I rather the liked the variety and quality of Film Editing I saw on screen this year, but if I had to settle on five (which I did) they would be:
Beginners (Olivier Bugge Coutte):
Perfect handling of minimalist comic beats and soft-spoken drama, seamless back-and-forth between past and present.
Drive (Matthew Newman):
More varied and interesting than you'd expect of a crime thriller, making excellent use of dissolves and cross-fading, plus slow motion for suspense.
Moneyball (Christopher Tellefesen):
Finds interesting rhythms in scenes that might otherwise come across as mundane.
Warrior
(Sean Albertson, Matt Chesse, John Gilroy, Aaron Marshall):
Evenhanded presentation of multiple story arcs in the first half. The fight sequences owe their stirring effect to the dizzying shot selections.
We Need to Talk About Kevin (Joe Bini):
The evocation of Eva's frazzled recollections is a stellar editing showcase, excellent transitions between her present and her memories.
Just missed:
The Artist, Moneyball, Senna, Super 8, Tintin, The Tree of Life
