-Hobo with a Shotgun-
This is, by far, the most tasteless movie on the list. It's also the movie you put on when all your twisted friends come over for a party - it'll knock 'em flat. Designed as an homage to trash cinema of the '80s and late '70s, this grimy gold nugget is about a world-weary Hobo who decides to take out the garbage (a.k.a. drug dealers, crime lords, pedophiles, reality show producers, etc) one pump-action blast at a time. Don't let all of the overacting, cheap gore and nonstop profanity fool you - this flick has a heart of gold. The central relationship in this movie, between the Hobo (the legendary Rutger Hauer) and a pretty young hooker named Abby, who becomes his savior/apprentice (awesome newcomer Molly Dunsworth), grounds the plot and provides some honest-to-goodness emotional heft, enhancing the whole affair. Or you can just enjoy the 'splosions. And the colorful cinematography. It's not for everyone, but if you grew up watching Troma films on late night cable TV, this might be right up your alley. And always remember: "If life gives you razor blades, you make a baseball bat covered in razor blades." Sploosh.
-The Tree of Life-
Do you enjoy poetry? If not, then stay away from the work of director Terrence Malick because it's all prose. Visual prose. He's always been interested in conveying thoughts and emotions through imagery, and this is no more evident than here in his latest film (his fifth movie in forty years). To me it's a movie about the relationship between creator and child, the imperfect nature of that relationship, and the constant tug of war between the emotions and practicalities that affect it all. And there are lots of pretty pictures to enjoy, as well - every Malick film contains images that you haven't seen before and likely will never see anywhere else. Beyond the photography, there are great performances by Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain to behold and there are also dinosaurs. And the creation of the Earth. And kids puttering around in their front yards in the '50s. And dream sequences with tricycles and tall guys in rooms with low ceilings. Did I mention prose? It's a wide-ranging, meditative movie, a one-of-a-kind experience that, like "Hobo with a Shotgun", is worth the ride for those with the mindset for something different. I don't consider this my all-time favorite of Malick's films (that would be "The Thin Red Line" - or maybe "Badlands"), but it's one of my faves of 2011.
-Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol-
2011 was filled with great pulp thrillers - here's another. While I never saw much of the original series, I am a fan of these Tom Cruise-starring adaptations (yes, even the second one), with "Ghost Protocol" being my favorite of them all. This was shepherded by J.J. Abrams, who no doubt had a hand in bringing Brad Bird in to direct - a brilliant choice, since Bird's previous movies ("The Iron Giant", "The Incredibles", and "Ratatouille") are some of my favorite animated movies ever. He can make a quality live-action movie as well, proving he's a deft hand at coordinating action, character and story to maximum, lean effect. It was also a wise choice to surround Cruise's Ethan Hunt with well-drawn characters portrayed by excellent actors - each of these thespians can (and do) easily carry a movie all on their own. And whatever you think of Cruise's wacky personal life, he is still a great leading man. I recommend you check this one out. It's not life-changing or deeply meaningful or anything, but you may be surprised how much you dig it by the time the end credits roll. It's a great Hollywood spy romp. And it also features the most ridiculously over elaborate way of sneaking down a hallway that I've ever seen in my life (it's cool from a technical standpoint, though)!
-Troll Hunter-
Every time that I think I'm starting to get sick of found-footage thrillers another one comes along and makes me believe again. Like "Troll Hunter", from director Andre Ovredal. Deep in the mountains of Norway, a trio of college film students are investigating someone who they think could be an illegal bear poacher only to discover that he's actually a government employee who's saddled with the thankless task of rounding up wayward trolls who've escaped from Norway's super-secret troll preserve in the northern wastes. His disgruntlement with his employers leads him to invite the students along for a little "dirty jobs'-style inside scoop. While the movie indulges in (while playing off of) the usual found-footage cliches and is often quite tense and scary, the ridiculousness of the subject matter and slight twinge of political satire give it a welcome undercurrent of humor that I find irresistible. Add to that some killer CGI, straight-faced performances by all of the lead actors, gorgeous scenery and loads of rich troll mythology (as well as a cool variety of beasties) and you have a one of my favorite foreign flicks of 2011.
-Drive-
Yet another blast of grimy cool from director Nicholas Winding Refn, "Drive" is a low budget crime potboiler with an '80s tech-noir vibe. Ryan Gosling is the Driver, Hollywood stuntman by day, getaway driver by night. When the object of his affections (Carey Mulligan) runs afoul of some local crime lords (Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman), the Driver must sacrifice everything to save her and her son's life. There's a bit of "Taxi Driver" here, but while Robert DeNiro's performance in that movie screams "unbalanced", Gosling's Driver is more like a coiled spring. He's stock still, he barely talks, but when he acts, things (and people) get damaged. Badly. In fact, by the end of the movie, he's practically a horror movie villain like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers, complete with a very creepy mask. It's mucho gritty and disturbing but has an old-school bad ass sexy love story vibe that I dig deeply - the music is modern but with an '80s-like feel, the opening credits are in hot pink cursive and the nighttime streets are bathed in a golden yellow glow. If you like slow-burn movies, this one smolders.
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