As I was drifting through the films I watched this year, definitely a lot less than the year before, I was surprised to notice that I’ve only seen four films released in 2011! Of these four films one is more than worth noticing. Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. The fact that I haven’t seen a lot of new releases is not that astonishing, the total number of films I’ll have seen in 2011 is probably a hundred less than in 2010. My ever growing appetite for Classic films is always significant year after year. Plus, my journey through They Shoot Pictures Don’t They’s 1000 Greatest Films is getting intoxicating. This list is dotted of classic and obscure films that are a delight for the cinephile that I am.
On another cinephile topic, there are those cult films that every time you discover one you unearth ten others! It’s the same thing when you become interested in a more obscure filmmaker like Ken Russell or Masaki Kobayashi!
Those are some reasons, or one might say excuses, that I use to justify my lack of 2011 releases viewings.
On the other hand, I’m in a place in my life where I want to save money to buy some nice little home with my wife. It may also explain why I didn’t spend that much money on film tickets this year. Take note that I was invited as a “critic” to the premiere of The Tree of Life... If you want me to review more new releases please feel free to give me complimentary entrances and Premiere tickets!
Anyhow, I think it reflects my true passion for Cinema and a part of my formation as a Historian, Classic films and History. This is probably why I prefer “older” films and in spite of more recent pictures.
It was supposed to be some kind of post about the greatest films of 2011 so far. Since, I’ve seen only four, yes four! I will try to catch at least some of the most well received.
Drive
Moneyball
Super 8
Cowboys vs. Aliens.
Melancholia
Uncle Boomee
Certified Copy
Rango
Meek’s Cutoff
A Dangerous Method
The Thing
Hugo
The Ides of March
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Rubber
Troll Hunter
Horrible Bosses
Crazy Stupid Love
Midnight In Paris
Source Code
I might be too positive and unable to attain this objective but at least I hope I’ll be able to catch half of these before the end of the year and produce a decent Top 10 of 2011...
Also, feel free to recommend any films of this year I forgot to mention in this concise list!
You've seen four more new releases than I have this year Michael!
ReplyDeleteLike you I prefer older films and I spend almost all of my spare time watching and re-watching my collection of DVD's.
Mind you I sometimes think I'm guilty of watching some films too often, I've lost count of the number of times I've watched my Criterion Collection DVD of Two-Lane Blacktop.
I'm in the same boat. I haven't seen too many 2011 releases either. I hate going to the multiplex, and the art house cinemas are over an hour away so I don't make it to many screenings.
ReplyDeleteI usually start catching up around this time when they come out on DVD/BluRay
Thank you guys! It makes me feel less guilty to be a film buff and not having seen the flavor of the week!
ReplyDeleteMost of the 2011 films I've seen were the big summer movies because I was doing a set of posts on those. Other than that I have not seen too many.
ReplyDeleteOf the ones on your list, I felt Super 8 and Cowboys vs. Aliens were disappointing. Rango was interesting. Source Code was scientifically flawed, but an entertaining movie.
Not on your list, and a movie that was surprisingly good, was Rise of the Planet of the Apes.