The 2011 Critic Lists and Awards Masturbato Discussion Thread (FILMS ONLY)

[Watashi]

The NYCC posted their winners today:

Best Picture: “The Artist”
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius for “The Artist”
Best Screenplay: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin for “Moneyball”
Best Actor: Brad Pitt for “Moneyball,” and “Tree of Life”
Best Actress: Meryl Streep for “The Iron Lady”
Best Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks for “Drive”
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain for Tree of Life, The Help and Take Shelter
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for “Tree of Life”
Best First Feature: Margin Call
Best Documentary: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation

Usually this is the first hint for the Oscars or stuff.

[Watashi]

Also, here are the nominations for the Spirit Awards:

Best Feature:
50/50
Beginners
Drive
Take Shelter
The Artist
The Descendants

Best Director category:
Mike Mills (Beginners)
Nicholas W Refn ( Drive)
Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)

Robert Altman Award for one film’s director, casting director and ensemble: Margin Call


Best Int’l Film:
A Separation
Melancholia
Shame
The Kid With a Bike
Tyrranasaur

Best Male Lead:
Demian Bichir (A Better Life)
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Ryan Gosling (Drive)
Woody Harrelson (Rampart)
Michael Shannon (Take Shelter)

Best Female Lead:
Lauren Ambrose (Think of Me)
Rachel Harris (Natural Selection)
Adepero Oduye (Pariah)
Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Best Supp Male:
Albert Brooks (Drive)
John Hawkes (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
John C. Reilly (Cedar Rapids)
Corey SToll (Midnight in Paris)

Best Supp. Female:
Jessica Chastain (Take Shelter)
Angelica Huston (50/50)
Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)
Harmony Santana (Gun Hll Road)
Shaileen Woodley (The Descendants)

Best Doc:
An African Selection
Bill Cunningham New York
The Interrupters
The Redemption of General Butt Naked,
We Were Here

Best Screenplay:
Joseph Cedar (FootNote)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Tom McCarthy (Win Win))
Mike Mills (Beginners)
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash (The Descendants)

Best 1st Screenplay
Mike Cahill & Brit Marling (Another Earth)
J.C. Chandor (Margin Call)
Patrick DeWitt (terri)
Phil Johnston (Cedar Rapids)
Will Reiser (50/50)

Best Cinematography:
Joel Hodge (Bellflower)
Benjamin Kuh-Sulk (The Off Hours)
Darius Kond-Jee (Midnight in Paris)
Gui-omme Shiffman (The Artist)
Jeffrey Waldron (The Dynamiter)

John Cassavetes Award (films made for under $500,000):
Bellflower
Circumstance,
Hello Lonesome
Pariah
The Dynamiter

Best First Feature noms:
Another Earth
In The Family
Margin Call
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Natural Selection

[number8]

The Artist? :lol: Give me a break.

[Boner M]

NYFCC's Streep obsession needs to die.

[NickGlass]

NYFCC's Streep obsession needs to die.

I love Streep, and I haven't seen The Iron Lady yet, but the last three times they've honored Streep (out of a total 5), it has been for a biopic. She's a brilliant actress, and can create full, fictional characters--why just award her for mimicry?

I wish I had seen The Artist before these announcements. I worry about expectations.

[Spinal]

Giving acting awards for appearances in multiple movies is stupid.

[Sycophant]

Giving acting awards for appearances in multiple movies is stupid.

Srsly.

[MadMan]

Awards shows' Streep obsession needs to die.Fixed, because I'm 90% certain she'll be nominated again for an Oscar, and a Golden Globe, etc.... Why not give someone else a shot at a nomination-someone who's deserving and has not received it? The same goes for Morgan Freeman, but I doubt he'll receive anything for his work in that stupid dolphin movie. But hey, you never know....

[elixir]

Sight & Sound's Best of 2011 Poll

1. "The Tree of Life" (Terrence Malick)

2. "A Separation" (Asghar Farhadi)

3. "The Kid With a Bike" (Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne)

4. "Melancholia" (Lars von Trier)

5. "The Artist" (Michel Hazanavicius)

=6. "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia" (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)

=6. "The Turin Horse" (Béla Tarr)

8. "We Need to Talk About Kevin" (Lynne Ramsay)

9. "Le Quattro Volte" (Michelangelo Frammartino)

=10. "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" (Tomas Alfredson)

=10. "This Is Not a Film" (Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmash)

[Derek]

Sight & Sound's Best of 2011 Poll

2. "A Separation" (Asghar Farhadi)

Awesome. This is amazing and it looks like it should get a limited release in the US before the end of the year, so hopefully it gathers some steam for the MC awards.

[elixir]

Awesome. This is amazing and it looks like it should get a limited release in the US before the end of the year, so hopefully it gathers some steam for the MC awards.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832382/releaseinfo

Limited run on Dec. 30. It's already up on KG though.

[Rowland]

9. "Le Quattro Volte" (Michelangelo Frammartino)Unexpected, but a most pleasant surprise.

We Need to Talk About Kevin has probably had the most divisive reception of anything on that list, can't wait to see it.

Also from the article:


...two of the films tied for twelfth place are "Attack the Block" and "Kill List."Neat.

[B-side]

And these people have seen Tintin, War Horse, Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc.? Never understood cranking out these lists before so many potentially great films have even screened for 90% of critics.

[Rowland]

And these people have seen Tintin, War Horse, Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc.? Never understood cranking out these lists before so many potentially great films have even screened for 90% of critics.Well, Sight & Sound is an international film magazine, so many who voted probably have already seen Tintin. But in any case, this is the defense:


Before you complain that it's too early for Best of 2011 lists, bear in mind the long-lead restrictions of magazine publishing, and the fact that any late-breaking critical hits can always show up next year. With international release schedules varying wildly, and critics permitted to include festival-only releases on their lists, it's never going to be an exact science.

[Watashi]

Any list that doesn't have Brad Bird as best director isn't legit.

[Ezee E]

Pretty much all 2011 films have been screened for critics at this point. Dragon Tattoo, War Horse, and Extremely Loud having selected screenings.

[Ezee E]

The Artist? :lol: Give me a break.
Basically a French-Tarantino approach to American Silent movies when it's all said and done.

I loved it.

[EyesWideOpen]

I can say with confidence that I don't see Ghost Protocol ending up on many best of lists.

[baby doll]

And these people have seen Tintin, War Horse, Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc.? Never understood cranking out these lists before so many potentially great films have even screened for 90% of critics.I've seen Tintin, and it's nothing special.

But as to your original question, I'm pretty sure the studios sent out screeners.

Anyway, the last thing I'm worried about is David Fincher not getting enough attention from reviewers.

[NickGlass]

Pretty much all 2011 films have been screened for critics at this point. Dragon Tattoo, War Horse, and Extremely Loud having selected screenings.

There was brief controversy over the fact that Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was not screened for the New York Film Critics Circle in time for the awards. Everything else was.

[Watashi]

Here are the National Board of Review winners:

Best Film: Hugo
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Best Ensemble: The Help
Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)
NBR Freedom of Expression: Crime After Crime
NBR Freedom of Expression: Pariah
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Documentary: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book
to Film

Top Films
(in alphabetical order)

The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Ides of March
J. Edgar
Tree of Life
War Horse


Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(In Alphabetical Order)

13 Assassins
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Footnote
Le Havre
Point Blank

Top 5 Documentaries
(In Alphabetical Order)

Born to be Wild
Buck
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim
Senna

Top 10 Independent Films
(In Alphabetical Order)

50/50
Another Earth
Beginners
A Better Life
Cedar Rapids
Margin Call
Shame
Take Shelter
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Win Win

[Pop Trash]

Top Films
(in alphabetical order)

The Ides of March
J. Edgar


Barf.

[Boner M]

Never thought I'd see the day when Kaurismaki and Miike would be NBR winners.

[Rowland]

John Waters' top ten (http://www.artforum.com/inprint/id=29547) for the year.

[Boner M]

I would've thought We Need To Talk About Kevin was a lock for Waters' list.

[Boner M]

PS, this thread needs more Masturbato discussion.

[TripZone]

John Waters' top ten (http://www.artforum.com/inprint/id=29547) for the year.

Only fucking list here that matters. So far.

[Spinal]

PS, this thread needs more Masturbato discussion.

Domo arigato, Mastur-buh-bato.

[baby doll]

Only fucking list here that matters. So far.I think Ed Halter's list is particularly awesome, because I haven't seen any of those films. One isn't even a film (or retrospective, or DVD boxset) but a technical guide for curators exhibiting videos.

