This week’s Hidden Netflix Gem: “Bronson” (2008)

“My name’s Charles Bronson, and all my life I’ve wanted to be famous.” That’s the opening line of Nicholas Winding Refn’s fictionalized biopic “Bronson,” starring Tom Hardy as the titular character, a man who the press often refers to as the “most violent prisoner in Britain.” You may be familiar with Winding Refn’s best known work, 2011′s “Drive,” starring Ryan Gosling, and recognize Hardy as the guy who played identity thief Eames in “Inception” and most recently appeared as Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises.” While those two pictures might be better films, I don’t think Hardy as ever put in a better performance than he did in “Bronson.”

Charles Bronson is not as well known stateside as he is across the pond. In the UK, the man is something of a national celebrity, both famous and infamous for spending the majority of his adult life in solitary confinement (28 of his 34 years in prison). Bronson was first incarcerated in 1974, at age 22, after being handed a seven-year sentence for armed robbery (of just  £26.18) from a suburban English post office. That seven years quickly became 14 as a result of his starting various fights and hostage situations involving guards and fellow prisoners. Bronson was released in 1988, but spent just 69 days on the outside (during which he began a “career” as a bare-knuckle boxer) before being arrested again. He’s been in prison ever since and his antics haven’t ceased.

Part of Hardy’s preparation for the role came from phone conversations with the man himself. In interviews discussing these interactions, you can see what makes the performance so special. In this clip, Hardy re-enacts a conversation he had with Bronson regarding a recent break-up. It’s one man sitting on a couch, but Hardy’s impression is so good it’s almost as if the camera is cutting back and forth between the actor and his subject (see the full interview here).

The film, which has been certified fresh and sits at 77 percent on the Tomatometer, is a clear homage to “A Clockwork Orange” (for reasons beyond the plethora of ultraviolence). “Bronson” begins with and includes many scenes of Hardy speaking into the camera and addressing the audience directly. The move allows the film to break the fourth wall, but also includes its own in-universe explanation: Bronson is performing a one-man play, narrating his life to a theater audience (sometimes while dressed in clown make-up). Alternatively (and more likely), he’s just imagining that’s the case, because in his mind, Charles Bronson is the most famous, best-loved man in the universe. The film is a biopic, but it’s highly fictionalized. It’s less about telling Bronson’s life story as it happened and more a character study. When the film’s events break from reality, it can be explained away by the fact that we’re getting Bronson’s version of the story. There’s no mendacious play at objectivity. Rather, we’re allowed to understand and perceive Bronson’s reality, for however brief a time, and thus try to figure out if Charles Bronson is really a crazy person or just far more sane than the rest of us. Either way, the answer might surprise you, and then being surprised might surprise you.

As mentioned, the thing that really separates this film from the pack is Hardy’s performance. He perfectly captures the comedic delirium that is being Charles Bronson. Frankly, I’m glad I saw “The Dark Knight Rises” first, because Tom Hardy and Charles Bronson were one and the same in my mind for a few days after watching this movie. I’m not sure how seriously I could have taken Bane after seeing Bronson/Hardy strip down and command a kidnapped guard to rub him down with grease, all the while yelling “Put on my armor! Everywhere, get it everywhere! Put some on my ass. Not in my ass ya faggot!” as the guard whimpers. To me and you it sounds like insanity, and it is, but for the 92 minutes “Bronson” is running, it’s his world, and we’re all just living in it.

 Check out the trailer below and follow the writer on Twitter @NateKreichman.

Though I wasn’t that impressed by Nicolas Winding Refn’s previous films, they have an undeniable visual flair and originality that you don’t see very often. “Drive” takes those qualities and applies them to a conventional Hollywood thriller, resulting in a movie that feels much more mainstream without abandoning Refn’s art house sensibilities. The film is as beautifully poetic as it is strikingly violent, while Ryan Gosling has never been better as the soft-spoken yet brutally intense protagonist. For as much attention as the film’s graphic violence has received, however, it’s the opening sequence – an edge-of-your-seat car chase packed with tension so thick you could cut it with a knife – that is undoubtedly the biggest highlight. And when a movie can start so brightly and continue to build on it like “Drive” does (thanks in part to great supporting performances from Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks), it’s no wonder why so many people love this film.

Blu-ray Highlight: The single-disc release doesn’t offer as many special features as I would have liked, but there’s an excellent 25-minute interview with director Nicolas Winding Refn that is definitely worth checking out. In addition to discussing the origins of the film (including a funny anecdote about his first meeting with Ryan Gosling), Refn talks in length about securing independent financing, casting the actors and more.

