James Luxford's Movie Review of 2011
Well, here we are with my final round up of releases for 2011. Below you will find my reviews for this week’s releases, plus my best and worst movies of the year.
The Artist (PG)
A French-made, silent movie about George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a fictional silent era star in 20’s Hollywood whose career falls apart when he refuses to embrace the talkies.
Berenice Bejo plays Peppy Miller, a rising actress discovered by George and who threatens to overtake him. There’s no dialogue, it’s not in widescreen and it’s black and white, but trust me, this is the best movie of the year. It’s hilarious in parts, but overall a joyous celebration of the golden era of Hollywood, and why we all still get starry eyed when we go to the cinema.
Dujardin and Bejo make great leads, while strong support is provided by John Goodman, James Cromwell and a very talented dog. Go see it now, and leave with a smile on your face.
Star Rating: *****
The Lady (12A)
Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) plays iconic Burmese campaigner, Nobel Prize winner and political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, a woman placed under house arrest by the Burmese government months before she would win the 1990 election in her home country.
Over the next two decades she would become a symbol for democracy and human rights, but at the terrible cost of being separated from her British husband, writer Michael Aris (David Thewlis). The film charts their separation over this time, and the many challenges Suu Kyi faced before her 2010 release.
A very worthy film, directed by The Fifth Element helmer Luc Besson, however it does appear to drown in its own reverence to Suu Kyi. The film’s message is that Suu Kyi is inspirational, and suffered for her beliefs. Without sounding glib, we already knew this, and while the portrayal is affectionate and sincere, it’s a hard two-and-a-half hours for even the most patient of cinemagoers.
A fine introduction to the historical character, but not the intricate drama you would hope for.
Star Rating: ***
2011: James' picks of the best and worst
It’s been a year of ups and downs, and while we can’t really call the last 12 months vintage for movie releases, it will at least leave us with a few memorable moments - Harry Potter took his final bow, The King’s Speech swept the Oscars, and Oxfordshire was yet again the setting for a couple of blockbuster movies in X-Men: First Class and the latest Sherlock Holmes film.
Here are my top 5 best and worst of the year.
Five of the best...
5. Drive (18)
Ryan Gosling becomes the star we all knew he could be in this violent but superbly made thriller.
4. True Grit (15)
The Coen brothers continued their hot streak thanks to a jaw-dropping performance from Jeff Bridges and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. A wonderful retelling of the John Wayne classic.
3. 50/50 (15)
A cancer comedy may not sound great, but 50/50 is one of the most touching, human, and absolutely hilarious films of the year.
2. 127 Hours (15)
Danny Boyle proves he is Britain’s top fil-maker by making a compelling, emotional drama using one man (the ever-excellent James Franco) trapped under a rock. Moving, uplifting and rewarding.
1. The Artist (PG)
It may have been one of the last releases of 2011, but it’s the best. A wonderful, joyous film that reminds you why you love the movies.
And five of the worst films of 2011...
5. Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (12)
Loud, pointless and overwhelmingly dull, this is perhaps not quite as bargain bin awful as the rest of this list, but deserves a spot for baffling audiences for over two hours (can you even remember what it was about?).
4. Just Go With It (12)
Adam Sandler smiles and thinks of the money as he inexplicably picks up both a swimsuit model and Jennifer Aniston in this half-baked comedy.
3. Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (U)
It’s the chipmunks singing Lady Gaga on a desert island. Need I go on?
2. Honey 2 (PG)
A sequel that is only just a sequel, featuring awful street slang, and a clichéd plot that is normally the preserve of straight-to-DVD abominations.
1. The Three Musketeers (12)
The rest of this list could be excused, even forgiven, for being bad as by and large you know what you’re getting from a Transformers movie or an Adam Sandler comedy.
The Three Musketeers manages to get a great cast (Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz, even Mila Jovovich has had her moments) and create a kind of swashbuckling version of Wild, Wild, West. Airship battles, agonising lines, ridiculous plot (the foursome are saving a necklace. Really.) and Bloom with a sort of Morrisey-esque hair-do. Avoid.
