2012 Oscar Nominations announced. What were your favorite films of 2011?

[Josef]

Well, the 2012 Academy Award nominations were announced and as usual, included a lot of films I didn't see. Here's the list of Best Picture nominees:

The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Hugo
Midnight In Paris
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse
The Tree of Life

Of those, I've only seen so far The Tree of Life, and that movie was kind of a mindfuck. A beautiful mindfuck, but one nevertheless. I do want to see The Descendants, Hugo, and Moneyball, and hopefully soon.

Anyway, of the movies I did see last year, here are my top 10:

10. Hanna
Probably the best movie you never heard of this year. Basically it's the story of a girl genetically made to be an elite killer, who just wants to be...a girl.
9. Don't Be Afraid of The Dark
I was considering not putting this on here, but it was probably the best scary film of 2011 and that is my favorite genre. Peter Jackson did a good job remaking a scary as hell 1970's TV movie, and the actress playing the little girl gives a chilling performance.
8. The Adjustment Bureau
In simple terms, a sci-fi love story.
7. Another Earth
A sci-fi masterpiece and sad story of redemption. A really powerful, and sad, movie.
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
A fitting end to the series, not to mention a visual and emotional thrill ride. I missed a few of the movies in the middle of the series and this makes me want to go back and watch them
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The second of the summer popcorn movies that were so much more. A compelling and sad tale of how the apes came to take over the earth. And probably worth it alone on seeing Andy Serkis's (LOTR's Gollum) performance as Caesar.
4. Win Win
The feel good movie of the year. Equal part comedy and drama, and lots of wrestling.
3. X-Men: First Class
I cannot believe this is considered a comic book movie. Maybe the best one ever?
2. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
David Fincher's adaptation of the best selling book is simply stunning. Plus Rooney Mara got a well deserved Oscar nomination for her role of the title character. Oh, and Trent Reznor's score fits the film perfectly.
1. Super 8
Who would have thought the best film of the year was a summer popcorn movie. But it is Anything that makes you think back to movies you saw as a kid, and how awesome they were, deserves that honor.

Honorable mentions:
Source Code, 50/50, Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil, Horrible Bosses

What were your favorite movies of last year?

Full list of Oscar nominations can be found here:

Oscar Nominations 2012: Academy Award Nominees List

[Tralee]

I have to agree with the Harry Potter - Deathly Hallows 2 (Loved all of them and the books) and while I haven't yet seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I look forward to seeing that one, again the books were fantastic. My other favorite was The Help, loved the book and was not at all disappointed in the movie, the characters were EXACTLY as I pictured them when I was reading the book. Laughed and cried through that one! (Same thing for Harry Potter, shucks, it's not like I didn't know how it ended or something. )


PS - I also get teary watching the ads for the humane society or shelters for animals. Just let me hear a bar or two of "On the wings of Angels" and I'm off.