The 4th John Carpenter Award for Best Horror Film of 2011
Final Destination 5 (New Line Cinema/Practical Pictures/Zide/Perry Productions) – Steven Quale
Kill List (Rook Films/Warp X/Film4 Productions/Screen Yorkshire/UK Film Council) – Ben Wheatley
And the winner is… Kill List (Rook Films/Warp X/Film4 Productions/Screen Yorkshire/UK Film Council) – Ben Wheatley
Once again, my award for Best Horror Film goes to a low-budget independent movie from England. In a year of lackluster (for the most part) horror pictures, Kill List’s consistently unsettling level of tension made it stand out from the pack, head and shoulder the Best Horror Film of 2011.
The 4th Kenneth Loach Award for Best Dramatic Film of 2011
Hugo (GK Films/Infinitum Nihil) – Martin Scorsese
Neds (Blue Light/ Fidélité Films/StudioUrania) – Peter Mullan
· The Tree Of Life (Plan B Entertainment/River Road Entertainment) – Terrence Malick
· Tyrannosaur (Warp X/Inflammable Films/Film4 Productions/ UK Film Council/Screen Yorkshire/EM Media/Optimum Releasing)
· Water For Elephants (Fox 2000 Pictures/Type A Films/3 Arts Entertainment/Crazy Horse Effects/Flashpoint Entertainment)
And the winner is… Neds (Blue Light/ Fidélité Films/StudioUrania) – Peter Mullan
The 4th Sylvester Stallone Award for Best Action/Adventure Film of 2011
Blitz (Lions Gate Entertainment/Davis Films) – Elliot Lester
And the winner is… X-Men: First Class (Marvel Studios/Dune Entertainment/Marv Films/Bad Hat Harry Film/The Donner’s Company) – Matthew Vaughan
The 4th ‘GWB’ Award for Most Unintentionally Offensive Film of 2011
· 5 Days Of War (RexMedia) – Renny Harlin: pissed off Russians, Ossetians, Human Rights Watch; labeled as “essentially Georgian propagada” (Johsua Foust)
· The Hangover Part II (Legendary Pictures/Green Hat Films) – Todd Phillips: pissed off animal rights groups (PETA, AMA), transsexuals, some Asian people
· The Iron Lady (Pathé/Film 4/UK Film Council/Media Rights Capital) – Phyllida Lloyd: pissed off Margaret Thatcher’s children, Marxists and conservatives
· Sucker Punch (Legendary Pictures/Cruel and Unusual Films) – Zack Snyder: pissed off a lot of women, along with a few narrative storytellers
· Transformers: Dark of the Moon (di Bonaventura Pictures) – Michael Bay: pissed off a number of people, accused of xenophobia and sexism
And the winner is… 5 Days Of War (RexMedia) – Renny Harlin: pissed off Russians, Ossetians, Human Rights Watch; labeled as “essentially Georgian propagada” (Johsua Foust)
Worse than Sergei Eisenstein at his most indulgent and politically ludicrous, 5 Days of War’s crass, base propaganda is in itself it’s only outstanding feature. Instead of giving us another Cliffhanger or Deep Blue Sea, Renny Harlin succeeds in pissing of an entire country and then some.
The 5th David Fincher Award for Best Thriller Film of 2011
Drive (Bold Films/Odd Lot Entertainment/Marc Platt Productions/Seed Productions) – Nicolas Winding Refn
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Columbia Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Scott Rudin Productions/Yellow Bird Films/ Film i Väst) – David Fincher
Drive is a wonderful thriller containing some of 2011’s most memorable and intense moments. Also, the enigmatic central performance by Ryan Gosling and Nic Winding Refn’s direction elevate it beyond genre constraints and into a genuine synchronicity of art and entertainment.
The 5th Philip K. Dick Award for Best Science-Fiction/Fantasy Film of 2011
The Adjustment Bureau (Media Rights Capital) – George Nolfi
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (Warner Bros. Pictures/Heyday Films) – David Yates
Real Steel (DreamWorks Pictures/Reliance Entertainment/21 Laps Entertainment) – Shawn Levy
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Fox/Dune Entertainment/Chernin Entertainment) – Rupert Wyatt
Super 8 (Bad Robot Productions/Amblin Entertainment) – J.J. Abrams
And the winner is… Source Code (The Mark Gordon Company/ Vendôme Pictures) – Duncan Jones
Duncan Jones’ sophomore film carries with it the intelligence of its predecessor Moon and is a genuine film of ideas. Furthermore, Jones’ direction ensures that there is some substance to the film’s style, and results in sublime execution of artistic intent.
The 5th Stan and Ollie Award for Best Comedic Film of 2011
The Artist (La Petite Reine/ ARP Sélection) – Michel Hazanavicius
Beautiful Lies (Les Films Pelléas/TF1 Films Production/Tovo Films) – Pierre Salvadori
The Beaver (Summit Entertainment/Participant Media) – Jodie Foster
Bridesmaids (Relativity Media/Apatow Productions) – Paul Feig
Horrible Bosses (New Line Cinema/Rat Entertainment) – Seth Gordon
And the winner is… The Artist (La Petite Reine/ ARP Sélection) – Michel Hazanavicius
The less said, the better, and that is certainly the case with 2011’s best comedic film, The Artist. All the joy, the sorrow, the tears, and some laughs in between, is conveyed in an original manner of pure visual storytelling with accompanying rhythm and beats in the soundtrack.
