RUNNER UP: "THE AVENGERS"
Directed By: Joss Whedon
Written By: Joss Whedon
The film that wasn’t supposed to work but miraculously does. And we are all the more lucky for it. Marvel Studios took a big gamble in having all of their stand alone superhero films build up to this one gigantic film but it paid off in spades with audiences and critics worldwide. You can clearly tell that the cast is having a blast working off of one another and their chemistry when all put in a room together is fantastic throughout. The action is fun, the dialogue is fun. This is a fun movie all around which consistently entertains and successfully solidifies itself as one of the best superhero movies of all time.
Written By: Joss Whedon
The film that wasn’t supposed to work but miraculously does. And we are all the more lucky for it. Marvel Studios took a big gamble in having all of their stand alone superhero films build up to this one gigantic film but it paid off in spades with audiences and critics worldwide. You can clearly tell that the cast is having a blast working off of one another and their chemistry when all put in a room together is fantastic throughout. The action is fun, the dialogue is fun. This is a fun movie all around which consistently entertains and successfully solidifies itself as one of the best superhero movies of all time.
10. "SKYFALL"
Directed By: Sam Mendes
Written By: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & John Logan
Who would have ever thought that a James Bond film could aspire for such greatness as Skyfall does? We should never have expected anything less from Sam Mendes who gave us "American Beauty" and "Road To Perdition." This is not a drama by any means as those films are but it is certainly the best well made blockbuster of the year featuring Daniel Craig’s best performance of James Bond yet and a devilish turn by Javier Bardem that leaves you wanting more by the films end. Throw in some awe inspiring cinematography by the great Roger Deakins and that haunting theme song by Adele which perfectly sets the tone for the entire film and you have not only the greatest Bond film ever made but one of the years best films overall.
Written By: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & John Logan
Who would have ever thought that a James Bond film could aspire for such greatness as Skyfall does? We should never have expected anything less from Sam Mendes who gave us "American Beauty" and "Road To Perdition." This is not a drama by any means as those films are but it is certainly the best well made blockbuster of the year featuring Daniel Craig’s best performance of James Bond yet and a devilish turn by Javier Bardem that leaves you wanting more by the films end. Throw in some awe inspiring cinematography by the great Roger Deakins and that haunting theme song by Adele which perfectly sets the tone for the entire film and you have not only the greatest Bond film ever made but one of the years best films overall.
9. "THE GREY"
Directed By: Joe Carnahan
Written By: Joe Carnahan
I wasn’t expecting the emotional gut punch that was The Grey when I first saw it. I expected it to be a typical Liam Neeson action film featuring wilderness survival and epic fights with vicious wolves. I’m here to tell you that this film may be the most underrated film of the year. This is not a film where not a single human being is killed by another. This is not a film with good people and bad people. This is a film that pits man against the darkest force of all: nature. Sometimes good people die due to circumstances that are out of their control and we tend to look towards outside forces such as God to explain why such atrocities occur. This is a film that dares us as audience members to examine that unbeknownst fear within all of us. Featuring what very well may be the best role of Liam Neeson’s career (His real wife died just prior to filming from a skiing accident), this is a bleak film that shocked me more than any other film I saw this year just by how philosophical it was. It was contrasted by my initial expectations I took into the theatre (Mostly due to the action heavy trailer that was advertised). Will others feel the same? Probably not. But after reading this, I urge you to give this film a look knowing now what you know about what kind of film this is.
Written By: Joe Carnahan
I wasn’t expecting the emotional gut punch that was The Grey when I first saw it. I expected it to be a typical Liam Neeson action film featuring wilderness survival and epic fights with vicious wolves. I’m here to tell you that this film may be the most underrated film of the year. This is not a film where not a single human being is killed by another. This is not a film with good people and bad people. This is a film that pits man against the darkest force of all: nature. Sometimes good people die due to circumstances that are out of their control and we tend to look towards outside forces such as God to explain why such atrocities occur. This is a film that dares us as audience members to examine that unbeknownst fear within all of us. Featuring what very well may be the best role of Liam Neeson’s career (His real wife died just prior to filming from a skiing accident), this is a bleak film that shocked me more than any other film I saw this year just by how philosophical it was. It was contrasted by my initial expectations I took into the theatre (Mostly due to the action heavy trailer that was advertised). Will others feel the same? Probably not. But after reading this, I urge you to give this film a look knowing now what you know about what kind of film this is.
