No matter your opinion of Quentin Tarantino as a filmmaker, you can’t argue whether the man knows more about movies than you do. You just can’t. Because he does. He knows more about movies than anybody.
You’ve read the rest of the year-end critics’ lists, now check out the best?
Director Quentin Tarantino has passed along his comprehensive rundown of 2011 films to the aptly named Quentin Tarantino Archives website, and it features enough conversation starters to last at least three rounds at the local bar. His top-eleven (plus one), presented without commentary:
1. “Midnight In Paris”
2. “Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes”
3. “Moneyball”
4. “The Skin I Live In”
5. “X-Men: First Class”
6. “Young Adult”
7. “Attack The Block”
8. “Red State”
9. “Warrior”
10. “The Artist” / “Our Idiot Brother” (tie)
11. “The Three Musketeers”
I’m a little surprised by some of QT’s selections. X-Men: First Class? Yeah, it was good—really, really good, actually—but it’s a little contrarian to list it among the movies of the year. Plus, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is ranked second. What is that, even.
Still, I am OK with Quentin’s refusal to conform to any algorithm: critics usually reserve the top ten slots for “high art,” whatever that is, so there’s something nice about applauding a “movie for movies’ sake.”
To be sure, other movies made Tarantino’s end-of-year cut, too, including Hugo, Drive, Hanna, and Tree of Life.
Now, I did know there was a Quentin Tarantino movie list going around, because last night James Wan—director of the original Saw—took to Twitter to obliquely “thank” Tarantino for including Insidious on his end-of-year list. Oh: Insidious was ranked among the “worst movies.” (WHAT. I cannot even.)
What’s on your year-end movie list?
Attack the Block and The Skin I Live In, yes yes YES. Both amazing films. Loved them so much.