The tough choices of determining my best of the more than 300 films I saw this year is indeed a daunting challenge. There are those movies that were close entries on my short list. ‘Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol’ in IMAX where the visual presentation, stunts, and cast along with an intriguing premise, is an absolute thrill ride; ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ which isn’t a prequel nor a sequel, provides that ‘Missing link’ with great effects of how the apes rose to prominence; ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ and ‘War Horse’, both directed by Steve Spielberg, while one gives us a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us, and the other delivering a poignant story of lessons on family, conviction, and humanity during the World War I years, are but a few of the note worthy movies released.
Best Movies of 2011
* Midnight in Paris – Best Picture
The Adjustment Bureau
The Artist
The Debt
Drive
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
My Week With Marilyn
Puss in Boots
Rango
Source Code
Super 8
Best Director
* Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
John Madden - The Debt
Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Simon Curtis - My Week With Marilyn
Best Actor in a Leading Role
* Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Brad Pitt – Moneyball
Gary Oldman – Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – 50/50
Ryan Gosling – Drive
Best Actress in a Leading Role
* Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn
Helen Mirren – The Debt
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady
Rachel Weisz – The Whistleblower
Viola Davis – The Help
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
* Nick Nolte – Warrior
Ben Kingsley – Hugo
George Clooney – The Ides of March
Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn
Kevin Spacey – Margin Call
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
* Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs
Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Marion Cotillard – Midnight in Paris
Emily Blunt – The Adjustment Bureau
Shailene Woodley – The Descendants
Best Ensemble Acting
* Super 8
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
Best Screenplay - Original
* Rango - John Logan
Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen
The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius
Best Screenplay - Adaptation
* Moneyball - Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin
My Week With Marilyn - Adrian Hodges
Hugo - John Logan
The Overlooked Film of the Year
* The Conspirator
Texas Killing Fields
The Skin I Live In
Best Animated Film
* Puss in Boots
Cars 2
Rango
Best Foreign Language Film
* A Better Life – Dir. Chris Weitz
The Assassin- Taiwan - Dir. Hou Hsiao-Hsien
The Skin I Live In – Dir. Pedro Almodóvar
Best Documentary Film
* Page One-Inside the NY Times
African Cats
Project Nim
Best Cinematography
* Hugo
My Week With Marilyn
War Horse
Best Film Editing
* Source Code
Hugo
The Debt
Best Production Design
* Hugo
Jane Eyre
My Week With Marilyn
Best Costume Design
* Midnight in Paris
Jane Eyre
The Artist
Best Visual Effects
* Hugo
Source Code
The Adjustment Bureau
Best Stunts
* Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Hanna
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Breakthrough Performance behind the Camera
* Simon Curtis – Dir. My Week With Marilyn
Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role - Male
* Asa Butterfield - Hugo
Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role - Female
* Saoirse Ronan - Hanna
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