2011, so far...

I haven't seen a lot of new films this year, and the films that I have seen are massively mainstream and hardly stand out from the crowd.

It's very difficult being a University graduate, what with the empty pockets, the moths fluttering out my wallet every time I open it -- when you've recently completed a film degree, it's even bloody harder. Hence, getting anywhere is usually quite a mission, and my options are limited, so I make do with the Odeon and their crowd-pleasing blockbusters which rake in an obscene amount of cash week after week, including my own hard-earned (cough cough) money.

But, I digress.

Last year was a wonderful year for film. All 10 nominations for the biggest of big prizes (the Oscars) were fully-deserving of the honour and in my opinion, any one of them could have taken home the gold.

This year, not so much. Perhaps the hidden gems are cautiously peeking out from the respective hiding places, ready to launch themselves out during December, stunning us all into submissive praise and appreciation. Let's hope so --

What have we had this year? We've had the Superhero epics -- Captain America, Thor, X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern. The first 3 all had their moments and whilst they offered little but cheap popcorn thrills, they did it with the budget on their side, and with visual flare and the occasionally decent performances. Green Lantern was the chewing gum on the bottom of your shoe. Only less entertaining.

The Harry Potter saga came to a magically explosive end with Deathly Hallows, Part 2 -- again, another SFX-laden extravaganza which made good use of its astronomical budget and excited audiences in both 2D and 3D (you know, that cinema technique which offers cinema-goers a brand new experience which they wouldn't get anywhere else...).

Pirates splashed.
Transformers crashed.
Apes smashed.
Ryan Gosling amassed...

It's not been an awful year, but a so-so one -- no film, bar Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, has truly knocked my for one, but it's during this season where the award darlings tend to show themselves.

We Need To Talk About Kevin begins to sound in the deep -- a whisper here, a wayward comment there. Word begins to spread.
Martin Scorsese gives birth to perhaps another masterpiece.
Spielberg gets over the brainless, attractive fun that was Tintin and releases guaranteed sob-fest, War Horse.
Matt Damon buys a zoo.
Fincher reinvents Swedish goth drama.

A lot to look forward to. Maybe.

Until then, I'll give a run-down of my top film picks of the year:

Drive. Absolutely.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Positively.
Senna. Not just for the F1 fans.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. No doubt.
Beginners. Charming.
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams. If you're into Herzog.
Rango. Unpleasant fun.
Source Code. Smart, high-brow entertainment.


and Jack and Jill.....two Sandler's = double the fun (at least, that's how I'd market that aberration).

**clinks glass** Here's hoping for a strong end to the year.

Focker, out.