8. "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"
Directed By: David O. Russell
Written By: David O. Russell
"Silver Linings Playbook" is a film I had placed higher on my list but had to knock down a few notches after some of the little elements of the screenplay revealed themselves to me. Having said that and my own personal feelings aside on some of the issues this film addresses, this is a fantastically great romantic comedy with one of the best ensembles of the year. Jennifer Lawrence is great in this film (Which was to be expected). Robert DeNiro doesn’t phone it in (Which he’s been doing for years) and has some very dramatic scenes that play out very well. But the real surprise here is Bradley Cooper who gives his best performance to date and totally anchors the film. This is not the same guy we saw in "The Hangover." This is a mentally damaged individual who is searching for a Silver Lining in life, and Cooper’s comedic timing and dramatic acting chops totally knock it out of the park. Featuring some of the best editing of the year that puts the audience into the mind’s of its characters and an uplifting ending (As unrealistic as it may be), this is a fine film that not only entertains, but also makes you laugh and cry at the same time.
Written By: David O. Russell
"Silver Linings Playbook" is a film I had placed higher on my list but had to knock down a few notches after some of the little elements of the screenplay revealed themselves to me. Having said that and my own personal feelings aside on some of the issues this film addresses, this is a fantastically great romantic comedy with one of the best ensembles of the year. Jennifer Lawrence is great in this film (Which was to be expected). Robert DeNiro doesn’t phone it in (Which he’s been doing for years) and has some very dramatic scenes that play out very well. But the real surprise here is Bradley Cooper who gives his best performance to date and totally anchors the film. This is not the same guy we saw in "The Hangover." This is a mentally damaged individual who is searching for a Silver Lining in life, and Cooper’s comedic timing and dramatic acting chops totally knock it out of the park. Featuring some of the best editing of the year that puts the audience into the mind’s of its characters and an uplifting ending (As unrealistic as it may be), this is a fine film that not only entertains, but also makes you laugh and cry at the same time.
7. "DJANGO UNCHAINED"
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Written By: Quentin Tarantino
What a glorious mess this movie is. Quentin Tarantino’s fascinating look into one of the darkest chapters of American history is at times horrifying, compelling, hysterical and just 15 minutes too long. All the classic Tarantino trademarks are here including the perfect musical cues, nods to classic films of the past, engaging dialogue, a distinct visual style and charismatic performances from a very talented cast. Jaime Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio and even Samuel L Jackson all get their moments to shine in this bloody revenge fantasy featuring some of the most quotable lines of the year (Even if the “N” word is mentioned over a hundred times in the film). If you love other Tarantino films, you’ll love this. It may be more "Kill Bill" than "Pulp Fiction," but that still does not stop it from being one of the most entertaining films of the year.
Written By: Quentin Tarantino
What a glorious mess this movie is. Quentin Tarantino’s fascinating look into one of the darkest chapters of American history is at times horrifying, compelling, hysterical and just 15 minutes too long. All the classic Tarantino trademarks are here including the perfect musical cues, nods to classic films of the past, engaging dialogue, a distinct visual style and charismatic performances from a very talented cast. Jaime Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio and even Samuel L Jackson all get their moments to shine in this bloody revenge fantasy featuring some of the most quotable lines of the year (Even if the “N” word is mentioned over a hundred times in the film). If you love other Tarantino films, you’ll love this. It may be more "Kill Bill" than "Pulp Fiction," but that still does not stop it from being one of the most entertaining films of the year.
6. "THE CABIN IN THE WOODS"
Directed By: Drew Goddard
Written By: Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon
I’m not the biggest fan of horror films and a huge reason why is because horror films these days are no where near as compelling as they sued to be. The characters are all cliched, you can see the scares coming from a mile away and now every director/writer under the sun thinks that audiences associate blood and gore with what is scary in the horror genre (I’m looking at you Saw Franchise). Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon took all this frustration and turned it into one of the most insightful films of the year that hasn’t made this much fun of the horror genre since Kevin Williamson wrote the script for the first "Scream" film. This is a horror film filled with all the cliches that one might expect but also delivers on its intriguing premise warning all those who appreciate horror films of today that there is better and that we deserve better.
Written By: Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon
I’m not the biggest fan of horror films and a huge reason why is because horror films these days are no where near as compelling as they sued to be. The characters are all cliched, you can see the scares coming from a mile away and now every director/writer under the sun thinks that audiences associate blood and gore with what is scary in the horror genre (I’m looking at you Saw Franchise). Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon took all this frustration and turned it into one of the most insightful films of the year that hasn’t made this much fun of the horror genre since Kevin Williamson wrote the script for the first "Scream" film. This is a horror film filled with all the cliches that one might expect but also delivers on its intriguing premise warning all those who appreciate horror films of today that there is better and that we deserve better.
