The Iron Lady 
Pity poor Meryl Streep. The actress is so good that her performances have almost become ho-hum. Her turn as Margaret Thatcher is as brilliant as anything she's ever done. And though the film polarized audiences for its subject matter (and non-linear story), that's just what a great biopic - and a great movie - should do.
Captain America: The First Avenger 
Normally I'd say that it's a sign of a dull year in movies when a comic adaptation makes the top 5. Well yes, it was a dull year in movies. But this rollicking adventure, set in the 40s, was a reminder of how good a movie based on a comic can be, when it's made with intelligence and heart.
Bridesmaids
So what if a comedy can't win Best Picture? It can still get on Big Picture Big Sound's High 5 list! And no comedy is more deserving than this one. Kristen Wiig and her uniformly hysterical cast may seem like a female-centric "Hangover", but this tale of one woman's struggle with her best friend's impending wedding is so much more - and so much more funny.
Midnight in Paris
Despite the hateful relationship with Rachel McAdams, this fairytale about the dangers of over-romanticizing the past is Woody Allen at his best. After several missteps the director has finally found his perfect onscreen rep in Owen Wilson, who has never been better. Yes, it's a trifle, but it's a delightful one. And no one but Woody could have made it.
The Artist / Hugo 
/
It's appropriate that these two films duked it out at the Oscars this year: both are love letters to old Hollywood in a year when new Hollywood was more lackluster than blockbuster. "Hugo" is the more flashy (and over-long) while "The Artist" is more personal, but both are reminders of the power of film when it's done well.
