Honourable Mentions 2011

Every year I put together a list of my favourite films. Last year was an extremely difficult year, as there were a lot of great films to chose from. It's also inevitable that some great movies will get missed out.

Before I put together my 2012 list, I thought I should mention some of the films that I didn't manage to see in time to make it into last year's list, but would almost certainly have broken into the top 10.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Writer: Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a film that improves with each viewing. I've watched it about twenty times now, and each time I find something I hadn't noticed before. Yes, it's a slow film, but that's what makes it great. Alfredson is a master of atmosphere.

A Separation

Director: Asghar Faradhi
Writer: Asghar Faradhi

I hated A Separation the first time I watched it. I couldn't understand why the director allowed so many important narrative developments to happen off-screen. I felt like I was watching an Iranian soap-opera. But then I realised that A Separation is one of the best screenplays ever written, no exaggeration.

The whole film is about subjectivity, and about how people lie and decieve, not because they are bad people, but because they are human.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Writer: Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger

I'm not trying to be ironic with this choice. I genuinely think Kung Fu Panda 2 was one of the best films of 2011. It managed to retain all the charm of the original, without feeling tired or repetitive.

Weekend

Director: Andrew Haigh
Writer: Andrew Haigh

Weekend is a touching love story about identity and self-discovery. It is about two men who fall in love, but it has nothing to do with being gay. It is simultaneously sad and uplifting. The director allows the audience to project their own experiences onto these characters and identify with their struggles. I challenge anyone, man or woman, gay or straight, to not fall in love with these characters.

Another Earth

Director: Mike Cahill
Writer: Mike Cahill & Brit Marling

Another Earth was my second favourite film of 2011 (after Drive), but I didn't manage to see it until this year. It raises important and thoughtful questions about life (What would you say if you could meet yourself?) and has an interesting relationship at its core.

It also has one of the most beautiful, elegant and touching scenes I have ever witnessed. The Russian cosmonaut scene. It's just incredible.