Palooza Presents "The 99 Films of 2011"

[Houston]

Hanna was one of my favorite characters from last year, and not just her I liked all of the characters(which is why I can rewatch it). The story had holes though, and like you implied not a strong direction. I would've liked it better if she had really killed Cate Blanchette in the first 20 minutes, and the rest of the story was about her time with the traveling family. Instead of just abandoning those characters half way through.

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

74. Our Idiot Brother
Paul Rudd, Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Peter Hermann, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Kathryn Hahn, Hugh Dancy​

Director -
Jesse Peretz
Writer(s) -
Evgenia Peretz, David Schisgall, Jesse Peretz
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 68%
Metacritic Score - 60/100
Viewed - Chinatown bootleg
This movie was way too heartwarming for me. Nothing really got a laugh out of me, just a few chuckles here and there. It wasn't a bad movie, but if you make a comedy, it better be funny. This movie had so much comedy talent involved, I couldn't help but be let down. Now that I think about it, this movie was pretty damn boring. Ned's kindness is shoved down your throat, even though he constantly makes the dumbest decision possible. This movie was quite frustrating.
Spoiler Alert - Hippies win.
Grade - F

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

73. Colombiana
Zoe Saldana, Jordi Molla, Lennie James, Cliff Curtis, Michael Vartan, Amandla Stenberg, Beto Benites​

Director -
Oliver Megaton
Writer(s) -
Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kaman
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 27%
Metacritic Score - 45/100
Viewed - Starz
Pretty generic revenge-action movie. The action is highly entertaining and Zoe Saldana is to die for. If she hadn't been in this movie, I wouldn't have even thought about seeing this movie. She carries it as best she can, but it's just not a good movie - the writing is atrocious and everything seems to follow a basic formula. I'm trying to think of parts of this movie that I liked, but all I can keep thinking about is the ridiculous police station scene and the plot holes. Zoe Saldana's fine ass deserves better than a run-of-the-mill Luc Besson action movie.
Spoiler Alert - Revenge, duh.
Grade - F

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

72. My Week with Marilyn
Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Julia Ormond, Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Dougray Scott, Emma Watson, Judi Dench​

Director -
Simon Curtis
Writer(s) -
Adrian Hodges
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 83%
Metacritic Score - 65/100
Viewed - redbox
I love Michelle Williams, I think she is a fantastic actress who doesn't get enough credit. She is phenomenal in this movie, pulling off a perfectly damaged Marilyn Monroe. Kenneth Branagh pulls off a spot-on Laurence Olivier. These are nowhere near the problems with the movie. The problem with the movie is Eddie Redmayne. I hated him so much. In no way did he deserve any of the good fortune that came his way. He was such an awful character, he was taking far too much time away from Williams and Branagh. I couldn't look past my hatred enough to accurately rate the movie, so it's a failure. That's too big of a deal not to move past. Fuck that guy. Emma Watson was wasted too. That piece of shit in no way deserved to have either her or Marilyn Monroe/Michelle Williams on his resume.
Spoiler Alert - You know what happens to the characters that matter.
Grade - F

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

71. Friends with Benefits
Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Richard Jenkins, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Bryan Greenberg, Andy Samberg, Shaun White​

Director -
Will Gluck
Writer(s) -
Keith Merriman, David A. Newman, Will Gluck
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 71%
Metacritic Score - 63/100
Viewed - Starz
I hate, I hate, I hate Peter Pan. Oh no, I mean romantic comedies. I hate romantic comedies. They're the worst. They're the CBS sitcoms of movies. This is the 'How I Met Your Mother' of romantic comedies. It's probably one of the better ones, but that doesn't change what it is. It's pretty funny, it's lighthearted, very likable characters. It takes all shitty romcom conventions and actually makes them interesting to an extent. Too bad it's still a romcom. Mila Kunis is to fucking die for, though. I would kill my first born just to smell her pussy. I would go gay for Woody Harrelson, too, just saying - that dude is awesome. Oh, and Jenna Elfman? GTFO Dharma. I liked it, but as many awful people have said, "it is what it is"
Spoiler Alert - They wind up together, thanks to a flashmob.
Grade - F

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

70. The Whistleblower
Rachel Weisz, Monica Bellucci, Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn, Nickolaj Lie Kaas, Benedict Cumberbatch​