The 5th ‘I Am Legend’ Award for Biggest Disappointment of 2010
Barbarossa: Siege Lord (Martinelli Film Company International) – Renzo Martinelli: a turgid mess that was bad beyond all expectations
Cars 2 (Pixar) – John Lasseter: Pixar should know better
The Guard (Reprisal Films/Element Pictures/Crescendo Productions/Aegis Film Fund/Irish Film Board/Prescience/UK Film Council) – John Michael McDonagh: overcooked in the same manner as In Bruges
J. Edgar (Imagine Entertainment/Malpaso Productions/Wintergreen Productions) – Clint Eastwood: lacks the care and craft of most Eastwood films
The Rum Diary (GK Films/Infinitum Nihil) – Bruce Robinson: Why, with Bruce Robinson, Johnny Depp and Hunter S. Thompson, am I getting bored?
And the winner is… Cars 2 (Pixar) – John Lasseter: Pixar should know better
It is excusable for Pixar to have a lapse of sorts, considering the pressure of living up to their recent output, namely Wall-E, Up and Toy Story 3. However, it is not excusable for them to deliver such a boring, workman-like assembly-line film like Cars 2. The once-endearing Mater becomes more and more annoying as the film goes on. I am thoroughly disappointed with Pixar, and hope they bounce back from this.
The 3rd Walt Disney Award for Best Animated Film of 2010
Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks Animation) – Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Rango (Nickelodeon Movies/Blind Wink/GK Films/Industrial Light and Magic) – Gore Verbinski
And the winner is… Rango (Nickelodeon Movies/Blind Wink/GK Films/Industrial Light and Magic) – Gore Verbinski
In a poor year for animation, Gore Verbinski’s Rango stands out as a particular pleasure. Johnny Depp’s vocal performance is superb, the script has a note-perfect eccentricity, and it contains some of the most stylistically unique animation I’ve seen in quite a while.
The 3rd Walter Murch Award for Best Sound Design/Mixing in a Film in 2011
Etienne Colin/Michael Krikorian/Gérard Lamps/ Marc Mnémosyne/Nadine Muse (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Peter Burgis/John Casali/Andie Derrick/Michael Fentum/Samir Foco/Glen Gathard/Dominic Gibbs/Peter Gleaves/Leigh Humberdross/Nick Kray/Jed Loughran/James Mather/Luke O’Connell/Kevin Penney/Vanessa Lorena Tate/Derek Trigg/Stuart Wilson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) – David Yates
Shalini Agarwal/Ron Bedrosian/Dustin Cawood/Robin Atkin Downes/Sean England/Will Files/Ken Fischer/Pascal Garneau/Richard Hymns/Daniel Laurie/Michael McGee/Gary Rydstrom/Brad Semenoff/Graham Timmer/Juniper Waters/David Wyman (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) – Brad Bird
Robert Edwards/J.R. Grubbs/Doc Kane/Adam Kopald/Peter Miller/Beauxregard Neylon/Lee Orloff/Dee Selby/Addison Teauge (Rango) – Gore Verbinski
Erik Aadahl/Craig Berkey/David Burk/Joel Dougherty/Kirk Francis/John Pritchett/Hamilton Sterling/ (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
And the winner is… Etienne Colin/Michael Krikorian/Gérard Lamps/ Marc Mnémosyne/Nadine Muse (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
It may be a ‘silent film,’ but The Artist contains much artistically ambitious and innovate use of sound design/mixing. It is never at any point less than entrancing, and its deviation from the silent film conventions work to startling effect.
The 4th Paul Schrader Award for Best Film Screenplay of 2011
Hossein Amini (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Peter Mullan (Neds) – Peter Mullan
John Logan (Rango) – Gore Verbinski
Agustín Almodóvar/Pedro Almodovar (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar
Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur) – Paddy Considine
Ashley Miller/Zack Stentz/Jane Goldman/Matthew Vaughan (X-Men: First Class) – Matthew Vaughan
And the winner is… Agustín Almodóvar/Pedro Almodovar (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar
The Almodovar’s have adapted a tough, borderline exploitation film source and have injected with their vibrant colours and energy. The dialogue is note-perfect, and being backed up by a non-linear structure, The Skin I Live In becomes a finely executed film with appropriate substance behind its high-concepts.
The 2nd Edith Head Award for Best Costume Designs in a Film in 2011
Mark Bridges (The Artist) – Michel Hazanvicius
Erin Benach (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Jany Temime (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) – David Yates
Sandy Powell (Hugo) – Martin Scorsese
Paco Delgado (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar
Sammy Sheldon (X-Men: First Class) – Matthew Vaughan
And the winner is… Erin Benach (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
That jacket: it is his protection, his armour, isolating him from all things good and bad. The scorpion is his symbolic equivalent to the pentagram of the Arthurian court. Of all the costumes I have seen this year, it is Erin Benach’s iconic jacket for the Driver that will go down in history.
The 5th (Lack of Namesake) Award for Most Surprisingly Entertaining Film of 2011
Bridesmaids (Relativity Media/Apatow Productions) – Paul Feig: ditches my preconceptions of rom-coms
Fast Five (Original Film/One Race Films) – Justin Lin: energetic and entertaining car chases
Final Destination 5 (New Line Cinema/Practical Pictures/Zide/Perry Productions) – Steven Quale: (wisely) hams up the absurdity of the central concept
Neds (Blue Light/ Fidélité Films/StudioUrania) – Peter Mullan: ‘hoods’ movie becomes a drama of Kubrickian power
Real Steel (DreamWorks Pictures/Reliance Entertainment/21 Laps Entertainment) – Shawn Levy: fighting robots being entertaining
And the winner is… Real Steel (DreamWorks Pictures/Reliance Entertainment/21 Laps Entertainment) – Shawn Levy: fighting robots being entertaining
Real Steel was for this jury of one the unanimous winner. I went into this film thinking it would be somewhere between a Transformers rip-off and ‘Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots: The Movie.’ Instead, I got a highly entertaining and touching film, and finally, a name for this award. If any film truly deserves an award for proving me wrong, it is this. Check it out!
