5.0
Best Of 2011 – Claire’s List
TOP 5
5. Project Nim
When I heard that this documentary was about a scientist who gives a chimpanzee (adorably named ‘Nim Chimpsky’ in reference to Noam Chompsky) to a human family to raise as its own and to teach sign language to, my reaction as a lover of cute animals was … I MUST SEE IT!! NOW!! And the film does not disappoint, it features footage of baby Nim dressed up in red overalls (adorable) and of the teenage Nim trying to have some private play time with an unsuspecting cat (hilarious). However things take a dramatic/depressing turn as Nim grows into a rather scary adult chimpanzee – obviously the scientist hadn’t really thought through what he was going to do with an adult ape on his hands! There are also some tears as one of Nim’s human carers struggles to find a suitable home for Nim, who can’t be released into the wild and must end his days living in captivity. It really does make us humans look like giant jerks.
4. The Guard
Finally! A comedy! Not to say that this film doesn’t involve it’s fair share of crime, guns, sex and a touch of racism, but unlike the rest of my top 5 for 2011 The Guard was more about making the audience gasp with laughter than gasp in violent shock. Described as an eccentric Irish crime comedy (apparently a genre all to its own) Brendan Gleeson plays a guarda (an Irish policeman) who enjoys the services of prostitutes, swearing copiously and partaking in some serious whisky drinking and drug taking. A straight-laced FBI agent played by Don Cheedle arrives in town investigating drug trafficking and hilarity ensues. The Guard should win a bunch of awards and so far Brendan Gleeson is up for a Golden Globe, let’s just hope that the Oscar’s doesn’t do its usual act of snubbing all comedy films in preference for whatever Sean Penn’s been in this year.
3. Snowtown
Based on the ‘bodies in the barrels’ murders that took place near Adelaide in the 90′s, this movie was always going to be of interest to anyone who is intrigued by Australian crime stories. The film is told from the point of view of James Vlassakis, who was convicted of participating in murders, and really focuses on how these crimes came to be committed and the psychological profile of the murderers, particularly the ring leader, John Bunting. The poverty and violence of these people’s lives and the horrific nature of the crimes they commit isn’t shied away from either. It is graphic and shocking, and I think the film is all the better for showing the gruesome reality of what went on. That sense of reality was enhanced by the director’s use of non-professional actors for most of the characters, in particular James and his mother are played by people from the areas where the murders took place and are both brilliant in their roles. The film is quite long and as you can imagine it’s not very pleasant, but I have kept thinking about it since I saw it, and surely that is the sign of an excellent film.
2. The Skin I Live In
Everyone already knew Pedro Almodavar was a bit twisted (I mean that in the nicest possible way) but this film really took the cake. I can’t say much because I don’t want to give away the ending, but aside from the macabre plot twists, this thriller was one of the best films of the year because, visually, it was just so good. Colours are vivid, close ups of scientific equipment and processes take on an artistic quality, each scene seems to have been put together with the greatest concentration and care. It was nice to see Antonio Banderas play a baddie – I had almost forgot that he was actually a good actor before his run of crap Hollywood rom-coms – as a surgeon holding a young woman captive in his home. This film was thrilling, mysterious and melodramatic – everything Almodavar does so well. I am just worried that one day he is going to trip up, but this time he really did excel himself.
1. Drive
I didn’t actually know much about Drive before going to see it, other than it starred Ryan Gosling set to brood mode and featured a snazzy satin bomber jacket with a scorpion on the back. It came across all 80’s film noir with its classic tale of crime gone wrong (when does it ever go right?) and electro-pop soundtrack. The violence was graphic, and just a touch shocking when you weren’t expecting it. To the delight of trillions of Ryan Gosling fans there was the tense romance between ‘The Driver’, Carey Mulligan and her cute kid. Elements of humour lighten the film up a bit and the mobsters Bernie and Nino almost steal the show. The film was all style, a bit of substance and lots of sex appeal, 5 stars!
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
This year I had the misfortune of seeing Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which was basically a series of terrible chase and fight scenes intersected with Johnny Depp pretending to be drunk. Geoffrey Rush, I know they’re giving you lots of money, but for the love of god just say no… Just say no.
Submarine
A film directed by Richard Ayoade (Moss from the IT Crowd), it got good reviews but seemed to be in the cinema for about two weeks before it disappeared. Some people probably found it a bit twee and annoying, and with the subject matter being about two cute kids who fall in love in Wales, I can see how it could irritate. But I thought it was sweet, amusing and entertaining. Plus it was good to see Noah Taylor out and about again (I had assumed he had become an agoraphobic hermit… nope he’s just moved to Brighton).
One Day
I didn’t even see this movie because I knew it was going to be crap. One Day is based on a best-selling book about two English people who meet up once every year on St Swithin’s Day and after the passing of many many years, they fall in love or something and then one of them dies. If the ridiculous plot device wasn’t enough to put me off, the massive advertising campaign pre-empting the film’s release made me want to move to a country without cinemas, like Antarctica. Every bus carried the film poster, every paper had interviews with the author, and every person on the tube was reading the book. In the end the film got bad reviews, everyone bitched about Anne Hathaway’s terrible accent and we all moved on with our lives. Thank god.
Sequels, Prequels, Spin Offs and Remakes
I do not want to see the seventeenth Transformers movie, the last Twilight book broken down into twenty installments or a movie dedicated to a minor character from a sequel of a remake. Nostalgia and the knowing embrace of familiarity can be dangerous, I actually found myself getting excited about Men in Black 3 yesterday! Oh, it is an insidious disease that can strike at any given moment without warning. It is best to take a lesson from my friend Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, nostalgia may seem warm and comforting, but it can be dangerous, so stop living in the past. Make up some new movie ideas people!
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