The MacGuffin

With 2011 officially in the books, it’s time once again to look back and reflect on some of the best films that have come out in the past year. As with all movie writers, coming up with a list like this is usually expected, but also damn near impossible. To me, reading and writing these types of articles are only beneficial in spreading word about titles that really had an effect on me, while stirring up debate between those who strongly agree with my choices, or vehemently disagree. No one list is ever truly definitive; what is considered great to one may not register the same way to another. The only real truth is that 2011 had a wide range of very interesting and fascinating films, and just like every year, there’s always a good handful worth noting.

I’ve been trying to expand my horizons a bit more with the latest couple of titles that I’ve been seeing. There’s so much great work from everywhere that it always feels like I’m catching up to everyone else. I made it a point to see more stuff from around the world along with the usual mainstream fare that I enjoy. From a devastating Italian trilogy following World War II to a quietly effective thriller from Canada, and from a chilling character drama involving an escaped cult member to a dying high school teacher trying to make an extra buck for his family, there’s never a shortage of content to fill my unquenchable need to sit in a chair and stare at a screen for hours on end.

The Sundance Film Festival has a reputation for being a launching pad for filmmakers. This is becoming more challenging, as increasingly lately it seems to be a premiere spot for the indie branches of film studios to screen their latest projects. Still, every year, a few true indies seem to break out…and Martha Marcy May Marlene should be one of those films. Produced by indie über-producer Ted Hope and picked up by Fox Searchlight, this has the potential to be a star-making film.

Vera Farmiga has firmly established herself as one of the top actresses over the last decade, culminating with her Oscar nomination for Up In The Air. Having reached the pinnacle of acting, it seems like an opportune time to try her hand at something new, moving behind the camera for her directorial debut on the film Higher Ground.