Peter Travers’ and Richard Corliss’ Top Ten Lists of 2011
I know I said something of similar proportions last year, but I’ll say it again. Peter Travers is a phenomenal film critic. Not just in his taste, but more specifically his writing quality. How else would he survive over twenty years as the chief film critic for one of the country’s most legendary and savvy entertainment news magazines?
And yet, again, Travers has issued us a year-end list that, that while full of good films, is the most unexciting, safest and downright generic offerings one could possibly find. I mean this comes from a man who sees more movies annually then there are days in the year. And yet, every year, his list somehow magically mirrors the Oscar nominees for Best Picture by a margin of one or two. Coincidence?
Gotta give credit to the man for his ballsy choice of “Drive” at the top spot. I’m not even much a fan of the film, but for a list as plain-jane as this one, “Drive” is definitely its diciest facet.
Travers’ List
1. “Drive”
2. “The Artist”
3. “The Descendants”
4. “Moneyball”
5. “Midnight in Paris”
6. “Hugo”
7. “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
8. “Margin Call”
9. “The Tree of Life”
10. “War Horse”, “The Help”, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”
Meanwhile, Richard Corliss of TIME Magazine has issued a list that’s horrible in completely different ways. Where Travers’ suffered from a lack of creativity, the TIME reporter’s list suffers from just straight-up bad taste. Yes, at least it differs from the run-of-the-mill choices of Rolling Stone, but naming “Fast Five” among the ten best films of the year makes me question how a man like that even operates this kind of gig? I mean is he kidding? This list reminds me of my own taste in movies when I was about twelve or thirteen.
Corliss:
1. The Artist
2. Hugo
3. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
4. The Tree of Life
5. War Horse
6. Super 8
7. Cave of Forgotten Dreams
8. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
9. Rango
10. Fast Five
Hopefully, as more lists come out we’ll see some depth, creativity and flair. All try to update you if anything along those lines surfaces.
The Edge of the Frame 