MARGIN CALL (USA 2011) ***** Top 10
Directed by J.C. Chandor

MARGIN CALL is the fiction equivalent to the documentary INSIDE JOB.  Both films document the 2008 financial spiralling fallout of the investment industry with this film emphasizing the effect on a company’s employees.

MELANCHOLIA (Den/Swe/Fr/Germ 2010) ***
Directed by Lars Von Trier

Lars Von Trier’s end of the world epic is told from the point of view of a wedding of a couple very much in love.  The last time Von Trier did wedding was the start of BREAKING THE WAVES.  The film moves at a poetic pace with Trier providing stunning images of the surroundings of nature and of the lush human ceremonies.

THE DESCENDENTS (USA 2011) ****
Directed by Christopher Payne

A land baron, Matt King (George Clooney) tries to re-connect with his two daughters, Alex (Shailene Woodley) and Scottie (Amara Miller) after his wife suffers a boating accident.  Matt is also the trustee in which the decision on whether to sell a large portion of Hawaiian land to potential developers is his sole decision.  The family wants the money.

CAFÉ DE FLORE (Canada 2011) ***1/2
Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée

Quebecois director Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y. and YOUNG VICTORIA) returns to Montreal, Quebec in his latest feature on love and pain.  Because of the film’s structure, CAFÉ DE FLORE (The title coming from a jazz song), CAFÉ DE FLORE is in many ways the most ambitious of Vallée’s films.

HAPPY FEET TWO (USA 2011) ***

Directed by George Miller

HAPPY FEET TWO returns in 3D once again with dancing penguins doing Hollywood song and dance numbers.