Look outside the 3-ring circus to find treasures in our peripheral vision. Should it matter that Ontario’s Thom Ernst isn’t a Brand Name like Ebert if he’s the only guy we can rely on to bring up Monsieur Lazhar?
1. Monsieur Lazhar
This film tops my list as the best film of 2011 – a list that is shared with Café de Flora and Shame… a movie that celebrates life and yet refuses to ignore the horrors.
2. Café de flore
A spiritual odyssey that flows seamlessly from era to era, passing the logic of time and continuity in order to create a mystical revolution of cinema’s possibilities.
3. Billy Bishop Goes to War
4. Starbuck
5. Take This Waltz
6. Grinders