In anticipation of this year’s upcoming movie awards season, the editorial team here at The Urban Shogun want to give you our view on our personal favourite films of 2011. We’re a diverse bunch here at The Urban Shogun, with none of us coming to an actual consensus over which film was in fact the best. So rather than just pick one, we each posted our own favourite film of last year.

So go get yourself some popcorn, as we unveil our favourite films of 2011.

Warrior

Edwin Khoo – Editor-in-Chief

More than just a head-bashing fight film, Warrior tells the heart-wrenching story of a fractured family’s struggle to come together in this year’s best and most underrated film of the year. This powerful and moving action-drama hops onto the tail of one of the best fight films in recent years, The Fighter, this time set against the backdrop of mixed martial arts.

Tom Hardy (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises) plays the role of Tommy Conlon, a man seemingly with the weight of the world on his shoulders as he prepares for the world’s largest mixed martial arts tournament by reaching out to his departed father Paddy, played by a fantastic Nick Nolte (The Thin Red Line, Hotel Rwanda). We also see life through the eyes of his brother and high school physics teacher Brendan, played by Joel Edgerton (King Arthur, The Thing) who must return to life in the ring or face losing everything he holds dear to him. Despite the no holds barred nature of the sport, Warrior is beautifully shot with well-paced action choreography and some truly emotional moments to break up the carnage of the cage.

Warrior pulls no punches and despite the clichéd tale of in-family feuds and redemption, will take you through a journey of highs and lows from start to finish.

Moneyball

Andrew Wong – Writer

While some might argue that 2011 wasn’t a great year for films, September was undeniably one of the industry’s best months with two knock out hits ‘the Warrior’ and ‘Drive’ rolling out within a week of each other. Just when filmgoers thought they’d seen it all, Columbia Pictures threw us a curve ball in the form of Bennett Miller’s biographical drama on Billy Beane; general manager of the Oakland Athletics and his all-or-nothing bet on an unconventional method to assemble his baseball team.

Based on Michael Lewis’ book of the same name, ‘Moneyball’ starring Brad Pitt (Ocean’s Eleven, Fight Club) and Jonah Hill (Superbad , Knocked Up) is an overwhelmingly superb combination of clever direction and dynamic acting. The film strikes the right balance of drama, humour and intelligence all wrapped up in a story that is partly a clichéd reconciliation of that American high school conflict of the jock and the nerd in the seemingly opposed relationship of characters Billy(Pitt) and Peter(Hill).

That being said, ‘Moneyball’ is a heartening tale of triumph over adversity, belief in hope and the importance of valuing the journey over the destination; an instant classic that deserves no less than a massive two thumbs up.

X-Men – First Class

Dan Rushton – Writer

Everyone loves a tale of redemption, and my film of 2011 is certainly that. Not the redemption of a specific character however, but of the franchise as a whole. After several lacklustre sequels, everyone’s favourite mutants returned to our screens in the form of Matthew Vaughn’s (Stardust, Kick-Ass) X-Men First Class. Detailing the events which led to the X-Men being formed, First Class manages to provide a compelling backstory for these characters, but also a narrative that stands up strongly in its own right.

The majority of film takes place in the early sixties, with a mutant related mystery surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis. As the US government drafts in mutation expert Charles Xavier, Erik Lensherr is hunting down the Nazi responsible for his mother’s death, and the performances of both James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are spot on, wisely choosing not to attempt to impersonate their counterparts in the orignal trilogy (Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen respectively).

While the mutant roster and special effects are the best seen in the franchise to date (the final act is especially stunning), it’s the humour that really raises First Class above the rest. The screenplay’s wit and gentle nods to future events, ensures an enjoyable ride for any viewer, but a little extra for those familiar with the series.

Source Code

William Judd – Writer

Source Code opens with classic amnesia cinema; Colter Stevens wakes on a train in a state of confusion. Across from him is a pretty girl called Christina, who regards his increasingly frantic questions with humour and then concern. Colter retreats to the bathroom and regards his changed countenance; instead of a pilot, he’s now schoolteacher Sean Fentman. His contemplation and his life end abruptly when the train then explodes in a speeding fireball. And all of that is just within the first few minutes of the film.

As the tension continues to escalate, director Jones does well to weave some philosophical moments that lend weight to the satisfying conclusion. With his first film, Moon, he did well to craft a believable sci-fi thriller. With Source Code, the director has maintained his streak by presenting another top-notch film that hits even closer to home.

Thor

Kai Liu – Writer

Personally I prefer DC superheroes over Marvel superheroes but Thor is the undoubted exception. I’d never read any of the Thor comics before watching the film but after seeing it, I can say for certain that the beastly Asgardian has definitely become one of my favourite superheroes.

The cinematography and visuals are Thor’s strongest factors. Asgard is depicted fantastically. It completely fulfilled the requirements of being a pristine, paradise like kingdom, not to mention the grandeur that Thor’s home was designed to have. It’s comparable to George Lucas’ Naboo in The Phantom Menace. The costumes were also another plus point for the movie. Thor and Loki strutted around in garments and helmets that illustrated their extravagant yet high class way of life. Finally I must add that Ashley Miller constructed a very ‘efficient’ plot that successfully illustrates Thor’s beginnings without adding too much detail, promising to keep even the most apathetic viewers entertained.

All in all, Thor is a fantastic movie that succeeds in terms of its graphics and acting. Kenneth Branagh really steps up to the challenge of directing a quality superhero movie ( although still not quite as impressive as Chistopher Nolan’s Batman). Thor 2 is already scheduled to come out in late 2013 and I for one surely cannot wait.

We need to talk about Kevin

Ka Lan Leung – Writer

My favourite film of 2011 has to be Lyne Ramsey’s thought provoking and haunting film, We Need To Talk About Kevin. After viewing this gem you’ll be thinking twice before embarking on parenthood.

We Need To Talk About Kevin is only Lyne Ramsey’s third feature film, following a decade long hiatus since “Morvern Callar” in 2002. The Glaswegian director first wowed us with her gritty debut feature “Ratcatcher”, which undeniably demonstrated that she is truly the talented auteur. In her adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s best seller “We Need To Talk About Kevin”, she takes us out of the streets of Glasgow and into the eyes of our protagonist Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton). The film discards the novel’s letter format and brings in a fine blend of flashbacks, accompanied by a sensational soundtrack. The story slowly unravels the antagonistic relationship between mother and son.

This harrowing tale echoes the very question of nature versus nurture. The point of view concept positions itself on the unreliable narrator angle and also adds a brisk sense of suspense as it truly makes us question our own pre-conceptions. This is without a doubt, the most interesting film of 2011 and truly deserves to be seen. So go do yourself a favour and watch it.

So those are our picks for our favourite film of 2011.

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