The 4th Christopher Doyle Award for Best Cinematography in a Film in 2011
Guillaume Schiffman (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Newton Thomas Sigel (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Robert Richardson (Hugo) – Martin Scorsese
Mogae Lee (I Saw The Devil) – Kim Jee-woon
Roman Osin (Neds) – Peter Mullan
Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
And the winner is… Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
Good-looking as every nominee here may be, Emmanuel Lubezki’s work of Terrence Malick’s The Tree Of Life is a milestone in cinematography. If there is one thing that film does most successfully, it is (through Lubezki) embedding in the viewer unforgettably beautiful images.
The 2nd Rick Baker Award for Best Make-Up/Hair in a Film in 2011
Sharisse Fine/Jenny Fred/Love Larson/Donald Mowat/Angel Radefeld/Zoe Tahir/Eva Von Bahr/Torsten Witte (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) – David Fincher
Amanda Burns/Amy Byrne/Tilly Calder/Francesca Crowder/Sarah Downes/Hannah Edwards/Charmaine Fuller/Faye Garland/Belinda Hodson/Sophia Knight/Claire Matthews/Jessica Needham/Sharon Nicholas/Adrian Rigby/Charlotte Rogers/Stephen Rose/Sophie Slotover/Luca Vannella (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two) – David Yates
Catherine Mednick/Nicole Nicolaou/John Schoonraad/Emma Slater/Harriet Thompson/Jenna Wrage (The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)) – Tom Six
Kay Bilk/J. Roy Helland (The Iron Lady) – Phylidda Lloyd
Sarah Bergeest/Samantha M. Capps/Bonnie Clevering/Daina Daigle/Erica Dewey/Karola Dimberger/Lisa Hazell/Stacey Herbert/Jami Hight/Krystal Kershaw/Jack Lazarro/Karen Lovell/Darryl Lucas/Patricia McAlhany Glasser/Sara Michael/Stacey Panepinto/Kellie Robinson/Lesley Rodriguez/Remi Savva/Melizah Schmidt/Emily Tatum/Beka Wilson (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part One)
And the winner is… Kay Bilk/J. Roy Helland (The Iron Lady) – Phylidda Lloyd
Don’t get me wrong, The Iron Lady is an absurd, boring piece of balderdash. However, the makeup/hair department has done an excellent job, ensuring Meryl Streep can legitimately play Margaret Thatcher over a period of approximately forty years.
The 4th Lucio Fulci Award for Most Excessively Violent Film of 2011
Barbarossa: Siege Lord (Martinelli Film Company International) – Renzo Martinelli: terrible battle sequences; a hundred cavalry do not achieve ninety-degree turns in one-and-a-half seconds (I counted!)
5 Days Of War (RexMedia) – Renny Harlin: stuck between being a ‘horrors of war’ picture and propagandistic bilge
The Hangover Part II (Legendary Pictures/Green Hat Films) – Todd Phillips: completely unnecessary ludicrousness; would be among the ‘Video Nasties’ in the 1980s
Sucker Punch (Legendary Pictures/Cruel and Unusual Films) – Zack Snyder: formulaic Zack Snyder trademarks; contributes nothing artistic or entertaining to the proceedings
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (di Bonaventura Pictures) – Michael Bay: akin to the censored ‘Zombies’ cut of Carmageddon: you’re still watched wonton destruction, carnage and violence, humans or no humans!
And the winner is… The Hangover Part II (Legendary Pictures/Green Hat Films) – Todd Phillips: completely unnecessary ludicrousness; would be among the ‘Video Nasties’ if released in the 1980s
Admittedly, I was in the minority who didn’t like The Hangover. However, Part Deux is like a crass, Italo-exploitation film remake of its predecessor. It is rarely, if ever at any point, funny, and for a comedy, does about as much for the genre as Ed Wood did for auteur theory. At least Wood has a legacy that gave us Tim Burton’s Ed Wood and the benefit of ironic hindsight.
The 4th Ennio Morricone Award for Best Original Score/Soundtrack in a Film in 2011
Ludovic Borce (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Cliff Martinez/Johnny Jewel (Desire and Chromatics)/Kavinsky/College/Riz Ortolani (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) – David Fincher
Craig Armstrong (Neds) – Peter Mullan
Hans Zimmer (Rango) – Gore Verbinski
Alexandre Desplat/Others (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
And the winners are… Ludovic Borce (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius/Cliff Martinez/Johnny Jewel (Desire and Chromatics)/Kavinsky/College/Riz Ortolani (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
I’ve selected two winners this year, as both The Artist and Drive are sonically pleasing films. Ludovic Borce’s music is the pulse of The Artist, keeping you thoroughly engrossed in the film, elevating the overall mood and first and foremost entertaining you. On the other hand, Drive, with a terrific score by Cliff Martinez and contributions from other artists, who you would think wrote them specifically for the film, feels like a wholly organic being.
The 2nd (As Yet Named) Award for Best Production Design in a Film in 2011
Laurence Bennett (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Beth Mickle (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Dante Ferretti (Hugo) – Martin Scorsese
Antxón Gómez (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar
Yuji Hayashida (13 Assassins) – Takashi Miike
Jack Fisk (Water For Elephants) – Francis Lawrence
And the winner is… Dante Ferretti (Hugo) – Martin Scorsese
For the second year in a row, Dante Ferretti’s wins an award for his production on a Martin Scorsese film. In 2011, he creates a beautiful, hyper-real 1930’s Paris that fits the film’s fairytale nature like a glove. The best production design in a film since I began reviewing (in 2006).