It’s admirable of Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. to recognize that John Carpenter’s “The Thing” didn’t warrant a remake, but there are so many similarities in this mostly unnecessary prequel to the 1982 cult classic that it feels like a retread anyway. Though fans of Carpenter’s version will undoubtedly get a kick out of some of the Easter Eggs that have been planted throughout (including a potential clue to the mystery surrounding the ending of the original), the 2011 edition doesn’t deliver the same kind of suspense. For a movie that supposedly wants to honor its predecessor, it also fails to adhere to the same set of rules. Perhaps the most annoying difference is that Heijningen’s Thing doesn’t even try to assimilate its prey with any stealth, but rather makes a big scene out of every transformation, presumably to show off its flashy CGI makeover. But for as silly as some of the original film’s old-school effects look today, they’re still creepier than anything this movie throws at you.

Blu-ray Highlight: The U-Control picture-in-picture feature is probably the disc’s best asset, but the audio commentary with director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and producer Eric Newman is actually pretty interesting. Along with discussing the more obvious aspects of making the film, the duo reveals some of the other ideas that were never used, including a short-lived plan to have MacReady’s brother as the main protagonist.

As far as science fiction movies go, Andrew Niccol’s “In Time” features one of the more intriguing premises in recent years, which only makes its poor execution that much more disappointing. Although the idea of a future where time is literally money is ripe with potential, Niccol’s heavy-handed sociopolitical message never really gives the film a chance to develop beyond the initial setup. It’s hard to imagine that the movie was greenlit based on an actual script (and not just the idea), because most of the story is spent aimlessly following Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried around a not-so-futuristic city as they get stuck in a monotonous cycle between having too much time and not enough. And for a film about making the most of every second, “In Time” is nothing but a waste of about 6,540 of your own.

Blu-ray Highlight: None. The sole featurette on the disc – a faux-documentary called “The Minutes” that tries to sell the idea that the characters from the movie have agreed to appear on film to discuss the anti-aging gene – is incredibly lame, while the included deleted and extended scenes are small bits that don’t really add anything to the story.

David Frankel’s “The Big Year” is as harmless as comedies come; it’s not particularly funny or memorable, but it has a surprisingly sweet story at its core that makes up for the fact that, no matter how hard the film tries, the sport of birding just isn’t a very exciting subject to base a movie around. That has more to do with the sport itself (if you can even call it that) than anything Frankel or his cast does, but they were clearly fighting an uphill battle from the start. Nevertheless, the film’s three stars – Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson – still turn in some decent performances despite the lack of any real laughs in the script, and although the terrific supporting cast (which includes the likes of Kevin Pollack, Brian Dennehy, Rashida Jones and Rosamund Pike) is mostly wasted in throwaway roles, it makes “The Big Year” a lot more enjoyable than it has any right to be.

Blu-ray Highlight: The included making-of featurette (“The Big Migration”) isn’t a total waste of time, but if you don’t find a film about birding very exciting, then watching a featurette about making a movie about birding probably isn’t going to interest you either.

1. “DRIVE”

Though I wasn’t that impressed by Nicolas Winding Refn’s previous films, they have an undeniable visual flair and originality that you don’t see very often. “Drive” took those qualities and applied them to a conventional Hollywood thriller, resulting in a movie that feels much more mainstream without abandoning Refn’s art house sensibilities. The film is as beautifully poetic as it is strikingly violent, while Ryan Gosling (who’s had a banner year between this, “The Ides of March” and “Crazy Stupid Love”) has never been better as the soft-spoken yet brutally intense protagonist. But for as much attention as the film’s graphic violence has received, it’s the opening sequence – an edge-of-your-seat car chase packed with tension so thick you could cut it with a knife – that is without a doubt the biggest highlight. And when a movie can start so brightly and continue to build on it like “Drive” does (thanks in part to fine supporting turns from Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks), it’s no wonder why so many people love this film.

2. “ATTACK THE BLOCK”

It’s not every day that you get to see a film before the rest of the world, so I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that being among the lucky few in attendance at the SXSW premiere of Joe Cornish’s “Attack the Block” played a part in my overall enjoyment of the movie. A genre hybrid film with influences ranging from “The Warriors” to “Critters,” Cornish’s directorial debut is a lean, mean sci-fi action thriller that, although it boasts a mostly unknown cast and was made for a fraction of the cost of the average Hollywood movie, is the most fun I’ve had at a theater all year. The young actors are great, the creature effects are even better, and the film is fueled by a relentless, infectious energy that keeps the action moving at a rapid clip. There might have been several alien invasion movies in theaters this year, but “Attack the Block” was the best of the bunch – a fun slice of nostalgic geek cinema that blended action, comedy, horror and sci-fi to create an instant cult classic.

