“Liam Neeson vs. Wolves” is about all I needed to know to get me to buy my ticket for “The Grey”, and while the film did have Liam being epic in every conceivable fashion, the studio/trailers are selling you a different movie.

First off, “The Grey” is a beautifully shot, wonderfully acted film. If this were released later in the year, it would be a serious contender for an Oscar. But here it is, in what Hollywood considers “Dump Month”, which is a shame really, because this film has a lot more depth than what appears on the surface.

Liam Neeson stars as “Ottway”, a hunter employed by oil companies to keep the drillers safe by killing threats that walk on all fours (ie. Wolves). As “Ottway”, Liam brings his A-Game, making him seem like a real human being, with pain and suffering worn on his face. Early on in the film, he writes a letter to his wife, and the emotion in this scene is wonderful, no doubt drawing from Liam’s own personal experience with losing his wife tragically last year.

“The Grey” has a wonderful cast all around, including Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, and Frank Grillo. The big selling point for me was that real men were cast in the roles, instead of actors that can barely grow facial hair (I’m looking at you, Taylor Lautner!!!). All of the actors brought an authenticity to their roles, be they fathers or ex-cons. When its time for certain characters to bite it (see what I did there? Wolves. Bite it!), you hate to see it happen, as you honestly do care for these characters and the back-stories that they have.

Joe Carnahan co-wrote and directed “The Grey”, and while I feel he is fully capable of handling big action films like “The A-Team”, smaller character centric films like this one are where he truly shines. The film is truly poetic, taking on themes such as faith, mortality, and one’s place in this world without ever missing a step! The script feels real, the shots are beautiful, the actors feel authentic, and the score is magnificent! This film delivers!

Anything to complain about? Eh, my only beef was some of the camera work (a tiny amount) was too shaky, but that was probably because I was too close to the screen. (Note to self: arrive earlier to theater.)

In short, “The Grey” blew me away, and while some people in the theater didn’t exactly enjoy how it ended, I feel it perfectly captured the film’s essence.

Also, be sure to stay after the credits, as there’s an final scene!

In this episode: Titus, Jared, and John discuss their Top 10 lists of 2011 and debate about what they think are the worthy, and unworthy, picks.

You can listen below:

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The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 9 – 17, 2012 in Austin, Texas. We are also pleased to reveal the world premiere of Emmett Malloy’s documentary Big Easy Express as our Closing Night Film, which follows a train ride unlike any other with Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show.Big Easy Express will screen on Saturday, March 17. The program will also include the world premiere of Colombia Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ 21 Jump Street, screening in the Centerpiece slot on Monday, March 12. The 2012 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of celebrating ambitious experimentation with risk takers both in front of and behind the camera, and a deep immersion into cultural touchstones. The Midnighters feature section and the Short Film program will be announced on February 8.

Over the course of nine days, 130 features will screen at SXSW 2012. In addition to nine full days of film screenings, SXSW Film will ultimately feature over 100 informative and entertaining panels, workshops, mini-meetings and mentor sessions. Previously announced panels include A Conversation with Joss Whedon, a dialogue with Lena Dunham, Judd Apatow and more on the HBO series Girls, A Conversation with Cliff Martinez, Drive composer, and The Business of Kevin Smith among others. The final conference lineup will be announced February 15. Visit www.sxsw.com/film for more information and updates.

The 2012 SXSW Film Festival will feature:

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION

This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere.

 Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are:

Booster

Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin

When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.

Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail (World Premiere)

Eden

Director: Megan Griffiths, Screenwriters: Richard B. Phillips, Megan Griffiths, Story by: Richard B. Phillips & Chong Kim

A young Korean-American girl, abducted and forced into prostitution by domestic human traffickers, joins forces with her captors in a desperate plea to survive. Cast: Jamie Chung, Matt O’Leary, Beau Bridges, Jeanine Monterroza, Scott Mechlowicz (World Premiere)

Gayby

Director/Screenwriter: Jonathan Lisecki

Jenn and Matt, best friends since college who are now in their thirties, decide to have a child together, the old-fashioned way – even though Matt is gay and Jenn is straight. Cast: Jenn Harris, Matthew Wilkas, Mike Doyle, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Jack Ferver (World Premiere)

