Hello friends! Happy New Year!
New Years is, of course, a time for looking forward, a time for starting fresh and a time for new beginnings.
And it is in this spirit that I proclaim: “Let’s look backwards and get nostalgic about the films we watched in 2011!”

Last year about this time I decided it might be interesting to start keeping track of every theatrical viewing experience I had over the course of 365 days. So I thumbtacked a few sheets of construction paper to my wall, found myself a fine-tipped sharpie and drew up an empty list numbered 1 through 100. I then spent the year filling in each of the slots with whatever film I had just returned home from screening. The predicted goal of 100 proved to be slightly more ambitious than my viewing habits could sustain (although only slightly). It’s also important to note that each of these numbers represent 1 individual viewing on the big screen, not a screening of a new movie, necessarily. In other words, repeated viewings of films I had already seen still count. And large gatherings outside of a theatre setting- viewing a feature film projected onto a screen (like the inflatable screen at the Seattle Center Summer Series or the mausoleum wall at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Cinespia Screenings) for an audience still counts.

So here is my assembled “theatrical” watchlist for 2011, presented in chronological order by screening. All films on this list were viewed between January 1st and December 31st, 2011.

Also- look for Oscar and my individual “Top 10 of 2011” lists coming early next week! Who needs 2012 when there’s still so much 2011 left to dwell on?!

BLUE VALENTINE (1)
TRON: LEGACY [IMAX]
BARNEY’S VERSION
BLUE VALENTINE (2)
RABBIT HOLE
ANOTHER YEAR
CEDAR RAPIDS
BIUTIFUL
BLUE VALENTINE (3)
Oscar-nominated shorts (Live Action)
Oscar-nominated shorts (Animated)
SUCKER PUNCH [IMAX] (1)
WIN WIN
YOUR HIGHNESS
HANNA
SUCKER PUNCH (2)
SCREAM 4
FAST FIVE [IMAX]
SOURCE CODE
THOR
BRIDESMAIDS (1)
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (1)
THE TREE OF LIFE (1)
THE ROOM
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES [IMAX]
THE HANGOVER PART II
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
THE TREE OF LIFE (2)
SUPER 8
THE TRIP
BRIDESMAIDS (2)
CARS 2
GREEN LANTERN
TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON [IMAX]
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 (1)
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 (2)
CAPTAIN AMERICA
COWBOYS & ALIENS
ATTACK THE BLOCK
HORRIBLE BOSSES
CRAZY STUPID LOVE
30 MINUTES OR LESS
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL
FRIGHT NIGHT
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (2)
SHARK NIGHT
THE HELP
CONTAGION (1)
WARRIOR (1)
DRIVE (1)
WARRIOR (2)
MONEYBALL
CONTAGION [IMAX] (2)
50/50
THE IDES OF MARCH
DRIVE (2)
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (1)
LIKE CRAZY
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (2)
J. EDGAR
IMMORTALS
MELANCHOLIA
THE DESCENDANTS
DRIVE (3)
THE MUPPETS (1)
HUGO
THE MUPPETS (2)
A DANGEROUS METHOD
THE ARTIST (1)
SHAME
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL [IMAX]
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
THE ARTIST (2)
WAR HORSE
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
CARNAGE

Stray observations:

-I saw 80 films in 12 months- an average of 6.66 films per month or an average of 1.66 films per week.

-If an average Los Angeles ticket price is approximately $12.00 (once you factor in IMAX and 3D prices), this means I spent about $960 on movie admissions alone and probably well over a grand when you add in parking, the rare but pricey concession purchase and occasionally picking up a ticket for a companion (hello write-off!).

The 2 films I saw 3 times in the theatre last year were:

-BLUE VALENTINE and DRIVE (big lovefest for Mr. Gosling in 2011)

-In mid-September I had 7 viewings in a row of films with 1 word titles (8 if you count 50/50)

-27 of my total screenings happened at The Landmark Theatre in West LA

-14 occurred at the Bridge Cinema "De Lux" in Westchester... ahem, excuse me, the "Rave Motion Pictures 18 + IMAX" rather.

-8 were at one of the various Arclight locations around town.

It goes without saying that I, of course, see most of my movies by myself. I always have. And my oft-spontaneous viewing habits necessitate a certain lone-wolf mentality when it comes to braving the multiplex or art house. But there were a few important people who accompanied me to some of my favorite screenings of the year and they deserve to be recognized:

-Mister Ryan Julio of Torrance, California was my most consistent viewing partner, accompanying me to 10 screenings over the course of the year.

-Tying for 2nd place with 6 viewings was the beautiful, intelligent and open-minded Elise Roberts of Seattle, Washington who not only trusted my controversial recommendation of SUCKER PUNCH but also allowed me to escort her to her very first viewing of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

-Dan Kelly of Poway, California was also gracious enough to be my cineplex wingman 6 times over. He got off to a very slow start but came roaring back into contention with a late-year viewing-push.

-Danny Galligani also deserves to be recognized. Despite the fact that he and I only saw 3 films together this last year, one of them was FAST FIVE. And that screening may have very well been the most enjoyable time I had at the movies all year long.

Here's to many more happy viewings in 2012, my friends and neighbors...

-MK- 01/05/12