The 2011 Best (and Worst) List of Films and Actors

As the year comes to a close and I have some free time, I’ve finally compiled our year-end Best and Worst list.

These are the Best, Worst and Most Disappointing films of the year as well as the Best Actors, both lead and supporting.

Check them out and let me know if you agree, disagree or want to throw rotten fruit at me because I’m so damn wrong. 

Best Films
50/50
Crazy Stupid Love
Like Crazy
MoneyBall
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Warrior
Win Win

Worst Films
Take Me Home Tonight
Red Riding Hood
One Day
Restless
Margaret
Rid Of Me
Tree of Life

While some people put Tree of Life on their lists of Best Films, I put it on my Worst. Why? Because I hated it. Don’t tell me it’s because “I didn’t get it.” I got it just fine. Even Sean Penn had no idea what the film was about. The film had no narrative at all. That’s why I go to and love film – for a story. This had none of that.

But, the absolute worst film of the year is Rid of Me, hands down. It opens with the lead character shopping in a grocery store. She spots the woman who stole her husband and then does something vile that even thinking about it makes me want to puke. The cast is so bad that they should get their SAG card revoked.

Most Disappointing Films
War Horse
Carnage

I still have no idea why Carnage was ever made into a film. Or, why the original Broadway cast wasn’t invited to reprise their roles. What was a solid theatre production has been made into a claustrophobic and pointless film.

I was so looking forward to Spielberg’s version of War Horse but I left the theater completely disappointed. It was like he tried to make an uplifting family film set during the war and starring a horse. Huh? The only scene worth the price of admission was the ‘barbed-wire’ scene.

….and now, the actors

Best Actors

George Clooney – The Descendants
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – 50/50
Brad Pitt – Moneyball
Michael Shannon – Take Shelter
Anton Yelchin – Like Crazy

Best Actresses

Viola Davis – The Help
Felicity Jones – Like Crazy
Rooney Mara – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Elizabeth Olsen – Martha Marcy May Marlene
Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor

Albert Brooks – Drive
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Moneyball/Ides of March
Christopher Plummer – Beginners
Nick Nolte – Warrior
Andy Serkis – Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Best Supporting Actresses

Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Judy Greer – The Descendants
Carey Mulligan – Drive/Shame
Octavia Spencer – The Help