Best Films of 2011

Well, 2011 has come to a close, and boy was it a big year for movies. The year offered up some highly anticipated films, some huge surprises and a few big disappointments. But, now that it's all said and done, which films were the best of the best? What movies stood above the rest and truly provided great cinema experiences? Here, I'll crown the best films each genre had to offer in 2011, as well as crown one film as 2011's best. Keep in mind the winners aren't necessarily reflective of the nominee that received the highest score.

Best Comedy
The Nominees:
The Hangover: Part II
The Green Hornet
Tower Heist

Winner: TOWER HEIST

2011 wasn't exactly a winning year in comedy. A few notable exceptions stand out, however, most notably the surprisingly hilarious Tower Heist. A Ben Stiller vehicle on the surface, Heist actually acted more as a revitalization of the comedic careers of two burnt-out stars, Eddie Murphy and Matthew Broderick, both of which deliver hilarious comic performances and show that they've still got what it takes to be first-rate comics. The movie also managed to craft an enjoyable heist premise and a quirky band of heroes, resulting in that rare great action/comedy.

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film
The Nominees:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
X-Men: First Class
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8

Winner: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2

There were some great films waging war in this category, but one movie truly rose above the rest. Deathly Hallows - Part 2 represented the cinematic close to one of the most successful multi-media franchies in history. It was exciting, slick, well-acted, full of emotion and managed to, against all odds, provide suitable sendoffs to dozens of beloved characters. We'll miss you, Harry, but you sure did have a spectacular run.

Best Animated Film
The Nominees:
Arthur Christmas
The Adventures of Tintin

Winner: THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN

There were a couple of big disappointments in the CGI-genre this year (Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2), and it wasn't until the end of the year that families truly got the quality films that are usually staples of the summertime. Arthur Christmas is a solid film in its own right, but Tintin takes the cake thanks to the swashbuckling action it provides, courtesy of always masterful Steven Spielberg's watchful directory eye. It also went to further showcase Andy Serkis' incredible acting chops in his hilarious comic turn as Captain Haddock, and gave families (as well as more mature moviegoers) a great reason to take a trip to the theatre over the holidays. 

Best Drama
The Nominees:
Hugo
Moneyball

Winner: MONEYBALL

September was a slow month for movies, but it had one saving grace, and that was Bennet Miller's baseball drama Moneyball, which told the story of the underdog 2002 Oakland A's and their general manager Billy Beane, who defied the system and crafted a winning team based purely on statistics. It doesn't sound like your typical inspirational sports movie, and that's because it isn't. Moneyball is a strikingly original and deeply intriguing look at the ideals of one man, and how he was able to go against what was established to create something new and wonderful. There's no question as to why it takes home the title of 2011's best drama, even in the face of Hugo's stiff competition. 

Best Action Film
The Nominees:
Fast Five
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Cowboys & Aliens

Winner: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL

If there's a single dark horse of 2011, it would have to be Ghost Protocol. The first release in the Mission: Impossible franchise since 2006's M:I:III, which was met with disappointing box office results, many assumed Ghost Protocol was dead in the water. Seasoned director Brad Bird, spot-on casting (which included Tom Cruise's best performance in years) and some truly breathtaking action spectacle ensured that didn't happen. In fact, Ghost Protocol is, arguably, the best entry in the franchise yet, and its strong box office performance (so far) goes to show this. Setting out to make the audience ooh and aah with some incredible action set-pieces and to take on a lighter, less brooding tone that past entries, Ghost Protocol is incredible fun throughout its entire runtime and is worth a watch (in IMAX, if possible) for anyone even remotely interested in having a great time.

Best Picture
The Nominees:
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Moneyball
Hugo
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Winner: MONEYBALL

Whoa. That was a tough choice. I've been a huge fan of Harry Potter since it was first released, and I truly didn't expect anything to surpass the final entry in the series after seeing it in July. But then there was Moneyball. I was interested in it after seeing its first trailer, but I didn't go into the theatre expecting to see anything to the caliber of what Moneyball is. While it lacks the technical splendor and spectacle of most of the runners-up, Moneyball is emotionally resonant without ever being sappy, provides some rock solid comic relief right when things are getting too serious, sports spectacular performances from both Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, and boasts one of the most tear-jerking endings in recent cinema memory. In a year jam-packed full of great options for moviegoers, something really had to go above and beyond in order to be deemed better than the rest. Moneyball is, simply, an amazing film, and is firmly deserving of the title: the best movie of 2011. 

2011 was a great year for movies - and 2012 is looking to be even better. Major releases dot the horizon, so check back soon for more reviews!