Gimme the Loot

Director/Screenwriter: Adam Leon

When Malcolm and Sofia’s latest graffiti masterpiece is buffed by a rival gang, these two determined Bronx teens must hustle, steal, and scheme to get spectacular revenge and become the biggest writers in the City. Cast: Tashiana Washington, Ty Hickson, Meeko, Zoe Lescaze, Sam Soghor

(World Premiere)

Los Chidos(Germany / Mexico / USA)

Director/Screenwriter: Omar Rodriguez Lopez

The Gonzales family tries hard to hold on to their beautiful Latino traditions of misogyny and homophobia when a tall, white, industrialist stranger appears, challenging their place in the exploitative food chain. Cast: Kim Stodel, María De Jesús Canales Ramírez, Manuel Ramos, Cecillia Gutiérrez, (World Premiere)

Pilgrim Song

Director: Martha Stephens, Screenwriters: Martha Stephens, Karrie Crouse

A pink-slipped music teacher ponders his stalled relationship and place in the world during an arduous trek across Kentucky’s Sheltowee Trace Trail.Cast: Timothy Morton, Bryan Marshall, Karrie Crouse, Harrison Cole, Michael Abbott Jr.(World Premiere)

Starlet

Director: Sean Baker, Screenwriters: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch

The film explores the unlikely friendship between 21-year-old Jane (Dree Hemingway), and 85 year-old Sadie (Besedka Johnson), two women whose worlds collide in California’s San Fernando Valley.

Cast: Dree Hemingway, Besedka Johnson, Stella Maeve, James Ransone, Karren Karagulian

(World Premiere)

The Taiwan Oyster

Director: Mark Jarrett, Screenwriters: Mark Jarrett, Jordan Heimer, Mitchell Jarrett

Two Ex-Pat Kindergarten teachers in Taiwan embark on a quixotic odyssey to bury a fellow countryman. Cast: Billy Harvey, Jeff Palmiotti, Leonora Lim(World Premiere)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

This year’s 8 films were selected from 845 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere.

Films screening in Documentary Feature Competition are:

Bay of All Saints

Director: Annie Eastman

As the last of the notorious water slums is demolished in Bahia, Brazil, will three single mothers face homelessness or rally for a better life? (World Premiere)

Beware of Mr. Baker

Director: Jay Bulger

Ginger Baker is the original rock ‘n roll madman junkie drummer superstar who everyone thought was dead but somehow survived 50+ years of heroin abuse, disastrous experiments and 5 marriages on 4 continents. (World Premiere)

The Central Park Effect

Director: Jeffrey Kimball

The film reveals the extraordinary array of wild birds who grace Manhattan’s celebrated patch of green, and the equally colorful, full-of-attitude New Yorkers who schedule their lives around the rhythms of migration. (World Premiere)

Jeff

Director: Chris James Thompson

A documentary about the people around Jeffrey Dahmer during the 1991 summer of his arrest for the murder of 17 people in Milwaukee. (World Premiere)

Seeking Asian Female

Director: Debbie Lum

When an American man with “yellow fever” meets a Chinese woman half his age online, documenting their attempt to build a marriage from scratch reveals hilarious and troubling complications for the couple and the filmmaker. (World Premiere)

The Sheik and I

Director: Caveh Zahedi

Commissioned by a Middle Eastern Biennial to make a film on the theme of “art as a subversive act,” independent filmmaker Caveh Zahedi (I am a Sex Addict) is threatened with a fatwa. (World Premiere)

The Source

Directors: Jodi Wille, Maria Demopoulos

The Source Family was a radical experiment in ’70s utopian living. Their popular restaurant, rock band, and beautiful women made them the darlings of Hollywood; but their outsider ideals led to their dramatic undoing. (World Premiere)

Welcome To The Machine

Director: Avi Zev Weider

Upon fathering triplets, filmmaker Avi Zev Weider explores the nature of technology, seeking answers about what it means to be human. (World Premiere)

HEADLINERS

Big names, big talent: Headliners bring star power to SXSW, featuring red carpet premieres and gala film events with some major and rising names in cinema.

Films screening in Headliners are:

21 Jump Street

Directed by: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, Screenplay by: Michael Bacall, Story by: Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill

Police officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) get sent back to high school as undercover cops in the action-comedy 21 Jump Street. Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, with Ice Cube(World Premiere)

BIG EASY EXPRESS

Director: Emmett Malloy

Emmett Malloy’s latest film invites us aboard a train ride unlike any other with Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show.

