It’s no wonder that fewer movie tickets will be sold in 2011 than in any year since 1995, given the preponderance of mind-numbing, computerized crap that Hollywood produces today; films lacking in suspense, characterization, and plot. Tune into just about any mystery/crime drama on cable today, and you’ll see better scripts and more tension. Thankfully, some good films managed to get made, some of them from novels. In no particular order, here are my favorites.
Daniel Craig is excellent, as is Rooney Mara in a role that was defined by Noomi Rapace. Thankfully, director David Fincher sticks pretty close to the book, something that Hollywood often has a tough time doing.
The Lincoln Lawyer: Based on the Michael Connelly novel, Matthew McConaughey gives a solid performance as maverick lawyer Mickey Haller in a very good courtroom drama––though it takes some license with the plot of the novel.
Margin Call: A very timely, riveting, and realistic drama given the country’s economic mess, it has great pacing and great performances by Kevin Spacey––let’s face it, the guy can flat out act––and Jeremy Irons, among others.
The Ides of March: An excellent political drama with a great script and wonderful acting, including a terrific performance from Ryan Gosling. A film that artfully portrays the evils of power and the corruption of integrity, something we see far too much of in today’s leaders and politics.
The Double Hour: If you’re a fan of Hitchcock or Polanski, than this Italian-made intelligent crime drama is just the ticket. A real puzzler of a film that often is really not what it seems. It’s always refreshing to sit through a film in which you actually have to pay attention.
Contagion: An excellent cast in a film that explores the very real possibility that a pandemic could wipe us all off the planet. Though certainly not a new premise, the movie has an excellent script and palpable tension, while avoiding many of the pitfalls of a typical disaster movie.
Point Blank: Leave it to the French to make a superbly crafted, electrifying crime drama. Great acting and a relentless pace will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final credits roll. 
Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy: Based on another very successful novel, the movie is set at the height of the Cold War, and is a classic example of how a good script and great actors can build tension through dialogue and details, rather than bullets, explosions, and computer-generated stunts.
Take Shelter: Michael Shannon gives a mesmerizing performance as a man who’s gradually losing his mind in this apocalyptic, suspense drama that won the top prize from film critics at the Cannes Film Festival.
Drive: Ryan Gosling gives another excellent performance that’s remindful of a young Steve McQueen in an intense, stylish and taut thriller. Nicolas Winding Refn won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival.