I never got into the habit of publishing an official top ten list when I started this blog. After putting so much work into my own awards each year, an additional list reiterating what I thought were the best films of the year seemed redundant. But I guess it's never too late to start. So here's a ranked, illustrated writeup of my ten favourite movies of the 2012.
Before getting into that, I have to highlight some honourable mentions:
There were some great documentaries this year, at the fore of which are The Queen of Versailles -- which humanizes the obscenely rich while shrewdly dismantling the American Dream -- and 5 Broken Cameras -- which brings a refreshingly personal touch to a complex political issue. 2012 was also a triumphant year for blockbuster franchises. Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises gives his influential trilogy the stirring conclusion it deserves, while Sam Mendes' Skyfall respectfully reinvigorates old-hat material with a classy new treatment. Sundance indies refound their mojo after a bit of an off year in 2011. Ben Lewin's The Sessions reveals intimacy that extends beyond the physical with an endearing sense of playfulness and heart. And finally, even though it's not a feature, no article on the best filmmaking achievements of 2012 would be complete without a big sloppy kiss to John Kahrs' superb animated short Paperman. This is probably my biggest cinematic crush of the year. Its groundbreaking innovations in hybrid animation combined with its hopelessly romantic story took my breath away, leaving an impression equal to any feature I saw over the last 365 days.
It. Is. Perfect.
Money shot! This is my favourite image I saw on screen in 2012
And now, the top ten...
10. Les Miserables (dir. Tom Hooper)
"He told me that I had a soul. How does he know?
What spirit comes to move my life? Is there another way to go?"
Though
grotesquely misunderstood by many a critic, this ambitious
distillation of the beloved stage show is a stirring celebration of
the musical genre, casting an intimate eye on epic performances.
9. Wreck-It
Ralph (dir.
Rich Moore)
I'M GONNA WRECK IT!
A
beautifully spun tale about seeking acceptance and discovering
self-worth, vibrantly animated to an imaginative, often hilarious,
and occasionally quite moving script.
8. The
Perks of Being a Wallflower
(dir. Stephen Chbosky)
A closeup worthy of Berman...
Ingrid, not Ingmar.
This
graceful montage of a year-in-the-life crystallizes the agony and
ecstasy of youth with the utmost tenderness, making infinite for us a
moment in which we ourselves “were infinite”.
7. The
Avengers (dir.
Joss Whedon)
Shawarma, anyone?
Not
only an exemplar of popcorn escapism with shamelessly pleasurable
action from start to finish, but also a full-bodied ensemble piece
that boasts precise character work and impeccable wit.
6. The
Master (dir.
Paul Thomas Anderson)
"...but above all, I am a man."
Provocative,
spellbinding, bewildering, and hypnotic; its masculine ballet plays
out with both the intricacy of a silent chess match and the intensity
of horn-bashing rams.
5. Lincoln
(dir. Steven Spielberg)
This presidential biopic isn't nearly as stuffy as the rooms in which it's set.
Restraint
from a normally flashy director allows history to speak volumes in
this finessed political essay on film, scripted
with eloquent, theatrical dialogue and exquisitely acted by a rich
cast.
4. Moonrise
Kingdom (dir.
Wes Anderson)
"Dear Sam: When?"
With
fastidious window dressings that never obstruct the earnestness
behind them, it charms nostalgic viewers into recalling the pang of
youthful loneliness and the touch of first love.
Hollywood to the rescue!
A
near perfect Hollywood dramatization of a true(ish) story, it deftly
balances tight thrills, human drama, and comic relief within a hugely
entertaining and satisfying picture. As solid as it gets.
2. Amour
(dir. Michael Haneke)
Actions speak louder than words in this geriatric love story.
Two
soulful lead performances convey what love really means in this
heartrending diorama of a film. Utterly captivating in its stillness,
and powerfully moving in its emotional honesty.
1. Beasts
of the Southern Wild
(dir. Benh Zeitlin)
"I'm da man!"
A
modern fable with a mesmerizing heartbeat all its own, melding
social overtones with strokes of magic realism to meditate on themes
of environment,
community, and the implacable forces of change. Just wonderful.
That's all for today. Enjoy the Superbowl!
That's all for today. Enjoy the Superbowl!
