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From blockbusters to art house films, 2011 was full of surprises. We were entertained by movies featuring a curious boy named Hugo or a group of youngsters investigating a possible alien invasion in their hometown. But as this list can attest, sometimes, silence is golden.

1. “The Artist” -- For a silent film, this black-and-white movie has a lot to say. Writer-director Michel Hazanavicius played with our perceived notion of romance. At the heart of "The Artist" is an effective love story starring Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. But this movie is really a love letter to the golden age of Hollywood, a delectable treat for any movie lover! I am predicting "The Artist" to triumph at the upcoming Academy Awards.

 

2. “Hugo” -- This visually splendid masterpiece from maestro Martin Scorsese is captivating and seductively entrancing! No one can make a piece of cinema history as piercingly fascinating as Scorsese can. This grand adventure, based on Brian Selznick's award-winning book, is a delight for everyone and will make you believe in the magic of pure imagination. "Hugo" must be seen in 3D!

 

3. “The Descendants” -- What could have been a melodramatic movie became a brilliant character study on forgiving and acceptance. Director Alexander Payne ("Sideways," "Election") created a dramedy that's equal parts conflict and ease. "The Descendants" has a great ensemble headed by George Clooney's nuance performance. Watch for Shailene Woodley's scene-stealing turn as Clooney's intrepid daughter.

 

4. "Drive" -- I still can't forget the daring images of this noir thriller from director Nicolas Winding Refn. The cast is excellent (pay attention to Albert Brooks' turn as the mysterious crime boss, Bernie Rose) and the music by ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer, Cliff Martinez, is palpable. But best of all, the story of the Driver, played audaciously by Ryan Gosling, is memorable.

 

5. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" -- This is a perfect ending to a perfect franchise. And best of all, we feel vindicated for standing with our favorite boy wizard through the years.

 

6. "The Tree of Life" -- From visionary writer-director, Terrence Malick, comes this fantastic meditation on life and living. Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, Malick's usage of interspersed imagery and fragmented non-linear narrative polarized critics but I stand behind this truly artistic masterpiece. Emmanuel Lubezki's haunting cinematography deserves an Oscar. This was the first film in 2011 where we witnessed the charm of Jessica Chastain.

 

7. "Moneyball" -- On the surface, this is a baseball movie about Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt on a roll this year) based on the book by Michael Lewis titled "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game." But director Bennett Miller and writers Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin shaped a redemption story of a man who will do anything for the love of the game. You don't have to be a baseball fan to fall in love with this movie.

 

8. "Midnight in Paris" -- Woody Allen transports us back to a magical time in Paris, after midnight of course, with the funny and endearing Owen Wilson as our tour guide. The wit is bitingly sharp, while the charm is winningly effusive.

 

9. "War Horse" -- I was skeptical going in, but I became a firm believer walking out. Steven Spielberg, as we all know by now, is a gifted storyteller but I thought he would dial up the Hallmark schmaltziness of the love story between a boy and his horse. I was wrong. By the end of the movie, I was shamelessly crying with tears of joy. "War Horse" effortlessly swept me away.

 

10. "Super 8" -- I was very impressed with this sci-fi drama. Director J.J. Abrams channels Spielberg with this homage to alien movies. All the child actors are terrific especially Elle Fanning. This film about how residents of a small town are brought together by an alien is simply, well, super. Hollywood does not make smart blockbusters like this often.

Runners-up (alphabetical):

"50/50" -- Seth Rogen was inspiring, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was beguiling, and Anna Kendrick was mesmerizing in this dramedy on cancer, and the most magical part of the film? It's not depressing, but utterly funny and smart! Jonathan Levine managed to create a film that's 50 percent drama and 50 percent funny, all equal parts, and that's not an easy task! I'm hoping that Rogen will get accolades, he certainly deserves it!

 

“A Separation” -- This Iranian film from director Asghar Farhadi has a melodramatic tone but it will pierce your heart and captivate your mind. "A Separation" will win the Best Foreign Language category at the Oscars.

 

“Beginners” -- Director Mike Mills created a movie that's emotionally rich and undeniably human. Christopher Plummer deserves accolades for playing a father who came out to his son

 

“Bridesmaids” -- Simply the Best Comedy of the Year! Melissa McCarthy stole the bouquet!

 

“Hanna” -- From the pulsing soundtrack by the Chemical Brothers to the steely performance by Saoirse Ronan, this is an entrancing movie about a teenage assassin told like a fairy tale.

 

“Happy Feet Two” -- Am I the only film critic who adored this sequel? I especially admired the film's many great messages to kids.

 

“Jane Eyre” -- I enjoyed this adaptation from "Sin Nombre" director Cary Fukunaga. Mia Wasikowska is always a delight, and Michael Fassbender brings on the sexual energy.

 

“Like Crazy” -- Felicity Jones is an emotional marvel in this love story co-starring Anton Yelchin. This film will break your heart.