[TripZone]

I've seen 5 and 9. But yeah some eclectic selections. #4 amuses me.

[NickGlass]

Only fucking list here that matters. So far.

Pretty much. I anticipate it every year. But Kaboom--well-written? Gah!

Methinks John Waters has not seen Leap Year, as well...

[Rowland]

While it won't place on my top ten for the year, Kaboom should rest comfortably within my runners-up.

For everyone with Netflix, his #6, If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, is available on Instant.

[StanleyK]

I don't think I understand Waters' comment about The Tree of Life...


You’d think I’d hate this film, and I almost did—until I realized it’s the best New Age, heterosexual, Christian movie of the year.

[Russ]

I don't think I understand Waters' comment about The Tree of Life...

His quote is a tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating admittal of his biased tendency to stereotype what he perceives to be a "New Age, heterosexual, Christian" film, which he admits is also a pretty great film.

[baby doll]

I don't think I understand Waters' comment about The Tree of Life...Well, he also thinks Pedro Almodóvar is the greatest director in the world, so I wouldn't take what he says too seriously.

[Arthur Seaton]

Well, he also thinks Pedro Almodóvar is the greatest director in the world, so I wouldn't take what he says too seriously.

Douche.

[eternity]

It's worth noting that John Waters told Gregg Araki to make Kaboom...

[Boner M]

Adrian Martin posted an off-the-cuff list on twitter last week (I'm guessing five of 'em are his Sight & Sound list and the rest are RU's):


TREE OF LIFE/MYSTERIES OF LISBON/DRIVE/WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN/BRIDESMAIDS/ATTENBERG/MEMORIES OF A MORNING/HORS SATAN

Memories of a Morning is Jose Luis Geurin's segment of the Jeonju Digital Project (also ft. Denis & Straub).

[Rowland]

The first three and Attenberg (I'm still unclear if I should count this for 2011 or not) are excellent choices, and Bridesmaids is fine, could do worse if looking to include something commercial in a list.

[Boner M]

Bridesmaids is fine, could do worse if looking to include something commercial in a list.
Martin selected Anna Faris as performer of the decade and his much of his twitter activity consists of retweeting female comedians, so I doubt Bridesmaids was a token choice.

[Rowland]

Martin selected Anna Faris as performer of the decade and his much of his twitter activity consists of retweeting female comedians, so I doubt Bridesmaids was a token choice.Makes more sense then, though I was mostly speaking rhetorically.

[TripZone]

Adrian Martin posted an off-the-cuff list on twitter last week (I'm guessing five of 'em are his Sight & Sound list and the rest are RU's):



Memories of a Morning is Jose Luis Geurin's segment of the Jeonju Digital Project (also ft. Denis & Straub).

Only fucking list that matters.

I adore Memories of a Morning, and was in the same audience with Martin.
Hors Satan <3

[Boner M]

Cahiers' Top Ten (http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/daily-briefing-cahiers-du-cinemas-top-ten-of-2011) - Dumont, Garrel, de Oliveira... and Abrams?!

Edelstein (http://nymag.com/arts/cultureawards/2011/top-ten-movies/), w/ Tintin as #1. Calling War Horse 'grim' makes me wonder if he actually saw it.

[TripZone]

It's only #1 because it's in alphabetical order.

...Super 8 was good.

[Boner M]

It's only #1 because it's in alphabetical order.

...Super 8 was good.
D'oh.

Whatever you thought of Super 8 it's a weird choice for Cahiers. Although I guess those lameass lens flares are enough of an 'auteurist stamp' for them to like it.

[Raiders]

I watched Abrams' film again a couple days ago and I thinked I liked it even more. The lens flares are bad at times, but I still claim the one moment where he channels Vertigo is rapturous.

[Pop Trash]

There are less lens flares than people think. Also: what's the Vertigo moment?

[Rowland]

The order of the list has been revealed, with the number one spot going to We Have a Pope, which I have never heard of and currently has a 25% on RT. Has anyone seen it?

[Raiders]

The order of the list has been revealed, with the number one spot going to We Have a Pope, which I have never heard of and currently has a 25% on RT. Has anyone seen it?

Hm, Nanni Moretti's latest. He always seems to do well in critic circles, though the only one of his I have seen, The Son's Room, was very unremarkable. It is supposed to be quite different than most of his films though.

[ledfloyd]

no matter how many times margin call shows up on these lists i can't get past my preconceived notions of it being an opportunist 'up in the air'-like attempt at exploiting the financial crisis.

[Boner M]

Big section of Sight & Sound (http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/49804) poll contributors' lists/comments (Kent Jones, Adrian Martin, Rosenbaum, Armond et al).

[Derek]

D'oh.

Whatever you thought of Super 8 it's a weird choice for Cahiers. Although I guess those lameass lens flares are enough of an 'auteurist stamp' for them to like it.

Consider it their "Shyamalan" pick of the year.

[Boner M]

The order of the list has been revealed, with the number one spot going to We Have a Pope, which I have never heard of and currently has a 25% on RT. Has anyone seen it?
I have, it's very very meh. Not sure what Cahiers sees in it; I'm guessing the mainstream French press hated it enough for it to get polemic support. Or it tickled their soft spot for unfashionable humanism/classicism? (cf. Clint Eastwood) Or something.

[Rowland]

Gee whiz, I wonder if Sight & Sound being a UK publication and thus featuring a disproportionate emphasis on UK critics has anything to do with Attack the Block being so prominently ranked? No matter, I'm just delighted to see it remain so warmly received. Also noticed the inclusion of Tavernier's The Princess of Montpensier on the lists of Nick Pinkerton and Nicolas Rapold, both Reverse Shot contributors, so I wonder if that may make a surprise appearance on RS's year-end list.

[EyesWideOpen]

Richard Corliss's Top Ten:
1. The Artist
2. Hugo
3. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
4. The Tree of Life
5. War Horse
6. Super 8
7. Cave of Forgotten Dreams
8. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
9. Rango
10. Fast Five

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2101344_2101362_210135 1,00.html

[TripZone]

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2011/12/richard-brody-the-best-in-film.html

Fantastic.

[Boner M]

Brody is one of my least favorite critics.

[Pop Trash]

This Future love is making me want to go back to the past and change my semi-kind rating so I can dislike it more in the present.

[Pop Trash]

"something something...fulfills the promise of her film’s exquisite title."

MIRANDA JULY IS THE FUTURE OF CINEMA BONER. DEAL. WITH. IT.

[TripZone]

:|

[Boner M]

"something something...fulfills the promise of her film’s exquisite title."

MIRANDA JULY IS THE FUTURE OF CINEMA BONER. DEAL. WITH. IT.
The future of friendship-bracelet-making.

[baby doll]

Miranda July is the Marguerite Duras of 2011He can't possibly believe this.

Incidentally, who was the Margeurite Duras of 2010?

[ledfloyd]

He can't possibly believe this.

Incidentally, who was the Margeurite Duras of 2010?
we get a new marguerite duras every year?

[baby doll]

we get a new marguerite duras every year?It's a Festivus miracle!

[NickGlass]

Brody is one of my least favorite critics.

I'm very shocked by his #1. Not because it's The Future, but because Godard had a new film out this year and it's not #1. It's #3 on his list? I'm astounded--he must really have turned on Godard.

Joking aside, all the critics at The New Yorker (the tweedle-dee-tweedle-dum combo of Lane and Denby, too) annoy me for different reasons.

[Pop Trash]

Joking aside, all the critics at The New Yorker (the tweedle-dee-tweedle-dum combo of Lane and Denby, too) annoy me for different reasons.

Me too. Then again, Pauline Kael annoyed me as well.

[Derek]

Me too. Then again, Pauline Kael annoyed me as well.

As well she should.

[Spinal]

Incidentally, who was the Margeurite Duras of 2010?

Banksy.