The 3rd Stan Winston Award for Best Special/Visual Effects in a Film in 2011
Greg Butler/Kevin Campbell/Florent de la Taille/Dadi Einarsson/Rudi Holzapfel/Louise Hutchinson/Matt Jacobs/Steven Lloyd/Sean Mathiesen/John Moffatt/Zissis Papatzikis/Clark Parkhurst/Miguel A. Saleck/Chris Shaw/Scott Singer/Olcun Tan/Raymond Tjernstrom/Jess Vickery: Double Negative/Framestone (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two) – David Yates
Colin Decker/Justin Cornish/Dan Lemmon/Brooke Lyndon-Standford/R. Christopher White/Erik Winquist: Weta Digital (Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes) – Rupert Wyatt
Ryal Cosgrove/Louis Morin: FLY Studio/Mr X Inc./Modus FX/MPC/Oblique FX/Rodeo FX (Source Code) – Duncan Jones
Doug Trumball: Prime Focus VFX/Double Negative/One of Us/Method Studios/pop III star simulation/Evil Eye Pictures/Image Quest 3-D/ (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
Chris Corbould/Mike Felt/Adam Coglan/Zsolt Krajcsik/Arturo Orgaz Casado/Rajasekar Prince/Benjamin J. Reesing/Doug Spilatro/Shailendra Swarnkar/Guy Williams/Anton Yri: Weta Digital/Spectral Motion Inc./Amalgamated Dynamics Inc./Rhythm and Hues/Primes Focus/Moving Picture Company/MPC/Trixter Film/Digital Domain/Fox/Luma Pictures/PLUG/RISE Visual Effects Studios/Cinesite/ (X-Men: First Class) – Matthew Vaughan
And the winner is… Colin Decker/Justin Cornish/Dan Lemmon/Brooke Lyndon-Standford/R. Christopher White/Erik Winquist: Weta Digital (Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes) – Rupert Wyatt
The team at Weta Digital have done it again: ten years after their first Oscar win and nine after their creation Gollum elevated specials effect to the level of high art, they have given us Caesar. Despite my initial opposition (being an old-school ‘Apes makeup’ fan), I found myself wholeheartedly embracing Caesar, not as an effect, but as a wonderful, fully-rounded character and the driving force of Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes.
The 3rd Vic Armstrong Award for Best Stunts/Choreography in a Film in 2011
Laura Albert/Michael Caradonna/Sterling Winans (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Heather Arthur/Jonathan Arthur/Dean Bailey/Robert Bastens/Erik Betts/Chris Bryant/Tim Connolly/Philip Dido/Tom Elliott/John Galindez/Daniel Hernandez/Ben Jensen/Paul Leonard/Victor Lopez/Anthony Martins/Denney Pierce/Justin Riemer/Larry Rippenkroeger/Anthony G. Schmidt/Gary J. Wayton/Lee Whittaker/Li Xing/Marcus Young (Fast Five) – Justin Lin
Fraser Aitcheson/Krista Bell/Radek Bruna/Jiri Horky/Michael B. Johnson/Keii Johnson/Jindrich Klaus/Miroslav Lhotka/Mike Majesky/Alexander Mandra/Darryl Scheelar/Shelly Ward (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) - Brad Bird
Stunt Team (13 Assassins) – Takashi Miike
Chris O’Hara/Sonny Tipton: Stunt Team (Water For Elephants) – Francis Lawrence
And the winner is… Fraser Aitcheson/Krista Bell/Radek Bruna/Jiri Horky/Michael B. Johnson/Keii Johnson/Jindrich Klaus/Miroslav Lhotka/Mike Majesky/Alexander Mandra/Darryl Scheelar/Shelly Ward (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) - Brad Bird
At first, Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins was going to run away with this award, but Impossible Missions Force has struck again. While the whole film has good stunts, it is the extraordinary, heart-in-your-mouth intensity of the Abu Dhabi, which will stay with you years later for its ambition and innovation in stunt work.
The 4th Thelma Schoonmaker Award for Best Editorial Work in a Film in 2011
Mark Day (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two) – David Yates
Thelma Schoonmaker (Hugo) – Martin Scorsese
Joe Walker (Life In A Day) – Andrew McDonald and the YouTube Community
Chris King/Gregers Sall (Senna) – Asif Kapadia
Paul Hirsch (Source Code) – Duncan Jones
And the winner is… Paul Hirsch (Source Code) – Duncan Jones
Source Code is part of the continuing trend of Hollywood releasing genuinely intelligent science fiction films. Being a high-concept film, it is important that we can buy what’s happening. Thanks to Paul Hirsch’s editing, we share the protagonist’s moments of both clarity and extreme disorientation. It is some very sharp, economic work.
The 5th James Cameron Award for Best Sequel of 2011
Fast Five (Original Film/One Race Films) – Justin Lin: changes the franchise’s genre
Final Destination 5 (New Line Cinema/Practical Pictures/Zide/Perry Productions) – Steven Quale: becomes the ‘Scream’ of the Final Destination franchise
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (Warner Bros. Pictures/Heyday Films) – David Yates: takes the series to a logical and satisfying conclusion
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Fox/Dune Entertainment/Chernin Entertainment) – Rupert Wyatt: advances in CGI/performance capture ensure the successful rebirth of Apes brand
X-Men: First Class (Marvel Studios/Dune Entertainment/Marv Films/Bad Hat Harry Film/The Donner’s Company) – Matthew Vaughan: injects the all-too serious series with a bit of ‘Kick-Ass’ humour
And the winner is… X-Men: First Class (Marvel Studios/Dune Entertainment/Marv Films/Bad Hat Harry Film/The Donner’s Company) – Matthew Vaughan: injects the all-too serious series with a bit of ‘Kick-Ass’ humour
Much as I like the rest of these films (particularly ‘Apes’), X-Men: First Class is the best sequel of 2011. Matthew Vaughan and his team of writers took a floundering film franchise and gave it new life. Also, it is probably the most consistently entertaining of the entire X-Men film franchise.
