Critic Consensus Top Ten Films of 2011

It's that time of the year again, Ladies & Germs, for Continuity Film's Critic Consensus Top Ten Films of 2011.

First things first: The Formula.

I take the Top Ten Lists of the National Critics from The Austin Chronicle to the Washington Post (which are compiled on Metacritic.com) and I allocate the following scores to the list:

#1(10 points), 2(9), 3(8), 4(7), 5(6),6(5),7(4),8(3),9(2),10(1).

Criteria: Some critics have a tendency to bend the rules in their favor. This is like a student not doing the homework assignment. This is a TOP TEN List, not a Top Eleven, or a Top Ten and 1/2, this is not an Alphabetical-Top-Ten either. TOP TEN. Period.

Anyone who breaks that simple rule is DQ'd. Sorry, try again next year. (For the record, 80 Critics complied and 15 were DQ'd, not bad, that's 84.21%).

So, without further ado, here is the Critic Consensus Top Ten Films of 2011.

10. Margaret (119)
9. The Artist (142)
8. Take Shelter (145)
7. Hugo (148)
6. The Descendants (155)
5. Melancholia (160)
4. Certified Copy (165)
3. Drive (195)
2. A Separation (200)
1. The Tree of Life (341)

Thus far, I have ONLY seen "Hugo", "Drive", & "The Tree of Life."

I absolutely LOVED "Drive" and it was MY #1 Film of 2011. I thought "Hugo" was very good but I didn't love it (I didn't see it in 3D either and the theater only had the center-speaker working) but it was a film-lover's film through and through.

"The Tree of Life." There were sequences in their that were some of the most beautiful scenes EVER filmed. Overall, it was good, a little wonky at times, and extremely esoteric (but being a Malick fan, I was expecting that). If the film was ONLY the scenes in Waco, Texas, it might've gone down as on of the greatest films of recent memory. But Malick couldn't help himself. I can't wait to rewatch it b/c there is NO one like Malick working in film today.

Other films that I did see. I did see "Meek's Cutoff" (11th, 105) which I did NOT like at all. In fact, I hated it. I did see "Beginners" (19th, 65) which I thought was fantastic. Christopher Plummer is a lock for Best Supporting Actor in a very personal film stuffed with memory, love, and heartbreak.

I did see "War Horse" (42nd, 26) and I was extremely underwhelmed. I was expecting an epic, overdue WWI film (it does have flashes of WWI brilliance) but it gets bogged-down in sappy and melodramatic storytelling. This movie should've been Rated-R and graphic as hell. Spielberg cheats a lot in this movie and he reuses a ton of his old trick that are painfully telegraphed. If any of you have seen Bresson's minimalist masterpiece "Au Hasard Balthazar" (1966), you will notice a thematic element borrowed and inserted into the "War Horse" plot-line. I personally believe that Bresson executed it much better than Spielberg.

I did see "The Adventures of Tintin" (134rd, 3). It was an entertaining Indiana-Jones-esque adventure tale and it was glorious in 3D.

I did see "Super 8" (48th, 20). Again, it was awkward and I didn't really like it. It was surreal b/c the entire time you're watching it you are witnessing J.J. pay homage to Spielberg. It was distracting. It was like watching someone channel a dead-person. Wouldn't you rather just talk to the dead person?

In the next couple of weeks, I will be seeing "Midnight in Paris" (30th, 35), "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (39th, 29), "The Descendants" (6), "Moneyball" (15th, 90), "Senna" (32nd, 33), "Win Win" (44th, 24), "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (43rd, 24), "Margin Call" (37th, 31), etc.

Lastly, in terms of Best Picture, here are my predictions (in alphabetical order):

-The Artist (142) 9th
-A Dangerous Method (58) 21st
-The Descendants (155) 6th
-Drive (195) 3rd
-The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (29) 39th
-Hugo (148) 7th
-Moneyball (90) 15th
-Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (94) 12th
-The Tree of Life (341) 1st
-War Horse (26) 42nd

I nailed ALL Ten noms last year, but this year is much harder.

My reasons: There is NO strong Animation contender and the Academy DOES NOT favor Foreign Films (therefore, scratch both "A Separation" and "Certified Copy" out of the Top Ten).