3. “YOUNG ADULT”

It’s no secret that Diablo Cody has her share of critics, but “Young Adult” proves that she’s more than just a vending machine for the kind of quirky one-liners that initially earned her notice back in 2008 with “Juno.” Thematically darker and more mature than her first feature, the film also feels more personal in its examination of what it means to grow up, providing the perfect platform for Cody’s voice to shine. Blisteringly funny and surprisingly poignant at times, “Young Adult” is so daringly original that its somewhat contentious ending has even divided audiences. But while Cody deserves a lot of credit for taking these risks, it’s Charlize Theron’s performance that brings out the comedy and emotion of the situation, delivering some of her best work as the beautiful but bitchy Mavis. It’s not very easy to make a character like that sympathetic, but Theron pulls it off so effortlessly that it would be criminal to see her name absent from any award ballot.

4. “WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN”

Every once in a while, a movie comes along that knocks you completely on your ass, and Lynne Ramsey’s psychological thriller “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is such a film. A thoroughly engaging and disturbing look at the strained relationship between a mother and her sociopathic child, Ramsey has crafted a modern day “Rosemary’s Baby” of sorts that lingers in the back of your mind long after it’s over. Tilda Swinton delivers a powerhouse performance as a mother trying to adapt to life after her son commits a Columbine-esque massacre at his school, although a majority of the story takes place before the tragic event, with Ramsey exploring the idea of nature vs. nurture and how much Swinton’s parenting tactics are to blame for the subsequent actions of her malevolent son. Though the constant use of red imagery throughout the movie feels a bit forced at times, “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is so brilliant from top to bottom (especially the acting, the score and the masterful editing) that it’s simply mesmerizing.

5. “THE DESCENDANTS”

Alexander Payne and George Clooney make such a great pairing that it’s amazing the two of them haven’t worked together before. The actor is perfectly cast here as frumpy, Hawaiian-based lawyer Matt King, who suddenly finds himself taking care of his two daughters on his own after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. Like all of Payne’s male protagonists, Matt is likeable but flawed, and Clooney handles the Everyman role with poise, making you feel his emotion and pain every step of the way – from dealing with the news of his wife’s coma, to finding out about her affair, and finally coming to terms with her death. Though I know next to nothing about the 2008 novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings on which the film is based, it’s not surprising that Payne scooped up the rights as quickly as he did, because his adaptation is a funny and tender look at the responsibilities of family that’s bursting with excellent performances – not just by the always reliable Clooney, but also newcomers Shailene Woodley and Nick Krause.

6. “HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART TWO”

It’s not going to even come close to receiving the amount of Oscar love that “The Return of the King” earned back in 2004, but that shouldn’t take anything away from David Yates’ “Deathly Hallows: Part Two,” which delivered an unbelievably satisfying bookend to the Harry Potter series after moviegoers became so invested in the adventures of the titular boy wizard. Following Daniel Radcliffe’s journey from cute kid to serious thespian has been almost as enjoyable, and in the final installment, the actor gets to show just how much he’s grown over the years, displaying a maturity that was only hinted at in the previous two films. And if Radcliffe is the anchor of the movie, then Alan Rickman’s emotionally complex performance as Severus Snape is the scene-stealing cherry on top of the Harry Potter cake. They’re but only two examples of what makes “Deathly Hallows: Part Two” so incredibly entertaining, but between its fantastic cast, stunning visuals and great storytelling, it’s every bit the finale that J.K. Rowling’s books deserved.

7. “THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO”

Were it not for the fact that I had already experienced “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” on two different occasions (having previously read Stieg Larsson’s bestselling novel and watched the original Swedish film), there’s a good chance that David Fincher’s U.S. adaptation would have had more of a lasting effect on me. With that said, however, Fincher’s version of the popular crime thriller is hands-down the best of the trio, smartly trimming the fat from Larsson’s overly detailed novel and making excellent use of his wintry locale to create a natural sense of dread and atmosphere. Though Daniel Craig isn’t quite as miscast as disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist as I originally feared, he doesn’t really do anything to stand out either. But it’s probably better that way, because despite Noomi Rapace’s fantastic performance in the Swedish version, Rooney Mara outshines her in nearly every way as waifish hacker Lisbeth Salander, committing to the role so completely that you forget she’s even acting at times. It’s far from Fincher’s finest film, but without him at the helm, it certainly wouldn’t have been as good as it is.