The 4th Werner Herzog Award for Most Ingenious Film Concept of 2011
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius: a silent movie with multiple layers of self-reflexivity
Chris Morgan (Fast Five) – Justin Lin: the franchise becomes a heist movie
Andrew McDonald (Life In A Day) – Andrew McDonald and the YouTube Community: “take the humble YouTube video, … and elevate it into art.” – Andrew McDonald
Asif Kapadia (Senna) – Asif Kapadia: the documentary as chronological, narrative film
Thierry Jonquet (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar: a delightfully screwed-up and twisted thriller
Ben Ripley (Source Code) – Duncan Jones: eight minutes to complete a mission, returning multiple times a la Groundhog Day
And the winner is… Asif Kapadia (Senna) – Asif Kapadia: the documentary as chronological, narrative film
Frankly, while The Artist was a close contender, I feel that Asif Kapadia’s concept deserved to win. Telling Ayrton Senna’s story chronologically through archive footage does much to elevate the medium of the documentary film and, importantly, blurs audiences’ distinction between documentary and narrative film.
The 2nd ‘Cemetery Junction’ Award for Most Overlooked Film of 2011
The Beaver (Summit Entertainment/Participant Media) – Jodie Foster: regardless of Mad Mel’s recent debacles, it’s a good film (and he’s good in it!)
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Columbia Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Scott Rudin Productions/Yellow Bird Films/ Film i Väst) – David Fincher: I think people are starting to tire of the Millenium series’ overexposure (good as it is)
Horrible Bosses (New Line Cinema/Rat Entertainment) – Seth Gordon: dismissed by many critics as a Hangover-esque gross-out comedy
Neds (Blue Light/ Fidélité Films/StudioUrania) – Peter Mullan: lacked the major release it truly deserved
Real Steel (DreamWorks Pictures/Reliance Entertainment/21 Laps Entertainment) – Shawn Levy: Transformers-lite it certainly ain’t: it’s way better!
And the winner is… Neds (Blue Light/ Fidélité Films/StudioUrania) – Peter Mullan: lacked the major release it truly deserved
Neds is the most overlooked film of the year, not because of it’s content, but due to the film’s lack of a major release. This is especially disappointing, given the large market created in the wake of Kidulthood and This Is England. If Neds had been given a major release, it would have made decent box-office and a major awards contender.
The 4th Katherine Hepburn Award for Best Supporting Acting Role by a Female Actor in 2011
Jessica Chastain: “Mrs. O’Brien” (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
Elle Fanning: “Alice Dainard” (Super 8) – J.J. Abrams
Amber Heard: “Piper” (Drive Angry) – Patrick Lussier
Melissa McCarthy: “Megan” (Bridesmaids) – Paul Feig
Carey Mulligan: “Irene” (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Marisa Paredes: “Marilia” (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar
And the winner is… Jessica Chastain: “Mrs. O’Brien” (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
The Tree Of Life is a beautiful film, and Chastain shines as Mrs. O’Brien. She is wholly believable as the story’s ethereal heart and soul. Never crossing over to caricature, her Mother Earth/Blessed Virgin Mary role is most entrancing and fascinating, and legitimises the thematic content Malick is aiming to discuss.
The 4th R. Lee Ermey Award for Best Supporting Acting Role by a Male Actor in 2011
Dwayne Johnson: “Luke Hobbs” (Fast Five) – Justin Lin
Ben Kingsley: “Georges Méliès” (Hugo) – Martin Scorsese
Choi Min-sik: “Kyung-chul” (I Saw The Devil) – Kim Jee-woon
Brad Pitt: “Mr. O’Brien” (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
Alan Rickman: “Severus Snape” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) – David Yates
Kevin Spacey: “Dave Harken” (Horrible Bosses) – Seth Gordon
And the winner is… Choi Min-sik: “Kyung-chul” (I Saw The Devil) – Kim Jee-woon
Although the most animated performance of 2011, Choi Min-sik proves there’s method to his madness. His mesmerizing turn as Kyung-chul has a great level of depth and complexity, going far beyond a typical ‘serial-killer’ part. The volume is turned up to eleven, and Choi maintains this level of intensity for the film’s entire running time.
The 2nd ‘Extras’ Award for Best Bit Part in a Film in 2011
‘The Cameo’ (X-Men: First Class) – Matthew Vaughan
Christina Hendricks: “Blanche” (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Moby: “Beef Bellows” (Suck) – Rob Stefaniuk
Peter Mullan: “Father” (Neds) – Peter Mullan
Terence Stamp: “Thompson” (The Adjustment Bureau) – George Nolfi
Emma Stone: “Kayla” (Friends With Benefits) – Will Gluck
Uggie: “Jack” (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
And the winner is… Uggie: “Jack” (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
One of the shameful omissions in the acting categories this year is the lack of recognition of Uggie in The Artist, due to his being of the canine variety. Uggie is one of many, many reasons that The Artist is so charming, and his excellent turn as Jack gives much weight to the argument that animals too deserve recognition for their work.