[elixir]

AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR:

BRIDESMAIDS
THE DESCENDANTS
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
THE HELP
HUGO
J. EDGAR
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
MONEYBALL
THE TREE OF LIFE
WAR HORSE

http://www.indiewire.com/article/afi-announces-their-top-ten-films-of-2011#

[elixir]

Los Angeles Film Critics Awards

LAFCA 2011 winner and runner-up complete list:

BEST PICTURE
Winner: The Descendants
Runner-Up: The Tree of Life

BEST ANIMATION
Winner: Rango
Runner-Up: The Adventures of Tintin

BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Runner-Up: Martin Scorsese, Hugo

BEST ACTOR
Winner: Michael Fassbender, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class
Runner-Up: Michael Shannon, Take Shelter

BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Yun Jung-Hee, Poetry
Runner-Up: Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia

BEST INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL
Winner: Spark of Being

BEST DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION
Winner: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Runner- Up: The Arbor

BEST SCREENPLAY
Winner: Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Runner-Up: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Runner-Up: Patton Oswalt, Young Adult

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Jessica Chastain, Coriolanus, The Debt, The Help, Take Shelter, Texas Killing Fields, The Tree of Life
Runner-Up: Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner: Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life
Runner-Up: Cao Yu, City of Life and Death

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Winner: Dante Ferretti, Hugo
Runner-Up: Maria Djurkovic, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

BEST MUSIC/SCORE
Winner: The Chemical Brothers, Hanna
Runner-Up: Cliff Martinez, Drive

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/lafca-chemical-brothers-hanna-272199

[Rowland]

BEST ACTOR
Winner: Michael Fassbender, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class
Runner-Up: Michael Shannon, Take ShelterThey forgot to include Shannon's role in the 13 remake (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/13-2010/). Tsk tsk.

[elixir]

And San Francisco Film Critics Awards:

Best Picture
“The Tree of Life”

Best Director
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”

Best Original Screenplay
J.C. Chandor, “Margin Call”

Best Adapted Screenplay
Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”

Best Actor
Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”

Best Actress
Tilda Swinton, “We Need to Talk About Kevin”

Best Supporting Actor
Albert Brooks, “Drive”

Best Supporting Actress
Vanessa Redgrave, “Coriolanus”

Best Animated Feature
“Rango”

Best Foreign Language Film
“Certified Copy”

Best Documentary
“Tabloid”

Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, “The Tree of Life”

Special Citation for underappreciated independent cinema
The Mill and The Cross

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/12/san-francisco-film-critics-name-tree-of-life-best-picture/

[elixir]

Margin Call winning awards confuses me greatly. That movie is awful. Is it because it's topical? Probably.

[Watashi]

Why is Melissa McCarthy winning awards and Wiig isn't?

[Spinal]

Los Angeles Film Critics Awards

LAFCA 2011 winner and runner-up complete list:

BEST DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION
Winner: Cave of Forgotten Dreams


Seriously?

[EyesWideOpen]

Why is Melissa McCarthy winning awards and Wiig isn't?

I'm with you on that one.

[Spinal]

Why is Melissa McCarthy winning awards and Wiig isn't?

Best Supporting Actress = quirky and funny up-and-comer

Best Actress = gets naked and cries

[NickGlass]

Seriously?

Cave of Forgotten Dreams won The NYFCC award for Best Documentary, too. I'm similarly baffled.


Best Foreign Language Film
“Certified Copy”

Huh? I don't mean to argue for my favorite of the year picking up any award, but, what language do they speak in San Francisco?

[Raiders]

Huh? I don't mean to argue for my favorite of the year picking up any award, but, what language do they speak in San Francisco?

There's some French in the film, and it is a French production so... I'll allow it.

[Ezee E]

Critics apparently only watch the 3D Documentaries, and no further.

[NickGlass]

Why is Melissa McCarthy winning awards [...]

Good question. I don't have an answer for you other than "marketing."

[Lucky]

Indiana Film Critics Awards (I had no idea this existed)

Best Film of the Year

Winner: The Artist
Runner-up: The Descendants
Other Finalists: Coriolanus, Drive, Hugo, Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Muppets, The Skin I Live In, Super 8, The Tree of Life

Best Animated Film
Winner: Rango
Runner-up: Winnie the Pooh

Best Foreign Language Film
Winner: The Skin I Live In
Runner-up: 13 Assassins

Best Documentary
Winner: Project Nim
Runner-up: Into the Abyss

Best Original Screenplay
Winner: Win Win
Runner-up: Margin Call

Best Adapted Screenplay
Winner: The Descendants
Runner-up: Moneyball

Best Director
Winner: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Runner-up: Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

Best Actress
Winner: Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Runner-up: Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Viola Davis, The Help
Runner-up: Amy Ryan, Win Win

Best Actor
Winner: Paul Giamatti, Win Win
Runner-up: Ralph Fiennes, Coriolanus

Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Runner-up: Albert Brooks, Drive

Best Musical Score
Winner: Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Runner-up: Howard Shore, Hugo

Original Vision Award
Winner: The Tree of Life
Runner-up: The Artist

[Rowland]

Andrew O'Hehir's list is now up over at Salon (http://www.salon.com/2011/12/12/the_10_best_movies_of_2011_bri lliant_movies_for_a_bleak_year/singleton/). Great to see Melancholia, Mysteries of Lisbon, and Drive rank so high, and as much as I love The Tree of Life, it's refreshing to not see that featured anywhere on his list or its honorable mentions (speaking of which yay Beginners!); a reminder that I need to watch Poetry ASAP, and a further reminder that I really should have tried harder to catch Take Shelter during the single week it played in my city.

[baby doll]

Andrew O'Hehir's list is now up over at Salon (http://www.salon.com/2011/12/12/the_10_best_movies_of_2011_bri lliant_movies_for_a_bleak_year/singleton/). Great to see Melancholia, Mysteries of Lisbon, and Drive rank so high, and as much as I love The Tree of Life, it's refreshing to not see that featured anywhere on his list or its honorable mentions (speaking of which yay Beginners!); a reminder that I need to watch Poetry ASAP, and a further reminder that I really should have tried harder to catch Take Shelter during the single week it played in my city.Man this guy's defensive about his tastes. "Yes, it’s a foreign-language film from a country unfamiliar to most Americans, released last winter in a handful of cities, but there’s nothing perverse or elitist about this choice..." Oh just shut the fuck up already. Not a bad list actually, but the guy needs to grow a pair.

[Rowland]

The A.V. Club's Year in Film. (http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-year-in-film-2011,66423/)The top of the list is predictable, but inclusions like The Future, The Skin I Live In, Weekend, and Submarine are more interestingly idiosyncratic, as is the surprising lack of Uncle Boonmee, which I liked a great deal but strikes even me as ever so slightly overrated, especially compared to Joe's last two films.

[transmogrifier]

It's a better list than their godawful Best Music of 2011 list, but still, there's something about the hive-mind of AV Club writers that makes me distrustful of their taste. But they have cool features and interviews.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Is Uncle Boonmee still being featured on these end of year top 10 lists? Christ on a bike, this has to be the third year running, no? As much as I enjoyed it, I'm kinda sick of hearing about it and about its end of year awards.

[Rowland]

there's something about the hive-mind of AV Club writers that makes me distrustful of their taste.I kinda feel the same. There is something very predictable about their year-end lists and how much they mirror each others; I used to be a big fan of Scott Tobias, but now he just comes across like a more milquetoast Mike D'Angelo wannabe.

[Rowland]

Is Uncle Boonmee still being featured on these end of year top 10 lists? Christ on a bike, this has to be the third year running, no? As much as I enjoyed it, I'm kinda sick of hearing about it and about its end of year awards.Well, this would be the first year for it to be considered an official US release, so if anything it should be included on more lists than it was in the past.

[Watashi]

Yeah, people shouldn't be predictable with their end-of-the-year lists! They should put movies that no one else has listed.... just because!

[Rowland]

For Slate, Grady Hendrix provides a list (http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2011/12/ten_movies_you_didn_t_see_in_2 011_but_should_have.html) of 10 movies he says we didn't see, but should have. I actually have seen The Last Circus and Stake Land, neither of which I liked, and Kaboom, which I'd also recommend, as it's one of the more entertaining movies I've seen this year.

[NickGlass]

For Slate, Grady Hendrix provides a list (http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2011/12/ten_movies_you_didn_t_see_in_2 011_but_should_have.html) of 10 movies he says we didn't see, but should have. I actually have seen The Last Circus and Stake Land, neither of which I liked, and Kaboom, which I'd also recommend, as it's one of the more entertaining movies I've seen this year.

I like the idea, but none of the three films I've actually seen from the list (Kaboom, Catechism Cataclysm, Stake Land).

[Ezee E]

Haha. I'll fool all of you when I don't have Hugo as my #1.

[Pop Trash]

I'm seriously bummed I didn't catch Margaret on the big screen when I had the chance. You Can Count on Me remains one of my favorite Am-indie flicks of the past 15 years or so. Stupid anti-hype.

[Rowland]

Keith Uhlich's Top (http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/2338051/the-best-and-worst-films-of-2011-keith-uhlichs-picks) Twenty (http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/2338195/the-next-ten-keith-uhlichs-extras), with a few delightful curveballs thrown in for good measure. A few in there I wasn't planning on bothering with that I may now try to find the time for.

