Which last year’s movies were highest rated by film critics.
I like to check Metacritic scores and use the averages as a reference because of several reasons. It usually acts as a cold shower for overhyped blockbusters, but more importantly, critics tend to cover and evaluate much broader specter of movies, many of which do not receive a wide attention of the biggest distributors or major media outlets. So it’s a good source for more complicated, serious movies with less popular but sometimes brilliant ideas, stories and acting.
Many of new IMDb top 250 movies have high average critic score too, including the incredible 94 for A Separation, or are among the Globe and Oscar nominations, so I won’t repeat them. Metacritic marks movie with green “good” color if it has more than 60 average, but I’ll use the same bar as currently in IMDb list, which according to Metacritic system is more than 80. Again, despite any opinions about critics or particular movie types, I think it is definitely worth at least to take a closer look at them.
Some of the current Metacritic best of 2011 list movies are from 2010 or even 2009, so I won’t include them.
Mysteries of Lisbon, 82
Big two part Portuguese and French movie about a bastard child of two aristocracy members, who is trying to find his parents. The story spans for three decades and shows interesting personalities in Portugal, France, Italy and Brazil. Seems really interesting. Was premiered at the festivals in late 2010.
The Trip, 82
British comedy with one of the brightest actors Steve Coogan, where he is playing himself going around and observing the countries finest restaurants.
Le Havre, 82
New film by awarded finish director Aki Kaurismäki, about an elderly French man giving a shelter to illegal child immigrant from Africa.
Meek’s Cutoff, 85
This was also released in festivals at the end of 2010, but in major countries last year. It’s really rare to see even a mediocre Western these days, let alone so highly rated. Marilyn Monroe star Michelle Williams stars in a movie about XIX century settlers, trying to find new home and going into harsh conditions of the Oregon mountains.
Take Shelter, 85
This looks like one of the most interesting independent movies from last year. Oscar nominated for Revolutionary Road (and a star of Boardwalk Empire) Michael Shannon and just Oscar nominated for The Help Jesicca Chastain in a film about a young family man, who is haunted by apocalyptic visions and has to decide how to protect his family against real or imaginative danger.
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