2011 was the year of synths and techno artists coming out to make a movie soundtrack. After Tron: Legacy’s soundtrack was such a hit, The Chemical Brothers, The Basement Jaxx, and Cliff Martinez created their own soundtracks for their respective movies. But it wasn’t all about the synths. There was also song and dance, and very notable orchestral work being conducted by Howard Shore, Trent Renzor & Atticus Ross, and yes Michael Giachinno. So below are my 10 favorite soundtracks of 2011.

Attack the Block – Basement Jaxx
This one-hundred percent electronic soundtrack came from the Basement Jaxx. The duo (Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe) with some assistance by Steve Price, is something of a throwback. The soundtrack was a fun listen has our hero fought off aliens, and was backed up by a very fun hiphop song that no one was afraid to bump in their cars. Overall the movie was great and so was the soundtrack.

Drive – Variety of Artists

If Drive was a part of your movie discussion at one point in time, chances are you talked about the soundtrack. That soundtrack that combined 80s electro pop with electronic compositions, but not entirely all together, was what made Drive so great. As Ryan Gosling drove down the LA river with Carey Mulligan in tow, you can imagine a song like College (Feat. Electric Youth) “A Real Hero” playing in the background.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

This should really not come as a surprise to anyone. At all. The soundtrack the Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross created was just as dark, edgy, and cold as the movie itself. Then there were the two songs provided by Karen O and How to Destroy Angels. Sure Is Your Love Strong Enough may not have been the for front of the movie’s soundtrack, but it was a great listen. But that isn’t to degrade Karen O’s rendition of Immigrant Song, which was darker if not creepishly haunting version of Led Zepplin’s song.

Hanna – The Chemical Brothers
Despite the fact that I didn’t like Hanna that much, I found the soundtrack to be the one bright spot in the movie. The twisted contemporary telling of a girl running away from the big bad wolf was supported by the techno stylings of The Chemical Brothers. But rather than just make an incredible soundtrack with an incredible movie, director Joe Wright flawlessly choreographed the whimsy melodies and dark twisted into Hanna itself.

The Muppets – Variety of Artists.
The Muppets have always pride themselves in their music. Whether is the Rainbow Connection or a cover song, The Muppets are never short of a good tune or two. While the Rainbow Connection, Manha Manha, and The Muppets Theme song were great reminders of the first Muppet movie, it was Bret McKenzie’s contribution to the soundtrack that made it glorious. The existential song Man or Muppet sung b Jason Segel and Walter, and the catchy, poppy, and heartwarmingly funny Life’s A Happy Song made the new Muppet movie more than gratifying.

The Artist – Ludovic Bource
I may have never seen the movie itself, but the soundtrack for The Artist takes me back to the golden days of movies. Sure The Artist is the silent movie that is a love letter to movies in the 1920s, the score was a melodic calling to those who thoroughly enjoy the sounds of soundtracks. Filled with romance and adventure, the soundtrack for The Artist is something you should consider adding to your music collection. There is no doubt that this soundtrack will be nominated for Best Original Score when the Academy Award nominees are announced.

We Bought a Zoo – Jonsi
While the movie may have received mixed reactions, there’s no doubt Jonsi’s work on the We Bought a Zoo soundtrack left its mark. Whimsy and Elgant in its own right, the soundtrack for We Bought a Zoo is also a great lisen and features all new original music from the Icelandic composer as well as two full songs.

Young Adult – Variety of Artists
Though the film itself featured little composed music, the Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody team up means you will get great music, it being either indie or mainstream. In Young Adult we get literally rewind all the way back to the 90s, and the days of Mavis Gary’s adolescent youth. Which features the music by Dinosaur Jr., the Lemonheads, The Replacements, Cracker and Teenage Fanclub, whose song The Concept served as the theme of the movie.

Super 8 – Michael Giacchino
Another movie I have mixed reactions about, mostly because of the third act, but there’s no doubt that the soundtrack is great. The score comes from Michael Giacchino, who if your not familiar with his work, then you haven’t been watching movies. Super 8 couldn’t completely pay homage to the old Ablien/ Speilberg work of the 80s, without tipping its hat to John Williams score, and that’s what Giacchino did with Super 8.

Rango – Hans Zimmer
Who would of thought that Hans Zimmer could create such a great soundtrack for an equally great movie. The way that Zimmer fused spaghetti westerns and South American tunes was not only unqiue, it made for a great listen on the road. The movie soundtrack also had nods to its predecessors and very familiar tunes like Ennio Morricone’s western scores. So how could you go wrong with a soundtrack like Rango’s.

Honorable Mentions
Gnomeo and Juliet
Like Crazy

Awards season is in full swing, and for animation fans that means only three titles get nominated at the Academy Awards. That means there is a significant chance that your favorite animated movie would most likely be left out in the cold. For one reason is because of the number of nominations, the other is because one of those nominations generally goes to an foreign title. So for those that cannot get the nomination call, animated titles get recognized in their own special way called the Annie Awards. This next year would be the 39th time the awards are held and today Indiewire has a look at the best animated movies had to offer.

“We are really excited about the expanded list of nominations this year…in all 28 categories,” commented Frank Gladstone, president, ASIFA-Hollywood in a statement. “All of the major animation studios are represented, as are some of the independent productions from Europe and South America. This certainly is a testament to the wide reach and appeal of animation and the people who create it.”

