Voting is definitely a great way to voice ones opinions and I never turn down an opportunity to vote. This January it just happens to be voting season once again. As a Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America member I have the opportunity to vote on the best Directors, Actors and movies of 2011. So over the holiday break and into January before the deadlines hit I head to the silver screen to watch, so I may be a knowledgable voter. At first when I received my ballots I could not think of a really good movie I have seen this past year, yet in the past few weeks I have watched some moving and compelling motion pictures. The deciding factor for me on a great movie is would I call my friends and recommend they see it and is it a movie I would watch again and again. Will it be one I remember for years to come and enjoy? Three examples of 5 star movie (for me) are "Gladiator", "Forest Gump" and of course "Titanic". I can not count how many times I have watched these pictures. A 4 star movie would be movies that move me, the story moves along well, the actors are really good, the lighting and the sets are well done and the action, if there is action is seamless not gratuitous. My examples "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". "The Blind Side", "Hurt Locker" "Waiting for Superman", "Akeelah and the Bee". And most movies I watch that I enjoy, fall into the 3 star range "Juno" 3+, "Buck" 3+ "Social Network", "Catch me if you Can".Two stars is a movie that I looked at my watch a few times, wondered when it would end and even though the sets or the lighting or the action was good, the story didn't seem to move or the movie just wasn't that entertaining, "A.I", "Eyes Wide Shut", "The Kids are Alright". And a single star movie for me is one I just wondered how it got made, why it got made, and most the time I just can not or do not want to finish watching it. These are not worth remembering.
Okay, so now you have some idea of what I like and don't, some controversial for many I know, however, I am just clarifying my perspective. So on to my votes for the movies of 2011. No 5 star movies for me this past year. But I really enjoyed "Margin Call" I found it riveting, well acted, and the story moved along well and was compelling. Really if one where to notice that most the movie took place in an office building with people talking, that does not sound interesting, but it was! As well, "The Descendants" made me laugh and made me cry, it moved me! This movie is character driven and not overdone or overacted. Good pacing, really well done movie. At the other end of the spectrum "Hugo" ugh really? The production design, look, costumes and sets beautifully done. But the story slow to come, I did not really care about the characters and it took way to long to unfold. Thank goodness I did not take my nephews with me, actually I couldn't even bribe them to go, how did they know? "J. Edgar" I love Leonardo and he acted this part amazingly, but ugh again, slow moving, I did not care and looked at my clock more then once. Okay on to the rest "The Help" well done, for me a 3+. I thought it would be a chick flick but it was not. I really enjoyed it and would watch it again. "War Horse" I really like this movie but I felt is was over hyped. I am not sure i have it in me to watch again. But may I mention the horse did an amazing job! "MoneyBall" Well done 4 stars for me. Acting was good, I was pulling for our hero and the story was compelling, I really enjoyed it, may watch it again if someone I really cared about wanted me to see it with them, but alone, no I probably would not. And a "Midnight in Paris" because I had just traveled to Paris It was fun to see the locations, but honestly I feel asleep during it and have no desire to continue watching it. I like the actors yet not really interested in trying it again. I have Just a few more movies to watch and then my final votes. Please stay tuned and please feel free to persuade me to vote for a movie you love.
