Inspired by an idea from Sydney critic Mathieu Riviera (see here), I’ve decided to put together a list of the best movies of 2011 according to Brisbane-based film critics. I rounded up those I run into regularly at film previews and asked them to submit their top 10 lists along with a few other details. To come up with an overall top 10 list, I’m using a simple points system. It is as follows: |
| - | 3 points – the top film on each list. |
| - | 2 points – the films ranked between 2nd and 5th on each list. |
| - | 1 point – the films ranked between 6th and 10th on each list. |
If two films finished on the same score, the film that appeared on the most number of top 10 lists was ranked higher (as an indication of wider approval). In the end, there was one clear stand out – Drive. Despite more than 200 films being released in Brisbane cinemas throughout the year, Drive managed to make it on 10 of the 13 lists submitted. Two critics, Sarah Ward and Rohan Williams, had it as their number one selection. Garry Williams and Jason Reed also felt Ryan Gosling’s performance was the year’s best. Taking second and third place were two of the more divisive films of the year – The Tree Of Life and Melancholia. It’s interesting that all three movies featured prominently at the Cannes Film Festival back in May. Drive won best director, The Tree Of Life won best film and Melancholia won best actress. The overall top 10 featured a mix of genres. It included a hilarious black comedy (The Guard), a sinister Spanish thriller (The Skin I Live In), a fun sci-fi action flick (Super 8), a riveting formula one documentary (Senna) and a disturbing real-life Australian drama (Snowtown). If you haven’t seen any of these films, put them on your “to do list” for the new year. On that note, here is the top 10 (well, there are actually 12 given the tie for 9th place) according to Brisbane critics for 2011… |
| Brisbane Film Critics - Top 10 Of 2011 | ||||
 | 1. | Drive |  | |
| 2. | The Tree Of Life | |||
| 3. | Melancholia | |||
| 4. | Another Year | |||
| 4. | The Guard | |||
| 6. | The Skin I Live In | |||
| 7. | Black Swan | |||
| 8. | Super 8 | |||
| 9. | 127 Hours | |||
| 9. | Certified Copy | |||
| 9. | Senna | |||
| 9. | Snowtown | |||
You can view a table of all the votes and final scores by clicking here. A big thanks to all the critics who were able to contribute. Hopefully we'll do it again next year! You can check out information on all the Brisbane critics (along with their choices for the best and worst of 2011) below. |
 | Matthew Toomey |
| Born in Brisbane, Matt Toomey was introduced to the world of cinema when he landed a job at a video store fresh out of high school in 1995. A few years later, he started his own website and reviewed movies regularly on a community radio station. In 2005, he joined the team at 612ABC and can be heard reviewing the latest releases every Thursday on Brisbane’s highest rated breakfast program with Spencer Howson. He can also be heard nationally every second Sunday at 1:30pm on ABC Digital. | |
| Website: www.thefilmpie.com | |
| Twitter: @icestorm77 |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | Another Year | 6. | Albert Nobbs |
| | 2. | 127 Hours | 7. | Super 8 |
| | 3. | Senna | 8. | The Guard |
| | 4. | The Skin I Live In | 9. | Rabbit Hole |
| | 5. | Inside Job | 10. | Drive |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Take This Waltz |
| | 2. | The Descendants |
| | 3. | 50/50 |
| | 4. | The Artist |
| | 5. | Tyrannosaur |
| Best Australian Film: | Snowtown |
| Best Animated Film: | The Adventures Of Tintin |
| Best Documentary: | Senna |
| Best Performance: | Lesley Manville (Another Year) |
| Worst Film: | I Don't Know How She Does It |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Never Say Never |
 |
 | Tim Milful |