8. “TYRANNOSAUR”

Though it doesn’t quite have the same shock factor as “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” Paddy Considine’s directorial debut is just as emotionally punishing – a brutal and bleak story about the unlikely friendship between an alcoholic widower and a religious charity worker abused by her seemingly nice husband. Eddie Marsan is a wrecking ball of cruelty as the twisted spouse who does a number of unthinkable things to his wife over the course of the film (like punching, raping and pissing on her), and yet we don’t even witness the worst of his transgressions. But while Marsan plays the domesticated monster well, it’s the film’s two leads that make “Tyrannosaur” so captivating. Peter Mullan makes an otherwise unredeemable character into someone the audience actually sympathizes for, while Olivia Colman (best known for her comedy work in films like “Hot Fuzz”) takes you completely by surprise with a stunning performance that will likely go down as one of the year’s best. “Tyrannosaur” isn’t just a coming out party for Colman as a dramatic actress, however, but also for Considine as a director to watch.

9. “WIN WIN”

Movies that open in the first half of the year tend to get the shaft when it comes to being remembered for awards season and other year-end festivities, but Tom McCarthy’s funny and heartwarming dramedy “Win Win” deserves better than that. The ensemble cast is amazing – from Paul Giamatti’s unlucky schlub, to Bobby Cannavale’s goofy best friend, to surprising newcomer Alex Schaffer – and the script never once feels false or panders to the audience. It earns every emotional beat along the way, making it the kind of feel-good crowd-pleaser that you don’t feel guilty about enjoying. Though there are certainly elements of the underdog sports genre on display here, “Win Win” is a film about family first and wrestling second, a theme that McCarthy has explored before in previous movies like “The Station Agent” and “The Visitor.” He would probably never be mentioned in a discussion about the best American filmmakers working today, but with “Win Win,” McCarthy has made a pretty convincing argument as to why he should be.

10. “SUPER 8”

In a year where Steven Spielberg released two new movies, it’s a little ironic that it was J.J. Abrams who ended up making the best Spielberg film. A throwback to the director’s Amblin years, “Super 8” is a cocktail of nostalgia that works beautifully alongside the more modern-day technology that Abrams has implemented in the film’s amazing set pieces. But for as much trouble as he went through to keep his big, bad alien a secret, it’s probably the least memorable part of the whole film. In fact, if it weren’t for such an irritating final act (where the movie seemed far more interested in showcasing its “Cloverfield”-esque alien than the kids), “Super 8” would have ended up a lot higher on my list. The action is cool, but the real highlight of the film is the young cast, which not only managed to carry a summer blockbuster almost entirely on its own, but featured some great performances from Elle Fanning and newcomers Joel Courtney and Riley Griffiths. I’d much rather watch them making a film than running from an alien any day.

“13 ASSASSINS”
“THE ARTIST”
“CARNAGE”
“HUGO”
“THE IDES OF MARCH”
“MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE”
“MIDNIGHT IN PARIS”
“MONEYBALL”
“THE MUPPETS”
“TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY”

1. “ZOOKEEPER”

If you thought that “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” was terrible, then you obviously haven’t seen “Zookeeper,” the latest Kevin James disaster to come out of the Happy Madison Factory of Sadistically Unfunny Comedies. It’s never a good sign when you see multiple names credited to a script, and this movie has five, including James himself. But for as much of a fool as James makes of himself, “Zookeeper” lands the top spot for what is perhaps the single worst sequence ever committed to film: a guy’s night out of sorts between James’ titular character and a real-life gorilla named Bernie that consists of the duo singing along to Flo Rida’s “Low” and dining at T.G.I. Friday’s, all under the pretense that Bernie is just a guy in a costume. Some may be willing to forgive “Zookeeper” as a silly kid’s movie, but no parent in their right mind should let their child watch this crap.

2. “THE SMURFS”

Raja Gosnell is responsible for some of the worst films of the decade, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that his latest movie is yet another cinematic abomination. Although it’s difficult to hate Neil Patrick Harris or Jayma Mays for starring in the film because they’re so darn likeable, they’re not doing their careers any favors either, no matter how much money it made at the box office. Hank Azaria, meanwhile, should consider hiring the services of Lacuna, Inc. to wipe this movie from his memory, because the veteran actor is beyond embarrassing as Gargamel, who seems to be stupid for stupid’s sake. The Smurfs themselves aren’t as annoying as they could have been, but the movie’s biggest problem is that it parades itself around as an homage to the original comics and cartoon when it has about as much respect for its source material as a prostitute.

3. “DRIVE ANGRY”

When you’re dealing with a movie called “Drive Angry,” it’s pretty much a given that it will either really suck or relish in its awfulness to the point of being so bad it’s good, and unfortunately, Patrick Lussier’s ode to grindhouse cinema falls into the latter category. Unlike the wildly enjoyable Clive Owen action film, “Shoot ‘Em Up,” which managed to strike the right balance between silly and serious, “Drive Angry” is just plain silly, with Nicolas Cage acting surprisingly subdued in a role that would normally yield one of his trademark loopy performances. Even worse are co-stars Amber Heard and Billy Burke, who redefine bad acting, and the horrible use (or some might say misuse) of the 3D, despite the fact that it’s one of the few films in 2011 to actually be filmed in the format. In fact, if “Drive Angry” is good for anything, it’s as a lesson in how to make a bad movie.

4. “CONAN THE BARBARIAN”

Attempting to reboot the Conan the Barbarian movie franchise was always going to be a pretty hopeless endeavor. There’s just no demand for a character like that anymore, and Marcus Nispel’s dumb and loud origin story certainly won’t help the chances of any future installments. It’s a muddled mess of a film that’s bogged down by terrible acting, cheesy dialogue and a mostly incoherent plot, and although that’s somewhat to be expected from a movie like “Conan the Barbarian,” Nispel fails to even make the action sequences very exciting. Instead, they’re bland, paint-by-numbers affairs that are edited together so quickly that you can hardly tell what’s going on. Jason Momoa isn’t entirely ineffective as the title character, but when he plays the role so starkly serious while his co-stars ham it up as the villains, it makes you question what kind of movie Nispel was trying to make: gritty action film or trashy B-movie? As it turns out, it’s not much of either.

5. “HOP”

Though I probably sound like a disgruntled old man picking on all these kid’s movies like they’ve stomped across my lawn, “Hop” is everything that’s wrong with children’s entertainment today. There’s not a single original idea in this holiday cash grab, which steals most of its ideas from “The Santa Clause” and completely wastes its talented cast in the process. James Marsden has never looked more lost than he does here, while Russell Brand must be counting his blessings that he’s hiding behind a cartoon bunny. But apart from the uninspired story, massive gaps in logic and stupid Easter puns, “Hop” just doesn’t feel like it was made by the same team behind the refreshingly whimsical “Despicable Me.” That movie was clever and had some real emotional weight to it. “Hop,” on the other hand, is as dense as a week-old marshmallow Peep.

September is typically a pretty laidback month for movies. After being bombarded with big budget tentpole films over the summer, it’s the calm before the storm that is awards season. But this year, Hollywood is kicking off the fall movie season in style with big names like Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt all starring in films that could make an appearance at the Oscars next year. Throw in a couple of cool genre flicks and you’re looking at one of the most promising Septembers in recent memory.

Who: Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Bibb, Tyler Labine, Lake Bell and Nick Kroll
What: A group of 30-year-olds who have been friends since high school attempt to throw an end-of-summer orgy.
When: September 2nd (limited)
Why: Though I’m still not convinced that Jason Sudeikis is the star that Hollywood seems to think he is, this raunchy sex comedy could finally be the film that changes my mind. It doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded by such a funny ensemble cast, including actors like Tyler Labine and Lake Bell, who are always good for a laugh The real test, however, will be whether the film has the balls to go all the way or if it will chicken out at the last minute, because you shouldn’t joke around about an orgy unless you mean it.

Who: Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Laurence Fishburne
What: An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.
When: September 9th
Why: When Steven Soderbergh puts together a cast this good, it’s hard not to stand up and take notice. But even with four Oscar winners, three nominees, and a three-time Emmy winner at his disposal, the real star of “Contagion” may end up being the story itself, which has the potential to scare the living shit out of audiences in ways that most horror films could only dream of. How Soderbergh manages to tap into our inherent fear of disease will be key to its success, but if the movie is anywhere near as good as 1995’s “Outbreak” (which also had an amazing cast), we’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Who: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison and Nick Nolte
What: The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he’s trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision corner with his older brother.
When: September 9th
Why: Mixed martial arts may still be in its infancy, but the sport is growing faster than ever at the moment, and “Warrior” could be the thing that finally pushes it into the mainstream – especially since it’s already being called the “Rocky” of MMA films. The comparison isn’t completely unwarranted. With a tale of sibling rivalry clearly influenced by the Old Testament, “Warrior” looks to deliver a nice balance between family drama and sports underdog movie. But unlike “Rocky,” director Gavin O’Connor has the difficult task of making the audience root for two different protagonists, only to then pit them against one another in the ring. It’s the moviegoing equivalent of “Sophie’s Choice.”

