The Top Ten Films of 2012 by Corben Carpenter
Once again, here is my annual list of ten best films of the past year. I'm not going to apologize for the lateness, because if I have to so does the people responsible for delaying Zero Dark Thirty. I tried very hard to see that before posting this list, but it is not coming out until next week. Oh well, I'm sure it's great. I also like to mention The Amazing Spider-Man for being the obvious choice for Worst Film of the Year. Congratulations! Now that I've gotten that out of the way, here are what I thought were to the best motion pictures of 2012.
10. Bernie
Peppered with Coen Brothers influence and a touch of Christopher Guest mockumentatry, Bernie was a delightful surprise. Jack Black leaves behind his fart jokes and slanted eyebrows for a more gentler, yet darker performance as the title character, a beloved Christian mortician who befriends a despised wealthy widow in the a small Texas town. As the friendship slowly takes a turn for the worst, Bernie ends it with a bang, so to speak. The jokes are not to be had by Black alone, but also by the strange collection of the towns' citizens, speaking in interviews about the incident. But probably the strangest thing of all is the fact Matthew McConaughey does not deliver a god-awful performance as the town's district attorney. Did I mention the film is based off a true story as well? Sweet Jesus.
There is nothing like spending the Fourth of July riding your bike to the movie theater and seeing the new Wes Anderson film. What, you've never done that? Shame on you. As you would expect from Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom is another precious and off-beat dark comedy with a large ensemble of regular veterans. The story is about two teenagers who fall in "young love" and run away from their uninspiring families to go camping in the nearby forest. Anderson evokes many nostalgic childhood themes here as the adolescent heroes fight off a gang of boy scouts and their eccentric parents' pursuit. From the play-like sets to the anomalous music, Wes Anderson's signature vision shines though. Sometimes melancholia disguised in humor is just what we need to feel good about ourselves.
08. Looper
Finally, a scientific fiction film that actually felt "new". Smart, stylish, and thrilling without the over-reliance of CG , which seems to be cornerstone of most blockbusters these days. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues his ongoing streak of quality films, playing a hired gun whose job is to dispose of criminals from the future, where time-travel will be outlawed. Looper is a cyber-punk noir action opera, intelligently conceived with little to no plot holes that could unravel the whole experience. Time travel plots can get so confusing and convoluted, but Looper sidesteps the common problems and presents a world worth exploring through other media. Rian Johnson is a director to get excited about.
07. Beasts of the Southern Wild
Beasts of the Southern Wild is unlike anything I have seen before. The aberrant tone, setting, and characters mend seamlessly together to create an astonishing fairytale with a powerful message. Quvenzhane Wallis is the breakout star of the year, portraying "Hushpuppy" who must survive her flooded and abandon community with her estranged father. The images are a captivating along with the beautiful original score, best soundtrack of the year for the matter. Some critics argue the film conveys global warming as the enemy, but I found the influence of white society and dying cultures to be what are challenging Hushpuppy's world. It all comes together for a truly unique film experience and impressive debut by Behn Zeitlyn.
06. Flight
Now this is a movie-ass movie. Confused? Remember the 80s and 90s films, before Robert Zemeckis messed around with creepy animation? Well he's back with his first live-action film in over a decade, and man is it tremendous. Denzel Washington gives his best performance since Malcolm X as a boozin', usin' airline pilot who saves the lives of 80 passengers by landing a crashing airplane. His heroics are short-lived as investigators charge him with being intoxicated and he could face serious jail time. Denzel is electrifying, along with newcomer Kelly Reiley and the rest of the all-star cast. Whenever you see a plot point coming from a mile away, the story goes in the other direction, constantly surprising you until the stunning conclusion. It's great to see movies like this again. Flight soars.
05. Silver Linings Playbook
The feel good "dramedy" of the year. David O. Russell has become an expert on directing and casting family dramas. Silver Linings Playbook stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, both who play mentally unstable citizens of Philadelphia who rely on each other though unusual methods to reach their goals. Cooper wants to win his wife back (who previously cheated on him with his colleague) and Lawrence wants to win the ballroom dancing competition. Funny, touching, and insightful, the film ends up almost exactly where we expect but the small brilliant moment throughout provide some of the year's best scenes and character dialogue. Also to note, Robert DeNiro wakes up from his acting coma to deliver a poignant performance as the father who also has some screws loose.
