Ten Movies from 2011 You May Not Have Heard of but Should Definitely See…
1.Melancholia– starring Kirstin Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg, featuring Kiefer Sutherland (24) and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood). Melancholia has some beautiful cinematography and an excellent story – though at times it can be a bit depressing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, however. It is a beautifully constructed film following two sisters and their strained relationship – further stressed by the prospect of a newly discovered planet, once hidden by the sun, threatening to collide with Earth. The tagline reads: It will change everything.
You can watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzD0U841LRM
2.Drive– starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston. This movie may not be for everyone – I personally enjoyed it, whereas my younger sister hated it – but it is worth watching, nonetheless. Ryan Gosling plays a brooding stuntman who moonlights as a getaway car driver; his life suddenly changes when he meets Irene (Carey Mulligan) and offers to help her husband out of a sticky situation. If you like action, check out this movie. It’s truly fantastic. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWX34ShfcsE
3.Anonymous– starring Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave. A controversial film about the origin of William Shakespeare’s collective works. Blasphemous in its questioning of Shakespeare’s validity, but brilliant enough to make me, a supportive Shakespeare fan, wonder. One of the best films I’ve seen all year – and quite possibly my new favourite movie. I don’t want to give too much away, so watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBmnkk0QW3Q
4.Midnight in Paris– starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. The duo reunite (remember them in Wedding Crashers?) for this rom-com set in France. The plot is difficult to explain in a few sentences, but you can check out the trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atLg2wQQxvU for more details.
5.Sleeping Beauty– starring Emily Browning and Rachel Blake. By no means is this a traditional adaptation of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, so if you’re expecting it to be a real-life twist on the Disney classic, keep looking. Emily Browning plays Lucy, a young woman trying to pay her way through university by doing a number of odd jobs – one extremely odd job in particular. I cannot describe it, it is just best to watch. View the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KmnrEWoYrE
6.Our Idiot Brother– starring Paul Rudd, Zooey Deschanel and Elizabeth Banks. Ultimately, this movie is about family – Ned hurts and helps his three sisters, always unintentionally, with his cluelessness; it is an unexpected role for Rudd, who is usually a man of comedy, but he plays it brilliantly. Check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfyHY58lqCk
7.Take Shelter– starring Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain. A man struggles to face reality after an apocalyptic dream, creating trouble within his marriage when he decides to build a storm shelter in his back yard. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5U4TtYpKIc
8.Tree of Life– starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain. This film is not for everyone – I know of people who have started watching it and gave up ten minutes in. But if you’re patient, an avid movie-goer or film enthusiast, it’s definitely worth the watch. It is an existentialist film about life and loss. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXRYA1dxP_0
9.One Day– starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Stergis. The story follows two friends who fall in and out of each others’ lives; it jumps through time, but takes place on the same day every year: the day they met. View the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU4qLmIXbOE
10.Beginners– starring Christopher Plummer, Ewan McGregor and Melanie Laurent. A dramedy (dramatic comedy) about a son who, after his father’s death, finds love. The movie revolves around the son’s relationship and memories of his father who came out of the closet after being married for over 40 years. It showcases the journey of the son’s new love, the father’s new life and their strong bond. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFM3AE64bgw&feature=fvst