Blog: The 3 Best Films of the Year So Far

28, April 2011BlogView Comments

In the past, Joe Wright has admitted that he enjoys ‘showing off’ with the camera, and in response several of his critics have accused his more spectacular sequences of being exactly just that; with specific reference here to his notable dolly shot in The Soloist and the breathtaking evacuation of Dunkirk tracking shot in Atonement. The accusations are that Wright chooses the shot composition based on a ‘coolness’ factor and not necessarily the best shot in relation to the film’s underlying story. With Hanna, Wright is able to successfully fuse the ‘coolness’ factor with the structural and thematic components, and the end result being a film that is able to walk that almost impossible line between actioner and art-house.

2. Water For Elephants

In many ways, Water For Elephants is a magical film; from its picturesque cinematography, to the sweeping musical score composed by the great James Newton Howard, and the classic love story taken right from the pages of Sara Gruen’s popular novel. But, in another way it’s not nearly as magical as it otherwise could have been. Surprisingly enough, there is limited on-screen chemistry between Pattinson and Witherspoon, which drains out the effectiveness of later scenes; important scenes; and scenes which were meant to be emotionally gratifying, but ultimately were not as a result. Certainly some of this is on the account of the characters and their attempt to hide their feelings from August and the Benzini Brothers’ clan, however there definitely is a connectivity that is absence between the two leading stars which hinders the film’s overall effectiveness. Nevertheless, in a year so far filled with disappointing blockbusters, poorly crafted teenage supernatural thrillers, and two despicable Nicholas Cage films, Water For Elephants is a gorgeous looking picture that embodies Robert Pattinson’s strongest performance to date, and illustrates that the Twilight star has a bright future outside of the wildly popular vampire franchise.

3. Rango

It used to be that the theatrical release of an animated film was an event; in the sense that it only happened once or twice in a calendar year, so when a released occurred it was something we were looking forward to. Now, it seems an animated (or computer animated) film is released every other weekend, and they really have lost some of their appeal, or at least they have to me. This is not necessarily a criticism of the industry, but a mere observation of contemporary animated cinema. That being said, whether you were anticipating it or not, Rango is a hilarious and refreshing animated feature. Refreshing both in the fact that it was shot in beautiful 2D, and also that it’s one of those rare animated films that is geared more towards adults than it is towards children. While the visual effects are pleasing to gaze upon, the characters in the film certainly are not and are in fact aesthetically repulsive. Even the hero of the film, the odd, beady-eyed lizard named Rango, children may find it hard to get behind and root for. But, with Rango‘s witty dialogue and it’s cinematic references to Chinatown, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Lord of the Rings, and just about every spaghetti western under the sun, it is clearly a film made by fans of the western genre for fans of the western genre, and it is most definitely an early contender for best animated film of the year.

Christopher Misch

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I've always loved movies, but it wasn't until under the tutelage of Professor Garry Leonard at the University of Toronto that my passion for the industry became an understanding of an art form. With a specific fascination in both the western genre and Asian cinema in general, I am of the view that good movies are either enlightening or entertaining, and if you are truly lucky they are both.

http://twitter.com/bg_ohthehorror Brett G.

I think my favorites so far would be Hanna, Source Code, and Paul. I would put Super in there, but it’s technically a 2010 release.
http://twitter.com/aHealthyDisdain Julian Carrington

Yikes, I just did the math and my favourites are probably Certified Copy, Of Gods and Men, and The Arbor. How snobby am I? I feel like I should point out that I also really dug Hobo with a Shotgun.
http://twitter.com/melissapenner Ms Write

My favourite has been Source Code, but I have not seen the 3 reviewed here. I’m a big time travel fan, and Source Code delivers!
http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

#SourceCode just didn’t do it for me. It’s story didn’t even try to make any sense.
http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

Nice try, but #CertifiedCopy was last year. One of the best films of last year, in fact. At least we can both agree on its greatness, that’s the most important thing.
http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

I still need to see #Paul, though I have a feeling it ain’t for me.
http://twitter.com/steveblank Steve Blank

Rango is far and away the best film of the year for me. I’m shocked that we actually agree on one of this years films. Now I feel like I should see the other two on this list.
http://twitter.com/aHealthyDisdain Julian Carrington

If you go by festival debuts then those are all 2010 films, but I was basing that list on Canadian theatrical release.
http://twitter.com/aHealthyDisdain Julian Carrington

Didn’t dig Paul either, which was too bad because I love Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. The fact that I saw it the same night as the Taxi Driver theatrical re-release didn’t help, either. Not only is Taxi Driver an obvious classic, it got more laughs from me, too.
http://twitter.com/melissapenner Ms Write

Lol! A lot of films that use time travel or similar literary devices seem to have this problem, but I often love them anyway. The thing is I really admire the ambition of writers who try to put time travel/screwing with the time continuum into their story because like you said, it’s so hard to ensure that the story ends up making “sense”. Of course, since time travel/screwing with the time continuum doesn’t actually exist in our lives. The ambition impresses me so much that I have to usually give props.

I found it very similar to Adjustment Bureau, in that the sci-fi and romance seemed to be the two biggest themes. I enjoyed both a lot, but not much else this year at all.
http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

Well, it’s nice to see we can agree somethings, Rango being one of them. What else would make your list of favourites for 2011?
http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

If I were to make a comparison, I’d say it reminds me most Deja Vu in terms of story and themes, but not in qualilty. I’m interested in what are your thoughts on that film…have you seen Tony Scott’s Deja Vu?
http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

Seeing Taxi Driver the same night as Paul pretty much stacked the odds agianst it. Not too many films could have survive that.
http://twitter.com/steveblank Steve Blank

I haven’t liked anything as well as Rango, but if I had to make a top 3, it would be Rio & Source Code.
http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

Oh, I still need to see Rio. That weekend I was conned into seeing Your Highness instead.