The 3rd Michael Moore Award for Best Documentary Film of 2011
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (Creative Differences/History Films/ Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication/Arte France/Werner Herzog Filmproduktion/More4) – Werner Herzog
Life In A Day (Scott Free Productions/YouTube, Inc./LG Corp) – Andrew McDonald and the YouTube Community
Senna (Walt Disney Pictures/ESPN Films/Midfield Films/Working Title Films) – Asif Kapadia
Tabloid (Air Loom Enterprises/Moxie Pictures) – Errol Morris
And the winner is… Senna (Walt Disney Pictures/ESPN Films/Midfield Films/Working Title Films) – Asif Kapadia
While Life In A Day is also a great picture, Senna is an amazing documentary that does so much to elevate the medium. Asif Kapadia tells Ayrton Senna’s story through archive footage, akin to a chronological, narrative film. It is a simple, yet intelligent way of making the story of an F1-driver a universally acceptable tale.
The 3rd Peter Sallis Award for Best Vocal Acting in a Film in 2011
Johnny Depp: “Rango” (Rango) – Gore Verbinski
Mel Gibson: “Walter Black/The Beaver” (The Beaver) – Jodie Foster
Bill Nighy: “Rattlesnake Jake” (Rango) – Gore Verbinski
Gary Oldman: “Lord Shen” (Kung Fu Panda 2) – Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Timothy Olyphant: “The Spirit of the West” (Rango) – Gore Verbinski
Andy Serkis: “Caesar” (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) – Rupert Wyatt
Meryl Streep: “Margaret Thatcher” (The Iron Lady) – Phyllida Llloyd
And the winner is… Johnny Depp: “Rango” (Rango) – Gore Verbinski
I kid you not, this is Depp's best work since Sweeney Todd. Heck, I’ve been contemplating whether or not it is his best work. Rango is a complex and humourous character, and it is through the strength of Depp’s comic timing and vocal performance that we are able to dig this crazy chameleon.
The 5th Cate Blanchett Award for Best Lead Acting Role by a Female Actor in 2011
Elena Anaya: “Vera Cruz” (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar
Bérénice Bejo: “Peppy Miller” (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Olivia Colman: “Hannah” (Tyrannosaur) – Paddy Considine
Mila Kunis: “Jamie” (Friends With Benefits) – Will Gluck
Rooney Mara: “Lisbeth Salander” (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) – David Fincher
Saoirse Ronan: “Hanna” (Hanna) – Joe Wright
Kristen Wiig: “Annie Walker” (Bridesmaids) – Paul Feig
And the winner is… Olivia Colman: “Hannah” (Tyrannosaur) – Paddy Considine
In the best year for female acting in quite some time, it is Olivia Colman who stands out. Playing against type, she is nevertheless amazing in her role as Hannah. Colman’s successful juxtapositions of Hannah’s public and private images are a treasure to behold.
The 5th Kevin Spacey Award for Best Lead Acting Role by a Male Actor in 2011
Antonio Banderas: “Robert Ledgard” (The Skin I Live In) – Pedro Almodovar
Jean Dujardin: “Georges Valentin” (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Brendan Gleeson: “Sergeant Gerry Boyle” (The Guard) – John Michael McDonagh
Ryan Gosling: “Driver” (Drive) – Nicolas Winding Refn
Conor McCarron: “John McGill” (Neds) – Peter Mullan
Hunter McCracken: “Jack” (The Tree Of Life) – Terrence Malick
Peter Mullan: “Joseph” (Tyrannosaur) – Paddy Considine
Andy Serkis: “Caesar” (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) – Rupert Wyatt
And the winners are… Conor McCarron: “John McGill” (Neds) – Peter Mullan/Andy Serkis: “Caesar” (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) – Rupert Wyatt
Two winners this year: Conor McCarron is a captivating and challenging lead in Peter Mullan’s Neds. Up there with Malcolm McDowell and Ray Winstone, McCarron carries the weight of this picture on his shoulders and then some. As Caesar, the great Andy Serkis achieves the unthinkable in bringing this CGI-cynic to tears, elevating the art of performance capture acting to new peaks. How Oscar could not acknowledge such work is unthinkable!
The 4th Akira Kurosawa Award for Best Foreign Language Film of 2011
(France) Beautiful Lies (Les Films Pelléas/TF1 Films Production/Tovo Films) – Pierre Salvadori
(South Korea) I Saw The Devil (Showbox/Mediaplex) – Kim Ji-woon
(Spain) The Skin I Live In (El Deseo) – Pedro Almodovar
(Japan) 13 Assassins (Sedic International/Recorded Picture Company/Toho Company) – Takashi Miike
(Norway) TrollHunter (Film Fund FUZZ) - André Øvredal
And the winner is… (Spain) The Skin I Live In (El Deseo) – Pedro Almodovar
Another great film from the Spanish maestro, The Skin I Live In is both a distinctive ‘Almodovar’ movie and a venture into new territories. A delightfully screwed-up and twisted thriller, with great performances and an excellent script.
The 3rd Orson Welles Award for Most Promising Debut of 2011
Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur): directs with skill and sense of character, akin to classic social realist pictures such as ‘This Sporting Life’ and ‘Kes’
Joe Cornish (Attack The Block): directs with panache and style, making his film more entertaining than its script would indicate
Aris Hatzistefanou/Katerina Kitidi (Debtocracy): both directors have an eye for detail and tell a truthful, honest tale
George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau): makes a surprisingly challenging and unconventionally intelligent science-fiction picture
Steven Quayle (Final Destination 5): bucks the ‘Final Destination’ format and with his smart use of the 3D gimmick, makes the ‘Scream’ of the franchise
And the winner is… Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur): directs with skill and sense of character, akin to classic social realist pictures such as ‘This Sporting Life’ and ‘Kes’
By far and out, Paddy Considine showed the most promise in the directorial chair this year with his debut film Tyrannosaur. Bringing to mind the works of his lead actor Peter Mullan, Considine handles a tough story with confidence and conviction. He’s a talent to look out for!
