11 films to look forward to in 2011

By Mike Scott, The Times-Picayune

Over the past several days, I've been counting down to my year-end list of the 10 best films of 2010 by releasing a list of other lists -- with one landing each day -- in a variety of categories.

Ryan Reynolds appears in an image from the locally shot 'Green Lantern.'

Sunday, I released my list of my 10 favorite documentaries of 2010 .

Monday, it was the year's best Hollywood South films .

Tuesday, I turned my attention to the best family films of 2010 .

Wednesday I looked at 10 cinematic gems you probably missed over the course of the year.

Thursday brought the big boy, my list of the Top 10 Films of 2010 .

So what does that leave? How about a list of 11 films to look forward to in 2011. Find it below. Is your favorite on the list? Add your two-cents in the comments section below.

11. "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" OK, so the second two films never really lived up to the fun of the first one, but it'll be great to see Captain Jack Sparrow once more on the big screen, no? (Release date: May 20.)

10. "Cars 2" I admit it: The first "Cars" was one of the few Pixar films I wasn't totally ga-ga over. That being said, I trust these guys implicitly. They've earned that. (Release date: June 24.)

9. "Untitled Sherlock Holmes Sequel" The original film in this latest big-screen incarnation of the iconic detective was a case of superior style, questionable substance. With Robert Downey Jr. back as Holmes, I'm willing to give it a second chance. (Release date: Dec. 16.)

8. "Jeff Who Lives at Home." For their next dramatic comedy, the New Orleans-raised Duplass brothers came back home, shooting throughout New Orleans and Metairie with Jason Segel, Ed Helms and Susan Sarandon. How can you not be intrigued by the possibilities? (Unscheduled.)

7. "Battle: Los Angeles." This aliens-attack actioner wasn't shot in L.A. -- it was shot in Shreveport and Baton Rouge, which doubled as L.A. It also looks like it could be very cool. (Release date: March 11.)

6. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." The Swedish-language version of the first book in Steig Larsson's Millennium trilogy was great. It'll be interesting to see what David Fincher -- one of the most reliable filmmakers in Hollywood -- brings to the English-language version. (Release date: Dec. 21)

5. "The Hangover: Part II." It's this simple: I like to laugh. "The Hangover" made me laugh. Here's hoping the sequel does, too. (Release date: May 26.)

4. "I Love You Phillip Morris." This dark romantic comedy -- in which Jim Carrey falls in love with Ewan McGregor -- is funny, yes, but it surprised me by also the most effective rom-com I saw in 2010. (Release date: Jan. 7.)

3. "Blue Valentine." After playing once on the closing night of the New Orleans Film Festival, it sees limited release in the bigger markets in late December. Expect it to get a full local theatrical run in January or February -- and expect a couple of astonishingly raw performances. (Unscheduled.)

2. "Green Lantern." Not only was Warner Bros.' big-screen version of the DC Comics superhero shot here, but it stars Mr. Charisma himself, Ryan Reynolds, in the title role. In a year chock-full of superhero films ("Green Hornet," "Captain America," 'Thor" ...) this one sounds like a can't-miss to me. (Release date: June 17.)

1. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II." You don't have to be a Potter-head to recognize the significance of this, the final film in the wizarding series. Its release should easily be the movie event of 2011. (Release date: July 15.)

Source: http://www.nola.com