Movie Nerd: My Favorite Movies of 2011

Let's start with the disclaimer: I have not seen all of the movies in the world. I have not, to my dismay, seen Shame or Hugo or Drive or My Week With Marilyn. What I have seen are the following movies, and some other ones I didn't like as much.

Moneyball

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I'm starting to notice a pattern with Aaron Sorkin-penned movies and my initial desire to see them. I'm mostly just thinking about this and The Social Network - two movies whose premises didn't really intrigue me, but whose casting and buzz caught my attention. And then I see them and I'm blown away. I've heard a lot of people say that this is the "Best Baseball Movie for People Who Hate Baseball" - and while that may be true - it's also an incredible movie for someone who happens to love baseball. This movie actually reminded me how much I love it. Brad Pitt's performance is relaxed and casual, yet physical and captivating and Jonah Hill was good. Like, actually nuanced for a guy who got his start playing this guy.

Midnight in Paris

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I think the Academy members this year were experiencing an intense bout of nostalgia (what with over half of the Best Picture nominations going to period pieces), and I found this Woody Allen bit of excellence to be the perfect portrait of longing for a bygone era. I'm not sure if it's entirely deserving of a Best Picture nod, but I found Midnight in Paris to be utterly entertaining and made me really really miss Europe. Also, Owen Wilson is the best Woody Allen since Woody Allen and thank goodness for that. We miss you, Alvy Singer.

The Descendants

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It's hard to imagine any woman in her right mind cheating on Intern George, but, apparently that's what happens in Hawaii. What a world. Ridiculous women aside, this was an incredibly moving portrait of a family in dire straights, at times hilarious, and at other times utterly heartbreaking. If for no other reason, you should see it for the moment when a grouchy old man just "haul[s] off and cold-cocks" a doofy kid. But you know, also for the surprisingly good acting and writing and directing.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Part 2

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Because it's the end of an era and I cried in the theaters and my friends looked at me like I was crazy but whatever it was really sad and good and amazing and bittersweet and I got goosebumps a lot and shut up I'm not crying you're crying!!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

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Rooney Mara was fantastic, and I never turn down an opportunity to see Daniel Craig. It was a faithful rendition of the original Swedish film (which, if you haven't seen you really must) and the directing was everything I expected it to be - moody and dark and punctuated by a truly appropriate soundtrack. Just be warned - that scene that everyone tells you is horrible is truly truly horrible. Maybe just cover your eyes and ears for that.

Jane Eyre

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See image above.

Haywire

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Because I was actually throwing punches in the theater - and it's amazing to see a female action star who could beat the snot out of you in real life. This wasn't a particularly Important or Profound movie, and, despite it's strong female lead, it fails the Bechdel Test MISERABLY, but it's really a fun watch. Also: Michael Fassbender's in it so it has that going for it, too.

War Horse

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The film that will heretofore be referred to as War Pony, was one that had me gently weeping from start to finish. As I may have mentioned before, I have a bit of a soft spot for movies about horses, and boy does this fit the bill. Spielberg is no stranger to getting an audience to connect, and at least in my case, he did another magnificent job. Perfect example: after seeing the trailer for the upteenth time, I vowed to light the theater on fire if the horse dies at the end. SPOILER ALERT: No arson was committed in the viewing of this film. A masterful film about the transformative nature of war through the lens of really boss horsie.

Young Adult

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I think for a while there we were all collectively suffering from a major case of Diablo Cody whiplash. We all seemed, for some widely unknown reason, to have high hopes for Jennifer's Body, and when that didn't pan out, a lot of people (i.e. just me) threw up our (my) arms and hoped to dismiss the whole stripper-turned-screenwriter thing. And then Charlize Theron rides in in a Hello-Kitty pink Mini Cooper and we (still just me) remember what's so great about her writing. Young Adult was just the right blend of delusion and dark humor, and Charlize Theron is great - though for me, Patton Oswalt was the real take-away from the film. Take me to LegoLand, man.

We Need To Talk About Kevin

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Holy crap, guys. Holy crap. Have you seen this movie? You probably shouldn't. But you should. But maybe you shouldn't. I made the mistake of watching this at night before I went to bed. I shouldn't have done that. Ezra Miller plays sadistic...too well. I'm actually convinced that he is evil. Tilda Swinton is SWINTONLY. She plays a Lady MacBeth-ian mother, paying penance for sins that are not hers, and I just want someone to hold me.

Bridesmaids

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I am ready to PAAARTY! with the best of them! One of the funniest movies I've seen in recent history, Bridesmaids is an excellent representation of female friendship and an even better portrayal of what it actually is to Not Quite Have Your Proverbial Shit Together. In a great year for women in film, this film stands shoulders above the rest for not being afraid to be funny and ridiculous and true all at the same time.

50/50

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I can't imagine what studio exec said, "a comedy about a young guy with cancer? GREENLIGHT IT, JOHNSON!" (in this hypothetical the executive has an assistant named Johnson, in case that wasn't clear.), but I'm actually glad that it happened. A risky comedy, to be certain, but the film deals with a subject that many of us know far too well with honesty, humor and with enough movie-cahones to face the main character's ordeal head-on. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as always, turned out a performance of surprising depth and relatability, but for me, it was Seth Rogen (who was actually just playing himself) as JGL's bff and support system who surprised me. I wonder if he's looking for new friends...