Who: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks and Albert Brooks
What: A Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.
When: September 16th
Why: The Nicolas Winding Refn-directed crime thriller has been on my radar for quite some time now, and that was before I even really knew much about the project. Since then, “Drive” has been slowly building buzz ahead of its theatrical release, most prominently at the Cannes Film Festival where it walked away with the award for Best Director, a nomination for the prestigious Palm D’Or, and the admiration of most film critics. Though that may not necessarily translate into ticket sales, “Drive” still has the potential to be the sleeper hit of the year – an action flick with an art-house twist.

Who: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard and James Woods
What: L.A. screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South where a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both.
When: September 16th
Why: A lot of people are going to take one look at Rod Lurie’s remake of the 1971 thriller “Straw Dogs” and bemoan the fact that Hollywood has run out of original ideas. But while the Dustin Hoffman film certainly has its share of admirers, the movie isn’t exactly sacred ground, so it’ll be interesting to see what Lurie brings to his version besides the obvious modern updates. James Marsden and Alexander Skarsgard are both solid choices for the male leads, while the trailer ensures that the ultraviolence of the original hasn’t been watered down in exchange for a more audience-friendly rating.

Who: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt and Robin Wright
What: The story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget by using computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
When: September 23rd
Why: Though its subject matter may suggest otherwise, director Bennett Miller is adamant that “Moneyball” is about much more than the game of baseball, which is good news for people like me, who aren’t very big fans of the sport. Based on the bestseller of the same name by Michael Lewis, the film adaptation was written by two of the most dependable screenwriters in the business (Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian) and features a killer cast with some real Oscar heavyweights. Interestingly enough, though, it’s Jonah Hill’s involvement that has me the most intrigued, because I’m curious to see if he has what it takes to successfully transition into more serious roles.

Who: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Maria Bello and Sigourney Weaver
What: A thriller centered on a young man who sets out to uncover the truth about his life after finding his baby photo on a missing persons website.
When: September 23rd
Why: Say what you will about Taylor Lautner, but the guy has one hell of an agent. While his “Twilight” co-stars are busy starring in obscure indie films that may make them feel better about not selling out but aren’t really helping their careers either, Lautner is being primed to become the next Tom Cruise. He’s already a sex symbol with the “Twilight” crowd, and under the direction of John Singleton, Lautner will take his first big step towards becoming a bona fide action star. “Abduction” looks eerily like a junior version of the Bourne movies, and if Lautner can prove that there’s more to him than rock-hard abs and steely eyes, there’s a good chance it will exceed everyone’s expectations.

Who: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro and Yvonne Strahovski
What: When his mentor is taken captive, a retired member of Britain’s Elite Special Air Service is forced into action. His mission: kill three assassins dispatched by their cunning leader.
When: September 23rd
Why: If Lautner is looking for some quick lessons on how to be a better action star, he’d be wise to check out the oeuvre of Jason Statham, who’s been playing a variation of the same character now for almost a decade. That trend continues in “Killer Elite,” but as they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and The Stath has proven time and again why he’s one of the elite action stars of this generation. But lately, even he’s been trying to class up his movies a little bit, and you don’t get much classier than Clive Owen and Robert De Niro, who should help elevate the film beyond the typical Statham beat-‘em-up.

Who: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anna Kendrick
What: A comedic account of a 27-year-old guy’s cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.
When: September 30th
Why: No, you’re not imagining things – Seth Rogen really is starring in another movie about cancer only two short years after the release of “Funny People.” The difference this time around, however, is that it’s much more personal. Based on his friend Will Reiser’s real-life fight with cancer, the pair developed the project together, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing the fictionalized version of the disease-stricken pal, Rogen co-starring as his closest confidant, and Reiser penning the script. Though cancer isn’t something that’s easy to take lightly, “50/50” appears to have found a better balance of comedy and drama than the Judd Apatow misfire, and that’s a step in the right direction.

Who: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden and Jesse Moss
What: Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin where they’re mistaken as serial killers by a group of preppy college kids.
When: September 30th (limited)
Why: I had the opportunity to see Eli Craig’s horror comedy back in 2009 while it was making the rounds on the festival circuit, and although it’s not quite the instant cult classic that I was expecting, “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” is still an incredibly fun midnight movie that fans of genre favorites like “Army of Darkness” and “Shaun of the Dead” will enjoy. Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine make a great comedic team as the titular hillbillies, while every kill is equally gory and clever. A note of caution to those interested in seeing it, though: Do not watch the trailer, as it ruins just about every funny moment in the film.