The 4th Steven Spielberg Award for Best Producer(s) on a Film in 2011
Thomas Langmann (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
David Barron/David Heyman/J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) – David Yates
Johnny Depp/Timothy Headington/Graham King/Martin Scorsese (Hugo) – Martin Scorsese
Andrew McDonald/Ridley Scott/Tony Scott (Life In A Day) – Kevin McDonald and the YouTube Community
Takashi Hirajo/Toshiaki Nakazawa/Jeremy Thomas (13 Assassins) – Takashi Miike
Gregory Goodman/Simon Kinberg/Lauren Shuler Donner/Bryan Singer (X-Men: First Class) – Matthew Vaughan
And the winner is… Thomas Langmann (The Artist) – Michel Hazanavicius
Thomas Langmann wins this award, partly because I respect anyone who has the guts to fund a film like The Artist. Furthermore, his passion and respect for Michel Hazanavicius as an ‘artist’ has led to this modest production being one of the biggest pop-culture phenomenon’s of the 21st Century.
The 5th Stanley Kubrick Award for Best Director of a Film in 2011
Pedro Almodovar (The Skin I Live In)
David Fincher (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Terrence Malick (The Tree Of Life)
Peter Mullan (Neds)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive)
David Yates (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2)
And the winner is… Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
This is a strong list of contenders, but Michel Hazanavicius is the only winner. He does everything a good director should do, taking a script/concept from its foundations and building it from the bottom up. Following through with his artistic intentions beyond a gimmick, Hazanavicius delivers a truly, beautiful work and establishes himself as an auteur filmmaker.
The 3rd ‘Drag Me To Hell’ Awards for 2011’s Horsemen of the Apocalypse
2nd Rank (Two-Time Previous Inductee) Horseman Michael Bay (Director/Producer of ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon')
Danny Dyer (Tit in ‘Age Of Heroes' and 'Reality')
The 1st Inductee Into The Thin White Dude’s Hall Of Shame
3rd Rank Horseman Of The Apocalypse Michael Bay
Anyone who is able to be this consistently bad and lacking in scruples deserves not only inductee into my Hall Of Shame, but a good kick on the backside! The worst thing is that Michael Bay has shown talent with Bad Boys and The Rock, but he is willing to churn out the lowest common denominator, all in the name of The Almighty Dollar. In closing, fuck you Michael Bay!
P.S Stop remaking horror films I liked the first time! I hate having to refer to them now as ‘the original!’ Tool!
The 3rd Alfred Hitchcock Award for Most Significant Player (Member of the Film Community) in 2011
J.J. Abrams (Screenwriter/Producer/Director of ‘Super 8’ and Co-Writer/Producer of ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’)
Michel Hazanavicius (Screenwriter/Editor/Director of ‘The Artist’)
Peter Mullan (Screenwriter/Director/Actor in ‘Neds’, Actor in ‘Tyrannosaur’ and ‘War Horse’)
Andy Serkis (Acting as Caesar in ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’)
Martin Scorsese (Producer/Director of ‘George Harrison: Living In The Material World’ and Producer/Director of ‘Hugo’)
Kristen Wiig (Screenwriter/Producer/Actor in ‘Bridesmaids’)
And the winner is… Peter Mullan (Screenwriter/Director/Actor in ‘Neds’, Actor in ‘Tyrannosaur’ and ‘War Horse’)
Honestly, it was between Mullan and Hazanavicius. If it was down to one film, it would probably be the latter. However, Peter Mullan has made his undeniable presence made in a number of this year’s best films and also wrote and directed the extraordinary Neds. In 2011, Mullan has been a cinematic powerhouse.
The 5th Ed Wood Award for Worst Film of 2011
Age of Heroes (Metrodome Distribution) – Adrian Vitoria
Barbarossa: Siege Lord (Martinelli Film Company International) – Renzo Martinelli
Cars 2 (Pixar) – John Lasseter
5 Days Of War (RexMedia) – Renny Harlin
The Hangover Part II (Legendary Pictures/Green Hat Films) – Todd Phillips
The Iron Lady (Pathé/Film 4/UK Film Council/Media Rights Capital) – Phyllida Lloyd
Killer Elite (Ambience Entertainment/Palomar Pictures/Omnilab Media) – Gary McKendry
Sucker Punch (Legendary Pictures/Cruel and Unusual Films) – Zack Snyder
Swinging With The Finkels (Kintop Pictures/Reliance/Starlight Films) – Jonathan Newman
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (di Bonaventura Pictures) – Michael Bay
And the winner is… Barbarossa: Siege Lord (Martinelli Film Company International) – Renzo Martinelli
Swinging With The Finkels was going to take this, but then I decided to indulge my inner Rutger Hauer fanboy, and lo and behold, we get the worst film of 2011. Aside from F. Murray Abraham, Renzo Martinelli’s film is a display not just of auteur-filmmaking as a double-edged sword, but everything that is wrong with filmmaking. I recently called Jack and Jill a “shit-sandwich of a movie”: this is the shit without the sandwich!