Director -
Larysa Kondracki
Writer(s) -
Larysa Kondracki, Eilis Karwin
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 73%
Metacritic Score - 59/100
Viewed - redbox
I had a really hard time getting into this movie. It took me a ton of tries to actually sit down and watch it. When I finally did, I understood why it was so difficult - it's pretty damn boring. They tried to make it seem like a conspiracy movie, but every "twist" could be seen a mile away. There was no real investigation. On the surface it seemed to have too much to actually make a movie, but it winds up that they hardly had enough. The problem with based on a true story type movies is that something always has to be compromised in order to add that storytelling effect. This movie seemed to neglect that and stuck so close to the story that it sucked. I could be making that up, I know nothing nor care about the sex slavery and corruption uncovered. Monica Belucci was under utilized and over-clothed, too. I hate seeing her with too many clothes on, it feels like they're taking something away from us.
Spoiler Alert - Men are selfish and corrupt, dontchaknow?
Grade - F

 

[dell71]

Great thread!!! I actually liked a few of the ones mentioned so far: Hanna, Scream 4 (I'm a sucker for Scream movies), The Adjustment Bureau, thought Hall Pass was ok.

Only "complaint" I have though is Sucker Punch should've been a lot closer to #99. No way in hell were there 20 worse movies than that in '11.


And...

I firmly believe Cameron Diaz is the worst actress of this era. She is the drizzling shits.

Megan Fox begs to differ (either her or the chick that took her place in the last Transformers).

 

[Palooza]

Great thread!!! I actually liked a few of the ones mentioned so far: Hanna, Scream 4 (I'm a sucker for Scream movies), The Adjustment Bureau, thought Hall Pass was ok.

Besides Hall Pass, the ones mentioned were all bad to me because of my expectations or the execution of the movies. They all had great potential that they wasted.

Sucker Punch not being one of the worst is just my blind love for hot girls, violence and poppy music, I think.

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

69. The Change-Up
Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin​

Director -
David Dobkin
Writer(s) -
Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 25%
Metacritic Score - 39/100
Viewed - HQ torrent
Even though Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds have great chemistry, every joke can be seen from a mile away. The premise is also fucking retarded and although they seemed to try to make it work it just didn't. Bateman is really good in this and he always is, but the material is just not what you want. Seeing as how it's from the director of Wedding Crashers, you can see all the things wrong with that movie in this (too long, too sappy, too drawn out). I also fucking hate Leslie Mann so that didn't do much. Not enough Olivia Wilde in this either. I love raunchy humor but this just felt like raunchy for raunchy-sake. Annoying.
Spoiler Alert - They go back to normal. The "I don't get serious with girls" guy gets serious with a girl.
Grade - F

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

68. The Hangover: Part 2
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zack Galifinakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Jamie Chung, Mike Tyson, Jeffrey Tambor, Paul Giamatti​

Director -
Todd Phillips
Writer(s) -
Craig Mazin, Scot Armstrong, Todd Phillips
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 35%
Metacritic Score - 44/100
Viewed - In theaters
Not much needs to be said about this movie. It's the same exact thing as the first one, but in a different setting and more ridiculous shit happens. If you liked this first one, you'll like this. I laughed throughout the movie, sure, but the need for this movie doesn't exit. The first Hangover is the most overrated comedy ever so an exact replica isn't going to fair much better.
Spoiler Alert - They get too fucked up. Shit gets real. They solve their problems in hilarious fashion. Someone gets married.
Grade - F

 

[Houston]

I loved Friends With Benefits, probably a top 5 Rom Com for me. They're generally too generic and dumb, so the fact that it was a little different puts it miles ahead of majority of the genre.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Mila Kunis is to fucking die for, though. I would kill my first born just to smell her pussy.

I wonder what goes through the minds of these celebs when they google themselves and find little nuggets like this.

 

[Palooza]

I wonder what goes through the minds of these celebs when they google themselves and find little nuggets like this.

She should be flattered. I have a very strong seed, I wouldn't kill em for just anybody.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Look at that, after a few bumps, we're starting to agree on things.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BsbQrS6yC4A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

No we didnt...any enemy of Optimus Prime in 3d is an enemy of mine.

oh and yeah Colombiana sucked.

I wonder what goes through the minds of these celebs when they google themselves and find little nuggets like this.

KOF Fun Fact #9238476

 

I was up close and personal with Mila Kunis (along with rest of FamilyGuy cast) for a weekend back in 04 during there comeback tour (they were at the venue I worked). I hugged her every day and told her on the second day "let me know when this gets a little weird...she chuckles and says "i think we're already there",,,I say "thats somehow still not gonna stop me tomorrow"...she came up and hugged me the last day they were there. I still have a pic of me and her prominently in my social networks. While Macaulay Culkin is a cool guy my heart was shattered when I saw his head on her lap as she caressed his blonde locks.