I added "A Dangerous Method" b/c of Cronenberg. I selected "War Horse" b/c of Spielberg and they need a Feel-Good-Movie nom. "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" b/c of Fincher. "Moneyball" b/c of Pitt.

I was hesitant to include "Drive", but I think the Academy will come around. I did not select Von Trier's "Melancholia" b/c they are going to blackball him.

That's all folks. Until next year. Enjoy the list and if you want to know where your favorite film is, shoot me an email in the comments section.

Happy New Year!

Critic Consensus Top Ten Films of 2010

It's that time of the year again, Ladies and Germs, for Continuity Film's Critic Consensus Top Ten Films of 2010.

First things first: The Formula.

I take the Top Ten Lists of the National Critics from The Austin Chronicle to the Washington Post (which are compiled on Metacritic.com) and I allocate the following scores to the list:

#1(10 points), 2(9), 3(8), 4(7), 5(6),6(5),7(4),8(3),9(2),10(1).

Criteria: Some critics have a tendency to bend the rules in their favor. This is like a student not doing the homework assignment. This is a TOP TEN List, not a Top Eleven, or a Top Ten and 1/2, this is not an Alphabetical-Top-Ten either. TOP TEN. Period.

Anyone who breaks that simple rule is DQ'd. Sorry, try again next year. (For the record, 79 Critics complied and 19 were DQ'd, not bad, that's 80.61%).

So, without further ado, here is the Critic Consensus Top Ten Films of 2010.

10. 127 Hours (125)
9. The Ghost Writer (126)
8. The Kids Are All Right (141)
7. Carlos (153)
6. The King's Speech (159)
5. Toy Story 3 (202)
4. Inception (219)
3. Black Swan (234)
2. Winter's Bone (240)
1. The Social Network (425)

Thus far, I have not seen "The King's Speech", "Carlos", and "127 Hours."

Although I really loved "Greenberg" (29th), I was disappointed that it didn't garner more recognition and I was surprised that "True Grit" (17th) only received 94 points.

The highest rated Documentary? "Exit Through the Gift Shop" (14th).

"The Town" (which I haven't seen yet) got absolutely ZERO love from the Critics, only getting 12 points (52nd) and tied with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I."

I was equally surprised that "How to Train Your Dragon" did not receive much love either. I thought that film was fantastic. (7 points).

And some whacky critic out there gave "Predators" a 3!!!

Finally, my prediction for the Academy's Best Picture Nominations are (in alphabetical order)...

-127 Hours (125) 10th
-Black Swan (234) 3rd
-The Fighter (50) 22nd
-Inception (219) 4th
-The Kids Are All Right (141) 8th
-The King's Speech (159) 6th
-The Social Network (425) 1st
-Toy Story 3 (202) 5th
-True Grit (94) 17th
-Winter's Bone (240) 2nd

"Carlos" is ineligible for an Oscar becaused it premeired on British TV.

I was looking for this year's "The Blind Side" (an Unranked Nominee) but I can't think of anything THAT outlandish.

But...the Academy definitely has a tendency to disappoint (ummm, "Star Trek", last year)...so, knowing that the Academy stretched the Nominees from 5 to 10 to incorporate a slot for an Indie, a Genre, and a Pixar, I mean, Animation, my gut tells me that...

"Winter's Bone" will be this year's SNUB. Yeah, I know, a #2 ranked film is going to be snubbed from a nomination? It wouldn't be the first time. "WALL-E" (1) and "The Dark Knight" (2) were snubbed in 2008. "The Diving Bell and Butterfly" (2) in 2007 and "United 93" (1) in 2006. Again, this was BEFORE they flexed the noms to 10.

Which film, do you ask, will replace "Winter's Bone" as the final nom?

Well, since I already included "The Fighter" (22nd) on my nom list, it has to be a film that is backed by a studio renown for campaigning for an Oscar nom...

Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures produced "The Town" and it has all the hallmarks of an Oscar nom.

So, expect the unexpected next week when the Academy releases its Best Picture Nominees. And I have a feeling that there will be a dark horse write-in candidate that will shake up the whole field and cause the blogosphere to spontaneously combust.

Dare I say, "Shutter Island"???

Stranger things have happened...