Joshua Rothkopf's Top (http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/2337977/the-best-and-worst-films-of-2011-joshua-rothkopfs-picks) Twenty (http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/2338187/the-next-ten-joshua-rothkopfs-extras), I dig it as well.

[Rowland]

Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott's favorites for the year, presented in this irritating (http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/12/14/movies/critics-picks-slideshow.html) slide-show format. Cedar Rapids, really?

[elixir]

SAG Nominees

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture
Bridesmaids
The Artist
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role
George Clooney, The Descendants
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/sag-award-nominations-nominee-list-273669

[Robby P]

Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott's favorites for the year, presented in this irritating (http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/12/14/movies/critics-picks-slideshow.html) slide-show format. Cedar Rapids, really?

You're right. That is irritating.

[Raiders]

Yeah, the idea that McCarthy is awards-worthy for Bridesmaids while Wiig, far-and-away the MVP of the film, is not says something quite sad about what we perceive as great leading and great supporting performances.

[Henry Gale]

The television side to the SAG nominees is even less interesting. Might as well have been last year's list (with the only significant, enjoyable differences being Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad for Best Drama Ensemble and Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights).

Albert Brooks, Elizabeth Olsen and Shailene Woodley being left out of their respective categories along with Bridesmaids and J. Edgar having such strong presences are probably the only big surprises for the film side of things. Just when I thought the awards season was looking interesting...

Globes nominations tomorrow. And of course, no matter what they end up choosing, those sneaky bastards will still have me look forward to the show by having Gervais again.

[Watashi]

It's like December didn't exist for movies.

Weren't War Horse and Dragon Tattoo supposed to be major players?

[Rowland]

It's like December didn't exist for movies.

Weren't War Horse and Dragon Tattoo supposed to be major players?I'm sure they and others in the same boat are being positioned more for Oscar consideration than anything.

[Lucky]

The television side to the SAG nominees is even less interesting. Might as well have been last year's list (with the only significant, enjoyable differences being Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad for Best Drama Ensemble and Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights).

I'm thrilled Jessica Lange got a nomination, but you're correct in that it's mainly a carbon copy of last year.

[Pop Trash]

Cedar Rapids, really?

I'll add J. Edgar to that "really?"

[Ezee E]

I can't really see anyone winning Supporting Actor (for the SAG) but Nolte. That seems weird.

Really hoping that Wiig's potential win in the Golden Globes will propel her performance. Really irritating that Williams (who I certainly support) is getting the only recognition. Who else could beat Wiig for Comedy? Charlize Theron maybe?

[TGM]

Keith Uhlich's Top (http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/2338051/the-best-and-worst-films-of-2011-keith-uhlichs-picks) Twenty (http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/2338195/the-next-ten-keith-uhlichs-extras), with a few delightful curveballs thrown in for good measure. A few in there I wasn't planning on bothering with that I may now try to find the time for.

Nice to actually see someone else giving Sucker Punch some recognition!

[NickGlass]

I can't really see anyone winning Supporting Actor (for the SAG) but Nolte. That seems weird.

I think Plummer has the Supporting Actor SAG, GG, and Oscar in the bag.


Really hoping that Wiig's potential win in the Golden Globes will propel her performance. Really irritating that Williams (who I certainly support) is getting the only recognition. Who else could beat Wiig for Comedy? Charlize Theron maybe?

It's likely Williams, then Theron, and then Wiig. Really, they can probably mail Williams her Golden Globe right now. I can't believe the film got a nod for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) as well. I suppose the HFPA identified with the self-aggrandizing, starstruck lead character.

[elixir]

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/feature/the-25-best-films-of-2011/295/page_1

Slant's Top 25 of 2011

25. Of Gods and Men
24. Hugo
23. The Skin I Live In
22. Extraordinary Stories
21. The Time That Remains
20. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
19. Meek's Cutoff
18. Leap Year
17. A Dangerous Method
16. El Sicario, Room 164
15. Beginners
14. Tomboy
13. In The Family
12. Film Socialisme
11. Take Shelter
10. Poetry
9. Nostalgia for the Light
8. Tuesday, After Christmas
7. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
6. Margaret
5. A Separation
4. The Tree of Life
3. Mysteries of Lisbon
2. A Brighter Summer Day
1. Certified Copy

[elixir]

As much as I absolutely love the film, it seems pretty odd to me to consider A Brighter Summer Day a 2011 release...

[elixir]

Oh, and individual lists here (http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/12/slant-magazines-top-25-films-of-2011/).

[Derek]

Pretty happy with Tiny Mix Tapes Top 25 (http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/2011-favorite-25-films-2011?page=2) (for which I did the Drive & Boonmee blurbs), aside from the disappointing misstep of The Future at #2. Nice variety and several smaller films that weren't even on my radar yet.

[Watashi]

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/feature/the-25-best-films-of-2011/295/page_1

Slant's Top 25 of 2011

25. Of Gods and Men
24. Hugo
23. The Skin I Live In
22. Extraordinary Stories
21. The Time That Remains
20. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
19. Meek's Cutoff
18. Leap Year
17. A Dangerous Method
16. El Sicario, Room 164
15. Beginners
14. Tomboy
13. In The Family
12. Film Socialisme
11. Take Shelter
10. Poetry
9. Nostalgia for the Light
8. Tuesday, After Christmas
7. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
6. Margaret
5. A Separation
4. The Tree of Life
3. Mysteries of Lisbon
2. A Brighter Summer Day
1. Certified Copy
That's a Slant list alright.

[Watashi]

Oh, and individual lists here (http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/12/slant-magazines-top-25-films-of-2011/).
I can't believe Drive didn't make a single list on there.

[Derek]

I can't believe Drive didn't make a single list on there.

I really enjoy your righteous indignation at critics not playing to the mainstream consensus enough. Keep it up! :)

[ledfloyd]

I really enjoy your righteous indignation at critics not playing to the mainstream consensus enough. Keep it up! :)
i think he was referring to most of the slant critics going gaga over it when it came out.

[Rowland]

I can't believe Drive didn't make a single list on there.It made several Honorable Mentions, nothing wrong with that. The individual lists are, as usual, more interesting than the consensus. I knew Ed would love Tomboy after I finished watching it last night, and speaking of his list, I'm quite surprised by his placement for The Tree of Life, rendering it his least favorite Malick.

[Derek]

i think he was referring to most of the slant critics going gaga over it when it came out.

That's okay, that's only one of about 3 recent posts that could refer to. :)

[Watashi]

I really enjoy your righteous indignation at critics not playing to the mainstream consensus enough. Keep it up! :)
Brad Bird is better than you.

[Pop Trash]

Ebert weighs in:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/12/the_best_films_of_2011.html

Nice list really.

[Pop Trash]

That's a Slant list alright.

I'm surprised there aren't any horror films on there. Isn't standing up for contemporary horror their "thing?"

[ledfloyd]

glenn kenny (http://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2011/12/years-best.html) and jim emerson (http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2011/12/my_first_2011_ten_best_list.ht ml) have weighed in.

the mill and the cross sounds awesome, why am i just hearing about this now?

[B-side]

glenn kenny (http://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2011/12/years-best.html) and jim emerson (http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2011/12/my_first_2011_ten_best_list.ht ml) have weighed in.

the mill and the cross sounds awesome, why am i just hearing about this now?

Fister and I really like it as well. I've heard good things about Majewski, so I was sure to grab it as soon as it leaked a month or so back.

[TGM]

Ebert weighs in:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/12/the_best_films_of_2011.html

Nice list really.

And now I'm glad to see Another Earth finally getting some recognition, even if it is from fucking Roger Ebert...

[Pop Trash]

And now I'm glad to see Another Earth finally getting some recognition, even if it is from fucking Roger Ebert...

Blow yourself. Ebert rocks.

[TGM]

Blow yourself. Ebert rocks.

Ebert's an asshole.

[baby doll]

I think what's noteworthy about Ebert's list is that this is the first time since 1967 that he's picked a non-western movie as his favorite film of the year.

[Pop Trash]

Annual Film Comment Critic's Poll:

http://www.filmlinc.com/film-comment/entry/film-comment-announces-2011-best-of-year-list

[elixir]

http://legacy.indiewire.com/survey/annual_critics_survey_2011/best_film_2011 blah blah blah, the same films again and again...

...what's more interesting, as it always is, are the individual lists, many of them accompanied by the person's comments on the year: http://www.indiewire.com/survey/

[Rowland]

...what's more interesting, as it always is, are the individual lists, many of them accompanied by the person's comments on the year: http://www.indiewire.com/survey/I wish this was organized so that you could link to the individual lists from the larger ones, so that you could more easily discover who voted for what.

