'm hopelessly in love with this film. The final scene is one of my favorites from this year.

6. Super 8

I don't give a shit what people said. I felt the human story and the alien story both worked. And, they worked hand-in-hand. J.J. Abrams pulled it off. And, I still get misty-eyed when Joe lets go of the locket.

5. Contagion

Yes, yes - lots of stars in this one. But, the thing is, they act the shit out of this flick. The prom night ending is another favorite scene of my mine from this year. I also loved the scene where Kate Winslet calls her boss to apologize for not finishing. Her tears, man. It got me. Oh, and Jude Law is a son-of-a-bitch in this one. Sign of a good actor. He gets me to like him. And, gets me to hate him. Bravo.

4. Drive

A lot of people have this movie on their best of lists. Some have it on their worst. To each her own. I dug this flick, from the opening "action" scene to the Driver driving off into the sunset. And, let me just say, there's not much that can beat Carey Mulligan walking in slow motion.

3. 50/50

Anna Kendrick. Try watching this movie and see if you can resist falling for her character. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is really good in this, too. Jonathan Levine delivered on the promise made with The Wackness. He's got a good eye and a good ear. This movie's got some great music. I loved this movie.

2. The Tree of Life

And, the award for most ambitious live-action poster for a motion picture goes to. . . Terrence Malick's transcendent film. I get the love for this film. I also completely get the hate. It reminds me of the final episode of Lost. Some got it - and I mean really got it - and others didn't. Some that got it, loved it. Others that got it, didn't.

Wait. Hold up. Isn't that every movie that gets released? Contrary to what anyone has ever said, no one likes, loves, hates, or feels the same about anything and everything. It all truly is in the eye of the beholder. I mean, for the love of God, there are people in this world who truly believe that Jessica Alba is not hot. But, they are entitled to their beliefs and opnions. This list is mine. I loved The Tree of Life, though not as much as Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain.

Finally. . .

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

The second film almost made it into my top ten in 2002. The third film did. As did the fifth and seventh. This one, though - holy shit. What an ending. Though I still prefer the novel, director David Yates, screenwriter Steve Kloves, and everyone involved in this picture pulled it off. Check Rotten Tomatoes. Read the reviews. People loved this movie. It's damn good. And, it's pretty damn moving. From the moment Harry steps into Snape's memories to him dropping the resurrection stone, those twenty minutes are simply great cinematic storytelling.

Together as one movie, I personally feel that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the best film of the decade...so far. Obviously. Still, this film is the one that everything I see for the next eight years must measure up to. For some, that may mean the bar is not very high. For me, it's damn near impossible to even see over it. And yet, come Oscar nominations-morning, I doubt we'll see much love for it. And, that may be the biggest shame to come out of this film.

And, that's that.

Favorite Moments of 2011: Part Seven

 

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."

It's official: I'm in Ravenclaw.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

"All was well."

                                                            - Final words from the novel

I remember making my brother drive me to the midnight release party for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows four years ago. I'd never been to one. He was cool enough to do so, even if that meant reading in the car (first year of law school was about to commence) for over two hours. Of course, as soon as we got home, he read the final pages and knew what the epilogue held.

I spent the weekend (I took my sweet time with it; relishing every little thing) reading the thing and I found myself choked up on many occasions throughout. I never cried. Though I came close during a few chapters - "The Prince's Tale" and "The Forest Again." I also found myself moved at the scene where Harry and Hermione visit the graves of Harry's parents. Powerful stuff. One has to remember that the first time this kid even saw his parents was when he was eleven and that was thanks to a magic mirror.

J. K. Rowling had written her masterpiece, in my amateur opinion.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 was a great flick. I for one loved the camping stuff in the novel and felt the translation was right on. I had no serious qualms with Part 1, aside from the fact that it felt like an unfinished film. It was expected. The movie literally is part one to a massive film story in a much larger, grander story. Still. I loved that movie.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 is the third act, but it doesn't feel like it. Not really. Like Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 2, Part 2 feels like a complete film. Is it the best Potter film? I don't believe so. That said, put Part 1 and Part 2 together, the way they belong, and you have one masterful, epic outing. As it stands, Part 2 deserves all the love it's getting. It's great. Simply great. Other people have written better tidings toward the film, so I won't bother to really get into things. I'll simply say this: if you don't love the previous movies, stay the hell away. If you did, then - well - you've already seen the movie.

It's awesome, isn't it?

And, boy, did it bring me to tears. I wept like a baby. And, no, I'm not exaggerating. I literally shook, as tears watered my cheeks, when Hermione offered to go with Harry. (Nice change from the book, I must say.) I cried during the manifestations of "The Prince's Tale" and "The Forest Again." Beautifully crafted, Mr. Yates.

And, just how great was Alan Rickman, yeah? There's Oscar talk for his work here. He deserves it.

"Stay close to me." My favorite line from the novel. When Harry said it here, "I wept." And, I don't cry all that much whenever I watch movies. So, that's saying something. Maybe it's because I've grown to know these characters after all these years. I don't know. I just found myself caring an awful lot for every worthwhile character; every non-evil person.

Speaking of which, Ralph Fiennes is all getting some much-deserved praise as well. His Voldemort is astonishing. He became a great screen villain this time around. His Voldemort will be remembered for quite some time.

You know, it's going to be interesting when these films get remade decades from now. I wonder if they'll have any success finding that magic again. I doubt it. And, it's all because of Chris Columbus and the decisions he made during the making of Philosopher's Stone all those years ago. The three big ones? Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint - Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They go out on top in this one. And, the parallel scenes at the end was the perfect was to say goodbye. After everything, they stayed friends, and after nineteen years of life without a big bad, they still stand together, damn-near hand-in-hand.

Bringing back the closing track from the first two films was masterful. It's clear Yates wanted the epilogue to evoke the feeling from the first film. Well, the scene does that. And, everything feels like it's gone full circle. I always love it when long-form stories do that.

The fade out at the end had me and the audience I saw it with applauding. I'm sure the crowd I was with on friday morning was not unique.

Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves stuck the landing. They really did. They took a great climatic novel and made one hell of a film.

5 out of 5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two

 

Top Ten Films of 2010

10. Shutter Island

9. Kick-Ass

8. True Grit

7. Let Me In

6. Never Let Me Go

 

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One

 

4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

3. Black Swan

2. The Social Network

1. Inception