1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – The word intense fails to fully capture the dark, captivating nature of this twisting thriller based upon the international bestseller by the late Stieg Larrson. Daniel Craig is in top form as a disgraced journalist hired to investigate a decades-old murder mystery, while Rooney Mara is Oscar-worthy as his troubled, yet brilliant assistant.

2. Incendies – With the mother of all dramatic climaxes, Incendies tells the tragic story of twins—a brother and sister—who are bequeathed the task by their crazy, deceased mother of finding their long-lost father and a brother they never knew they had. Along the way, they learn who their mother really was and uncover secrets too horrible for anyone to bear.

3. The Descendants – Set in beautiful Hawaii, this emotionally powerful drama stars George Clooney in what’s sure to be an Oscar-nominated performance. Clooney plays a lawyer who’s suddenly thrust into solo parenthood after his wife suffers a terrible accident. With a large land deal looming over his head, Clooney’s character must reestablish a relationship with his two headstrong daughters and learn to come to terms with a secret he discovers about his wife.

4. Win Win – Paul Giamatti is superb, as always, in this cleverly written comedy/drama about how a small-town lawyer’s fib in court comes back to haunt him after he takes in a trouble teen, who happens to excel at wrestling. It’s a quirky piece of filmmaking that can be moving and poignant.

5. Margin Call – Combine rich dialogue and a wonderful ensemble cast in a story set against the backdrop of the 2008 economic collapse and you have a terrific drama. Kevin Spacey is outstanding as a disillusioned executive and Jeremy Irons delivers one of the best performances of his career as a soulless corporate owner. The best film about corporate greed since Wall Street.

6. Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy – The Cold War has been over for years, but rarely has a complex tale of espionage been so intricately told as in this 1970s-era spy thriller. Gary Oldman stars as a British agent who was forced into retirement but is brought back to unmask a double agent. It’s a film that requires your close attention throughout, but the reward is well worth the effort.

7. Moneyball – While his role as Jesse James may have been his best, Brad Pitt shines as real-life baseball general manager Billy Beane. Beane and his Yale-educated assistant (Jonah Hill) go against the long-standing tradition within the baseball establishment by relying upon statistics to compete against big-salaried teams. Beane breaks the mold while keeping grounded as a divorced father.

8. Senna – One of the best biographical documentaries you will ever see, this film examines the life of the late Brazilian Formula One race car driver Ayrton Senna. It maintains a wavering, honest focus on the charismatic Senna, whose turbulent rivalry with fellow driver Alain Prost is the stuff of legend. Even if you are not a racing enthusiast, you will still be drawn to this well-crafted documentary.

9. Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol – Simply the best action film of 2011. Tom Cruise hasn’t lost a step with what is arguably the best installment so far in the MI franchise. Heart-stopping action abounds, and is coupled with a smartly-written script brimming with suspense. James Bond who?

10. The Artist – How can any critic not include this bold and daring, silent black-and-white effort on their year-end list? Perhaps if it weren’t as entertaining, or well-written, or well-acted as it is. The Artist is a successful throwback to a bygone era and a wonderful change of pace in a 3D world.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.

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