(World Premiere)

The Cabin in the Woods

Director: Drew Goddard, Screenwriters: Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard

Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes The Cabin in the Woods, a mind-blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out. Cast: Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Anna Hutchison, Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford (World Premiere)

Decoding Deepak

Director: Gotham Chopra

Filmmaker Gotham Chopra spends a year on the road decoding his father and spiritual icon Deepak Chopra. (World Premiere)

Girls

Director/Screenwriter: Lena Dunham

Created by and starring Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture), the HBO show is a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their early 20s.

Cast: Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver (World Premiere)

The Hunter(Australia)

Director: Daniel Nettheim, Screenplay by: Alice Addison, Novel by: Julia Leigh, Original Adaptation by: Wain Fimeri

A mercenary is dispatched from Europe to the Tasmanian wilderness by a mysterious biotech company to search for the last surviving Tasmanian tiger.

Cast: Willem Dafoe, Frances O’Connor, Sam Neill (U.S. Premiere)

Killer Joe

Director: William Friedkin, Screenwriter: Tracy Letts

Agarish, Southwestern tale – a violent black comedy about a desperate Texas debtor (Hirsch) who plots to kill his mother with help of his family (Haden Church, Gershon).  They hire a crazy Dallas cop who moonlights as a contract killer (McConaughey) to do the job, but Killer Joe asks for their teenage daughter (Temple) as a retainer. The film is based on Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts’ (August: Osage County) award winning play. Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Gina Gershon, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church(U.S. Premiere)

MARLEY(UK / USA)

Director: Kevin Macdonald

The definitive life story of Bob Marley – musician, revolutionary, legend – from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. Directed by Academy-Award-Winner Kevin Macdonald. (North American Premiere)

NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT

High profile narrative features receiving their World, North American or U.S. Premieres at SXSW.

Films screening in Narrative Spotlight are:

The Babymakers

Director: Jay Chandrasekhar, Screenwriters: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow

Unable to impregnate his wife, Tommy and friends rob a sperm bank – to get Tommy’s long-ago donated sperm back. The crazy plan goes hilariously awry and shows how far a couple will go to create a new life.

Cast: Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn, Kevin Heffernan, Wood Harris, Nat Faxon (World Premiere)

Crazy Eyes

Director: Adam Sherman, Screenwriters: Adam Sherman, Dave Reeves & Rachel Hardisty

Just another story about love.

Cast: Lukas Haas, Madeline Zima, Jake Busey, Tania Raymonde, Regine Nehy (World Premiere)

Do-Deca-Pentathalon

Director/Screenwriter: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass

Two brothers compete in their own private 25-event Olympics.

Cast: Mark Kelly, Steve Zissis, Elton LeBlanc (World Premiere)

Fat Kid Rules The World

Director: Matthew Lillard, Screenwriters: Michael M.B. Galvin, Peter Speakman

Troy, a depressed overweight teenager, gets sucked into the punk rock world by Marcus, a charming street musician. But when Troy discovers Marcus’ drug addiction, he suddenly must figure out the true boundaries of friendship.

Cast: Jacob Wysocki, Matt O’Leary, Billy Campbell, Lilli Simmons, Dylan Arnold(World Premiere)

frankie go boom

Director/Screenwriter: Jordan Roberts

a flick by bruce about his little brother frank who’s a crybaby fuck who shouldn’t do lame-ass embarrassing shit if he dozn’t want people 2 see it

Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Chris O’Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Perlman, Chris Noth (World Premiere)

Hunky Dory(UK)

Director: Marc Evans, Screenwriter: Laurence Coriat

From the producer of Billy Elliotcomes this funny, coming of age film featuring songs from artists such as David Bowie, Lou Reed, The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Dusty Springfield and Electric Light Orchestra. Cast: Minnie Driver, Aneurin Barnard, Danielle Branch, Robert Pugh, Haydn Gwynne

(North American Premiere)

In Our Nature

Director/Screenwriter: Brian Savelson

Taking place over a single weekend, an estranged father and son accidentally end up in the same country house with their two girlfriends.

Cast: Zach Gilford, Jena Malone, John Slattery, Gabrielle Union(World Premiere)

Keyhole(Canada)

Director: Guy Maddin, Screenwriters: Guy Maddin, George Toles

I’m only a ghost… but a ghost isn’t nothing.

