Clinton McClung's tops for 2011

One of my favorite regular series of posts on CineRobot is the January/February tradition of getting various people's "tops" for the previous year in cinema. Usually wildly eclectic, the people I've got making the lists include film lovers, theatre owners, programmers and dedicated readers of CineRobot. I'll be posting an exhaustive list as well at some point.

First up for the "tops" posts is Clinton McClung. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Clinton has programmed for theatres on the east and west coasts, but currently is a Cinema Programmer for the Seattle International Film Festival [a festival I know dearly as I've watched hundreds and hundreds of films at]. Clinton gets to do something and be paid for it that causes intense ravings of envy from many film nerds--he gets paid to watch movies, choose the ones he likes and thing bring them to a film festival. In short, he watches a lot of movies, so this list is a good beginning to restock your Netflix queue.  Everyone's queues should be bulging with choices after all the guests reveal their tops for the year. I've already added some of these on Clinton's list for my own queue.

"I spent most of this year watching new American cinema, documentaries, cult movies and maybe shortchanged some great foreign films and larger art house titles--but I think I had a pretty full year, so no regrets. I have yet to see several films that would possibly have made my Top 10: The Artist, Hugo, Uncle Boonmee..., A Separation, Incendies, Senna, Outrage, The Skin I Live In, 13 Assassins, Margaret (which I am waiting to come to town). But they will have to go on the "catch up" list, as I am already diving into what 2012 has to offer."--Clinton, Seattle, January 2012

Hollywood Films

The Muppets

Bridesmaids

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

The Descendants [calling this Hollywood thanks to the Clooney presence]

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Indie

Melancholia

Another Earth

Attack the Block

Rubber

Hannah

The Whistleblower

Bellflower

Drive

Jane Eyre

Weekend

Natural Selection

Perfect Sense

Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil

Foreign Language

Elite Squad 2

Trollhunter

Le Havre

In a Better World

Norwegian Wood

Sound of Noise

3

Tilt

Documentary

How to Die in Oregon

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Page One: Inside the New York Times

Tabloid!

Life in a Day

Project Nim

Marathon Boy

Bobby Fischer Against the World

Undiscovered gem

Small Town Murder Songs

Best Performance in a not-great film

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Hesher