The 5th Clockwork Award for Best Film of 2011
The Artist (La Petite Reine/ ARP Sélection) – Michel Hazanavicius
Drive (Bold Films/Odd Lot Entertainment/Marc Platt Productions/Seed Productions) – Nicolas Winding Refn
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Columbia Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Scott Rudin Productions/Yellow Bird Films/ Film i Väst) – David Fincher
Hugo (GK Films/Infinitum Nihil) – Martin Scorsese
Neds (Blue Light/ Fidélité Films/StudioUrania) – Peter Mullan
Rango (Nickelodeon Movies/Blind Wink/GK Films/Industrial Light and Magic) – Gore Verbinski
Senna (Walt Disney Pictures/ESPN Films/Midfield Films/Working Title Films) – Asif Kapadia
The Skin I Live In (El Deseo) – Pedro Almodovar
Source Code (The Mark Gordon Company/ Vendôme Pictures) – Duncan Jones
The Tree Of Life (Plan B Entertainment/River Road Entertainment) – Terrence Malick
Tyrannosaur (Warp X/Inflammable Films/Film4 Productions/ UK Film Council/Screen Yorkshire/EM Media/Optimum Releasing)
And the winner is… The Artist (La Petite Reine/ ARP Sélection) – Michel Hazanavicius
This year has seen not only a great, diverse list of Best Film nominees, but this is the first time that I have had a genuine critical dilemma. I have spent the best part of a month and a half debating whether I found this or Neds the better film. I still find it hard to say that Neds is an inferior film, as I seem to be the only critic that is genuinely championing it as one of the best films of 2011. However, after much deliberation, I've come to the conclusion that The Artist is the best film of the year. It does so much more than simply using the silent-film medium as a gimmick. The use of sound in the film has examples of deviations from the medium, but are used few and far between, as Ludovic Bource's astounding score keeps the rhythm and the pace of the film going. Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo (and Uggie!) all deliver great performances of a dense three-dimensional quality. The actors depict their characters with the greatest of respect. Every aspect about the film, the lighting, the cinematography, the editing, the production design, the costumes, the entire mise-en-scene is established with excellence. Finally, behind all of this is 'the artist' himself, Michel Hazanavicius, who has lovingly and passionately created not just an homage to silent-film, but a wonderful example of silent-film, in and of itself. It is a dramatic, funny, beautiful and charming masterpiece that captures in it's one-hundred minute running time, like a firefly in a jar, the essence of pure cinema.
Multiple Award Winners
The Artist: 7 awards – The 5th Stan and Ollie Award for Best Comedic Film of 2011, The 3rd Walter Murch Award for Best Sound Design/Mixing in a Film of 2011, The 4th Ennio Morricone Award for Best Original Score/Soundtrack in a Film of 2011, The 2nd ‘Extras’ Award for Best Bit Part in a Film of 2011, The 4th Steven Spielberg Award for Best Producer(s) on a Film of 2011, The 5th Stanley Kubrick Award for Best Director of a Film of 2011, The 5th Clockwork Award for Best Film of 2011
Neds: 4 awards – The 4th Kenneth Loach Award for Best Dramatic Film of 2011, The 2nd ‘Cemetery Junction’ Award for Most Overlooked Film of 2011, The 5th Kevin Spacey Award for Best Lead Acting Role by a Male Actor in 2011, The 3rd Alfred Hitchcock Award for Most Significant Player in 2011 (Peter Mullan, also for ‘Tyrannosaur’ and ‘War Horse’)
Drive: 3 awards – The 5th David Fincher Award for Best Thriller Film of 2011, The 2nd Edith Head Award for Best Costume Designs in a Film of 2011, The 4th Ennio Morricone Award for Best Original Score/Soundtrack in a Film of 2011
Tyrannosaur: 3 awards – The 5th Cate Blanchett Award for Best Lead Acting Role by a Female Actor in 2011, The 3rd Orson Welles Award for Most Promising Debut of 2011, The 3rd Alfred Hitchcock Award for Most Significant Player of 2011 (Peter Mullan, also for ‘Neds’ and ‘War Horse’)
X-Men: First Class: 2 awards – The 4th Sylvester Stallone Award for Best Action/Adventure Film of 2011, The 5th James Cameron Award for Best Sequel of 2011
Source Code: 2 awards – The 5th Philip K. Dick Award for Best Science-Fiction/Fantasy Film of 2011, The 4th Thelma Schoonmaker Award for Best Editorial Work in a Film of 2011
Rango: 2 awards – The 3rd Walt Disney Award for Best Animated Film of 2011, The 3rd Peter Sallis Award for Best Vocal Acting in a Film of 2011
The Skin I Live In: 2 awards – The 4th Paul Schrader Award for Best Film Screenplay of 2011, The 4th Akira Kurosawa Award for Best Foreign Languag Film of 2011
The Tree Of Life: 2 awards – The 4th Christopher Doyle for Best Cinematography in a Film of 2011, The 4th Katherine Hepburn Award for Best Supporting Acting Role by a Female Actor in 2011
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes: 2 awards – The 3rd Stan Winston Award for Best Special/Visual Effects in a Film of 2011, The 5th Kevin Spacey Award for Best Lead Acting Role by a Male Actor in 2011
Senna: 2 awards – The 4th Werner Herzog Award for Most Ingenious Film Concept of 2011, The 3rd Michael Moore Award for Best Documentary Film of 2011
R.I.P. 2011/2012
This is a list of people that I admired who passed away in 2011/12
Pete Postlethwaite: 1946-2011 – Actor of Alien 3, In The Name Of The Father, The Usual Suspects, Brassed Off, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and 2010’s Inception, Clash Of The Titans and The Town
John Barry: 1933-2011 – Composer of eleven James Bond films, The Lion In Winter,Born Free, Out Of Africa, Dances With Wolves and Somewhere In Time
Tim Hetherington: 1970-2011 – Director/Cinematographer/Photographer for Restrepo: winner of The 2nd Michael Moore Award for Best Documentary Film of 2010
Bob Anderson: 1922-2012 - Fight choreographer for Barry Lyndon, Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI, Highlander and The Lord Of The Rings film trilogy
