Over the past week or so, we were tasked with the unenviable job of selecting our three favourite movies of the year. After much deliberation, we managed to succeed! It’s prudent to say that this is not tantamount to a ‘best of 2011’ list, of which there are many. Rather, these are films which the Y&Y team have enjoyed over the course of 2011. See if you agree with our choices below.
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X-Men: First Class
Yin says: “Always has been my favourite Marvel comic when I was growing up. Remember the cartoons on Fox Kids? I always woke up extra early to watch them before school along with Power Rangers. The last trilogy was a little disappointing; they were good but not GREAT. This on the other hand, incredible – I left the movie wanting to be a mutant but that always happens to me. The styling, art direction, acting and most of all the script build up is perfect. Reflects the comics/cartoon well, already looking forward to the sequel. Team Xavier fo’ life”.
Yang says: “After the way the first trilogy was filmed, this one needed to take different direction; I think Matthew Vaughn executed this very well with better character development, a more coherent story line and also a well suited cast. It also has to be noted that Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy did a very good job of portraying Erik Lensherr and Charles Xavier. I look forward to see how the next instalment will develop”.
Yemi says: “The new powers were sick enough to get me acting like I had all of them combined on my journey from the movies and the plot was gripping enough that I’ve watched it multiple times. In my opinion, it’s the best X-men series out there”.
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Bridesmaids
Annabel says: “I watched Bridesmaids on my flight to California and if you’ve ever heard me laugh, you would believe me when I say that I probably pissed off one or two people cracking up to this film! I loved the plot and the characters, particularly Megan!”
Yemi says: “Boy did I laugh, literally from beginning to end. I love the all female cast which brought some much needed attention to the stars that are otherwise overlooked. A great plot that didn’t lose it’s bejazz through the course of the movie and it showed how women can be funny too. Many have called it liberating towards the idea that any movie with just women is a typical chick flick – but this movie was a couple steps over the line and enjoyable for both women AND men”.
Eniola says: “I am generally not a fan of comedy but Bridesmaids is one of the exceptions to my rule. Quite simply, Bridesmaids makes my top 3 because it is absolutely hilarious. It is THE funniest film I have ever seen let alone in 2011.You know a film is funny you are still in stitches after the 3rd time of watching it. It annoys me when people say it is the female version of The Hangover because I didn’t think The Hangover was funny. If you want a laugh about bridesmaids getting ready for a wedding, go buy this film on DVD”.
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Drive
Yin says: “I’m not usually one for dark, murder-filled movies but somehow Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn managed to absorb with me with this unique film. LA looks almost dream-like; almost like a classy version GTA Vice City! Everything comes together perfectly in this film, Ryan Gosling of Notebook fame like you’ve never seen him before, the electro-filled soundtrack and the dark but beautiful cinematography. It leaves you wanting more”.
Tara says: “Drive has ample doses of violence, romance, high-speed car chases and suspense without being a Hollywood cliché. The long-pauses, stylish colour grading and the beautiful 80s-inspired soundtrack felt like I was being serenaded by the Gods of hipsterville, in a good way! The only let down for me was that the delightful Carey Mulligan played pretty much the EXACT same role in Brothers!”
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The Help
Eniola says: “I am always keen on watching film adaptations based on books. The Help was a hugely successful book and one that I really enjoyed. The film had to do the book and its strong characters all the justice it deserved and it did just that. The world needed to be familiar with the post-slavery abolition subject matter about how black women effectively raised some white middle class children. The film conveyed this message without burdening the audience. The Help directors did an excellent job of carefully balancing the heavy subject matter with heartfelt love and emotion so that the audience came out feeling reflective, happy, sad, emotional, angry, and guilty all at the same time. When a range of emotions are taken from a film like that you have to take your hat off. I would love to see this film nominated for some academy awards”.
Amon says: “If The Help does not win any Oscars in February, I might have to write to the academy myself. I cannot honestly remember going through this many emotions during the course of one film. The Help simply has it all; the story is excellent, and the acting is faultless, with everyone from Emma Stone to Octavia Spencer delivering great performances. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes to watch hard-hitting films”.
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Amon says: “’Actions speak louder than words’. It’s a timeless adage that is still relevant in the world today, but can be taken literally in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. For 99% of the film, the Apes communicate to themselves and the audience with their mannerisms, and it’s brilliant to watch. Add to that the superb action – an ape destroying a helicopter being one of the highlights – and great performances from James Franco and Andy Serkis (superbly utilising performance capture yet again), and you have one of the films of the year”.