5. "ZERO DARK THIRTY"
Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow
Written By: Mark Boal
Fascinating, detailed, raw, gritty, and downright unsympathetic. This is a cold and calculated film that follows the CIA’s decade long hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Following in the mold of other films such as "Zodiac" and "All The Presidents Men", this a “reported film” of the highest order of filmmaking. Jessica Chastain delivers a performance that is fierce and totally believable but its the writing by Mark Boal and the direction by Kathryn Bigelow that really makes this film shine. This is not "The Hurt Locker" by any means, but the issues presented in this film encapsulates our entire view on the War On Terror in such a way that will surely drive audience members to the brink of madness. The issues presented are controversial and will surely inspire great dialogue between audience members but it does not take a stance on any of these issues. In an age where audience members want everything spoon fed to them and don’t want to open their minds at the cinema and are looking for nothing but sheer entertainment and escapism, this film comes along and takes that all away. This is a film that forces us to ask questions about or involvement in the War On Terror, is it all worth it, and where can we possibly go from here? Those expecting an American hoo-rah (“We got him”) film that celebrates everything great about America will be disappointed and enraged when the final climatic scene occurs. This is a ballsy film that defies convention and will surely be talked about for years to come.
Written By: Mark Boal
Fascinating, detailed, raw, gritty, and downright unsympathetic. This is a cold and calculated film that follows the CIA’s decade long hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Following in the mold of other films such as "Zodiac" and "All The Presidents Men", this a “reported film” of the highest order of filmmaking. Jessica Chastain delivers a performance that is fierce and totally believable but its the writing by Mark Boal and the direction by Kathryn Bigelow that really makes this film shine. This is not "The Hurt Locker" by any means, but the issues presented in this film encapsulates our entire view on the War On Terror in such a way that will surely drive audience members to the brink of madness. The issues presented are controversial and will surely inspire great dialogue between audience members but it does not take a stance on any of these issues. In an age where audience members want everything spoon fed to them and don’t want to open their minds at the cinema and are looking for nothing but sheer entertainment and escapism, this film comes along and takes that all away. This is a film that forces us to ask questions about or involvement in the War On Terror, is it all worth it, and where can we possibly go from here? Those expecting an American hoo-rah (“We got him”) film that celebrates everything great about America will be disappointed and enraged when the final climatic scene occurs. This is a ballsy film that defies convention and will surely be talked about for years to come.
4. "LOOPER"
Directed By: Rian Johnson
Written By: Rian Johnson
Who doesn’t love it when a genre film comes along and totally knocks you out of your seat with every element imaginable? Thats what “Looper” does and then some. Once again, my expectations for this film were such that I was expecting a time travel, action, sci fi film featuring Joseph Gordon Levitt taking on Bruce Willis. Little did I know that this takes up the first half of the film and its the second half that features Emily Blunt (And one of the more believable child performances I have ever seen), that is easily the better of the two and pushed this film higher on this list than I had expected it to. Kudos have to be payed to writer/director Rian Johnson who created what could have been an overly complicated film with plot holes galore and instead made it a very human story featuring a flawed character looking for redemption throughout time. This is a film that like “Inception” and “Source Code” entertains while still retaining its intellectualism.
Written By: Rian Johnson
Who doesn’t love it when a genre film comes along and totally knocks you out of your seat with every element imaginable? Thats what “Looper” does and then some. Once again, my expectations for this film were such that I was expecting a time travel, action, sci fi film featuring Joseph Gordon Levitt taking on Bruce Willis. Little did I know that this takes up the first half of the film and its the second half that features Emily Blunt (And one of the more believable child performances I have ever seen), that is easily the better of the two and pushed this film higher on this list than I had expected it to. Kudos have to be payed to writer/director Rian Johnson who created what could have been an overly complicated film with plot holes galore and instead made it a very human story featuring a flawed character looking for redemption throughout time. This is a film that like “Inception” and “Source Code” entertains while still retaining its intellectualism.
3. "ARGO"
Directed By: Ben Affleck
Written By: Chris Terrio
Effortless. That was the word that stayed with me after seeing Argo for the first time. It does not feature a showy acting performance or any over the top directorial gimmicks. This is nuts and bolts filmmaking of the very best. Who would have though that Ben Affleck of all people would be one of my favorite directors working today after his first half career acting slump? The guy is now 3-0 as far as I’m concerned (His other directing credentials include “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town”) and he delivers big time here in his best outing as director with this true story of a CIA Operative who coordinated a whacky plan that involved Hollywood to smuggle 6 Americans out of Iran during one of the most turmoiled times history. Brisk editing, unbearable tension and a witty script that delivers on the laughs as well as the drama, it is a film that may not be particularly memorable and is missing that one little thing to push it over the edge into full masterpiece territory, but for the life of me...I cannot find a single flaw with this movie.
Written By: Chris Terrio
Effortless. That was the word that stayed with me after seeing Argo for the first time. It does not feature a showy acting performance or any over the top directorial gimmicks. This is nuts and bolts filmmaking of the very best. Who would have though that Ben Affleck of all people would be one of my favorite directors working today after his first half career acting slump? The guy is now 3-0 as far as I’m concerned (His other directing credentials include “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town”) and he delivers big time here in his best outing as director with this true story of a CIA Operative who coordinated a whacky plan that involved Hollywood to smuggle 6 Americans out of Iran during one of the most turmoiled times history. Brisk editing, unbearable tension and a witty script that delivers on the laughs as well as the drama, it is a film that may not be particularly memorable and is missing that one little thing to push it over the edge into full masterpiece territory, but for the life of me...I cannot find a single flaw with this movie.
2. "LINCOLN"
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
Written By: Tony Kushner
Now here is that film that does indeed feature that showy performance that pushes a film over the top into masterpiece territory. Daniel Day Lewis is in my opinion the worlds greatest living actor and after seeing him play two villainous roles in “Gangs of New York” and “There Will Be Blood”, its a remarkable achievement to see him play the iconic President in all his good guy glory. After the disappointment that was “War Horse” last year and after seeing the trailer for this film, I had feared that Spielberg’s sentimentality and heavy handed direction would crush this film. Exactly the opposite occurred, as Spielberg takes a step back and allows the performances of his actors take command of this film as they speak with such conviction the beautiful words written by Tony Kushner. The cinematography and music in this film is particularly subdued as well to the extent that the film and the technical achievements involved are all the more better for it. You would think that a period film with a lot of old men (With beards) talking for two and a half hours would be the most boring time in the movies this year. You couldn’t be more wrong. Even though we know how this film will end (Ditto for “Argo” and “Zero Dark Thirty”), it still entertains, enlightens and fully commands itself into greatness territory solidifying itself as the best directed film of Spielberg’s since “Saving Private Ryan.” An undisputedly great film.
Written By: Tony Kushner
Now here is that film that does indeed feature that showy performance that pushes a film over the top into masterpiece territory. Daniel Day Lewis is in my opinion the worlds greatest living actor and after seeing him play two villainous roles in “Gangs of New York” and “There Will Be Blood”, its a remarkable achievement to see him play the iconic President in all his good guy glory. After the disappointment that was “War Horse” last year and after seeing the trailer for this film, I had feared that Spielberg’s sentimentality and heavy handed direction would crush this film. Exactly the opposite occurred, as Spielberg takes a step back and allows the performances of his actors take command of this film as they speak with such conviction the beautiful words written by Tony Kushner. The cinematography and music in this film is particularly subdued as well to the extent that the film and the technical achievements involved are all the more better for it. You would think that a period film with a lot of old men (With beards) talking for two and a half hours would be the most boring time in the movies this year. You couldn’t be more wrong. Even though we know how this film will end (Ditto for “Argo” and “Zero Dark Thirty”), it still entertains, enlightens and fully commands itself into greatness territory solidifying itself as the best directed film of Spielberg’s since “Saving Private Ryan.” An undisputedly great film.
1. "THE MASTER"
Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson
Written By: Paul Thomas Anderson
And here we are. My number one favorite film of the year belongs to Paul Thomas Anderson’s film “The Master.” This will undoubtedly cause many to scratch their heads and some may write me off as being overly pretentious or downright crazy, but here me out. No other film this year has stayed with me as much as “The Master” has after I saw it for the first time back in September. Like “No Country For Old Men”, my first initial reaction was that I hated the film. But after walking out of the theatre I found myself thinking about it for days. The beautiful cinematography, the odd music, the assured mis direction by Anderson and those performances. My god! What performances! Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams are absolutely incredible in this film. Phoenix delivers what I believe to be one of the great acting performances of the last 10 years. His Freddy Quail is a totally original character that embodies the animalistic side of man and is brilliantly contrasted to Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s intellectual and controlled performance of a man who mentors Quail in hopes of helping him achieve his life purpose. This film asks such big questions such as what is life’s purpose, who is the master of our lives, are we animalistic by nature or can we be trained and controlled? So many questions and what infuriated me and what infuriated others is that the film does not answer a single one of them. The film is unconventional and totally divisive in the way it is presented to the viewer. Subsequent viewings of this may cause me to change my mind and knock it down on the list, or not. Its the kind of film that will speak different things to you at different times in your life when you approach it. For that, not only could I probably write an entire book on this film and the ideas it presents but I hereby choose it as the best film I saw in 2012.
Written By: Paul Thomas Anderson
And here we are. My number one favorite film of the year belongs to Paul Thomas Anderson’s film “The Master.” This will undoubtedly cause many to scratch their heads and some may write me off as being overly pretentious or downright crazy, but here me out. No other film this year has stayed with me as much as “The Master” has after I saw it for the first time back in September. Like “No Country For Old Men”, my first initial reaction was that I hated the film. But after walking out of the theatre I found myself thinking about it for days. The beautiful cinematography, the odd music, the assured mis direction by Anderson and those performances. My god! What performances! Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams are absolutely incredible in this film. Phoenix delivers what I believe to be one of the great acting performances of the last 10 years. His Freddy Quail is a totally original character that embodies the animalistic side of man and is brilliantly contrasted to Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s intellectual and controlled performance of a man who mentors Quail in hopes of helping him achieve his life purpose. This film asks such big questions such as what is life’s purpose, who is the master of our lives, are we animalistic by nature or can we be trained and controlled? So many questions and what infuriated me and what infuriated others is that the film does not answer a single one of them. The film is unconventional and totally divisive in the way it is presented to the viewer. Subsequent viewings of this may cause me to change my mind and knock it down on the list, or not. Its the kind of film that will speak different things to you at different times in your life when you approach it. For that, not only could I probably write an entire book on this film and the ideas it presents but I hereby choose it as the best film I saw in 2012.
MY TOP 5 WORST FILMS OF THE YEAR (In no particular order...they all sucked)
1. Jack Reacher
2. Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2
3. John Carter of Mars
4. The Watch
5. That’s My Boy
MY TOP 5 BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE YEAR
1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2. The Dark Knight Rises
3. Killing Them Softly
4. Prometheus
5. Les Miserables
MY TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN FILM
1. The unbearable tension filled endings to Zero Dark Thirty, Argo, and Lincoln despite the fact that we all knew how they would end anyway
2. The final 20 minutes of Cabin in the Woods
3. The bloody chaos created by Django in Django Unchained
4. The processing scenes between Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
5. Sid falling down the stairs in Looper
Best Performances By An Actor/Actress
Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
Best Performance By A Supporting Actor/Actress
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
Best Use of Music in a Film
Django Unchained
Best Script
Lincoln by Tony Kushner
Guilty Pleasure of the Year
Ted
Top 5 Best Technical Achievements in Film
1. The Cinematography in Skyfall
2. The editing in Silver Linings Playbook
3. The use of 3D in Life of Pi
4. The music in Django Unchained
5. The use of live singing in Les Miserables
The Top 5 Movies I Missed in 2012
1. Amour
2. The Impossible
3. Holy Motors
4. Anna Karenina
5. End of Watch
Film I'm Most Looking Forward To In 2013
Man Of Steel
The Wolf Of Wall Street
Gravity
Elysium
The World’s End
1. Jack Reacher
2. Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2
3. John Carter of Mars
4. The Watch
5. That’s My Boy
MY TOP 5 BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE YEAR
1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2. The Dark Knight Rises
3. Killing Them Softly
4. Prometheus
5. Les Miserables
MY TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN FILM
1. The unbearable tension filled endings to Zero Dark Thirty, Argo, and Lincoln despite the fact that we all knew how they would end anyway
2. The final 20 minutes of Cabin in the Woods
3. The bloody chaos created by Django in Django Unchained
4. The processing scenes between Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
5. Sid falling down the stairs in Looper
Best Performances By An Actor/Actress
Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
Best Performance By A Supporting Actor/Actress
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
Best Use of Music in a Film
Django Unchained
Best Script
Lincoln by Tony Kushner
Guilty Pleasure of the Year
Ted
Top 5 Best Technical Achievements in Film
1. The Cinematography in Skyfall
2. The editing in Silver Linings Playbook
3. The use of 3D in Life of Pi
4. The music in Django Unchained
5. The use of live singing in Les Miserables
The Top 5 Movies I Missed in 2012
1. Amour
2. The Impossible
3. Holy Motors
4. Anna Karenina
5. End of Watch
Film I'm Most Looking Forward To In 2013
Man Of Steel
The Wolf Of Wall Street
Gravity
Elysium
The World’s End
|
Contact Us |
Subscribe To Our Newsletter |