| Tim Milfull is a Brisbane-based film critic and film academic who writes for The Independent, one of Australia’s last surviving independent newspapers, and Rave Magazine, Australia’s premier music street press publication. In early 2012, Tim will launch his film blog, drfrootloop.com, and will set to rest four years of agony when he graduates with his PhD in Creative Writing at QUT. | |
| Website: http://www.theindependent.com.au/tim-milfull.html | |
| Twitter: @milfull |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | Snowtown | 6. | The Guard |
| | 2. | The Hunter | 7. | Black Swan |
| | 3. | Biutiful | 8. | This Is Not A Film |
| | 4. | Burning Man | 9. | The Orator |
| | 5. | The Skin I Live In | 10. | How I Ended This Summer |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Arirang |
| | 2. | I Wish |
| | 3. | The Last Circus |
| | 4. | The Yellow Sea |
| | 5. | Goodbye |
| Best Australian Film: | Snowtown |
| Best Animated Film: | Rango |
| Best Documentary: | The Tall Man |
| Best Performance: | Jafar Panahi (This Is Not A Film) |
| Worst Film: | Jack & Jill |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | La Quattro Volte |
 |
 | Sarah Ward |
| Sarah Ward is a freelance film critic, writer and festival devotee. Her written contributions can be found across a range of cinema, culture and festival websites including Arts Hub, Trespass Magazine, At The Cinema, KOFFIA, the Spanish Film Festival, SBS Film’s Social Review and her own site, Play/Pause. In addition, she has worked for a number of entertainment and arts organisations, including her current role at the Brisbane International Film Festival. | |
| Website: http://www.artshub.com.au http://www.trespassmag.com http://www.atthecinema.net http://www.playslashpause.com | |
| Twitter: @swardplay |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | Drive | 6. | We Need To Talk About Kevin |
| | 2. | Melancholia | 7. | Take Shelter |
| | 3. | The Tree Of Life | 8. | Black Swan |
| | 4. | Senna | 9. | Midnight In Paris |
| | 5. | The Skin I Live In | 10. | Never Let Me Go |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Hugo |
| | 2. | Martha Marcy May Marlene |
| | 3. | The Turin Horse |
| | 4. | Tyrannosaur |
| | 5. | A Separation |
| Best Australian Film: | The Hunter |
| Best Animated Film: | Rango |
| Best Documentary: | Senna |
| Best Performance: | Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) |
| Worst Film: | Battle: Los Angeles |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | The Lincoln Lawyer |
 |
 | Baz McAlister |
| Born in Northern Ireland and now a resident in sunny Brisbane, Baz McAlister is a freelance writer, columnist and copywriter with articles regularly published in The Courier Mail, The Sunday Mail and mX. He is also an arts writer for Time Off magazine where he reviews films regularly. | |
| Website: www.couriermail.com.au | |
| Twitter: @bazmcalister |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | True Grit | 6. | Super 8 |
| | 2. | The Guard | 7. | The Trip |
| | 3. | 127 Hours | 8. | Paul |
| | 4. | Attack The Block | 9. | Source Code |
| | 5. | Drive | 10. | The Inbetweeners Movie |
| Best Australian Film: | Crawl |
| Best Animated Film: | Tangled |
| Best Documentary: | Catfish |
| Best Performance: | Brendan Gleeson (The Guard) |
| Worst Film: | Green Hornet |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Fast Five |
 |
 | Des Patridge |
| Des Partridge's career began in the 1950s where he wrote essays for The Sunday Mail's children section. He arrived at The Courier Mail a few years later and started writing film reviews on a regular basis in 1973. His first review was The Murder On The Orient Express. Retiring in 2010, Des still gets to the movies on a regular basis and you follow his opinions through his Twitter feed. | |
| Website: n/a | |
| Twitter: @DesPartridge |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | The Tree Of Life | 6. | The Skin I Live In |
| | 2. | Incendies | 7. | Midnight In Paris |
| | 3. | Snowtown | 8. | Rabbit Hole |
| | 4. | Bridesmaids | 9. | The Conspirator |
| | 5. | Win Win | 10. | Moneyball |