04. Lincoln
A personal and powerful look into one of America's most important moments. Based of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Steven Spielberg perfectly captures a moment in time while also telling an inspiring story. The greatest living actor Daniel Day-Lewis gives a subtle yet majestic performance as the 16th president who exercises his powers to abolish slavery in the midst of the Civil War. Politics have never been more captivating on screen and the barbaric nature of the House represented in the film will remind you that little has changed in our government over the past two centuries. Every historic figure is perfectly cast, especially Sally Field as the First Lady. When the votes are cast for the amendment, there was a quote spoken by the House leader that is destined to become a classic: "This is not unusual, this is history." Lincoln is a cinematic time capsule.
03. Skyfall
I believe it is safe to announce Daniel Craig as the ultimate James Bond because his latest venture Skyfall is indeed, without a doubt, the greatest 007 film of all time. Even better than Goldfinger. How can this be? Well for starters, director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins are on board and have crafted a brilliantly paced and beautifully shot action trill ride. Every five minutes of a screen time is a new and exciting set piece that never wears out its welcome. Judi Dench evolves her long-standing character of M into the franchise's most unlikely Bond girl and Javier Bardem is award-worthy as the diabolical and flamboyant Silva. The Aston Martin unveiling gave me goosebumps as the audience roared in applause. Add the wonderful Adele theme song and you have a downright incredible movie.
02. The Master
Bizarre. Unfocused. Meaningless. These are words that have been associated with Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, a challenging film that can test your beliefs in many ways. Joaquin Phoenix returns to dramatic acting as the troubled WWII vet Freddie Quell who stumbles across a philosopher by the name of Lancaster Dodd, leader of "The Cause" movement. Similarities to the Scientology faith are abound, but the film is not necessarily about that specific religion. Seeing the bizarre practices of The Cause may seem like lunacy, but are they so different than those taught under Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, or any other religion? Freddie of course struggles with the concepts of Dodd's teachings as he tries to adjust to the post-war world. One thing we can all agree on are the astonishing performances. Phoenix, Hoffman, and Amy Adams give spellbinding turns that transcend the term of "acting", just like what Day-Lewis achieved with Anderson's last film There Will Be Blood. No other film this year is as epic in scope, not even the summer blockbusters. I still do not fully understand The Master, but it is truly something special and a rare film that will be brought up in many film discussions in the years to come.
01. Django Unchained
In an otherwise disappointing year for motion pictures, here are we to rely on the legendary Quentin Tarantino to bring the most thrilling, emotional, hilarious, and entertaining film of 2012. I don't know even know where to begin. A love letter to the classic spaghetti westerns, Django is a so-called "southern", set during the peak of slavery in 19th century America. The title character played by Jamie Foxx is freed from his shackles by a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) and begin a quest to save Django's wife from the evil plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Tarantino's stimulating script jumps off the screen with smart, bladder-bursting dialogue and off-the-wall encounters. I said to my self "Am I really seeing this?!?!" various times throughout the film, full of surprise and delight I might add. The costumes and art direction are glorious, almost making this version of the Deep South into an entirely new world. What really caught my attention was the weighted emotional core. With the fun and games aside, the issues tackled in this film are given proper exposure and remind us how brutal and uncivilized the American culture used to be. Also Foxx's Django is the most baddass action hero since The Bride and is surely to become an icon. No one makes a movie like Tarantino and no one else made a more enjoyable film than Django Unchained. Yeeee-haawwwwwwwwwww!
Previous Winners
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2002: Adaptation
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004: Kill Bill Vol. 2
2005: Capote
2006: The Departed
2007: No Country for Old Men
2008: WALL-E
2009: Up in the Air
2009: Up in the Air
2010: Black Swan
2011: The Artist