Cast: Isabella Rossellini, Jason Patric, Udo Kier, Kevin McDonald, Tattiawna Jones (U.S. Premiere)

See Girl Run

Director/Screenwriter: Nate Meyer

What happens when a 30-something woman allows life’s “what ifs” to overwhelm her appreciation for what life actually is. Disregarding her current obligations, she digs into her romantic past in hopes of invigorating her present.

Cast: Robin Tunney, Adam Scott, Jeremy Strong, William Sadler, Josh Hamilton (World Premiere)

Small Apartments

Director: Jonas Åkerlund, Screenwriter: Chris Millis

When Franklin Franklin accidentally kills his landlord, he must hide the body; but, the wisdom of his beloved brother and the quirks of his neighbors, force him on a journey where a fortune awaits him. Cast: Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, James Caan, Johnny Knoxville, Juno Temple(World Premiere)

Somebody Up There Likes Me

Director/Screenwriter: Bob Byington

Time flies for everyone: Thirty-five years in the life of Max, his best friend Sal, and a woman they both adore. A deadpan fable about time sneaking up on and swerving right around us.

Cast: Keith Poulson, Nick Offerman, Jess Weixler, Stephanie Hunt, Kevin Corrigan(World Premiere)

DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT

Shining a light on new documentary features receiving their World, North American or U.S. Premieres at SXSW.

Films screening in Documentary Spotlight are:

$ELLEBRITY

Director: Kevin Mazur

Renowned celebrity photographer, Kevin Mazur, gives us an all access pass to the life behind the velvet rope and in front of the camera.  Candid, revealing and bold interviews with Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Elton John and more, take us inside the blurred lines of privacy, pliable journalism, celebrity, fame and what it feels like to be consumed. (World Premiere)

America’s Parking Lot

Director: Jonny Mars

Pull up a front row seat as two die-hard fans of ‘America’s Team’ spend their last season with the Dallas Cowboys at historic Texas Stadium, and scramble to preserve their place in America’s Parking Lot. (World Premiere)

The Announcement

Director: Nelson George

On Thursday, November 7, 1991, Earvin “Magic” Johnson made the stunning announcement that he was HIV-positive and would be retiring from basketball immediately. The Announcementgets to the core of Magic’s incredible personal journey. (World Premiere)

Beauty Is Embarrassing

Director: Neil Berkeley

A funny, irreverent and inspirational look into the life and times of one of America’s most important artists, Wayne White. (World Premiere)

Brooklyn Castle

Director: Katie Dellamaggiore

Amidst financial crises and unprecedented public school budget cuts, Brooklyn Castletakes an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs facing members of a junior high school’s champion chess team. (World Premiere)

Code of the West

Director: Rebecca Richman Cohen

Frames a high stakes showdown in the halls of the Montana State Legislature. The future of medical marijuana is at stake. (World Premiere)

Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes.

Director: M. Slinger

A true document of the art and culture of glass pipe-making. It is the first film to ever bring to light this invisible sub-culture in a comprehensive and well-informed format. (World Premiere)

Girl Model

Directors: A. Sabin, David Redmon

Young Russian girls join a modeling agency to seek work in Japan, but get caught up in an unregulated system that reveals an unseemly side of the fashion industry. (U.S. Premiere)

Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters

Director: Ben Shapiro

Acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson’s 10-year quest to create a series of haunting, surreal, and stunningly elaborate portraits of small-town American life — filmed with unprecedented access as he makes perfect renderings of a disturbing, imperfect world. (World Premiere)

Just Like Being There

Director: Scout Shannon

Through the eyes of Daniel Danger, Jay Ryan, and the gig poster community, Just Like Being Therefocuses on poster artists, the music they commemorate, MONDO film posters, fans, bloggers, galleries, collectors and everything in between. (World Premiere)

Scarlet Road(Australia)

Director: Catherine Scott

The film follows the extraordinary work of Australian sex worker, Rachel Wotton. Impassioned about freedom of sexual expression and the rights of sex workers, she specializes in a long over-looked clientele – people with disability. (North American Premiere)