| Best Australian Film: | Snowtown |
| Best Animated Film: | Arthur Christmas |
| Best Documentary: | Senna |
| Best Performance: | Daniel Henshall (Snowtown) & Brad Pitt (Moneyball, The Tree Of Life) |
| Worst Film: | I Don't Know How She Does It & New Year's Eve |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Snowtown |
 |
 | Rohan Williams |
| Rohan Williams is the Deputy Editor of Queensland institution Scene Magazine and Editor of Junior Magazine, a monthly A5 glossy. | |
| Website: http://www.junioronline.com.au http://www.scenemagazine.com.au | |
| Twitter: @junior_magazine @scene_magazine |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | Drive | 6. | Bridesmaids |
| | 2. | Thor | 7. | Warrior |
| | 3. | War Horse | 8. | Moneyball |
| | 4. | Super 8 | 9. | X-Men: First Class |
| | 5. | 127 Hours | 10. | Mission: Impossible 4 |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | The Muppets |
| | 2. | Hobo With A Shotgun |
| | 3. | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy |
| | 4. | The Fab Five |
| | 5. | Crawl |
| Best Australian Film: | The Hunter |
| Best Animated Film: | The Adventures Of Tintin |
| Best Documentary: | The Fab Five |
| Best Performance: | James Franco (127 Hours) |
| Worst Film: | Burke & Hare |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Fright Night |
 |
| David Edwards |
| David Edwards is the editor and film critic for The Blurb, a website that provides the latest news and reviews for arts entertainment in Australia. |
| Website: http://www.theblurb.com.au/ |
| Twitter: n/a |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | Anonymous | 6. | Midnight In Paris |
| | 2. | Black Swan | 7. | Drive |
| | 3. | Melancholia | 8. | Never Let Me Go |
| | 4. | The Guard | 9. | Rabbit Hole |
| | 5. | The Ides Of March | 10. | The Debt |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Freakonomics |
| Best Australian Film: | Red Dog |
| Best Animated Film: | The Adventures Of Tintin |
| Best Performance: | Bredan Gleeson (The Guard) |
| Worst Film: | The Change Up |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Horrible Bosses |
 |
 | Michael Dalton |
| Michael Dalton is the editor and film critic for the "Screen" section of M/C Reviews. | |
| Website: http://reviews.media-culture.org.au/ | |
| Twitter: n/a |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | The Tree Of Life | 6. | Melancholia |
| | 2. | The Skin I Live In | 7. | Another Year |
| | 3. | The Guard | 8. | Snowtown |
| | 4. | Drive | 9. | Warrior |
| | 5. | Of Gods And Men | 10. | Catfish |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | I Saw The Devil |
| | 2. | All Good Things |
| | 3. | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy |
| | 4. | Take Shelter |
| | 5. | I Wish |
| Best Australian Film: | Snowtown |
| Best Animated Film: | The Adventures Of Tintin |
| Best Documentary: | Cane Toads: The Conquest |
| Best Performance: | Lesley Manville (Another Year) |
| Worst Film: | Red Dog |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Green Lantern |
 |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | 13 Assassins | 6. | Drive |
| | 2. | The Ides Of March | 7. | Another Year |
| | 3. | Hanna | 8. | Source Code |
| | 4. | Black Swan | 9. | Moneyball |
| | 5. | Contagion | 10. | The Tree Of Life |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within |
| | 2. | A Separation |
| | 3. | Revenge: A Love Story |
| | 4. | Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey |
| | 5. | Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope |
| Best Australian Film: | Oranges And Sunshine |
| Best Animated Film: | Puss In Boots |
| Best Documentary: | Inside Job |
| Best Performance: | Ryan Gosling (Drive) |
| Worst Film: | Wasted On The Young |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Fast Five |
 |
 | David Faraker |
