Big Screen Peter: Do rent these movies in 2011

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis has agreed to use whatever it is you call his writing style to provide some measure of analysis to those folks who still go to a theater to see a movie.

review by Peter Lewis

As the year quickly comes to a close, I’ve been asked to take stock of the theater releases I reviewed each week. From the 40+ cast of contenders, I’ve culled a list of 11 rentals to check out in 2011. (Link here for the 11 rentals to avoid in 2011.)

10. Toy Story 3
The third and final (?) installation of Toy Story didn’t quite live up to the previous incarnations, but that is less a commentary on this film as it is a testament to the greatness of the first two films. It’s obviously meant for the kids, but “Toy Story 3” is funny, exciting and full of deeply honest emotions.

9. An Education
No actress caught my eye quite like Carey Mulligan in “An Education.” The film is a smart coming of age tale and Mulligan carried off her task as star with unequaled aplomb. From the script on down to the direction, the film is a perfectly balanced jewel.

8. Despicable Me
Each year there is one animated film that stands out in a fog of competition. This year, it was “Despicable Me.” Like many animated creations, the film is pure slapstick. While the content may border on the absurd, the story is emotionally transformative. And it’s funny as hell to boot.

7. The Good The Bad The Weird
This one should perhaps have an asterisk by its name due to the fact it first appeared in 2008. However, it wasn’t released to U.S. theaters until this past spring, so I’m counting it. This film is hyper-stylized, featuring aesthetic violence to make even Tarantino grin. But unlike some of its graphic brethren, the film also packs an alluring storyline with some devilishly calculated twists.

6. Four Lions
This particular film didn’t get the full treatment of a review, but it is well worth a viewing. “Four Lions” is a jihadist satire, which is perhaps tenuous ground for filmmakers, but writer/director Christopher Morris pulls the film off with aplomb. It’s a small-budget film that is still making the cinema rounds in some larger theaters so it might be a few weeks still before you’re able to find it through rental, but it’s very much worth the effort to seek it out.

5. Shutter Island
“Shutter Island” was the first of two mind-bending thrillers starring Leonardo DiCaprio in 2010. Directed by the great Martin Scorsese, it seemed to be destined for the “Best Of” list from the start. The film is a thriller, plain and simple; the emotional honesty and terse originality is as bracing as the dark waves crashing on all sides of the Island.

4. Inception
“Inception” is a shining hope for summer blockbusters. The storyline was novel, the acting superb and the action thrilling. Above all else, however, the plot actually required thought. No movie has spurned such passionate debate (philosophical and beyond) since “The Matrix.” Let us hope the purity of the spectacle does not become tainted with overwrought sequels in the coming years.

3. 127 Hours
If any movie from 2010 fancies a claim to cinematic immortality, it’s “127 Hours.” Danny Boyle once again proves why he’s one of the best in the business, transforming a story whose outcome is widely known into a titillatingly taut piece of film work.

2. Black Swan
Because it was only subject to a limited release within the United States, this particular film has yet to get the full review treatment. Yet, even without a review, I strongly suggest viewing this tragic film if given the opportunity. It is a savage and intense tale featuring an unrelenting, all encompassing performance by Natalie Portman. The scope of Darren Aronofsky’s latest project is sweeping in its originality, functioning both as a psychological melodrama and as an unforgiving spectacle of lost innocence.

1A &1B Winter’s Bone & True Grit
I don’t mean to equivocate, but I just can’t bring myself to pick between these two stellar films.

True Grit
If there are better directors consistently making great movies, please fill me in. The Coen Brothers are on their own plane at this point. “True Grit” is as beautiful as it is funny, with absolutely amazing performances from the entire cast. I have a feeling the Oscars will be raining awards on “True Grit.”

Winter’s Bone
Tense and emotionally honest, there was virtually no better movie released in 2010. From top to bottom, the film captures the singular atmosphere of rural, hardscrabble life in the Ozark Mountains. The only thing between Jennifer Lawrence and an Academy Award is Natalie Portman.

On the surface, my final two picks may seem to indicate a geographical bias. But while I do have significant regional pride, the films are true testaments to the craft of film making. You could do much, much worse with your evening than watch these films.

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