Here are the slate of animated movies who are up for the top prize.

A Cat in Paris (Folimage)
Arthur Christmas (Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations)
Arrugas (Perro Verde Films, S.L.)
Cars 2 (Pixar Animation Studios)
Chico & Rita (Chico & Rita Distribution)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
Puss In Boots (DreamWorks Animation)
Rango (Paramount Pictures Nickelodeon Movies)
Rio (Blue Sky Studios)

“The Adventures of Tintin” (Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall).
As usual Pixar made it onto the list, but I am surprised they didn’t opt to nominated Winnie the Pooh which was a stellar example of how great traditional animation is. DreamWorks Animation is in there with two noms, and the yet to be released Adventures of Tintin is in there as well. For the full list, of nominations, including T.V. and commercials check out IndieWire.

Last year there were 15 animated films up for an Oscar nomination and out of those three How To Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3, and The Illusionist ended up being nominated, with Toy Story 3 taking the ultimate prize. Now we are entering the end of 2011, and 18 animated titles have been announced as films eligible for Best Animated Feature at the 84rd Annual Academy Award. One thing is for sure, getting a nomination will be no easy feet. Here are the 18 films that have been deemed eligible for a nomination.

• Rango
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Puss in Boots
• Rio
• Cars 2
• Hoodwinked Two! Hood Vs. Evil
• Gnomeo & Juliet
• Mars Needs Moms
• Winnie the Pooh
• The Adventures of Tintin
• Arthur Christmas
• Happy Feet Too
• Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
• The Smurfs
• Alois Nebel
• A Cat in Paris
• Chico & Rita
• Wrinkles

There are several titles on that list that we might recognize and a few foreign titles haven’t even hit American theaters. Some of the titles on the list, The Adventures of Tintin, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Happy Feet 2, and Arthur Christmas, have yet to be released stateside. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make a few educated guesses as to who could be nominated.

Both Rango and Puss in Boots are critical and commercial successes, so there is a possibility that either of the two or both could be nominated. But if I had to guess which one it would be, I would put my money on Rango getting the nomination. I am not entirely sure about Cars 2’s chances of getting that nomination. It didn’t necessarily flop at the box office, but it wasn’t well-received by critics. Then there is Rio and Gnomeo & Juliet which held the top spot at the box office for a few weeks, but box office numbers doesn’t necessarily mean they will get a nomination. Everyone loved Winnie the Pooh and so far Steven Spielberg‘s Tintin has been making an overseas splash at the box office. The last four are foreign animated films, so there is a very good chance that at least one of them will be nominated.

So that leaves Arthur Christmas, Happy Feet 2, and Chipwrecked. While all three have yet to be released, the chances of them being good are the same as those on the list above.

Who do you think will get the nominations

Paramount has released a new big game spot for their upcoming animated adventure, Rango. Directed by Gore Verbinski this quirky animated comedy is one that stars Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant.

In the film, Rango is a pet chameleon who lives in a terrarium. He has long thought himself a hero, but then finds himself removed from his contemporary American southwest surroundings and ending up in an Old West town called Dirt, which is populated by various desert critters garbed like characters out of a spaghetti western. As he’s always thought himself a hero, Rango establishes himself as the lawman, strolling the streets as a sheriff-like character. Unknown to him, the “good guy” role does not do very well in Dirt—with a whole cemetery filled with good guy tombstones. But that does not stop Rango from trying, constantly seeking to fit in with his surroundings, no matter how challenging. At a certain point in the narrative, Rango will come to question everything about himself.

This little animated gem from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies has been getting a little bit of buzz lately. Starring Johnny Depp as the voice of Rango, we meet a lovable chameleon with an identity crisis. The movie is directed by Gore Verbinski and stars Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone, and Timothy Olyphant as The Spirit of the West. Apple has released the first trailer for the film which you can see below.

The trailer actually looked really good and I have to say the movie itself seems like it will be a lot of fun. Johnny Depp is a great voice actor surprisingly and I really liked Alfred Molina’s voice.

So I remember when Mr. and Mrs. Smith came out how mezmerizing a duo on screen was for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt teaming up. Obviously we know what happened there. Who would have ever thought that two of the world’s most significant acting brands would ever join forces, naturally I mean Johnny Depp (yes he is a bigger name than Pitt) for the ladies and Angelina Jolie for the guys.

I mean I’d go see that movie! wouldn’t you? Johnny Depp is in talks to star with Angelina Jolie in The Tourist a film that is undergoing another major pre-production changes as it heads toward a February production start. Graham King’s GK Films is financing and distributing through his multipicture output deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Depp is poised to replace Sam Worthington on the project who has left due to creative differences along with the planned director, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.

That is okay because we think Depp is a better choice and the directorial replacement is just as good, how about Alfonso Cuaron?

Depp’s relationship with producer, King, with whom he is close, is the reason why he is being sought, most recently the two collaborated on The Rum Diary and the Gore Verbinski-directed animated pic Rango. What is interesting here is that Depp’s next films were supposed to be Pirates 4 and The Lone Ranger for Disney, obviously he will do them but we speculate this little spy thriller adventure to hit theaters first.