Film 2011

Ok, after a long long gap we're back in action (sorry folks but I keep getting distracted by stuff whenever I meant to write anything) as in time to look back at the year that was 2011 in film.

We saw Harry Potter end (quite well I thought), Kevin Smith's film career give up it's final spluttering breaths (no Kevin, the man isn't against you, you just haven't made a good film since Chasing Amy).

No sign of Lindsay Lohan pulling herself together, Mel Gibson falling apart, Kirsten Stewart becoming the most bankable actor thanks to Twilight, Film 2011 reborn as a glossy er nothing (bring back Barry Norman) and finally the announcement that an Arrested Development film is indeed on the way!



So time to have a quick glance through some of my hits and misses of the year. Now if I don't mention a film it's either because it falls into the largest category which is "average" or it was entirely forgettable or I've not yet seen it. (And with the likes of 'Drive', 'Submarine', 'Senna', 'Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy' on the not seen list I've got some work to do).

So first of all lets go through some of my favourites from the year:

'True Grit' - the Coen brothers prove once again masters of genre they turn their hands to as they bring us a fully blown western. Jeff Bridges is always good value and his Rooster is more layered that Wayne's but it's Hallie Steinfield who is the real standout here giving an excellent performance for one so young.

'Thor' - undoubtedly my favourite of the 'blockbusters' this year. Somehow Brannagh pulls of the trick of marrying Thor's hyper real homeland with modern Earth without anyone looking silly. It helps that film has a healthy sense of humour throughout and it holds the most charismatic villain in any of the Avengers properties so far in Tom Hiddlestone's Loki.

'X-Men: 1st Class' - in the 2nd best blockbuster the X-Men get themselves a bit of James Bond 60's cool. Ok so continuity wise things get a bit messy but it's a fun romp that somehow even manages to invoke Inglorious Basterds at one stage. Fassbender makes for an excllent Magneto too - here's hoping for a 2nd Class.

'Meek's Cutoff' - a tale of a wagon slowly getting lost in the deserts of American gives low key character drama surrounding by glorious scenery and shows Michelle Williams promise (which is according to most currently underlining in My Week With Maryilyn)

'The Fighter' - another character drama this one and it's the tale of a down on his luck boxer who rises again brought to life by it's performances. Christian Bale got all the attention but Mark Whalberg's unassuming turn is the glue that holds it all together and Amy Adams shines as well throwing the best punch in the whole thing.

'Source Code' - Duncan Jones' follow up to Moon may not hold together to well if you really sit and think about it but if you give with it you'll find a tricksy little tale that isn't short of heart either.

'We Need To Talk About Kevin' - quite unnerving and emotionally raw but an excellent film and Tilda Swinton absolutely knocks it out of the park.

'Fast Five' - yes it's deeply stupid but it knows it's deeply stupid and it's a lot of fun. The casting of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to join the main players is also a stroke of genius. Now if only they can get The Stath to sign on for the inevitable sequel for the franchise that will not die. (Also best post credit teaser of the year..)

'Fair Game' - which seemed to slip out and go unnoticed by most but it's a fascinating drama about what happens when your government decides to turn on you and hang you out to dry as Naomi Watts' CIA operative has the rug pulled out from under her because her husband annoys the Bush whitehouse.

So those were my favourites of the year so far (of those I've seen) so what about the disappointments? Well most under par films I admit I forget having even seen most of the time, so these are more sort of the films where I saw some promise that just was delivered upon for one reason or another.

'Bad Teacher' had promise with a strong cast and good idea but watching it you get the distinct impression it's been robbed of it's bite by studio meddling and it ends up muddling along unsure of what it's really doing.

'Green Latern' is film where it feels like about a third of it was left on the cutting room floor in the edit suite. Nobody has a character arc, Ryan Reynolds doesn't learn a lesson about being a good person he just continues being a smug git and just happens to get a super magic ring. Events happen almost seemingly at random and it's a bit, well, silly in a way that Thor somehow managed to avoid.

'Sucker Punch', ok I can see what Zack Synder was trying to do, but it really does not work and ends up as a boring repetitive mess with a whiff of misogyny.

So there we go, I'm pretty sure I'll like Fincher's take on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo when that arrives just before the year's end and of course there some strong candidates in those I've yet to catch up with.

And it's time to move into 2012; will 3D finally prove it's worth or die away? Just how much money will Batman's nexy outing haul in? Will The Avengers actually succed in fitting everything in? And most excitingly what will be the films that surprise and come out of nowhere to be the year's best?