This article was a web-only addition to the March-April 2012 issue.
Terrence Malick’s account of life, the universe, and everything held readers rapt, commanding the top spot just as it did in last issue’s Critics’ Poll. But the vox populi spoke up for Drive (#3), The Artist (#6), Moneyball (#16), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (#12), Martha Marcy May Marlene (#18), and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (#20). Note: Numbers in parentheses refer to the film’s ranking in the Critics’ Poll. Congratulations to the winners selected randomly from this year’s poll participants to win Criterion Collection DVDs: Jeffrey Wang of Fullerton, CA (First Prize); Kalena Clarkson of Des Moines, IA (Second Prize); and Jonathan May of Sawyerville, AL, and Ava Caridad of Montclair, NJ (Third and Fourth Prizes). For readers’ thoughts on their picks, click here. And many thanks to Criterion for its generous donation of prizes.
1. The Tree of Life Terrence Malick, U.S. (1)
2. Melancholia Lars von Trier, Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany (3)
3. Drive
Nicolas Winding Refn, U.S. (22)
4. Hugo
Martin Scorsese, U.S. (9)
5. Midnight in Paris Woody Allen, Spain/U.S. (18)
6. The Artist
Michel Hazanavicius, France (27)
7. Certified Copy
Abbas Kiarostami, France/Italy/Belgium (7)
8. The Descendants Alexander Payne, U.S. (15)
9. Meek’s Cutoff Kelly Reichardt, U.S. (8)
10. A Separation Asghar Farhadi, Iran (4)
11. A Dangerous Method David Cronenberg, Canada/Germany (5)
12. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tomas Alfredson, U.K./France/Germany (24)
13. Shame Steve McQueen, U.K. (21)
14. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand/U.K./France/Germany (2)
15. Take Shelter
Jeff Nichols, U.S. (19)
16. Moneyball Bennett Miller, U.S. (38)
17. Le Havre Aki Kaurismäki, Finland/France (12)
18. Martha Marcy May Marlene Sean Durkin, U.S. (35)
19. The Skin I Live In Pedro Almodóvar, Spain (31)
20. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo David Fincher, U.S. (65)
This story is part of the March-April 2012 issue of Film Comment.
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