This is the week we say goodbye to 2011 and hello to the New Year.
Because movies are such an important part of what we do here at BackstageOL, I’ve decided to chime in with my Top 10 list.
I haven’t compared my list to Jake Hamilton’s, I’m wondering how our choices compare.
Here goes numbers 10 through 6:
10. “Drive”
At number 10 is the high action/drama flick starring Ryan Gosling, “Drive”. While this movie gets higher placement from other critics, I still maintain that while a good film, it just doesn’t deserve a higher spot than the 10 spot. Does Gosling get the Best Actor Oscar nod that everyone is predicting? Perhaps. Does he win? No. One of the other problems I had with this film? After watching the preview trailers, I really thought this was going to be more of “race car driver” type film. I was surprised to see how it really played out. I like race cars.
9. “Warrior”
Number 9 goes to a film that I really thought would have done much better at the box office. “Warrior” not only had high fueled mixed martial arts energy, but also told a very powerful story. Nick Nolte gives one of his finest, if not the best, performances of his career. If you haven’t seen this movie, I would highly recommend you find it somewhere- it won’t disappoint.
8. “J. Edgar”
Here is another movie from 2011 that people either really liked or really hated. There was no middle ground. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an excellent performance as the iconic leader of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. The problem for most movie goers was the film’s slow progression. It’s LONG. At 137 minutes, there are moments when you might ask “when will this finally end?” The dark storyline might have also kept audiences at bay. If you aren’t familiar with Hoover’s biography, you’ll learn A LOT. I heard that President George H. Bush saw the movie and called it very accurate. He should know, he knew J. Egdar. DiCaprio might get a Best Actor nod, but won’t win.
7. “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”
This is a really good film. Sandra Bullock is superb, Tom Hanks gives ANOTHER fantastic performance and young actor Thomas Horn will have you on an emtotional roller coaster. Yes, this is a 9/11 film. It’s different because this is a 9/11 film that looks at it from a victim’s child point of view. It is also a movie about dealing with loss. Be warned, you WILL need Kleenex. It WILL get an Oscar nod for Best Picture. Bullock and Hanks may get supporting nominations, while Horn SHOULD get one for Best Actor.
6. “The Iron Lady”
I had trouble deciding where to finally land this in my top 10. Meryl Streep, in my opinion, will win Best Actress for her portrayal as the British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Not only will you feel as if you are actually watching Thatcher on screen, but the story that comes with this film is a good one. We see a once powerful mind being destroyed by the effects of dementia and how a family deals with this horrible condition. “The Iron Lady” is a fine tribute to Thatcher. Whether you agree with her ideals or not, she most definitely made an impact in our world. This WILL get the Oscar attention it deserves.