Trash Dance

Director: Andrew Garrison

A choreographer finds beauty and grace in garbage trucks, and against the odds, rallies reluctant city trash collectors to perform an extraordinary dance spectacle. On an abandoned airport runway, two dozen sanitation workers — and their trucks — inspire an audience of thousands. (World Premiere)

Waiting For Lightning

Director: Jacob Rosenberg

From the producers of Step into Liquid, comes the story of visionary skateboarder Danny Way, who jumped China’s Great Wall and created a new movement in sport. (World Premiere)

Wikileaks: Secrets & Lies(UK)

Director: Patrick Forbes

The in-depth story of Wikileaks told by all the key players. Sulphurous, personal and moving, it documents history in the making at the lawless frontier of new technology and mainstream media. (North American Premiere)

WONDER WOMEN! The Untold Story of American Superheroines

Director: Kristy Guevara-Flanagan

This documentary examines the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman and introduces audiences to a dynamic group of real life superheroes who continue to fight the good fight both on and off the screen. (World Premiere)

EMERGING VISIONS

Audacious, risk-taking artists in the new cinema landscape that demonstrate raw innovation and creativity in documentary and narrative filmmaking.

Films screening in Emerging Visions are:

Black Pond(UK)

Directors: Tom Kingsley, Will Sharpe, Screenwriter: Will Sharpe

An ordinary family is accused of murder when a stranger dies at their dinner table. Stars BAFTA-winner Chris Langham and British Comedy Award Winner Simon Amstell. Cast: Chris Langham, Simon Amstell, Amanda Hadingue, Colin Hurley, Will Sharpe (North American Premiere)

Dollhouse(Ireland)

Director/Screenwriter: Kirsten Sheridan

Five street teens break into a house in a rich Dublin suburb for a night of partying. But games are twisted into something more emotional and ultimately out of control through a series of surprising revelations. Cast: Seana Kerslake, Johnny Ward, Kate Stanley Brennan, Shane Curry, Ciaran McCabe (North American Premiere)

Eating Alabama

Director: Andrew Beck Grace

A quest to eat locally becomes a meditation on community, the South and sustainability. Eating Alabamais a story about why food matters. (World Premiere)

Electrick Children

Director/Screenwriter: Rebecca Thomas

Rachel, a 15-year-old fundamentalist Mormon, believes she’s had an immaculate conception by listening to rock and roll. She flees to Las Vegas to escape an arranged marriage, seeking answers to her mysterious pregnancy.

Cast: Julia Garner, Rory Culkin, Liam Aiken, Billy Zane (North American Premiere)

Extracted

Director/Screenwriter: Nir Paniry

A scientist is trapped in the memories of a criminal and must solve a crime in order to get back home to his family.

Cast: Sasha Roiz, Dominic Bogart, Jenny Mollen, Nick Jameson, Brad Culver(World Premiere)

Francine(Canada / USA)

Director/Screenwriter: Brian M. Cassidy, Melanie Shatzky

Academy-Award-winner, Melissa Leo, plays Francine, a woman struggling to find her place in a downtrodden lakeside town after leaving behind a life in prison.

Cast: Melissa Leo, Keith Leonard, Victoria Charkut (North American Premiere)

Funeral Kings

Director/Screenwriter: Kevin Mcmanus, Matthew Mcmanus

For three 14-year-old boys at St. Mark’s Middle School, it’s always a good day for a funeral.

Cast: Dylan Hartigan, Alex Maizus, Jordan Puzzo, Charles Odei, Kevin Corrigan(World Premiere)

Hard Labor(Brazil)

Director/Screenwriter: Juliana Rojas, Marco Dutra

Helena prepares to open her own business: a neighborhood grocery store. She hires a maid. But when her husband Octavio is suddenly fired from his job, Helena is left to support the family alone.

Cast: Helena Albergaria, Marat Descartes, Naloana Lima, Marina Flores (U.S. Premiere)

La Camioneta – The Journey of One American School Bus

Director: Mark Kendall

On a 3,000-mile adventure across the borders between the Americas, La Camionetafollows the journey of one out-of-service American school bus as it is repaired, repainted and resurrected into a Guatemalan camioneta. (World Premiere)

The Last Fall

Director/Screenwriter: Matthew A. Cherry

An NFL journeyman struggles to deal with life’s complexities after his professional career is over at age 25.

