By Timothy Austin
Moviegoers struggled to find a truly entertaining feature film in 2011. While Independent Cinema enjoyed some stylish, well-told stories, major studio releases that promised a new take on old genres sorely disappointed us with lacklustre plots, pedestrian special effects and horrific acting (we are looking at you, Cowboys and Aliens). However, ten films rose above the sagging Box Office disappointments and offered us our money’s worth of compelling stories, strong performances and grand spectacle. Here is my reflection on the best films of 2011:
X-Men: First Class
The original X-Men (2000) changed the face of superhero movies with sophisticated execution, sleek plot and the use of respected actors in key roles. Since then, major studios have taken a more intelligent approach to superhero films as evidenced by Batman Begins, Thor and now the X-Men prequel X-Men: First Class. Gone are the days of the over-the-top embarrassments such as Batman & Robin. The latest entry in the lucrative X-Men franchise, produced by the original Director Brian Singer, does not disappoint with excellent story execution and Oscar-nominated actor James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, the role made famous by British veteran Ian McKellen. First Class is a class act with a fast-paced, thrilling story centred 
around the formation of the famed comic book mutant team. While franchise favourites Wolverine and Storm make no significant appearances, the film has a spy-thriller quality giving fans an insight into the origin of the now famous battle between humans and mutants. Awe-inspiring special effects, jaw-dropping cinematography and a fantastic modern music score (complete with rock guitar) by newcomer Henry Jackman made First Class a gigantic success and a superhero movie not to be missed. Grade: A
Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol
The latest entry in the highly successful Mission Impossible franchise is a clear example of a celebrity overcoming horrible public relations by starring in a truly awesome spy/action thriller. In fact Ghost Protocol turned out to be so good that many moviegoers allowed themselves to forget about leading man Tom Cruise’s cringe-worthy public stunts including the well mocked jumping on Oprah’s couch and moronic statements that even offended many of his fellow celebrities. In Protocol Cruise is at his best, offering us some of his best action sequences since Top Gun. The plot is intriguing with hair-raising revelations and James Bond-inspired intrigue. But the attraction here is definitely Cruise, whose stalwart acting seems inspired by a resolve to reclaim his throne as a modern day action legend. Grade: B
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
This was indeed a huge gamble for 20th Century Fox since a Planet of the Apes movie has not been made in years. Another risk was replacing the beloved “actors in face masks” with completely computer generated apes created by Motion Capture technology. The gamble resulted in one of the most jaw dropping special effects extravaganzas of 2011 with the CGI created leading ape raising the hairs of many moviegoers with his realistic mannerisms. “Caesar” indeed stole the show from the human actors as he was brought to life with the voice and mannerisms of famed motion capture and voice actor Andy Serkis, who is now considered a legend for his much praised performance as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The plot is reminiscent of the previous Planet of the Apes entries but with more robust action sequences and awe-inspiring special effects. Indeed 2011 was made better with this truly enjoyable Sci-Fi spectacular aided greatly by ground breaking cinematography and a bombastic orchestral score by British composer Patrick Doyle. The future of the “Ape” franchise seems bright with this fantastic reboot. Grade: A+
The Artist
Could a modern day silent film, with absolutely no talking or special effects, be entertaining? The answer is a resounding “yes”. If you have not heard about this ground breaking film as yet you are truly missing one of the best productions of 2011. The Artist is pure nostalgic gold as it harkens to the Golden Age of old Hollywood presenting a heartbreaking story about a famed silent movie actor (reminiscent of Clark Gable), rising to the top only to suffer a gigantic financial failure due to the introduction of “talking films”. Jean Dujardin is stunning as the ill fated silent movie actor, while Berenice Bejo as his love interest brings classic romance to this opulent film. Despite the fact that the entire film is in black and white and there is no talking (except for a few lines towards the end to signal the rise of “talking films”), the production values are extremely high as the film makers pull out all the stops to effectively recreate the feel and atmosphere of a genuine classic silent film. The result is a wonder to behold as each frame flawlessly recalls the magic of old Hollywood. I must admit to being a Turner Classic Movie addict and The Artist is truly a poignant tribute to Hollywood’s greatest period; certainly not an achievement to be missed. Grade A+
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
This film is addictively entertaining. Based on a highly popular crime novel by Swedish author Steig Larsson, the film thrills as it introduces us to unconventional crime solver Lisbeth whose dark, most times violent personality scares the very people she is hired to help. The film has a series of heart pumping revelations and thrilling suspense sequences that truly test a moviegoer’s ability to endure high octane violence. As Lisbeth employs her controversial system of crime investigation, the audience is taken on a truly frightening ride with tour-de- force performances by Rooney Mara (as Lisbeth) and James Bond actor Daniel Craig. The production values are commendable, despite a mundane and ineffective music score. Fans of intense crime dramas will salivate at this truly frightening entry in the suspense genre which can be likened to Nancy Drew meets Die Hard. Grade: A
Thor
Many were almost certain that Hollywood would get this wrong. A film based on a comic book about an exiled god who must battle his own brother for the fate of his homeland is bound to inspire over-the-top acting and excessive special effects. However, Thor vanquished those negative assumptions with an intelligent take on the god-turned-superhero storyline. What made the story work was the fact that the film makers did not take the mythology too seriously, infusing the plot with humor and sophisticated wit, attributes which often go missing from action based plots. The casting is also right on key with newcomer Charles Hemsworth’s suave performance as Thor and Star Wars veteran Natalie Portman’s passionate performance as his love interest. Anthony Hopkins, who I consider to be the greatest living actor, is masterful as Thor’s father Odin, as he avoids any opportunity to become over-the-top, giving us an intellectual take on the King of Asgard. Jaw-dropping special effects (including some truly frightening creatures) and lush cinematography aid the performances, giving us the best superhero film of 2011. The only disappointment is composer Patrick Doyle’s blatant rip-off of Hans Zimmer’s music from Gladiator; but beyond the tired soundtrack, Thor completely satisfies. Grade: A
