A comprehensively tiered list from IRON UNCLE Bill Karp, with extended justifications in response to certain impertinent film-related questions posed by his nephew.
HORRIBLE
30. Bad Teacher
LAME
29. The Adjustment Bureau
28. Limitless
A LITTLE BIT ENJOYABLE
27. The Lincoln Lawyer
26. Source Code
Are you implying that Source Code was underrated???? Were you so taken with Jake Gyllenhaal's dimples that you were rendered blind to its seemingly endless repetitive leaps back and forth from silly to sillier?? Or were you implying that I had overrated it and that you were not even a little bit aroused at the sight of Vera Farmiga in full military regalia. She was like this uber-stern testosterone fueled manwoman who was probably wearing a pair of men's jockey briefs and a wonder bra. It was clear that she could out arm-wrestle anyone else in the movie, especially mopey, dimply Jake. This move finally made it abundantly clear that death can make a man really cranky and somewhat unreasonable. I agree that death is the shits, but is it really an excuse to be ill-mannered?
HORRIBLE
30. Bad Teacher
LAME
29. The Adjustment Bureau
28. Limitless
A LITTLE BIT ENJOYABLE
27. The Lincoln Lawyer
26. Source Code
Are you implying that Source Code was underrated???? Were you so taken with Jake Gyllenhaal's dimples that you were rendered blind to its seemingly endless repetitive leaps back and forth from silly to sillier?? Or were you implying that I had overrated it and that you were not even a little bit aroused at the sight of Vera Farmiga in full military regalia. She was like this uber-stern testosterone fueled manwoman who was probably wearing a pair of men's jockey briefs and a wonder bra. It was clear that she could out arm-wrestle anyone else in the movie, especially mopey, dimply Jake. This move finally made it abundantly clear that death can make a man really cranky and somewhat unreasonable. I agree that death is the shits, but is it really an excuse to be ill-mannered?
A LITTLE BIT ENJOYABLE (cont'd)
25. Super 8
24. Horrible Bosses
23. Water for Elephants
22. I am Number 4
21. Insidious
ENJOYABLE
20. Hanna
19. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
18. Bridesmaids
17. The Tree of Life
Personally, I was being generous rating The Tree of Life as high as I did. It was implausible. There is no way that two people as drop-dead gorgeous as Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain could spawn anything resembling Sean Penn. Ick. And while we are at it, what about that damned tree anyway? I mean it was clear that it was very important since it was in the title and we did see them gently birthing it as a sapling. It never seemed to maintain any sense of importance thereafter. I kept expecting it to somehow make another appearance either symbolically like an ART FILM or a la the yakking trees on the way to Oz that pelted apples at Dot and Co. I liked seeing Jessica on the swing and couldn't help wondering if she was borrowing her outfits from the set of The Help. But still I don't think you should call something a tree and then spend a lot of time yelling at nice boys and showing odd snippets of pre-history and no trees.
25. Super 8
24. Horrible Bosses
23. Water for Elephants
22. I am Number 4
21. Insidious
ENJOYABLE
20. Hanna
19. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
18. Bridesmaids
17. The Tree of Life
Personally, I was being generous rating The Tree of Life as high as I did. It was implausible. There is no way that two people as drop-dead gorgeous as Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain could spawn anything resembling Sean Penn. Ick. And while we are at it, what about that damned tree anyway? I mean it was clear that it was very important since it was in the title and we did see them gently birthing it as a sapling. It never seemed to maintain any sense of importance thereafter. I kept expecting it to somehow make another appearance either symbolically like an ART FILM or a la the yakking trees on the way to Oz that pelted apples at Dot and Co. I liked seeing Jessica on the swing and couldn't help wondering if she was borrowing her outfits from the set of The Help. But still I don't think you should call something a tree and then spend a lot of time yelling at nice boys and showing odd snippets of pre-history and no trees.
REALLY GOOD
16. Thor
15. Beginners
14. The Company Men
13. Contagion
REALLY REALLY GOOD
12. Warriors
11. The Help
10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
9. A Better Life
8. 50/50
7. Crazy Stupid Love
TERRIFIC
6. The Descendants
5. X-Men: First Class
4. The Ides of March
I have to take exception to your implication that The Ides of March was not terrific. Only George Clooney could create a character played by George Clooney that failed to be a MAJOR ROLE MODEL of all things wholesome, pure and saintly. That he framed himself in the guise of exactly that same old perfect-guy George was masterful. And, what could be more fun than finally finding a way for me to completely enjoy Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti: Two really unattractive actors who I usually avoid seeing as much as possible (is there any way that we can unearth a transcript between Margaret Thatcher and Truman Capote?? I'd love to see PSH and Streep go for the gold on that...) In The Ides of March they were deliciously fun to watch and convince ourselves that James Carville and Mary Matelin haven't been laughing at us since Monica Lewinsky's last trip to the presidential gargle pond.
TERRIFIC (cont'd)
3. The Devil's Double
2. Midnight In Paris
1. The Artist