Dan Sallitt's list (http://legacy.indiewire.com/critic/dan_sallitt) is amusing, with two Sleeping Beauty's and four Swanberg joints.

[Rowland]

R. Emmet Sweeney's Top Twelve Genre Films of 2011 (http://moviemorlocks.com/2011/12/20/the-top-twelve-genre-films-of-2011/)

Really liked Attack the Block and The Robber (which deserves more recognition), like Insidious more than most seem to have, on the fence leaning positive for Drive Angry, on the fence leaning negative for The Mechanic and I Saw the Devil, and didn't care for Detective Dee, Stake Land, The Ward, or Wrecked much at all. Fast Five, Unknown, and The Yellow Sea are on my radar.

The Village Voice Poll (http://www.villagevoice.com/filmpoll/)

Superior to the Indiewire poll because you can more easily track who voted for what.

The L Magazine critics also reveal (http://www.thelmagazine.com/newyork/our-critics-top-10-lists/Content?oid=2199259&storyPage=1) their favorites.

Scott Tobias writes (http://www.avclub.com/articles/accept-the-mystery-notes-on-a-quietly-great-year-f,66874/) about how much he loves everything.

[dreamdead]

Re: one of the L magazine critics:


5.
Meek's Cutoff
Another exceptional allegory from Kelly Reichardt and writer Jon Raymond, this one about rejecting cowboy leadership (Bush) for that of the mysterious Other (Obama).

I realize Reichardt's film is oblique about its intent, but is this reading really viable?

[transmogrifier]

One thing I've learned about movies is that people can pretty much read whatever they want into them. Depends on how much they want to impress others with their knowledge and opinions.

[TripZone]

Surely that allegory crossed most people's minds watching the film. The pleasure of the thing lies in its assured filmmaking, though. For me.

[Derek]

Surely didn't cross my mind and doesn't really seem to be what the film was going for given its obvious leaning towards the females subjective experience. If that's what Reichardt was going for, she did a poor job of communicating it.

[ledfloyd]

it crossed my mind a bit, but i didn't like the idea so i stopped thinking about it.

[Bosco B Thug]

Well, maybe. But really that interpretation barely makes sense. That is, it barely has any points of application. Obama, salving Mysterious Other?!? And when does the ambivalent relationship with a white pioneer woman come in...

[TripZone]

Allegory can be vague. You're looking for a story points relationship when the film attempts a foreboding uncertainty to formulate an impression of America's current state. A bare story premise may be required. Otherwise it's mathematics.

[Bosco B Thug]

Allegory can be vague. You're looking for a story points relationship when the film attempts a foreboding uncertainty to formulate an impression of America's current state. A bare story premise may be required. Otherwise it's mathematics. You're preaching to the choir. I feel the exact same way about allegory and evocation. Still think the guy saying the Indian is correlative to Obama makes little applicative, astute sense. It's the way he puts it, saying "Mysterious Other" as if that automatically accesses the chronicle of the American public's relationship to Obama, and alternatively as if Michelle Williams and her relationship to the Indian somehow represents the American public and the public's political opting.

[Derek]

And when does the ambivalent relationship with a white pioneer woman come in...

Michelle Williams as Hillary Clinton? Think about it. Or better yet, don't.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Karina Longworth is on Team Margaret (http://www.laweekly.com/2011-12-22/film-tv/l-a-weekly-s-top-10-films-of-2011/). Love it.

[ledfloyd]

the meek as bush allegory makes a lot more sense than the native american as obama. fwiw.

[Spinal]

the meek as bush allegory makes a lot more sense than the native american as obama. fwiw.

Listen, he showed his birth certificate. What more do you need? :lol:

[Pop Trash]

Karina Longworth is on Team Margaret (http://www.laweekly.com/2011-12-22/film-tv/l-a-weekly-s-top-10-films-of-2011/). Love it.

I'm on team Margaret and I haven't even seen the fuckin' thing.

[Rowland]

Top 20 (http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/in-contention/posts/finders-keepers-guys-top-20-films-of-2011) from Guy Lodge. Interesting to see such enthusiasm for Alps, after it has seemingly been written off by many as a post-Dogtooth disappointment.

[Rowland]

And now it's time for the Reverse Shot lists that I know everyone looks forward to with bated breath. First the Best of 2011 (http://www.reverseshot.com/article/reverse_shots_best_2011), which is a very good list. I'm a bit surprised to see The Arbor on there, which didn't seem like their kinda thing, especially its somewhat miserablist wallow of a second half, and I admittedly know very little about Historias extraordinarias, but I'll have to keep my eyes open for it now.

Next week they'll reveal their infamous Offenses list for the year, which it's safe to say will predominantly feature Melancholia, since they seemed to uniformly hate the film and made room even within their "Best of" list to twice reference it in the form of derogatory punchlines. Drive will also clearly be featured, which they jokingly suggested would rank as their 237th film of the year if they were feeling generous. For all their talk of the film (and its fans) as shallow, retrograde posturing, one wonders if their inflated sense of self-righteousness isn't itself sometimes a critical form of shallow, retrograde posturing... no matter, who wants to bet what else will appear on the list to be mercilessly ravaged? I'll also bet We Need to Talk About Kevin, Shame... maybe The Skin I Live In, J. Edgar, and Silent Souls, perhaps.

[Spinal]

For all their talk of the film (and its fans) as shallow, retrograde posturing, one wonders if their inflated sense of self-righteousness isn't itself sometimes a critical form of shallow, retrograde posturing...

Yes. They are ridiculous people.

[transmogrifier]

Not a fan of Reverse Shot writers. They seem to have far too high opinions of their own opinions, rather than the films themselves.

[Pop Trash]

who wants to bet what else will appear on the list to be mercilessly ravaged? I'll also bet We Need to Talk About Kevin, Shame... maybe The Skin I Live In, J. Edgar, and Silent Souls, perhaps.

I'm guessing the nostalgia bait trifecta of Midnight in Paris/Hugo/The Artist will be engulfed in a nitrate fire.

[Rowland]

I'm guessing the nostalgia bait trifecta of Midnight in Paris/Hugo/The Artist will be engulfed in a nitrate fire.I dunno, all three had positive reviews, the first two by their overlord Koresky.

[TripZone]

http://tenbestfilms.blogspot.com/2011/12/ten-best-films-of-2011.html

[B-side]

http://tenbestfilms.blogspot.com/2011/12/ten-best-films-of-2011.html

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia!:cry:

[Mysterious Dude]

Movie City News (http://moviecitynews.com/awards-watch/the-top-tens/) combines all the critics' top ten lists into one list. CriticsTop10 (http://criticstop10.com/) does the same thing, but they don't show their work.

[Rowland]

Film Freak Central's 2011 Top 10's (http://filmfreakcentral.net/toptens/top102011.htm)

[Pop Trash]

Any list that has both Shame and Source Code in the top ten is doing something wrong.

[Rowland]

Better Source Code than I Saw the Devil, which I didn't particularly care for, but Chaw has always had a predilection for slick Asian genre cinema.

[Pop Trash]

Better Source Code than I Saw the Devil, which I didn't particularly care for, but Chaw has always had a predilection for slick Asian genre cinema.

Can't comment since I have no intention of watching that. Source Code just strikes me as warmed-over Groundhog Day/Quantum Leap with much less humor and doubled down on self-importance.

[Watashi]

Jamie Christley's Top 10 has a TV series and.... The Three Musketeers.

1 THIS IS NOT A FILM (Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and Jafar Panahi)
2 MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Woody Allen)
3 A DANGEROUS METHOD (David Cronenberg)
4 HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (David Yates)
5 THE KID WITH A BIKE (Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne)
6 LOUIE, Season 2 (Louis C.K.)
7 THE DESCENDANTS (Alexander Payne)
8 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (Tomas Alfredson)
9 THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Paul W.S. Anderson)
10 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (David Fincher)

What.

[Watashi]

Man, Jamie's Top 10 lists feature some of the oddest combinations of movies I've ever seen. (http://jaimefavorites.blogspot.com/2005/06/2000s_21.html)

He could give Sven a run for his money in bizarroness.

[Rowland]

Can't comment since I have no intention of watching that. Source Code just strikes me as warmed-over Groundhog Day/Quantum Leap with much less humor and doubled down on self-importance.How he frames Source Code in his review as of a philosophical piece with Certified Copy is intriguing, if not wholly convincing, though I'll keep his perspective in mind should I ever revisit the film. I just enjoyed it as an above-average thriller with a bit more conceptual ambition than usual, hampered by one ending too many.

