The best flicks going into Oscar season

Going into the fall Oscar season, it’s clear 2011 shaped up to be pretty similar to 2010 – wholly underwhelming as major studios flocked to big-budget tentpoles, product adaptations… anything with pre-existing source material (not including novels). It’s gotten so bad I found myself giving credit to the makers of “Real Steel” the other day because someone invented the story. Who cares if the movie is somewhat tripey and derivative. (I’m not even sure it makes any sense. The only reason boxing – or any sport – is interesting is because fragile, biological, imperfect human beings are forced to compete. Who the hell would be interested in watching robots punch each other? Where’s the triumph and defeat in that?)