Favorite Movies of All Time and Updated 2011 List

  
        My taste in movies can best be described by words from the famous speech college basketball coach Jim Valvano made before he lost his life to cancer.

       Valvano, while he had few left, talked about what a good day was to him. He said if that 24-hour period included some time in deep thought, some laughs and tears -- it was a pretty good day. I love a movie that makes me think, laugh and draws some emotion. If it does not have all of those together, I’m just looking to be entertained with something unique.

       For much of the past decade, I have compiled a list of my favorite movies of the year. I have usually spent the time from New Year’s Day until Oscar Night frequenting Red Box to see all the movies others picked among their best of the year. I can’t see them all. I still have not viewed Ghost Protocol, Margaret, A Separation and two documentaries -- The Undefeated and The Interrupters.

      This year’s group of films is not as deep as 2010, especially in the 11-25 spots. I did not get drawn in by two highly-rated films – War Horse and Tinker, Tailor Soldier Spy.

      Here’s a look at the movies that either met all three criteria or entertained me at some level in 2011.

       25. My Week With Marilyn – Michelle Williams is brilliant as the great, yet very complicated, Marilyn Monroe.

       24. Higher Ground – Vera Farmiga directs and stars in a woman’s life-long struggle with her faith.

       23. Red State – Violent, exaggerated (or is it?) film by Kevin Smith about a religious cult.

       22. Bridesmaids – The Hangover for women, with a heart.

       21. Crazy, Stupid, Love – A top-notch cast battles with relationship issues.

       20. Hugo – Steven Spielberg’s long-winded story about an orphan boy, an automaton and old movies.

       19. Contagion – A world-wide epidemic caused by a rapidly-spreading virus with an all-star cast.

       18. Melancholia – Kirsten Dunst deals with severe depression and a doomsday vision in this very dark film.

       17. Margin Call – Kevin Spacey in a story about an investment bank’s greed and stupidity.

       16. Another Earth – Extremely off-beat movie about a young woman trying to rebound from a tragedy in a strange new world.

       15. Win, Win – A high school wrestling coach (Paul Giamatti) helps a runaway try to rebuild his life in and out of the circle.

       14. Hangover 2 – Sequel is just as crude, not as funny, but still has enough goofy moments to be worth a watch.

       13. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – The son of a 9/11 victim tries to get over the death of his father (Tom Hanks).

       12. The Help – A gripping film about the evil of racism and African-American housekeepers in the Deep South.

       11. The Artist – French film with no audible dialogue, but a delightful story about a washed-up actor and a beautiful young actress.

      10. Drive – Ryan Gosling plays a cool, dark, complicated character who can drive a car like very few.

      9. Source Code – Futuristic drama where Jake Gyllenhaal travels back in time to nail a terrorist.

      8. Take Shelter – Psycho drama about mental illness with a fantastic performance by Michael Shannon.

      7. The Ides of March – Political drama with an all-star cast, led by Gosling, George Clooney, Phillip Seymour-Hoffman and Evan Rachel Wood.

      6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -- Rooney Mara’s brutal, spine-tingling performance as a brilliant, but mentally unstable, gal who can solve crimes.

      5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – New take on the old series and how a damn-dirty ape world could happen today.

      4. Moneyball – Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, who used statistics to help prop up the overachieving Oakland A’s.

      3. We Bought a Zoo – Widower Matt Damon moves out of town and buys a house with a zoo that comes with it.

      2. 50/50 – Joseph-Gordon Leavitt goes through many emotions as he deals with cancer at a young age, getting help from young therapist Anna Kendrick.

      1. The Descendants – Unique story, based in Hawaii, with George Clooney trying to a good father as his wife lies in a coma and his family pressures him about selling land.

     Honorable mention: Super 8, Water for Elephants, Midnight in Paris, Larry Crowne,  A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, Soul Surfer, The Conspirator, War Horse, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy.

     Worst:  Horrible Bosses, Jack and Jill, Cowboys & Aliens, Tree of Life and Apollo 18.

     

     The Most Enjoyable or Meaningful Films I have seen

     20.  Planet of the Apes – You laugh, but this film stands up decades later. The closing scene is one of the best ever.

     19.  500 Days of Summer – This movie hit home with its interesting, sometimes humorous, study of relationships and how difficult they can be.

     18. Into the Wild – The story of Christopher McKandless’ journey to Alaska with rich, compelling characters along the way.

     17. Malcolm X – Denzel Washington is amazing in his role as the former black leader in this Spike Lee film

     16. Office Space – Filled with truly hilarious lines and situations, but it makes you think about what work should be to you.

     15. Seabiscuit  -- Heartwarming, fun, old-style film about a downtrodden horse that becomes a champion.

     14. Bull Durham – Kevin Costner “the player to be named later” as Crash Davis in this sometimes poetic comedy about minor league baseball.

     13. The Social Network – Whether the events were changed or not for the film, it is interesting story of a unique young man who builds a multi-million dollar company from scratch.

     12. Lost in Translation – A washed-up movie actor befriends a confused, yet interesting, young woman in Japan and they help each other deal with life’s obstacles.

     11. Four Weddings and a Funeral – A delightful film about love, timing, friendship, marriage and dealing with tragedy.

     10. High Fidelity – John Cusack struggles with commitment problems in this cheeky comedy about a music store owner.

       9. Inglorious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino rewrites history in this rollicking film about wishful justice.

       8. Hoosiers -- Gene Hackman gets his last chance at coaching with a small school in Indiana.

       7. Stripes – Bill Murray and John Candy, among others, join the army and all Hell breaks loose in the best comedy of all time.

       6. 25^th Hour – Ed Norton tries to tie up all loose ends in his mind and in reality the final day before going to jail on a drug charge.

       5. Garden State – An odd, funny, smart film with a heart as a troubled young man finds himself in his old New Jersey town.

       4. Swingers – A young group of aspiring actors takes on life living in Hollywood in this creative comedy.

       3. Pulp Fiction – A violent, humorous, compelling film that boasts great dialogue and great characters with intertwining stories.

       2. Braveheart – Mel Gibson in the story of William Wallace, who led the fight for Scotland’s independence.

       1. Almost Famous – Cameron Crowe’s love story to rock and roll, a semi-autobiographical film about his experiences as an under-aged music writer in the early 1970s.

      -- Mark Pukalo