Of course, this is all a matter of opinion, as you are more than well aware, but I hold these films in very high regard and truly believe them to be the best of the best.
First things first, there were many great films released last year and I, sadly, did not get a chance to see all of them. Here's a few of the ones that showed great potential and could have very well ended up on this list, but simply escaped my viewing pleasure:
- AMOUR
- THE COMEDY
- FLIGHT
- THE GREY
- THE IMPOSSIBLE
- THE INTOUCHABLES
- KILLER JOE
- THE RAID: REDEMPTION
- SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
- WRECK-IT RALPH
Alright, enough dilly-dallying. Let's start things off with number ten on the list...
Writer/Director Martin McDonagh gained critical acclaim and recognition for his under the radar sleeper hit In Bruges. But, nothing in that film can quite compare to the unleashed inventiveness and all around zaniness of his follow up feature. With a knockout cast featuring the likes of Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, and even a funny, slightly terrifying turn from Tom Waits, Seven Psychopaths is hilarious, original, shockingly violent, and, most of all, tons of fun.
What could have been a dry take on our 16th president's attempts to abolish slavery and end the Civil War ends up being a heartening tale of courage in the face of thoughtless prejudice. Master filmmaker Steven Spielberg delivers another strong outing and, thanks to his impeccable skill, he manages to keep our interest in the story and politics by developing its human side. It's to his credit that the film never drags, feels overbearing, or too dull and that's saying a lot coming from someone who couldn't care less about political debates and whatnot. This is also due to some phenomenal acting talent. Daniel Day Lewis is, as always, a marvel to behold and Tommy Lee Jones delivers one of his finest performances.
The brainchild of Joss Whedon and his frequent collaborator Drew Goddard Cabin in the Woods may win the award for best concept of the year. It deserves an even shinier award for its flawless execution. Goddard's direction is spectacular, keeping us on the edge of our seats with countless twists and turns that keep the laughter and scares coming at every given moment. Any fan of horror films deserves to give this one a shot - It'll make all your dreams come true. Even if you're not a horror fan, you owe it to yourself to witness the brilliance of clever filmmaking that fires on all cylinders. Cabin in the Woods simultaneously announces the arrival of a new directing talent while serving as further confirmation that Whedon is an absolute genius.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower thoroughly encapsulates everything that's wonderful/horrifying/heartbreaking about being a high school freshman and falling in love for the first time. At all turns, it is genuinely funny and, at times, all too painfully real. But as everyone is well aware, life is not without its fair share of struggles and Perks offers comfort in the knowledge that as long as one has friends by their side, things might turn out okay. The main story is a bit generic and every so often it teeters off into trite territory, but it's the characters and the performances that elevate this material beyond the usual high school experience schlock that tries to pass as cinema these days. Ezra Miller and Emma Watson are both charming and lovely in their roles, but the real star of the show is Logan Lerman as our main hero Charlie. His performance is remarkable and feels completely honest and heartfelt.
In a way, Perks feels like the best John Hughes movie John Hughes never made. I have a feeling if he was still with us today, he would give his enthusiastic seal of approval. It already feels like a timeless classic and rightfully so: It's a genuine treasure.
Easily one of the most beautiful motion pictures of the year, if not the most beautiful. Life of Pi is the story of Pi Patel, the lone human survivor of a tragic shipwreck that killed his family and left him stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He shares a lifeboat with a vicious Bengal tiger named Richard Parker and, over the course of the film's running length, we are treated to visual splendor after visual splendor in addition to a remarkable story of courage, love, the meaning of suffering, and one's purpose in life. Shot in 3D, Life of Pi is best viewed in the format, taking full advantage of the technology. It is easily one of the best uses of 3D I've ever witnessed. But, visual mastery aside, Life of Pi is deeply moving and woven to perfection by director Ang Lee. It's emotionally satisfying and all around magnificent.
Master filmmaker Quentin Tarantino's latest masterpiece is pure entertainment from beginning to end. The story of a slave turned bounty hunter and his journey to rescue his long lost wife from the clutches of a sinister madman is woven with Tarantino's unbeatable zest for storytelling and pure filmmaking. Every one of his films feels like a celebration of what cinema is capable of and Django is naturally no exception. It may, however, be the most all-around crowd pleasing film Tarantino has ever produced. Everything about it is on point from the spectacular dialogue to the superb casting choices which feature Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, and a wonderful, menacing performance from Leonardo DiCaprio.