[Derek]

Jamie Christley's Top 10 has a TV series and.... The Three Musketeers.

1 THIS IS NOT A FILM (Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and Jafar Panahi)
2 MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Woody Allen)
3 A DANGEROUS METHOD (David Cronenberg)
4 HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (David Yates)
5 THE KID WITH A BIKE (Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne)
6 LOUIE, Season 2 (Louis C.K.)
7 THE DESCENDANTS (Alexander Payne)
8 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (Tomas Alfredson)
9 THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Paul W.S. Anderson)
10 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (David Fincher)

What.

The only thing odd about this is your reaction. He's a PWSA fan (even more than Raiders), so his presence shouldn't be that surprising. Other than that, the Harry Potter film is the only that doesn't really belong.

You're weird.

[Spinal]

Why would Louie belong on a list of films?

[Watashi]

You're weird.


He's a PWSA fan

I'm weird?

[Derek]

Why would Louie belong on a list of films?

Simple answer: it's not a list of films. It's a list of films and tv shows. It's not anything he submitting as a "10 best films" list. I don't personally include tv shows on my lists, but I'm certainly not against putting films, miniseries, shorts and tv shows on the same playing field.

[Derek]

I'm weird?

I continue to enjoy you flipping your lid every time someone doesn't conform to your idea of "a critic" or make top tens that feature "contenders". You're our little Bizarro Rowland. :)

[Spinal]

Simple answer: it's not a list of films. It's a list of films and tv shows. It's not anything he submitting as a "10 best films" list. I don't personally include tv shows on my lists, but I'm certainly not against putting films, miniseries, shorts and tv shows on the same playing field.

Click the link Watashi gave. It clearly says Jamie Christley's favorite films.

[Derek]

Click the link Watashi gave. It clearly says Jamie Christley's favorite films.

He needs to update that then, unless he does think tv shows are films! Maybe you guys are onto something...

[Spinal]

He needs to update that then, unless he does think tv shows are films!

And music videos too.

[Watashi]

I continue to enjoy you flipping your lid every time someone doesn't conform to your idea of "a critic" or make top tens that feature "contenders". You're our little Bizarro Rowland. :)

I don't even know what my idea of a critic is. I tend not to fall for the typical contenders (Artist, Descendants, or GWDT).

I can understand liking Paul WS Anderson. I can see how he could be a guilty pleasure. But to continue to place him among the 10 best of the year just seems nutty.

[Raiders]

If he isn't submitting this for some critical consensus or awards... what the hell difference does it make if there are TV shows and music videos on there? It's a personal blog. Sheesh.

I mean, 99% of what's in those lists are films. It just seems he occasionally feels a TV season or music video (or snippets of films) are so good as to be recognized as among his favorite visual/narrative pieces of work of the year.

And Paul WS Anderson is more than a guilty pleasure for me. Sorry it's so incomprehensible.

[Derek]

If he isn't submitting this for some critical consensus or awards... what the hell difference does it make if there are TV shows and music videos on there? It's a personal blog. Sheesh.

I mean, 99% of what's in those lists are films. It just seems he occasionally feels a TV season or music video (or snippets of films) are so good as to be recognized as among his favorite visual/narrative pieces of work of the year.

And Paul WS Anderson is more than a guilty pleasure for me. Sorry it's so incomprehensible.


The Future (2011) *

YES and YES!

[Spinal]

My favorite pizzas:

1. Pepperoni
2. Canadian Bacon
3. Chocolate Mousse
4. Chicken Fajitas
5. Pop Rocks

[Derek]

My favorite pizzas:

1. Pepperoni
2. Canadian Bacon
3. Chocolate Mousse
4. Chicken Fajitas
5. Pop Rocks

These are not all normal toppings for pizzas. Attacks, Wats, attack!

[Spinal]

As an annoyance, it ranks behind ...

My Top 10 Films

1. Casablanca
2. Citizen Kane
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. The Star Wars Trilogy
5. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
6. Godfather and Godfather II
7. Buster Keaton's shorts
8. Kubrick's 70s films
9. Porn
10a. Triumph of the Will
10b. Birth of a Nation
10c. The Goonies

[Derek]

Agreed. There's no way porn should be that low.

[B-side]

Mysteries of Lisbon (Ruiz, 2011) ***½

Why is it that one of the few Ruiz films I'm not thrilled with is the one that gets everyone into him? I guess I can't really complain if it gets him some more recognition.

[elixir]

Why is it that one of the few Ruiz films I'm not thrilled with is the one that gets everyone into him? I guess I can't really complain if it gets him some more recognition.
Well, it's more accessible than the other two Ruiz films I've seen. Didn't Time Regained get him a lot of attention though?

Anyhow, the problem's with you because the movie is great. :P

[Bosco B Thug]

I'm noticing lots of resurgent appreciation and odd gentleness toward Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method amongst critics and year end lists. I think this is a clear example of "pro-lash."

I may end up trying to catch it, as someone who likes Cronenberg's recent work but remains a non-enthusiast, and whose only other options are Like Crazy and My Weekend With Marilyn.

[Ezee E]

Most critics can't even submit a top ten without having a 5a/5b, etc., so whatevs!

Louie Season 2 would probably make Match Cut's top ten if we didn't ask for films only...

[transmogrifier]

Jaime Christley's Top 10 Favorite Countries:

1. New Hampshire
2. His backyard on a hot summer's day
3. Prague in the 80s before it became popular
4. The Eiffel Tower
5. Lilliput
6. Western Europe
7. Any country that has a constitutional monarchy
8. The Microlithic cultures of the Levant region during the Stone Age
9. No Country for Old Men
10. North Korea

[Arthur Seaton]

Man, Jamie's Top 10 lists feature some of the oddest combinations of movies I've ever seen. (http://jaimefavorites.blogspot.com/2005/06/2000s_21.html)

He could give Sven a run for his money in bizarroness.

And he's a bigger douche than baby doll.

[Raiders]

God we can be a bunch of assholes when we want, eh?

[Ezee E]

God we can be a bunch of assholes when we want, eh?
This is quite the hostile place indeed!

[Spinal]

If the worst thing I do today is point out that a blogger can't tell the difference between a film and a TV series, then I will sleep with a clear conscience.

[Ezee E]

If the worst thing I do today is point out that a blogger can't tell the difference between a film and a TV series, then I will sleep with a clear conscience.
Bloggers hate that you enjoyed The Artist.

[Raiders]

If the worst thing I do today is point out that a blogger can't tell the difference between a film and a TV series, then I will sleep with a clear conscience.

I am certain he can tell the difference; but the general hostility that seems directed at someone who isn't even present to defend himself on something that boils down to silly semantics (and something I think is personally justified and have been tempted to do on my own blog--I did include a miniseries this year) is stupid and dick-ish. Whatever though. Not really my fight.

[Spinal]

I don't have hostility. I have confusion. I was lied to, Raiders. Lied to.

[Ezee E]

Jaime posts here every once in a while. He can defend himself.

[transmogrifier]

It's not hostility. It's funny. Christley can do what he wants. I think you're reading too much into it.

Plus, I screwed up: Abed and Troy's blanket fort absolutely should have been on the Top 10 Country list. Opportunity lost.

[Arthur Seaton]

It's not hostility. It's funny. Christley can do what he wants. I think you're reading too much into it.

Plus, I screwed up: Abed and Troy's blanket fort absolutely should have been on the Top 10 Country list. Opportunity lost.

I didn't mean to be hostile, but he was really nasty to me back in the days of RT.

Snicker at the Community reference.

[transmogrifier]

I didn't mean to be hostile, but he was really nasty to me back in the days of RT.

Snicker at the Community reference.

Yeah, I'm no fan of his way of communicating with other people he finds inferior to himself, but he can do whatever he likes with his lists. It's just fun to think up analogous lists on other subjects.

[elixir]

Mildred Pierce is my 11th favorite film of the year. COME AT ME BRO.

[Ezee E]

Mildred Pierce is my 11th favorite film of the year. COME AT ME BRO.
Not a bad pick.

[Spinal]

How about if there's a really good Super Bowl? Can I put that on my list?

[Raiders]

How about if there's a really good Super Bowl? Can I put that on my list?

If you think the difference between scripted TV series and films is the same as live sporting events and films, then we're never going to get anywhere.

EDIT: Also, if you can justify why the two are similar and why you wanted to include it in your personal blog, then sure you can and I promise not to be an ass about it.