| David is a full-time student at the University of Queensland working on an Honours thesis about music in contemporary film and television musicals and melodramas. When he’s not procrastinating from this by reading his favourite film critics or listening to soundtracks, he is the editor of the movie review website The 500 Club, as well as a regular contributor. He is also an announcer on 4ZZZ’s (102.1FM) Film Club program every Thursday night from 6pm. | |
| Website: http://500.the400club.org/ | |
| Twitter: @SindgeonSmythe |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | Melancholia | 6. | Contagion |
| | 2. | Another Year | 7. | Warrior |
| | 3. | The Tree Of Life | 8. | Inside Job |
| | 4. | Tangled | 9. | Certified Copy |
| | 5. | Senna | 10. | Project Nim |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Tomboy |
| | 2. | Weekend |
| | 3. | Elena |
| | 4. | The Trouble With St Mary's |
| | 5. | The Kid With The Bike |
| Best Australian Film: | Mrs Carey's Concert |
| Best Animated Film: | Tangled |
| Best Documentary: | Senna |
| Best Performance: | Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia) |
| Worst Film: | Wasted On The Young |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Never Say Never |
 |
 | Alexeem Boyle |
| Alexeem Boyle is also an announcer on 4ZZZ’s (102.1FM) Film Club program every Thursday night from 6pm and writes regular reviews for the website The 500 Club. She is currently studying film & television at The University of Queensland. | |
| Website: http://500.the400club.org/ | |
| Twitter: n/a |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | The Tree Of Life | 6. | Win Win |
| | 2. | Melancholia | 7. | Another Year |
| | 3. | Certified Copy | 8. | Beginners |
| | 4. | Meek's Cutoff | 9. | We Need To Talk About Kevin |
| | 5. | Drive | 10. | Warrior |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Dogtooth |
| | 2. | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy |
| | 3. | Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene |
| | 4. | Take Shelter |
| | 5. | How To Die In Oregon |
| Best Australian Film: | Mrs Carey's Concert |
| Best Animated Film: | Tangled |
| Best Documentary: | Tabloid |
| Best Performance: | Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia) |
| Worst Film: | Snowtown |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Red State |
 |
 | Jason Reed |
| Jason Reed has a passion/obsession for film. He is also a screenwriter and film reviewer for QLD Street Press, The 400 Club (TV) & The 500 Club (Film). | |
| Website: http://500.the400club.org/ | |
| Twitter: @jprfilm |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | Certified Copy | 6. | The Guard |
| | 2. | Melancholia | 7. | Attack The Block |
| | 3. | Drive | 8. | Red State |
| | 4. | Super 8 | 9. | Submarine |
| | 5. | Barney's Version | 10. | Black Swan |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Tyrannosaur |
| | 2. | Rabies |
| | 3. | Take Shelter |
| | 4. | Martha Marcy May Marlene |
| Best Australian Film: | Mad Bastards |
| Best Animated Film: | Puss In Boots |
| Best Documentary: | This Is Not A Film |
| Best Performance: | Ryan Gosling (Drive) |
| Worst Film: | Sucker Punch |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Bridesmaids |
 |
 | Peter Taggart |
| Peter Taggart is a writer and film critic for Rave Magazine, a theatre critic for ArtsHub and sporadically pens short memoirs for his blog, On The Verge of Compassion. | |
| Website: http://www.petertaggart.com/ | |
| Twitter: @petertaggart |
| Top 10 Released Films: | 1. | True Grit | 6. | Drive |
| | 2. | We Need To Talk About Kevin | 7. | The Ides Of March |
| | 3. | Biutiful | 8. | Submarine |
| | 4. | Bridesmaids | 9. | Black Swan |
| | 5. | Midnight In Paris | 10. | Another Year |
| Top Unreleased Films: | 1. | Higher Ground |
| Best Australian Film: | Snowtown |
| Best Animated Film: | The Adventures Of Tintin |
| Best Documentary: | Inside Job |
| Best Performance: | Tilda Swinton (We Need To Talk About Kevin) |
| Worst Film: | Big Momma's Boy |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | Moneyball |
 |