Cast: Lance Gross, Nicole Beharie, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Harry Lennix, Keith David

(World Premiere)

Leave Me Like You Found Me

Director/Screenwriter: Adele Romanski

Big trees, broken hearts. The story of a lovesick couple’s breakup & makeup while camping in the wilds of California. Cast: Megan Boone, David Nordstrom(World Premiere)

PAVILION

Director/Screenwriter: Tim Sutton

Max, a quietly troubled 15-year-old, leaves his lakeside town to live with his father on the sun-blasted fringe of suburban Arizona. What begins in a calm and lush environment ends in a drastic, frayed confusion. Cast: Max Schaffner, Zach Cali, Cody Hamric, Addie Barlett, Aaron Buyea(World Premiere)

Sun Don’t Shine

Director/Screenwriter: Amy Seimetz

Two lovers, on the back roads of Florida, do very bad things.

Cast: Kate Lyn Sheil, Kentucker Audley, AJ Bowen, Kit Gwinn, Mark Reeb(World Premiere)

Sunset Stories

Directors: Silas Howard, Ernesto Foronda, Screenwriter: Valerie Stadler

When May returns to LA and runs smack into JP, the man she left behind, past and present collide sending them on a twenty-four hour journey in search of what they lost.

Cast: Monique Curnen, Sung Kang, Joshua Leonard, Mousa Kraish, Michelle Krusiec(World Premiere)

Tchoupitoulas

Director: Bill Ross, Turner Ross

Three young brothers’ immersive journey into the sensory wonders of the New Orleans night.

(World Premiere)

Thale(Norway)

Director/Screenwriter: Aleksander L. Nordaas

The film revolves around huldra, a mythical, tailed creature, found by two crime scene cleaners in a concealed cellar. Someone’s been keeping her down here for decades, for reasons soon to surface. Cast: Silje Reinåmo, Jon Sigve Skard, Erlend Nervold, Morten Andresen(North American Premiere)

Wildness

Director/Screenwriter: Wu Tsang

A magical-realist portrait of the Silver Platter, a historic bar in Los Angeles that provides a safe space for Latin/LGBT immigrant and queer art communities to come together in love and conflict.

WOLF

Director/Screenwriter: Ya’ke Smith

A family is shaken to the core when they discover their son has been molested. As they struggle to deal with the betrayal, their son heads towards a total mental collapse.

Cast: Irma P. Hall, Mikala Gibson, Jordan Cooper, Shelton Jolivette, Eugene Lee(World Premiere)

To see the complete list click HERE

For more information, visit http://www.sxsw.com/film.

Ok, I decided to do a list after all. I considered not doing one this year because I felt like it was kind of a slow year and I was struggling with even coming up with my top 5. Two of the movies on my list (6&7) are technically from 2010, but they were released at the end of 2010 and I didn’t see them until 2011.

I also feel guilty saying this was a “slow year” for movies, because there are a lot of films that I have yet to see that probably would have made the list. There are some (Hugo) that I have no excuse for not seeing, and others that I’ve been dying to see (Take Shelter) that have  still not been released.

I’m just writing a couple short sentences about each of my picks below simply explaining what it is about the film that impacted me enough to put it on my top 10 of 2011. We also recorded a podcast reviewing our best and worst picks. Look out for that, it should be up shortly. I realize I’m posting this a little late, but hey, if Quentin Tarantino can post his “best of” list in mid January than the rest of America should be able to too.

And here are my picks:

10. THE FUTURE

The film is narrated by a cat. I loved it, and I’m not even a cat person.

9. TERRI

Azazel Jacobs dodges all the familiar cliches in his familiar genre and introduces us to some new, talented, young actors.

8. HOW TO DIE IN OREGON

Saw this at SXSW ’10 and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Powerful and controversial, this documentary sticks with you long after the credits roll.

7. BLUE VALENTINE

Great acting in a tragic story that is familiar to many. And I know it’s been said before, but seriously one of the best end credit sequences, maybe ever.

6. MARWENCOL

One of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a long time. It’s on Netflix Instant and is a must-see.

5. MELANCHOLIA

Like a bad nightmare that feels too real to forget right away, so instead, your haunted by it all day. Not the most fun to watch, but a powerful piece of work.

4. MONEYBALL

A good story made into a GREAT story by superb writing, and brilliant direction from Bennett Miller.

3. DRIVE

This almost felt like one of Cronenberg’s latest films, but with the fun spirit of a film like True Romance.