[Ezee E]

President Obama's 2012 Election Speech will surely be a yay.

[Spinal]

If you think the difference between scripted TV series and films is the same as live sporting events and films, then we're never going to get anywhere.

But I'm not trying to get anywhere.

[Spinal]

Does it work the other way?

Can I do this?

My favorite TV Shows of the year

1. Community
2. Louie
3. 30 Rock
4. The Office
5. Moneyball

[Ezee E]

:lol:

You forgot the stage adaptation of Spider-Man.

[Raiders]

Does it work the other way?

Can I do this?

My favorite TV Shows of the year

1. Community
2. Louie
3. 30 Rock
4. The Office
5. Moneyball

You're getting so caught up in the semantics. He doesn't have a TV series list blog, likely because he may not watch much TV or whatever other reason. The point I am making is the man is entitled to, on his own blog, list a TV season he thinks exemplifies much of what he loves about the visual narrative artform (to which TV and cinema both belong) without a bunch of internet dorks on a message board acting like he has broken some cardinal rule.

[TripZone]

Mildred Pierce is my 11th favorite film of the year. COME AT ME BRO.

not high enough

[Ezee E]

You're getting so caught up in the semantics. He doesn't have a TV series list blog, likely because he may not watch much TV or whatever other reason. The point I am making is the man is entitled to, on his own blog, list a TV season he thinks exemplifies much of what he loves about the visual narrative artform (to which TV and cinema both belong) without a bunch of internet dorks on a message board acting like he has broken some cardinal rule.

Stop not having fun with this.

[B-side]

Well, it's more accessible than the other two Ruiz films I've seen. Didn't Time Regained get him a lot of attention though?

Anyhow, the problem's with you because the movie is great. :P

Some critical acclaim, yeah. But nearly nobody here knew or cared about him before Mysteries of Lisbon came out.

[elixir]

Some critical acclaim, yeah. But nearly nobody here knew or cared about him before Mysteries of Lisbon came out.

Hey, I watched one of his movies in large part because of your praise. Mysteries was my third of his.

[B-side]

Hey, I watched one of his movies in large part because of your praise. Mysteries was my third of his.

I'm glad I could be your catalyst for excellence in film.:P

[eternity]

Man, Jamie's Top 10 lists feature some of the oddest combinations of movies I've ever seen. (http://jaimefavorites.blogspot.com/2005/06/2000s_21.html)

He could give Sven a run for his money in bizarroness.

He's dead on about Speed Racer. That said, a list that has The Heartbreak Kid over I'm Not There lands like a slap in the face.

Also, an episode of The Unit is in his 2006 list. Same with The Sopranos and The Shield Season 3 in 2004.

[TripZone]

moving images, with sound to boot

calm down people

[NickGlass]

And now it's time for the Reverse Shot lists that I know everyone looks forward to with bated breath. First the Best of 2011 (http://www.reverseshot.com/article/reverse_shots_best_2011), which is a very good list. I'm a bit surprised to see The Arbor on there, which didn't seem like their kinda thing, especially its somewhat miserablist wallow of a second half, and I admittedly know very little about Historias extraordinarias, but I'll have to keep my eyes open for it now.


Judging by the complementary screenshots, that looks like a list of films with the nicest landscape shots.

Also, I think Shame will (deservedly) be on their "Offenses" list.

[Derek]

Some critical acclaim, yeah. But nearly nobody here knew or cared about him before Mysteries of Lisbon came out.

I saw two of his films before I ever heard you mention him and saw Mysteries of Lisbon despite all your obsessive praise of him.

:twisted:

[Raiders]

Some critical acclaim, yeah. But nearly nobody here knew or cared about him before Mysteries of Lisbon came out.

I don't think that's true; I just think this film's exposure has been greater than his last couple releases and it was a good opportunity for many to see one of his works theatrically. I have been meaning to delve into his work for years.

[Derek]

I don't think that's true; I just think this film's exposure has been greater than his last couple releases and it was a good opportunity for many to see one of his works theatrically. I have been meaning to delve into his work for years.

Actually it was Jaime Christley who brought him to my attention a few years ago, but obviously someone who includes tv shows and films on the same list is only worthy of self-righteous dismissal. Oh, that's right. He posted here that one time 2 years ago, so I'm sure he's reading all this and can defend himself if he wants to.

[transmogrifier]

Actually it was Jaime Christley who brought him to my attention a few years ago, but obviously someone who includes tv shows and films on the same list is only worthy of self-righteous dismissal. Oh, that's right. He posted here that one time 2 years ago, so I'm sure he's reading all this and can defend himself if he wants to.

I think Jaime will be happy that you are here to defend his honor with your arsenal of diamond-hard passive-aggressiveness.

Seriously though, I'm amazed that both you and Raiders could get so upset about people having a little fun with an unusual set of criteria for a Top 10 list. It's weirdly puritan on one hand, and yet totally trivial on the other. Do you get this worked up when people make fun of Armond White? Do you seethe with fury when someone takes a shot at the specific range of interests of Pitchfork? Neither of them are here to defend themselves either. And no-one here has "dismissed" Christley based on those lists. Stop being so hysterical.

[Derek]

I think Jaime will be happy that you are here to defend his honor with your arsenal of diamond-hard passive-aggressiveness.

Apologies, I was going for aggressive-aggressiveness. Clearly I've failed.

[transmogrifier]

It was too sarcastic and used an unrelated matter to score points with to be considered aggressive-aggressive. Plus it did not directly confront an individual. On the other hand, I could easily recognize your evident distaste with this horrific incident, whereas most passive-aggressiveness prefers to bury this under several layers of blank conviviality. A tweak here or there is all that's needed. I have faith in you.

My advice is to start your post with: "You moron, ......". Moron is a well-known indicator of aggressive-aggressive. Plus it rolls off the tongue nicely (assuming you are speaking your posts out loud as you type them, which may not be a healthy sign, but anyway...).

[Irish]

3 pages about this guy & I'm still a little unclear who he is.

[Watashi]

3 pages about this guy & I'm still a little unclear who he is.
He's a critic from Slant Magazine.

Most of us remember him as a poster from Rotten Tomatoes, which is where we migrated from.

[Derek]

It was too sarcastic and used an unrelated matter to score points with to be considered aggressive-aggressive. Plus it did not directly confront an individual. On the other hand, I could easily recognize your evident distaste with this horrific incident, whereas most passive-aggressiveness prefers to bury this under several layers of blank conviviality. A tweak here or there is all that's needed. I have faith in you.

My advice is to start your post with: "You moron, ......". Moron is a well-known indicator of aggressive-aggressive. Plus it rolls off the tongue nicely (assuming you are speaking your posts out loud as you type them, which may not be a healthy sign, but anyway...).

You're right. This was a grave miscalculation on my part, but I will work on my internet forum aggression tactics throughout 2012. Thank you and fuck you, trans.


That last one was a little better, right? ;)

[transmogrifier]

Less "thank you" and more "fuck you", but yes, a definite improvement.

[Boner M]

Can't wait to delve into year-end mania in one long binge. A man of simple pleasures, indeed I am.

EDIT: Or Jaime N. Christley mania, it seems.

[Boner M]

My list by Aussie dates is here as part of the Sydney Critics poll (http://www.mattriviera.net/#!/2011/12/sydney-film-critics-best-of-2011.html).

Weird that Snowtown placed below Sleeping Beauty as far as local films go, but I'm all for surprises.

[baby doll]

And he's a bigger douche than baby doll.How does one determine who's a bigger douche than who?

[Watashi]

Armond White's "Better Than" list for 2011. (http://cityarts.info/2012/01/04/the-2011-better-than-list/)

Reverse Shot's 11 Offenses (http://www.reverseshot.com/article/11_offenses_2011)

No Strings Attached, Horrible Bosses, Sarah's Key? RS is losing their snide touch.

[Watashi]

White's list might be the only time you'll ever see Paul being compared to Uncle Boonmee.

[ledfloyd]

are both of those links intentionally the same scene from vertigo on youtube?

[Watashi]

are both of those links intentionally the same scene from vertigo on youtube?
Oops. Fixed.

[D_Davis]

I'm really surprised to see Cave of Forgotten Dreams appear on any lists; it is thoroughly mediocre, and entirely forgettable.

[D_Davis]

As an annoyance, it ranks behind ...

My Top 10 Films

1. Casablanca
2. Citizen Kane
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. The Star Wars Trilogy
5. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
6. Godfather and Godfather II
7. Buster Keaton's shorts
8. Kubrick's 70s films
9. Porn
10a. Triumph of the Will
10b. Birth of a Nation
10c. The Goonies

Porn should be #1 since it's the only one I can consistently fap to.

