I prepared well for this list (sad), especially during the last few months.
Best Cinematic Performances
Michael Fassbender from "Shame" owned it. As Anderson Cowan from The Film Vault stated, "you could see the death on his face." Also, the manner in which he altered his reaction to the sight of a woman's wedding ring from one of the early scenes to his reaction to it in the final scene is priceless. It might be an expression that Only the Lonely understand.
Charlize Thereon from "Young Adult" was the best actress. She demonstrated that she had the skill and malleability to switch from solely dramatic roles to a mostly comedic role-- a DARK comedy, perhaps, but a comedy nonetheless. Unlike "Juno," the actors in "Young Adult" lifted Diablo Cody's good screenwriting to its full potential.
Best Film
A part of me wants to write that 2011 was a bad year for filmmaking, but I must credit Hollywood and its established players because it took so many chances on unconventional films such as "Tree of Life," "Cedar Rapids," and even "The Artist." That being said, I thought that NO great movies emerged from the pack. There were a few very good movies, though, and "The Way" is tops in my mind. "The Way" is listed as a 2010 movie on imdb because it had very limited releases in Europe, which means nothing to me. Almost everyone who saw it saw it during late '11. Its script has a few holes, but the acting is mostly solid and believable, and overall the story is excellent. It's a shame that almost no one knows about it.
Most Disappointing Movie
I love that I included this category in the first "best of" list that I made in '07 because there is always a movie that stands out as a mediocre offering that didn't live up to its potential. In this case, it's definitely The Hangover, Part 2. Some people say that the original "Hangover" was vastly overrated anyway, but for my money it was the best comedy of the '00s by far. Part 2 was almost doomed to failure. There was a time when we kind of ignored "Due Date" because we thought that Todd Phillips made it just to keep us occupied until Hangover 2 was released. Now, in retrospect, I think that it's safe to say that Due Date is actually superior to Hangover 2 and almost unappreciated now.
Best Song
If I considered "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People a 2011 song (as many magazines are) I would crown it "best song," but I can't consider it a 2011 song because I remember that I listened to it in late 2010 on L.A. radio. Also, it was recorded in 2009.
Last year I gave love to a fairly unknown artist. Here is another:
Best Album
It's not just 2011's best album. It's The Keys' best album. Unquestionably.
Best Joke
This joke might not be for everyone, and when I told it onstage a month ago (and credited its writer) there was dead silence in the room, BUT to me it's hilarious.
I must preface it by saying that Patton Oswalt discussed his parents' advice for parenting his own kids, and when he objected to their advice they said, "we did it with you, and you turned out alright." His reaction: "I didn't turn out alright. I talk about my dick to a room full of strangers!"
"I know that people consider the stripper the icon of bad parenting, but I put it to you that a comedian is FAR WORSE. A stripper walks onto the stage, shows her vag and breasts to you, and you give money to her AS YOU SHOULD. It's a nice, neighborly thing to do. Now imagine if the stripper came out, kept her clothes on and said, 'guys, for the duration of this REO Speedwagon song I'm going to be talking about my vagina.' Well, you would think 'this isn't good. Her dad must have fucked her while wearing a Garfield mask.'"
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