Best of 2011 (6-5)

Midway through my top 10 films of 2011 and I have to preface this entry with saying that I haven't seen The Artist or The Ides of March as of this posting. From the reviews I've read, these two films may have affected my top 10 and I can't wait to see them. Now, back to the countdown!

6. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

The fourth installment of Mission: Impossible headlined by Tom Cruise proved to be the best so far. From the death defying stunt work to the dry wit of the always funny Simon Pegg, this movie never really stalled with a dull moment. Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) masterfully put together complex sequences and gave each actor their moment to shine. Experiencing the scene where Ethan Hunt must scale the Burj Khalifa through the lens of an IMAX camera is nothing short of breath taking. I actually held my breath! It was definitely worth the extra cash to experience this movie in IMAX. Also, getting to see the The Dark Knight Rises prologue wasn't a bad thing either. This movie had everything you could ask for from an action movie, cool toys, bone crunching fights and floating in midair using magnets! Oh, science...


5. Hugo

When I first glimpsed the trailer for Hugo, I couldn't tell if it was shot live action or if it was a CG movie. That's a testament to the look of this live action film that legendary director, Martin Scorsese achieved with Hugo. A lot has been made of movies now resorting to 3D for the cheap (and not so cheap to our wallets) thrill but this was really stunning to see in 3D. Proving to be the innovative visionary that he really is, Scorsese utilizes the 3D effect as a storytelling device. Right from the opening of an impossibly long push in shot that can only be produced in 3D, I was immersed in this love letter of a movie. That love letter is to film restoration and the history of innovation that filmmaking has. Watching this film pretty much fills you in on the 2 years of cinema courses I took in college. The only fault I had with this film was that it felt like a history of cinema class was plopped in the middle of the actual story. But it is something easily forgiven when taken in the context that filmmaking represents dreams and imagination. Something I think some of us use too little of and don't strive for enough. This film may open your eyes to that. It served as an always welcomed reminder for me.

Check back tomorrow for films 4 & 3!