Must See Films for 2011- Part One

A new film year is in motion and I figured I'd put a finger on the films that have caught my eye...Obviously aside from the first three months...

21. Alps

A visual taste of Dogtooth.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos made a splash last year with his Academy Award nominated film Dogtooth. Featuring bizarre family mechanics and unflinching use of taboos, Dogtooth is the type of film that could alienate reserved film fans. Expect more of the same for Lanthimos’ next film Alps. Although details are scant, it’s said Alps tells the tale of people who agree to “stand in for the lost loved ones of others, replicating their behavior and gestures, ostensibly to help with the grieving.” I can’t wait to go in the deep end with this one and embrace the macabre.

20. War Horse

On that Spielberg swag.

Steven Spielberg fans have been facing a film depression over the last few years. It seems that he’s ready to remedy that with a slew of movies coming out in consecutive years (Tintin in December, Abe Lincoln project in 2012). Yet, my interest in Spielberg mostly rests on his much anticipated film War Horse. Adapted from the book of the same name, War Horse tells the tale of a boy and his horse who are separated and reunited amidst World War I. It’s a heartwarming, if not schmaltzy premise that Spielberg has credibly pulled off in the past. Expect lavish production and good ole Steven pulling your heartstrings.

19. Everything Must Go

You dropped a shirt...

There seem to be two kinds of people in this world: Those who love Will Ferrell and those who hate him. I tend to fall in the former category, but there are times where his man-child shtick doesn’t entirely work. With that being said, Everything Must Go offers us a glimpse at a more dramatic Will Ferrell. It follows a man who, after losing his job and sobriety chip, decides to sell all of his belongings after being kicked out of his house by his wife. Last time we saw Ferrell legitimately attempt such a role would be 2006’s Stranger than Fiction, a role he excelled in. It seems Everything…will possess a good balance between Ferrell’s comedic talents and untapped dramatic potential.

18. Bridesmaids

Haters gonna hate...

Why must all of the guys have fun? With more and more films following the blueprint of Superbad and The Hangover, male comedies are dominating the multiplexes while female characters are designated to secondary bits. Bridesmaids appears to give females their first real push into the realm of R-rated comedies. Featuring a terrific cast, Bridesmaids is primed to be a sleeper hit and open the door for more female characters to indulge in the gratuitous that men have made a staple in comedy.

17. Cowboys and Aliens

WeFest is really pulling out all the stops this year.

One has to appreciate the unapologetic title this film possesses. It tells you everything you need to know. It’s about cowboys and aliens duking it out in the unforgiving West. DUH! Behind the camera is Jon Favreau (Zathura, Iron Man, and Elf) who has quietly become a consistent director. Favreau probably understands the level of camp and silliness the premise will bring, but if his previous endeavors give us any indication, he’ll probably deliver a decent amount of thrills to offset the film's inevitable streak of silliness.

16. Crazy, Stupid, Love

Are you really that hairy?

Steve Carrell is a terrific comedian, we know that. His ability to wring laughs out of awkward situations has made him a TV star. It’s just unfortunate that he hasn’t found a proper vehicle to demonstrate his comedic talents and expose his dramatic heft. Crazy, Stupid, Love may do the trick as Carrell is paired with Ryan Gosling in a romantic comedy that looks like a cross between Hitch and Dan in Real Life. If the talent on hand plays to their strengths and the material doesn’t breakdown, we could see the Rom-Com genre being resurrected.

15. Contagion

I should really stop farting in here.

There is a bit of weight added to this film considering it’s one of Steven Soderbergh’s final films. With the notion that he’s retiring in a matter of a few films, Soderbergh is certainly going out with a bang. Contagion just may end up being one of his biggest films. Telling the tale of an outbreak that must be mitigated by the CDC, Contagion is primed to be a delicious action-thriller with political ramifications. All of the intensity that is sure to ensue is bolstered by a terrific cast featuring Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, and Jude Law. What a way to begin a swan song.

14. The Muppets

Life is more fun when on LSD

One of the lasting icons of American pop-culture has to be Jim Henson’s creations known as the Muppets. Gestating deep in my mind are the memories I have associated with Henson’s colorful cast of characters. To me, at least film wise, the Muppets were dead and buried with their rendition of the Christmas Carol. Thankfully, Jason Segel graciously brought our puppet friends back from the edge of doubt with a film set to be released in November. Segel’s enthusiastic and childlike sense of humor should meld beautifully with Henson’s lasting creations, and I’m excited to revisit a moment of my youth.

13. 50/50

Let's hope this is more focused than Funny People.

Originally titled “I’m with Cancer”, 50/50 tells the tale of Adam (Joseph-Gordon Levitt) and his unrelenting bout with cancer. Surrounded by his friends and family, Adam learns a life lesson we have seen in countless other films. The plot sounds familiar and will most likely hit all of the expected emotional notes, but the cast, which includes Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick, should be able to deliver an assortment of sardonic laughs and emotional levity. 

12. Moneyball

Can you believe they pay me for this?

On paper this film sounds like a fucking bore, especially when the plot synopsis is read verbatim. The film recounts the statistics and formulas used by Oakland Athletics’ General Manager Billy Beane to try and field a competitive MLB team. It’s not earth shattering, but Moneyball has an opportunity to bring Sabermetrics and Billy Beane, two terms only known by dedicated baseball fans, to some layer of the main stream. Lifting the material will surely be actors Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but the true star will be screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin is a terrific writer and if he’s on top of his game, then the film should be full of snappy, entertaining dialogue that should compound the film’s entertainment value.

11. 30 Minutes or Less

That ski mask is very becoming of you.

Ruben Fleischer burst onto the scene with his terrific orchestration of 2009’s Zombieland. The film wasn’t perfect, but it was a well-executed horror comedy that made zombies cool again. Fleischer’s sophomore effort will be one that will likely match Zombieland’s silliness as it follows two idiot robbers (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) who kidnap and force a Pizza delivery boy (Jesse Eisenberg) to rob a bank. Expect a shit load of banter and over the top shenanigans in what could be one of the year’s best comedies. Eisenberg robbing a bank? I'm in.