2. Drive
To anyone saying this is too high on the list for a 2011 film, I say give it time. It will be atop this list in a few years, once the elites have had the time to consider the greatness of Drive. From the top to bottom, side to side Nicolas Winding Refn's hypnotizing LA neo-noir is as interesting a film you will see on this list. The way it patiently builds to moments of violence, balancing character development with a pop-synth soundtrack made it arguably the best, freshest film of 2011. Ryan Gosling, doing a variation on the man with no name, with Yojimbo, works inwardly with the power Daniel Day-Lewis delivers outwardly. He is an enigma, and the performance is one of the best performances on this or any list.
Larry Taylor
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Self-made film aficionado with a background in creative writing. Proprietor of www.themoviesnob.net. Lover of all things cinema. Follow me at @LCTmoviesnob and enjoy the ride.
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