What Banner reviewers thought of some of the films of 2011.
As the Academy considers which movies are Oscar-worthy, we look back at what our reviewers (and a couple of our online readers) thought of some of the films of 2011.* For full reviews of many of these movies, visit thebanner.org.
The Adventures of Tintin: “The movie is true to the series’ sense of rapid adventure and comic fun and offers an excellent family film . . . young viewers might find the action and violence too intense.” —Otto Selles
The Artist: “Dujardin balances broad physical comedy and subtle facial expressions to give depth to his portrayal of George Valentin.” —Otto Selles
Courageous: “A visual treatise on Christian fatherhood . . . this preachy film could have more effectively told its story in less time and far fewer words.” —Kristy Quist
“This movie has given our ministry to and through men some great talking points. Like men stepping up and taking responsibility and men not accepting doing just enough as fathers.” —online comment from Todd Wessels
The Help: “Detailed vintage sets and superb acting provide an unforgettable visual and emotional treat.” —Jennifer Meyer
“It is a great example of what social justice means when it claims to give voice to the voiceless.” —online comment from Herman Keizer, Jr.
Hugo: “Full of loss, wonder, and mystery, Hugo is a visual feast.” —Kristy Quist
The Interrupters: “The year’s most moving moment of cinematic grace was a real-life one.” —Josh Larsen
Jane Eyre: “[Director] Fukunaga’s Jane Eyre is dark and moody, just as fans would hope, and Mia Wasikowska . . . gives a lovely, nuanced performance as Jane.” —Kristy Quist
Midnight in Paris: “Allen skillfully blends social satire and wistfulness in his most amusing and approachable film in many years.” —Otto Selles
Moneyball: “A sports movie that is also about how a man measures himself, his life, and success.” —Kristy Quist
The Muppets: “Kermit, Miss Piggy, and friends eschew sterile family values in favor of a holy sort of nonsense.” —Josh Larsen
Soul Surfer: “Melodramatic at times . . . both entertaining and encouraging to young people to look to the plans God has for them.” —Kristy Quist
The Tree of Life: “Full of intoxicating imagery and shattering truths, The Tree of Life makes the reality of sin both personal and profound.” —Josh Larsen
War Horse: “Think Saving Private Ryan meets Black Beauty, and you might start to see the problem—a war movie for horse-loving tweens.” —Kristy Quist
The Way: “Takes the viewer down the ancient pilgrimage path of El Camino de Santiago. . . . The strength of the movie is that, shot on location, the film leads the viewer authentically along the trail past all the well-known landmarks.” —Jenny deGroot
*Note: Several highly-anticipated films were not widely released in time for this article.
About the Author
Kristy Quist is Tuned In editor for The Banner and a member of Neland Ave. CRC in Grand Rapids, Mich.