2. BEGINNERS

Funny, sad, smart, and sincere. Mike Mills gives us a personal and original film, and takes some directorial risks that seem rare today. I feel like we haven’t seen an “independent” film like this in a while, and I miss that.

1. JUST GO WITH IT

What can I say? I just… went with it. I’m kidding. Adam Sandler, please stop making movies.

1. THE TREE OF LIFE

Critics went from loving it to calling it self-indulgent and pretentious to loving it again. Personally, I think it is an undeniable masterpiece. Not only the best film of the year, but maybe the decade. Just because more people are familiar with Terrence Malick and his signature style does not make him any less credible.

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
THE DESCENDANTS
SUPERHEROES (documentary)
HESHER
DRAGONSLAYER (documentary)

WORST:
WARRIOR (Overrated and chock-full of cliches.)

TV (BETTER THAN MOST MOVIES RELEASED THIS YEAR):
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
TREME
BREAKING BAD
LOUIE
GAME OF THRONES

MOVIES I HAVE YET TO SEE:
TAKE SHELTER
SHAME
THE INTERRUPTERS
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
A DANGEROUS METHOD
CERTIFIED COPY (Now on Netflix Instant. Really need to watch this.)
HUGO (Shameful, I know. Scorsese is one of my favorites and I have still not seen this.)
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE
WAR HORSE
50/50
THE ARTIST
A SEPARATION
TYRANNOSAUR
MARGARET
PARIAH

Ok, so I watched Buck on Netflix last night, hoping to learn something about filmmaking. Although it won an audience choice award at Sundance last year, this film taught me less about filmmaking and more about what type of audience to expect at the nation’s premier film festival. You might find it inspiring if you like horses, or if you’re a big proponent of treating animals and people with respect. The film constantly draws parallels between parenting and horse training.

I like documentaries that are deep, character driven stories. Buck offers a two-dimensional image of a man who’s already undergone his most important human changes. There’s nothing in the way of real, onscreen character development. It’s all backstory.

I had to pin my eyelids to keep them open. Buck’s pace plods like an old mare, or more accurately, as slow as the main character’s cowboy drawl. I mean no disrespect to this man, of course. He’s quite amazing, actually. He can have a bucking bronco eating out of his hand in minutes. He rides a horse like it’s his own four legs. He can rope and shoe and saddle, and out-cowboy anybody. Yes, Buck’s quite the man. It’s the film that makes him boring.

We learn of his childhood with the ubiquitous panning photographs and testimonials from friends. It is indeed a painful history. Buck’s mother passed away when he was small, and his drunkard father beat him cruelly. Instead of succumbing to this pain, Buck has overcome it. He’s broken the cycle of abuse, and uses gentleness and empathy to break wild horses to the saddle. The film chronicles this journey with emotional interviews, interwoven with scenes from Buck’s traveling horse-training clinics.

The cinematography is simple and steady. It is very TLC. Some moody, brooding imagery could have really helped me get into the story, but alas, it was woefully lacking in art and style.

The film also features a cameo from Robert Redford, who hired Buck to work on the set of The

Horse Whisperer. Together they tell a little anecdote about how Buck coaxed one of his horses to walk over and nuzzle the main character. The sequence doesn’t add much, rather it feels like a cheap way to get Redford to appear in the film. But, maybe I’m being too harsh.

The most excitement comes when Buck’s assistant gets bit in the face by an ill-tempered young stud. Buck waves some flags at it, but eventually tells its owner that there’s no hope for the beast. I was hoping to see him tame this one. But, hey, this is real life, not a movie. He also has some choice words for the horse owner, which he delivers in his standard, avuncular tone: “This horse tells me a lot about you.” He tells her in no uncertain terms that it’s her fault that the horse is out of control. He approaches people and horses alike with the same, no nonsense honesty, and they actually listen to him because they sense that he cares. He’s quite winsome.

We also learn about how he’s close to his daughter, and his wife, and his foster mother. His family relationships show how he’s avoided repeating the mistakes of his father. The whole film has no dramatic arc, no character change, no plot, really. A documentary must either show a character change, or attempt to change audience perspective. A good documentary’s foundation is a real story, not just a portrait. This film is only worth watching if you want to see what sort of movie is adored by Sundancers. Frankly, I expected much more.