Finally done! Here’s a quick wrap up of the films that tickled my fancy last year :].

1. the tree of life
2. weekend
3. winnie the pooh
4. hugo
5. shame
6. drive
7. take shelter
8. attack the block
9. mission: impossible - ghost protocol
10. submarine

There are a few films that I haven’t seen so that top ten is subject to change. The following films also got my mind grapes flowing in 2011: melancholia, we need to talk about kevin, martha marcy may marlene, the descendants, 50/50, midnight in paris, bridesmaids, beginners, x-men: first class, harry potter and the deathly hallows: part 2, and rise of the planet of the apes.

Now… bring me 2012.

12:10 am  •  7 January 2012  •  2 notes

3. Winnie the Pooh

It may seem odd to have Winnie the Pooh so high on my list, but this is honestly one of the most purely delightful films I saw in 2011. This romp is so charming because of the care and attention the filmmakers give these beloved characters, allowing each of them a chance to shine. The story is patently slight, like most of Pooh bear’s outings, but it’s smartly plotted, leaving neither a single frame nor bit of clever dialogue to waste. The film is also genuinely hilarious. It has a modern sense of humor right down to absurdity and comic timing, and it remains self-referential without ever being cynical. The musical sunshine of Zooey Deschanel’s voice is a welcomed addition to the Hundred Acre Woods, and Henry Jackman’s score is pitch perfect and gorgeously orchestrated. I should also mention that the hand drawn animation is downright pristine. Winnie the Pooh is a compact and infectiously joyous return to a huggable and honey-sweet land and reminds us why we’ve adored these characters since our childhood.

6:01 pm  •  6 January 2012  •  6 notes