The Absolutely Positively No Doubt About it Best Films of 2011

And so we have reached the finale, the best films according to me, I've taken much time to deliberate and it is clear in my mind, that these ten films are by far the ten best experiences I had at the movies. Of course every person's top ten films are different, and had I been given to opportunity to see more, this might've looked completely different, but this was what was given to me. So now here we go.

1. Midnight in Paris Perhaps not a shock to some of you, I've heralded this film's praises, back when I first saw it on a warm summer day in July. Woody Allen's tribute to Paris was by far the most entertaining film I saw, full of wit, wisdom, and winning performances. Some films feel like they were made just for you, and that's the feeling I get when I watch this film, it's one of those special ones I can directly relate to, so why not make it the best of the year?

2. Certified Copy Famous Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami creates one of the most romantic mysterious films I've ever seen. Juliet Binoche and William Shimell play two people who, at the beginning look like they have just met, but the film takes a different turn, and then they start acting as if they are husband and wife. The film never makes it quite clear what their relationship really is, but it plays on the ideas about love, and art, and if the copy can be just as good as the original.

3. Meek's Cutoff Minimalist director Kelly Reichardt creates a vivid portrait of pioneer life. Most westerns are seen as epic stories, this keeps a quiet tone about a small wagon train of three families who struggle everyday to find a settlement. They begin to suspect their guide (Bruce Greenwood) is leading them off course on purpose. The film plays like a novel, with an involving plot, and high stakes, it ends abruptly but perfectly as nothing is quite resolved, but it's one where you realize, they're lives hang in the balance of the decisions they make, and the people they trust.

4. PoetryA South Korean film about a woman faced with the first stages of Alzheimer's, along with finding out her grandson committed a terrible crime. But she find solace and purpose in a poetry class she has just enrolled in. A very moving film about one woman struggling to find beauty and meaning in non sensical world.

5. Tree of Life Terence Malick's poetic opus, was probably this year's most ambitious. Starting off with the creation of the universe, and finding meaning in existence, the film is part philosophical and part a coming of age tale. It takes risks on film narration, focusing on rather than usual linear structure. Like the universe itself, it's full of questions and assumptions, an intriguing film.

6. Moneyball Based on the true story of Oakland A's manager Billy Bean (Brad Pitt) and the re-shaping baseball, by using computers and number crunching to create a championship team. Pitt has never been better, the script by Steven Zallian and Aaron Sorkin is punchy, and witty, the most complete mainstream film of the year.

7. The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo A vast improvement over the Sweedish version from last year, thanks largely to the direction of David Fincher. He makes the film a wonderful visceral experience starting from the opening credits. I found myself much more involved with the actual investigation in the film, and the relationship between Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig is handled with a more assured hand. A wonderfully entertaining, pulpy film.

8. 13 Assassins: An updated version of the Samurai film, using Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" as a framework. This tells the story of 13 shogun who are hired to kill an evil corrupt emperor who's obsessed with killing, and mutilation. It all comes down to the amazing bloody battle which lasts for almost an hour, amazing filmmaking.

9. The Ides of March George Clooney's underrated political film about the inside of an American campaign. Clooney plays the candidate, while Ryan Gosling is the young ambitious campaign manager hellbent on getting him elected. The film is full of twists and turns, and some really great filmmaking from Clooney and a top notch ensemble cast working with a great script.

10. Our Idiot Brother Paul Rudd's wonderful comedic performance brings this film to a different level. A comedy about family, relationships, and how being an honest person can get you into trouble. Rudd makes his hippy dufus character both lovable and memorable.

Other films that just missed the list in no particular order would be Brad Bird's "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" featuring some of this year's best action pieces, Steven Spielberg's epic "War Horse", the lady comedy "Bridesmaids" featuring Kristen Wig's brilliant comedic performance, Johnny Depp in "Rango" the psychedelic lizard western, Martin Scorsese's ode the old cinema "Hugo", and Clint Eastwood's intriguing bio "J. Edgar".

Some films I failed to see that I wish I could've "The Help, "The Artist", "Margaret", "A Dangerous Method", "Uncle Boonmee who can recall his Past Lives", "Shame", and "Melancholia."