The Girl with the Dragon Tatto (2011)

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is asked to find truth about the disappearance of Harriet Vanger forty years ago. During investigation he is joined by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a hacker.
This movie has the most amazing begging where music and computer graphic leaves unforgettable impression. These few minutes alone are worth whole movie. Movie's soundtrack is so well created that gives one more dimension to the movie.
Rooney Mara is great choice for Lisbeth. Her play is honest, powerful and memorable.
This is the movie in a category of 'must see.'
Rating 10 of 10.

Coriolanus (2011)

Based on a play of William Shakespeare the movie is set in today's world. Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), a war hero in Rome, is banished by his people. In revenge he allies with his greatest enemy.
Shakespearean lines and plot felt out of place in the modern setting. It seemed too theatrical. However, Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave as mother, showed brilliant play of dramatical actors.
Rating 6 of 10.

The Rum Diary (2011)

Based on a novel of a journalist Hunter.S. Thompson the movie pictures young journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) who takes freelance in a financially troubled local newspaper in Puerto Rico in 1950s. Kemp finds himself between self-destructive colleagues who most of their days spend drinking rum.
Beauty of Puerto Rico and charm of Johnny Depp make the movie endurable otherwise it is quite poor.
Rating 5 of 10.

Carnage (2011)

Two parents meet to solve a conflict between their kids. They start out as polite and intelligent people but during their intercourse emotions rise and we find four raging people.
Roman Polanski has chosen an excellent cast, Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly against Kate Winslet  and  Cristoph Waltz. Foster and Winslet very good show how calm and civilized ladies turn into chimers.
Rating 9 of 10

Kolka Cool (2011)

One of the best movies made in Latvia I have seen in a while. Director Juris Poskus pictures board, aimless youth walking around a little coastal village. Three guys Andza, Boga and Balais spend their days killing time by drinking beer, smoking, picking fights and chewing sunflower seeds. Andza wants to merry Simona who is not sure of Andza. Day after day nothing really happens. . The film is so real that makes me sad. I have seen many similar scenarios.
Rating 8 of 10.

New Year's Eve (2011)

Director of Valentine's Day Garry Marshall has made one more movie in the same pattern. Many stories with many participants on new year's eve in New York. The movie is very predictable which makes it so comfortable and cozy to watch. You already know how will it end and there is no need to involve your little grey cells. Besides, movies has a parade of stars. Where else you gonna see together (except maybe Oscars) Sara Jessica-Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Ashton Kutcher, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Jon Bon Jovi etc. My favorite couple was Pfeiffer and Efron.

Rating 6 of 10

The Artist (2011)

A silent black and white movie made in the spirit of the early cinema. The story happens on a verge of sound in movies. George Valentin (Jean Dejurdin), a well-known silent actor, has a hard time to accept that sound is the future of the cinema. Meanwhile, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), a young actress flies into stardom thanks to talking movies. In the beginning of the movie their tracks of both actors cross and it helps Peppy to become recognized and at the end, because of Peppy, George returns to cinema.
"The Artist" is well-done, well-told and in a good style of silent movies.
Rating 8 of 10.