Bridesmaids
It was hard for me to imagine “Saturday Night Live” veteran Kristin Wiig in a leading role; especially since her comedic repertoire mainly consisted of manic divas and Broadway inspired misfits. However, not only did Wiig deliver one of the best comedic performances of 2011, she also co-wrote Bridesmaids, which few will argue was the best comedy of 2011. The film saved us from the disappointing catastrophe that was The Hang Over 2, with true wit, charm and a hilarious performance by Emmy-winner and new Hollywood “It Girl” Melissa McCarthy. McCarthy’s comic timing is brilliant as many audiences responded to her now infamous leg lifting routine which finally answered the question “are big girls just as flexible”. This is comedy at its best with a tour de force performance by the entire cast with many Saturday Night Live regulars, including the always entertaining Maya Rudolph. Grade-A comedies were sorely missing in 2011, but Bridesmaids emerged as a thoroughly enjoyable film overflowing with well written comedy, hilarious comedic sequences and powerhouse performances. Grade: A
The Help
It is rare in modern cinema to find a film that truly inspires. In 2011 The Help inspired moviegoers across the world with a tasteful plot which went beyond its initial premise of segregation during the Civil Rights Era, to tell a story of compassion and humanity’s willingness to change for the better. Emma Stone, who is quickly building a reputation as a modern day Lucille Ball, delivers an enthralling performance as Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan who writes a book about the horrible treatment of black maids during the early 1960s. Academy Award-nominated actress Viola Davis is majestic as Aibileen Clark, a black domestic worker who is moved by Eugenia’s efforts to bring change. It is no wonder that Davis usually receives unanimous praise for her performances; in Help she is mesmerizing as she completely absorbs herself in the role with a motherly, almost ethereal performance that few actresses matched in 2011. In fact, the only performance in 2011 that can match Davis’ masterful delivery is former co-star Meryl Streep in Iron Lady, with whom Davis shared the screen in Doubt. This is storytelling and acting that is on par with some of most noted classics of the past and should not be missed. Indeed, The Help is a masterpiece that transcends the mediocrity of most Hollywood dramas of this kind and further reveals the stunning talent that is Viola Davis. Grade A+
War Horse
If you have yet to enjoy the grand spectacle that is Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, be warned: there will not be a dry eye in the room before the film concludes. I cannot recommend this film enough as it delivers a heartwarming story of courage led by a horse named Joey who captures your attention from beginning to end. In fact, Joey’s performance outshines those of his human co-stars as he becomes embroiled in a harrowing adventure. The film introduces Joey as a beloved family horse but soon his world is destroyed by war and he ends up at the front lines of the violent conflict. What happens next I will not reveal, but the adventure that ensues makes for a truly remarkable motion picture that only Spielberg could deliver. In fact, even Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William was reported to have wept at the London premiere of the film further confirming the overwhelming emotion of the film’s heart-wrenching conclusion. This is film making at its best as you are completely transported to the 1900s with beautiful, pastoral cinematography so well done that viewers actually feel as if they are standing on the lush moors of England. The music score by five-time Academy Award winning composer John Williams also aids in the film’s tear-inducing effectiveness with sweeping orchestral majesty that only Williams, who I consider a “living Mozart” could create. Without a doubt, War Horse is the masterpiece we have been waiting for and deserves the accolade of one of 2011’s best films. Grade: A+
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
I must admit that I disliked the changes made to the Harry Potter franchise following the departure of original director Christopher Columbus (noted for his success with Home Alone and its sequel). New Director David Yates gave the franchise a decidedly darker production with dim colours, less humour, stiff performances and bland cinematography. The departure of famed composer John Williams also left a bitter taste in my mouth since Williams’ music for the Potter franchise is considered by many as a modern day classic. The editing was also quite different as Yates rigidly followed the plot of the novels making it hard for those not familiar with the JK Rowling books to completely understand the films. However, with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 there was a noticeable change in the pace of the storytelling and with the sequel, Deathly Hallows Part 2, Yates has delivered the best conclusion to a movie series since the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Without a doubt, Deathly Hallows Part 2 adequately concludes the multiple story lines of the series, while going beyond the norm to deliver a high octane action adventure worthy of comparison with the original Star Wars. Stoic acting from lead Daniel Radcliffe as well as a magnificent supporting performance by British screen legend Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall are aided by masterfully Gothic cinematography, stellar special effects and most of all the most fear-inducing villain to appear in a fantasy film in years. Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort is truly frightening to behold as the actor speaks in a snake-like whisper raising the hairs of moviegoers who returned for numerous repeat viewings. This film satisfies the avid action/adventure fan on every level and fans of John Williams’ original theme music were overjoyed that new franchise composer Alexandre Desplat infused the soundtrack with many well-known tunes from the earlier movies further enhancing the emotional impact of the film’s grandiose climax. While 2011 will be remembered for many cinematic blunders, Deathly Hallows Part 2 stands as a shining beacon of Hollywood’s promise to spare no expense to satisfy moviegoers seeking a thoroughly entertaining fantasy film. Grade A+
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