Has Tarantino reached his peak? Every time I think he's reached the pinnacle of his talent, he outdoes himself again. I didn't think he could do much better than Inglorious Basterds, but Django has proven me wrong. I hope he never stops making movies. The cinematic world would be a much darker place without him.
Based on the true story of CIA operative Tony Mendez's mission to extract U.S. diplomats from Iran under the guise of a film crew, Argo is one of those perfect entertainments that seems to have everything going for it. Ben Affleck weaves this thrilling tale with superb, heartfelt gusto, and even gives a really fantastic performance as well. Seemingly overnight, Affleck has gone from being one of the most mocked performers in Hollywood to one of its most talented filmmakers. Supporting performances are also fantastic, especially Alan Arkin and John Goodman as producing mogul Lester Siegel and special effects guru John Chambers respectively. Argo's story is that of true courage in the face of insurmountable odds and it is unquestionably an outstanding film. If I have to make a pick for the Best Picture Oscar, I'd say this one deserves it the most.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have a confession to make: While watching Marvel's long awaited superhero team up flick, I shed a tear or two. It was the moment when the whole team has finally been assembled and the camera dramatically spins around them as they stare down their enemies before unleashing their might in the final showdown. It wasn't my inner fanboy that inspired these tears. Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of Marvel's turnout prior to this one. Sure, I loved Iron Man, but its sequel along with The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Captain America didn't do much for me. So, why then did I actually shed tears during this moment? Because, FINALLY, someone has chosen to treat these heroes with the respect they deserve and, as a result, something I never thought I would ever see happen actually happened: The superheroes finally teamed up in a single movie and it exceeded and shattered all expectations, becoming the new pinnacle for superhero filmmaking and big budget entertainment in general (Eat your heart out, Christopher Nolan).
Chalk it up to the genius that is Joss Whedon that The Avengers is not just exciting, but hilarious and heartfelt as well. The cast excels on all fronts, playing off each other perfectly and the action sequences are, no joke, some of the greatest that have ever been committed to celluloid. When it comes to pure entertainment value, The Avengers is a modern day Star Wars and, like that cinematic classic, it's a blockbusting masterpiece.
The James Bond franchise has been a staple of cinema for the past fifty years. After twenty-two films of varying quality, who knew that with its 23rd entry, Bond would reach an all new level of outstanding quality. The genius of director Sam Mendes and this screenplay is that they honor everything that makes Bond such an enduring character while simultaneously pushing the character in all kinds of new directions that have yet to be explored. It's easily the best action flick of 2012, but it's also one of the more visually stunning films to be released this year. Arguably, THE most stunning. Cinematographer Roger Deakins simply has no equal and his work here is some of his best yet. A stunning sequence atop a skyscraper illuminated by neon lights and a subsequent fight scene backlit by said lights gives new meaning to the term 'jaw-dropping.'
Skyfall's performances are off the charts too, with Javier Bardem filling the role of the villain. He gives a spellbinding performance that cements him as one of the best baddies Bond has ever faced. Daniel Craig is, as always, spectacular and Judi Dench gives her finest performance in the series. The relationship between Bond and his boss M has never been more moving. The action and stunts are all top-notch, but don't be surprised if, for the first time in the series' history, you find yourself shedding a tear or two by the film's conclusion. Everything combines in a perfect package that makes Skyfall a thing of pure beauty.
Time and time again writer/director Wes Anderson has enthralled and captivated us with his unique storytelling, his unprecedented storybook visuals, and heartfelt stories and characters. The man has made modern masterpiece after modern masterpiece from Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and The Darjeeling Limited (Both underrated gems). He's even got some animation under his belt with Fantastic Mr. Fox! He continually re-raises the bar for himself. And yet, somehow, Anderson surpasses even his own standards with what may very well be his masterpiece: Moonrise Kingdom. This story of young love is so touching, so utterly captivating and heartwarming, and so visually majestic, it's sometimes hard to believe it even exists. Its beauty is so immense that at times it's utterly heartbreaking.
Per usual, Anderson has filled his cast with some of the best actors working in this day and age: Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, and even Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. The stars of the show, though, are newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the two leads. They both give seemingly effortless and delightful performances.
Anderson is in complete, utter control of his craft with Moonrise Kingdom. It spins its fairy tale story with a wink and a nudge, but it never once feels pretentious or false. Even with his fairy tale sensibilities and slightly exaggerated style, Wes Anderson is crafting some of the most genuine and heartfelt movies of this day and age. I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve next!
And there you have it, my friends!! My top ten films of 2012! Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!!!! Fare thee well!!!
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