As a film critic, you learn to keep your expectations to a minimum, because more often than not, the movie in question is never as good as you hoped. That doesn’t change the fact that there are still some movies that you want to see more than others, and as long as you don’t mind the possibility of disappointment, it’s okay to let your inner fanboy out every once in a while. This year certainly has plenty of movies to get excited about – at least, that’s what Hollywood is banking on with an upcoming slate that includes “Pirates of the Caribbean 4,” “Cars 2,” “Green Lantern,” “Captain America: The First Avenger” and “Thor” – but there’s a lot more great stuff out there than just the usual summer tentpole films. To give you a better idea of what’s coming to theaters this year, I’ve assembled my 11 most anticipated movies of 2011 with the hope that you might discover one or two titles to add to your own must-see list.

Who: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig and Jason Bateman
What: Two British sci-fi geeks on a cross-country road trip through the U.S. encounter a real-life alien named Paul who needs help getting back to his home planet.
When: March 18th
Why: The trailer may not instill a whole lot of confidence with its heavy dose of juvenile humor, but as a fan of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (who also co-wrote the film), it’s hard to imagine them disappointing their fanbase. I wouldn’t necessarily expect anything as great as “Shaun of the Dead” or “Hot Fuzz,” but between all the geeky sci-fi references and the awesome supporting cast (including Jason Bateman as the FBI agent on their trail and Seth Rogen as the voice of the titular alien), it’s safe to say that “Paul” will be every bit as funny as it sounds.

Who: Saorsie Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett and Olivia Williams
What: A girl raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is sent on a mission across Europe while eluding operatives under the command of a ruthless CIA agent.
When: April 8th
Why: Director Joe Wright may be best known for sappy period dramas like “Pride and Prejudice” and “Atonement,” but I can’t wait to see what he can do in a completely different genre – especially one that provides him with a bigger playground to work within. The trailer seems to suggest that “Hanna” will be more than just your average action-thriller, with Wright aiming for something a little more thought provoking. And with a cast that includes Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, and one of the best young actresses in the business in Saorsie Ronan, this could be the surprise hit of the season.

Who: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, January Jones, Nicholas Hoult, Lucas Till and Jason Flemyng
What: The story of Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) as young men learning to control their powers, and how they worked together with a band of mutants to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known.
When: June 3rd
Why: Apart from the fact that it takes place in the 1960s and serves as a prequel to the original trilogy, details on “X-Men: First Class” are pretty scarce. But after walking away from the directing gig on the last “X-Men” film, I think that most fans are curious to see what Matthew Vaughn can do with the franchise. The retro setting definitely has my interest piqued, and using the relationship between Xavier and Lehnsherr as a parallel to Martin Luther King and Malcolm X is brilliant. That hasn’t stopped Internet forums from stirring up bad buzz in response to the recently leaked photos and rumors that Vaughn is feeling pressed for time, but he doesn’t have a bad movie to his name yet, so it’s probably better to just let the film speak for itself.

Who: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman and Ralph Fiennes
What: Harry returns to Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes, leading to the inevitable battle between the Boy Who Lived and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
When: July 15th
Why: The real question is, who isn’t looking forward to this movie? The previous seven films have grossed over $6 billion worldwide, and where most franchises tend to lose steam around the third installment, this series has only gotten better over time. They’ve also gotten progressively darker, and “Deathly Hallows: Part Two” promises to be the darkest yet, with the massive Battle of Hogwarts resulting in the death of several major players – some good, some bad, and some whose allegiance remains a secret. I’m still holding out hope that the movie will dive a little further into Dumbledore’s past, because “Part One” covered so much of the book that the only thing left is the battle.

Who: Jim Cummings, John Cleese, Craig Ferguson and Tom Kenny
What: A collection of classic Winnie the Pooh stories including “In Which Eeyore Loses a Tail and Pooh Finds One” and “In Which Rabbit Has a Busy Day.”
When: July 15th
Why: Of all my selections, this is undoubtedly the one that will raise the most eyebrows, but there’s a certain nostalgic factor that has me really excited about a new “Winnie the Pooh” film – especially one created using traditional, hand-drawn animation. The art design looks incredible (polished but respectful to the original characters) and the trailer suggests a clever, breaking-the-fourth-wall angle to the story that involves the real world bleeding into the storybook world. And if that’s not enough to win you over, Zooey Deschanel will be lending her bubbly-twang voice to the classic “Winnie the Pooh” song. It’s just too bad that it won’t have a chance to find an audience, because Disney has foolishly decided to open the film on the same weekend as the final installment of the “Harry Potter” saga. Oh bother, indeed.

Who: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson and Aziz Ansari
What: A small-town pizza delivery boy is kidnapped by two wannabe criminals and forced to rob a bank.
When: October 5th
Why: This one almost missed the cut solely because of Danny McBride’s involvement – whose arrogant redneck shtick is really starting to get on my nerves – but I’m willing to give the film the benefit of the doubt if only because it reunites Jesse Eisenberg with “Zombieland” director Ruben Fleisher. It’s really nice to see that Eisenberg isn’t taking his career too seriously, because he’s just as great in comedies as he is in more serious fare like “The Social Network.” The wild cards are McBride, Aziz Ansari and Nick Swardson – all funny men who sometimes try too hard for a laugh – but if Fleisher can rein them in, “30 Seconds or Less” has the potential to be this year’s “The Hangover.”

Who: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Morrison
What: The son of a former boxer is trained by his alcoholic father to compete in a mixed martial arts tournament where he’ll face off against his older brother.
When: September 9th
Why: The rise of MMA has already ushered in a few movies about the popular combat sport (“Redbelt,” “Never Back Down”), but none of them have really done it any justice. Granted, it’s still a little early to know whether “Warrior” will be any different, but it certainly has the right ingredients to become the next great fight film, and it all starts with Tom Hardy. If the British-born actor isn’t a huge movie star in the next few years, then Hollywood has gotten it all wrong, because this guy just oozes charisma. It’s no “Inception,” but “Warrior” looks to be yet another great stepping stone for one of the most promising actors in the business.

Who: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Albert Brooks and Christina Hendricks
What: A Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put out on him after a heist gone wrong.
When: November 9th
Why: It might sound like a direct-to-DVD action movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr., but you needn’t look any further than the amazing cast that director Nicholas Winding Refn has assembled to realize that there’s probably more to “Drive” than meets the eye. Ryan Gosling, in particular, has a pretty good track record when it comes to picking interesting projects, and I find it hard to believe that he’d follow up his award-nominated performance in “Blue Valentine” with some ordinary genre flick. That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible, but even if “Drive” is just your run-of-the-mill action-thriller, at least we know it’ll be entertaining with the people involved.

Who: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Paul Rudd and Chris Cooper
What: Gary and his Muppet roommate, Walter, team up with Kermit the Frog and Co. to save their old theater from an evil oil tycoon.
When: November 23rd
Why: Jim Henson’s Muppets have had their share of ups and downs over the years, but a comeback has been cultivating for quite some time now (due in part to a series of viral videos starring the motley crew), and a feature film is exactly the push they need. As a fan, it’s nice to see that the new movie will be in good hands as well, written by Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel, who proved their own Muppet love by featuring Henson-styled puppets in their comedy, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” and being directed by James Bobin of “Flight of the Conchords” fame. Additionally, Conchords member Bret McKenzie will be providing music for the movie, and the list of cameos already includes the likes of Zach Galifianakis, Ricky Gervais, Billy Crystal, Emily Blunt, and some that are so top secret not even Segel himself will divulge the details. What’s not to be excited about?

Who: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Josh Holloway
What: Super-spy Ethan Hunt enlists a new recruit for help in his most dangerous mission yet.
When: December 16th
Why: There’s so little known about the latest installment of “Mission: Impossible” that I had to fake my way through the above plot summary. In fact, the only thing we do know is that the movie will act as a passing-of-the-torch of sorts between Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner, with the latter intended to become the new face of the franchise should they decide to make any more. And although “Mission: Impossible 3” is arguably the best film in the series, with J.J. Abrams returning as executive producer (as well as conceiving the story), Pixar alumni Brad Bird directing, and a cast that includes Cruise, Renner, Simon Pegg and “Lost” favorite Josh Holloway, “Ghost Protocol” looks like it could easily take over that spot.

Who: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgaard, Robin Wright, Joely Richardson and Christopher Plummer
What: A disgraced journalist investigates the disappearance of the niece of a wealthy business magnate with the help of a young female hacker.
When: December 21st
Why: Hollywood remakes of foreign films aren’t usually met with a whole lot of enthusiasm, but in the case of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (which is technically being adapted from the bestselling Steig Larsson novel of the same name), everyone is waiting to see how David Fincher puts his own stamp on the material. It’s already been confirmed that the movie is shooting in Sweden, but will the actors speak with Swedish accents, and can Rooney Mara live up to the impossible expectations of playing one of this generation’s most iconic heroines only a few short years after Noomi Rapace’s career-making performance in the same role? I’m certainly curious to find out, because if anyone can improve upon the Swedish version (a solid thriller in its own right, but not definitive by any means), it’s Fincher.