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Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Yang says: “I chose this simply because it is the funniest movie I’ve seen all year, again it might be down to the fact that I haven’t seen a great deal. I loved the plot, the script and even the styling. Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling’s relationship in the film is just too funny, so many memorable quotes”.
Jacob: The skin under your eyes is starting to look like Hugh Hefner’s ball sack.
Cal: Yes, it is.
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Horrible Bosses
Yang says: “I think I liked this film mostly because it reminds me of times where I can identify with the concept! Aside from that I thought it was pretty amusing, I love dark humour and this one is full of it. Even though it’s cliché, it works and the characters are very likeable. It’s funny that even though they’re plotting to murder their bosses, you support them the whole way… well I did! I also enjoyed this film because Jennifer Aniston is hot”.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Annabel says: “Yes. I’m putting Harry Potter in my top three. Allow it! I had to watch this just because I read the books whilst in school so there’s some nostalgia in watching the films… and yes I’ve watched all of them! And now it’s all over. This was a very entertaining movie and an epic end to the Harry Potter films”.
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Rio
Annabel says: “I haven’t watched many films this year! But I love animated films! And this movie is hilarious! Bright and loud and happy! Not all films have to be about guns and killing and fighting and sex and what not. You can just enjoy this for what it is and there’s always a moral”.
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Tara says: “This film is NOT one for the easily queased (yes I made that word up)! Nazis, rape, amputated animals and dental floss stitches are not for the faint hearted amongst you, but besides that the storyline is absolutely brilliant! The film follows Rooney Mara & Daniel Craig along their complex, crazy separated paths for over half the film. You’re completely wrapped and waiting for when their paths may cross…which is when the story really starts to take shape! Rooney Mara is so incredible from start to finish I almost contemplated dyeing my eyebrows blonde so I could be a little bit like her!”
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The Way Back
Tara says: “Set during WWII, The Way Back tells the story of prisoners of war escaping a prison camp in Siberia and embarking on the hike of a lifetime to freedom, via the Himalayas. I originally wanted to see this film because the aspect of it being based on a true story really grabbed me…however this was later exposed as being a bit of a lie :-s. Despite that the beautiful scenery, excellent adventure and the feeling of triumph at the end is beautiful”.
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The Lincoln Lawyer
Yemi says: “Whoa baby, what a movie! I don’t know how this movie was overlooked in any way – spectacular performances from both Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillippe; both scrumptious to look at and both very good at their day job. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the movie and actually had hundreds of endings already thought out by the middle of the film – but the plot continued to twist and turn and took me through emotions I hadn’t experienced in a while by simply watching a movie. If you’re into the nitty gritty scandalous lifestyle, hey, this is definitely the movie for you and definitely one of my top three”.
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Warrior
Yin says: “I only watched this a few weeks ago even though I’ve seen posters on the underground for the past 6 months or so. MMA isn’t really my thing so avoided the film for that reason, upon watching it I realised it’s much more than that. Heck, the fighting isn’t even the main focus. It’s all about a broken family trying to go down their own paths in life which in the end brings them together. The whole film is so gripping; the fighting isn’t meaningless as it all comes with an emotional back story. Both fighters have reasons for taking part and that helps us connect with them on a personal level. Dare I say best fighting/combat film since Rocky?”
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The Conspirators
Eniola says: “Unfortunately The Conspirators was not in the cinemas long enough for many people to see it but since I travel so much I always catch up on most films on the plane and not the cinema! The Conspirators was a film I watched on the plane and it was a very well spent 2 hours. An excellent period film about the Southern confederate conspirators charged with the murder of US president Abraham Lincoln. The film was set mainly in a courtroom whilst accomplished actor James McAvoy was the defence lawyer for the innocent mother charged as a conspirator who was later hanged by the corrupt US government. It was one of the best films this year because like the help it was a period film with a great story and subject matter that had its own responsibility but me feeling many different emotions all at the same time”.
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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Amon says: “A late entry, but thoroughly deserved, Sherlock 2.0 was an enjoyable thrill-ride of a movie. Everything I loved about the first film in the series is amplified in Shadows, and it also boasts one of the best final acts you will ever see in any film, leaving you laughing and clapping at the same time. Funny, cerebral and explosive in equal measure. Love it!”
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Honourable mentions
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol: one of the best action films of the year (Read my in-depth, spoiler-free review here).
Limitless: Not without its faults, but I always enjoy watching that film. I wish I didn’t need that pill, but sometimes I do!
Transformers: Dark of the Moon: I know that there is a lot wrong with this film, but for sheer enjoyment factor, you won’t do much better than this. It has some of the best action you will ever see, and the soundtrack is pretty awesome too.
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