Raw films succeed in 2011
Last year heralded terrible movies varying from the sequel of The Human Centipede to the alternative reality chick-fighting movie Sucker Punch. In spite of these cinematic disasters, Hollywood redeemed itself with raw documentaries and incredible CGI. Here are my favorite films of 2011:
The Tree of Life
These days, it's rare to see a film that even attempts to explore the relationship between humans and the universe. Director Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line) uncompromisingly shoots solely to explore this relationship in The Tree of Life. The first 20 minutes detail the origins of the universe through images: supernovas, solar flares, volcanoes and even dinosaurs. The next 90 minutes focus on a blip in time: the story of a family suffering from a crisis of faith in 1950s Waco, Texas. The film climaxes with a scene so ecstatic that it transcends any description that even Malick himself could give. Accompanied by cinematography that is a lock for an Oscar and an operatic film score, The Tree of Life was the greatest movie-watching experience of my entire life.
The Interrupters
Inspired by the turbulent streets of the "Windy City," for one year, director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) chronicles the lives of three men as they try to step in to protect their communities from violence. At one point in the documentary, a news anchor reports that 124 people have been murdered in Chicago so far that year, equal to the combined number of U.S. solider deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan over that same span of time. Combating this murder epidemic are the "violence interrupters," members of the violence prevention group Cease Fire Chicago. The three violence interrupters James chooses to follow are all former street criminals who now try to reach at-risk youths before the system does. The violence interrupters build personal relationships with people who, before meeting them, were mere minutes away from committing assault or murder. The Interrupters is a painfully important documentary — one that is such an inspiration for non-violence and social change that after attending a screening, Bermuda's national security minister vowed to create a Cease Fire program in his own country.
Shame
Shame is so gripping in its portrayal of the tortured life of a sex addict that at times it was too difficult to watch. I almost walked out of the theater on several occasions, but I stayed, and I am glad I did. Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender, Inglourious Basterds) is a wealthy New Yorker in his 30s who compulsively has sex with random strangers and prostitutes. He avoids sex with people he knows because he is afraid of a personal connection. In his free time he watches pornography nonstop and his hard drive at work is filled with gigabytes of it. This film is not erotic in any way and nothing suggests that Sullivan finds any pleasure in his addiction. When his emotionally unstable sister (Carey Mulligan, Drive) moves into his apartment, his life rapidly spirals downward. To call their performances brave would be an understatement. This is not a film for everyone or even for most people. Its NC-17 rating is appropriate; the sex scenes are very explicit. Watching Sullivan's addiction consume his life is heart-wrenching, but if you can handle all of this, watching Shame will be an emotional whirlwind you'll never forget.
Hugo
Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver) can do no wrong. Scorsese begins Hugo as a children's adventure; an orphan rebuilds a writing automaton in order to discover a secret message from his late father. At the end, Scorsese's adventure transitions into a celebration of the origins of cinema. With a beautiful musical score, masterful performances by the entire cast, and a brilliant exploration into 3D and CGI, Hugo captivates the audience for every second of its two-hour running time. The 3D is essential to the experience of watching Hugo, so do not wait for the DVD release.
The Artist
Who could have imagined at the beginning of 2011 that the likely winner of the Best Picture Oscar would be a black-and-white silent film? The Artist is getting a lot of buzz from critics and awards shows and for good reason. The film follows silent-movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin, OSS 117), who loses his job, his wife and his wealth when "talkies" are introduced. Meanwhile, his love interest, actress Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo, A Knight's Tale), soars in fame. The film score of The Artist is flawless in enchanting the audience and accompanying the mood of each scene. Director Michel Hazanavicius (OSS 117) takes a monumental risk in releasing a silent black-and-white film. What he creates is the feel-good film of the year — one that will surely please both lovers of silent cinema and viewers who have never seen a silent film.
Brian Biekman is a Wiess College junior.
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