KOF Fun Fact #9238477

 

Trust noone. The guy I handpicked to help me be there personal watchmen for the weekend was a "buddy" of mine who I kept giving cushy spots to. At the end of the weekend there was about a dozen scripts that were all signed by the entire voice cast meant for VIP guests of an after party. In the waning hours I tell him Im going to the bathroom keep an eye on things. I go take a dump come back...he has a script in his hand..and I ask where did you get that ? he says oh the madtv lady gave it to me they had a few leftover...I ask ..did you get me one ? ... he says ..oops I forgot. Guess who got sent home early and never got copies of his pics with some of the cast ?....asshole.

 

[Youk]

Surprised by your rankings, especially since I had Bad Teacher as a possible Oscar winner.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Question..

Are these Theater visits , DVDs , or "internet" based ?

Just wondering as some films seem a waste of a theater visit while others are almost demanding of a theater experience.

 

[Palooza]

Question..

Are these Theater visits , DVDs , or "internet" based ?

Just wondering as some films seem a waste of a theater visit while others are almost demanding of a theater experience.

Good question. I'll tell you how I saw each movie so far -

Green Lantern - HBO
Unknown - HBO
Restless - HQ torrent
Hall Pass - HBO
Your Highness - Theater*
Battle: Los Angeles - Starz
The Mechanic - DVD
The Sitter - Decent torrent
The Darkest Hour - decent torrent
Transformers - the works
Cowboys & Aliens - HQ torrent
Bad Teacher - theater*
PotC: On Stranger Tides - Starz
The Art of Getting By - HQ torrent
Fright Night - HQ torrent
The Thing - HQ torrent
Scream 4 - decent torrent
The Rum Diary - theater*
Happythankyoumoreplease - Starz
The Debt - HQ torrent
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy - HQ torrent
Red State - Netflix
Sucker Punch - HBO
Hanna - redbox
The Adjustment Bureau - decent torrent
Our Idiot Brother - bootleg from Chinatown
Colombiana - Starz
My Week with Marilyn - redbox
Friends with Benefits - Starz
The Whistleblower - redbox
The Change-Up - HQ torrent
The Hangover: Part 2 - theater
The Green Hornet - Starz
London Boulevard - redbox
Cedar Rapids - redbox

*waste of money

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

67. The Green Hornet
Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Edward James Olmos, Edward Furlong, James Franco​

Director -
Michael Gondry
Writer(s) -
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 44%
Metacritic Score - 39/100
Viewed - Starz
Yet another movie with a ton of promise that failed to deliver. Sometimes putting a few good things together does not equal a good product. I love Seth Rogen, his obnoxious brand of humor is right up my alley and Michael Gondry is a strange and cool director but putting them two together in a superhero movie (the Green Hornet of all people, too) was not the right fit. The plot is pretty much every cliche superhero origin plot, mixed in with Rogen's somewhat forced bromance with Kato. I will give some credit to a few of the action scenes, which had a lot of promise but did not really deliver. I can't believe I've gone this far without mentioning the abomination that is Cameron Diaz. Possibly the worst human being on Earth, she is pegged once again as the "love interest" something that even fat Seth Rogen shouldn't be looking for nevertheless superhero, skinny, rich playboy Rogen. Also, why is she an assistant? You're like 40 years old, get a real job, bitch.
Spoiler Alert - Tom Wilkinson dies too early. Superheroes win, the guy gets the girl, etc.
Grade - F

 

[Palooza]

99 Films of 2011

66. London Boulevard
​

Director -
William Monahan
Writer(s) -
William Monahan
Rotten Tomatoes Score - 32%
Metacritic Score - 52/100
Viewed - redbox
What a year of disappointments. This had everything to make it awesome - post-In Bruges Colin Farrell, the writer of the Departed, Ray Winstone as a bad guy and Keira Knightley as "the chick". Monahan seemed to be his own worst enemy here, not knowing really how to direct. He's too involved with dialogue and being cool that he neglects the important elements of storytelling with the camera. This movie had so much potential, it is a shame Monahan was far too over his head to turn this into yet another solid English crime thriller.
Spoiler Alert - Final scene STOLEN from Layer Cake
Grade - F

 

[Palooza]

There are no more F's left, sorry W2B. There are no D's, all of the movies I had under there were arguable failures, so I went with that. The next set of movies are all pretty mediocre, which why they're C's. AVERAGEMOVIES.