[Rowland]

I like his Kaboom > Bridesmaids comparison, even if it's about as superficial as the rest of them.

And I'm surprised Melancholia isn't on the RS Offenses list, I suppose they were sick of griping about it. I should have seen Sleeping Beauty and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo coming, but no mind, I still really like them, while Koresky reasonably articulates his distaste for Drive, and as for Horrible Bosses, that's a pretty easy target, but what can I say, it made me laugh.

[eternity]

Prom > We Need to Talk About Kevin is kind of wonderful.

[transmogrifier]

Coffee > Double beds
The letter "F" > Cirrus clouds
Hypothyroidism > HBO

[Bosco B Thug]

Prom???

I actually half-watched that tripe. But I'm easily persuadable by lofty-speak and now I feel a little guilt for not watching it and feeling the blissfulness of Prom.

[Spinal]

White's list might be the only time you'll ever see Paul being compared to Uncle Boonmee.

I can barely contain my outrage--

*zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*

[Boner M]

The RS Iron Lady blurb is spot-on. Possibly the most monumentally pointless film ever made.

Still a little disconcerted by how unanimously disliked ...Kevin is among the writers I follow, but hey, Adrian Martin liked it, so whatever.

[Pop Trash]

Well I do agree with Apes > Dragon Tattoo

[Rowland]

Still a little disconcerted by how unanimously disliked ...Kevin is among the writers I follow, but hey, Adrian Martin liked it, so whatever.You're really fond of this Adrian Martin fellow, I've noticed you reference him several times in the past. Any work of his available online?

And speaking of the overly negative consensus concerning Kevin, at least amidst the alternative criticism circles that we follow, has any of the negative writing had an effect on your thoughts concerning the film? I know you agree with Sicinski a lot as well, and he pretty much slaughtered the film a month or two back IIRC.

[ledfloyd]

You're really fond of this Adrian Martin fellow, I've noticed you reference him several times in the past. Any work of his available online?
http://www.screeningthepast.com/2011/07/turn-the-page-from-mise-en-scene-to-dispositif/

this is rather good.

[baby doll]

I like his Kaboom > Bridesmaids comparison, even if it's about as superficial as the rest of them.I thought both movies were pretty mediocre, so chosing which of them is better (and based purely on their sexual politics rather than their aesthetic achievements) is like trying to choose the best Ron Howard movie.

[Boner M]

And speaking of the overly negative consensus concerning Kevin, at least amidst the alternative criticism circles that we follow, has any of the negative writing had an effect on your thoughts concerning the film?
Nope, and I'm particularly irked by the idea that the film hides its exploitation/horror-film roots when, in my eyes, they seem as blatant and surface-level as, say, Black Swan's. I would be curious to rewatch it though.

As for Martin, he's probably Australia's foremost film critic and cinephile in general, and his newspaper reviews in the 90's/early 00's prior to his retirement and shift into academia & web criticism were a huge influence on my early film-enthusiast years as an Empire Magazine-weaned adolescent, and among my first experience with writing that demolished high/low culture barriers (his 4.5 star review of the J-Lo girl-power revenge-thriller Enough jumps to mind). For that reason my attachment may be more sentimental than otherwise, although his international following is huge, and frankly I'm a little baffled that you haven't read him more, even if his online pieces are mostly reprints of academic pieces. For starters, his definitive Tree of Life (http://www.fipresci.org/awards/texts/gp11_malick_amartin.htm) piece, a piece on film canons (http://afca.org.au/LightFire.php) that kinda blew my mind when it first appeared online a decade back (which ends with claims for the canonisation of Argento's Phenomena, however unsupported), and his pan of Richard Brody's wonky Godard book (http://www.themonthly.com.au/books-adrian-martin-contempt-richard-brody-s-039everything-cinema039-1221).

[Rowland]

(his 4.5 star review of the J-Lo girl-power revenge-thriller Enough jumps to mind). Huh, I'd like to read that. Maybe then I'd be a little less judgmental towards my girlfriend for loving it. :lol:
(which ends with claims for the canonisation of Argento's Phenomena, however unsupported)Ah yes, isn't Phenomena your favorite Argento as well? I'm not the biggest fan of it myself, but I'd love to read his reasoning.

[Spinal]

National Society of Film Critics: (http://www.thewrap.com/awards/column-post/melancholia-named-best-picture-national-society-film-critics-34174)

BEST ACTOR
*1. Brad Pitt – 35 (Moneyball, The Tree of Life)
2. Gary Oldman – 22 (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
3. Jean Dujardin – 19 (The Artist)

BEST ACTRESS
*1. Kirsten Dunst – 39 (Melancholia)
2. Yun Jung-hee – 25 (Poetry)
3. Meryl Streep – 20 (The Iron Lady)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
*1. Albert Brooks – 38 (Drive)
2. Christopher Plummer – 24 (Beginners)
3. Patton Oswalt – 19 (Young Adult)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*1. Jessica Chastain – 30 (The Tree of Life, Take Shelter, The Help)
2. Jeannie Berlin – 19 (Margaret)
3. Shailene Woodley – 17 (The Descendants)

BEST PICTURE
*1. Melancholia – 29 (Lars von Trier)
2. The Tree of Life – 28 (Terrence Malick)

[transmogrifier]

Not that I'm big on awards anyway, but I hate the practice of nominating actors for more than one performance.

[Spinal]

Not that I'm big on awards anyway, but I hate the practice of nominating actors for more than one performance.

Yes.

[Rowland]

Reverse Shot's Two Cents of 2011 (http://www.reverseshot.com/article/reverse_shots_two_cents_2011)

I just received the latest issue of Film Comment, and within it are some lists that I haven't seen elsewhere. I don't know if anybody else fondly recalls the writing of Nathan Lee, but he used to be one of my favorite critics before he disappeared to wherever. Here's his list:

1. Any Ever (art installation)
2. The Tree of Life
3. A Dangerous Method
4. Mysteries of Lisbon
5. Community Action Center (art installation)
6. Contagion
7. Drive
8. RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 (TV)
9. Weekend
10. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

There's also some lists from filmmakers:

Guy Maddin

1. The Tree of Life
2. The Turin Horse
3. Melancholia
4. Faust
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
6. World on a Wire
7. Hugo
8. Sucker Punch
9. Shame
10. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Paul Schrader

A Brighter Summer Day
The Descendants
The Devil's Double
Drive
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The Skin I Live In
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Tree of Life

Bertrand Tavernier

1. Melancholia
2. Tous au Larzac
3. The Artist
4. Drive
5. The Minister
6. The Ides of March
7. Take Shelter
8. Hugo
9. A Seperation

[Boner M]

Can ya copy Michael Chaiken's list, Rowland?

[Rowland]

Can ya copy Michael Chaiken's list, Rowland?*looks it up*

Oh yeah, his was one of the more obscure lists:

1. Film Socialisme
2. The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye
3. The Color Wheel
4. Dharma Guns
5. That Summer
6. Eyes Find Eyes
7. Face to Panty Ratio
8. Convento
9. The Skin I Live In
10. Family Instincts

[Boner M]

Ballad of Genesis & Lady Jaye is so good.

[NickGlass]

5. That Summer


I have not heard one person who even remotely liked this.


Ballad of Genesis & Lady Jaye is so good.

Argh. I missed two chances to see this, and I'm still annoyed with myself. I see that it's opening in NYC on March 8th at the Chelsea Cinemas, though.

[TripZone]

Ugh, where is The Color Wheel??

[Derek]

I don't know if anybody else fondly recalls the writing of Nathan Lee, but he used to be one of my favorite critics before he disappeared to wherever.

He still writes the occasional article for FilmComment, but now that you mention it, he's definitely not as prolific as he used to be. I agree he's one of the best.


Here's his list:

1. Any Ever (art installation)
5. Community Action Center (art installation)
8. RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 (TV)

But these are not films, BURN HIM!!!

[Derek]

As for Guy Maddin, I almost wish he'd spend more time writing about films than making them. Not that I don't enjoy his work (I do), but his Jolly Corner was always one of the most consistently interesting pieces in FC.

[NickGlass]

As for Guy Maddin, I almost wish he'd spend more time writing about films than making them. Not that I don't enjoy his work (I do), but his Jolly Corner was always one of the most consistently interesting pieces in FC.

I agree, but seeing Shame on his Top 10 is pretty disillusioning. I would love to read a Guy Maddin article about The Artist and its Weinstein-sized reception, though.