 

“Margin Call” -- Simply the best film about Wall Street ever made! Zachary Quinto tries his hand at producing (he starred in this one too) while J.C. Chandor delves into his first full-feature film as a writer and director and both succeed with flying colors! Fun Trivia -- Chandor is a son of a stockbroker! I wonder what his dad thinks of the film.

 

“Martha Marcy May Marlene” -- Thrilling, engrossing, head-scratching, but never boring! Writer-director Sean Durkin created a cult film about, yup, cults! Kudos for bringing to our attention the wonderful Elizabeth Olsen.

 

“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” -- This is, in my humble opinion, the best "Mission: Impossible" movie yet! Director Brad Bird is a verifiable storyteller and he accomplished an impossible mission -- to make Tom Cruise cool again!

 

“Pariah” -- This is a gay and lesbian survival movie and you know what? It really does get better! Adepero Oduye as Alike is phenomenal!

 

“Rango” -- My favorite animated film of the year! Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp traded in their pirates gear (and leave them!) for the kaleidoscopic world of a chameleon who wants to live in a make-believe world.

 

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” -- Effectively invigorated the franchise! Andy Serkis is the heart of this captivating movie.

 

“Shame” -- Michael Fassbender, reteaming with his "Hunger" director Steve McQueen, bares all but what you will remember is his raw, emotional performance as a sex addict. Watch for Carey Mulligan's rendition of "New York, New York."

 

“The Debt” -- Once again I asked, am I the only one who appreciates this film? I love how director John Madden turns the screw tighter and tighter and tighter until you can't take it anymore.

 

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” -- I still love Noomi Rapace as the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" but Rooney Mara effectively wears the punk attitude proudly in this David Fincher-directed adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stiegg Larsson.

 

“The Guard” -- Brendan Gleeson steals this movie and is so effacingly charming that you will not regret watching this comedy.

 

“The Help” -- Okay, the first time I saw the film, I said, uh-oh, it's one of those movies where the white folks help the African-American characters much like "The Blind Side" before it. But second viewing made me appreciate this film better! Why? Because of Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer!

 

"The Muppets" -- The songs, the dance numbers, the heart! This movie was made for those who grew up with the Muppets, and I was totally fine with that!

 

"Thor" -- Director Kenneth Branagh offered his Shakespearean sensibilities to this Marvel production and the result is a winning super-hero movie that has a lot of charm and heart on top of the action.

 

“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” -- Nothing is what it seems in this adaptation of the famous John le Carré novel. Gary Oldman gives a poignant performance as Smiley. Director Tomas Alfredson (the original "Let the Right One In") makes his English-language debut and he's a master of atmosphere and mood.

 

“Warrior” -- Gavin O'Connor co-wrote and directed this film about a sibling rivalry solved on the mixed-martial arts stage. Nick Nolte gives a wonderful, Oscar-worthy performance as a wayward father trying to find his redemption.

 

“Win Win” -- From the world of MMA in "Warrior" to the High School wrestling universe, "Win Win" uses the sport as a metaphor on life's quandaries.

 

"X-Men: First Class" -- Director Matthew Vaughn gave us the play-pretend superheroes of "Kick-Ass" so it's fitting that he also gallanted us with his take on the Marvel franchise, "X-Men: First Class." Once again, Michael Fassbender reminds us that he's a good actor, even when he's wearing the yellow "X-Men" costume. I love the film's plot and by going back in the past, we're embracing the series' future.

Worst Films of the Year:

Okay, I was itching to include the usual suspect "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1" on my Worst Films of the Year list, but you knew exactly what you were going to get prior to watching the film. Same thing can be said about "New Year's Eve" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked." Heck, I even had low expectations for Catherine Hardwick's "Red Riding Hood" and Michael Bay's craptacularly cheesy, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

 

I even had a miserable outlook for Adam Sandler, who hasn't really made a good film since 2002's "Punch Drunk Love" (Okay, I enjoyed "Funny People"). So when "Jack and Jill" came out, I knew this movie would be bad. And yup, it was, but we knew it already.

 

So my Worst Films of the Year are:

 

1. "Your Highness" -- How could this movie go wrong? You have the award-winning Natalie Portman, the fantastic James Franco, the always-funny Danny McBride! And this one's from David Gordon Green who made the funny "Pineapple Express." But alas, this movie was not funny. It wasted all the talent of the actors involved. It bored me to tears!

 

2. "The Sitter" -- Jonah Hill's adventures in babysitting could not be saved even if Elisabeth Shue strolled in. I love Hill, I love him in "Moneyball," and then this film came out. Ooops.

 

3. "The Change-Up" -- I adore Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds but this switcheroo movie is mean-hearted and unfunny.

 

4. "The Smurfs" -- I love the Smurfs, but I hated this film. I heard they're making a sequel, so be afraid, be very, very afraid.