By Jay Quarantello
I want to admit from the start that this was an off year for me with movies, mostly because I've been in South Dakota for a majority of 2012. As a result, I had to drive 90 minutes to get to the closest large movie theater, which also does not show independent films (unless you count Obama's America, I don't). However, the list below will feature some likely Oscar Contenders and then a few movies most people passed over.
*(Note- "Django Unchained" was not viewed at time of publishing. It surely would have made the top 4)
10
The Five-Year Engagement was nearly unbearable for three fourths of the movie, but then Director Nick Stoller did something unheard of in most Rom-Coms: the main characters' relationship deteriorated slowly and failed. From that point on, my perspective of the entire movie shifted. Beneath the typical romantic comedy antics was a sad story of two people trying to make a doomed relationship work through personal sacrifices, which unraveled each of their well-being. The Five-Year Engagement ultimately became a very sincere glimpse into how different life paths cannot necessarily be reconciled by the love that exists between two people. Despite these darker themes, I left the theater with a smile on my face because Jason Segel and company gave me the type of movie ending I nearly always desire.
9
21 Jump Street was not a great movie by any means, but it was one hell of a comedy. I laughed throughout the movie. The reigning Sexiest Person Alive, Jonah Hill, has mastered playing an awkward high school nerd, while the homely Channing Tatum flexed his comedy muscles for the first time. 21 Jump Street could have had a terrible plot, but turned out to be great when everyone in the movie immediately knew the title characters were undercover cops and not high school students. The running gag about which cars would explode has a priceless pay off too.
8
I am admittedly bias whenever reviewing a Richard Linklater movie, because I'm a huge fan and I think he's one of the most underrated directors in Hollywood; however, Bernie is captivating for a couple of reasons. First, Jack Black makes Bernie, a murderer, into a truly unique and lovable character study. Likewise, Matthew McConaughey had a subtly strong performance as a grandstanding, fear-mongering prosecutor. Playing off of people's homophobia was a major theme in Bernie, which Linklater carefully wove into McConaughey's character's dialogue. Although everyone who knew and loved Bernie in his hometown would have found him innocent, those who didn't know him would easily send him to jail because 1) he was actually a murderer 2) he was seemingly a homosexual. If you haven't seen Bernie yet, watch out for this theme, and then tell me Linklater isn't a master screenwriter.
7
6
The Avengers was the best superhero movie of the year. It was truly an enjoyable action-packed spectacle. The special effects were incredible and there was rarely a point where I thought a scene looked computer generated. I also enjoyed how Joss Whedon deployed all of the characters. Tony Stark always provided well timed humor; the symbolism of Captain America and changing American values was explored in a much more meaningful way than in all of Captain America: The First Avenger; and suspense was finally built correctly for Bruce Banner's transformation into the Hulk. It was a perfect summer blockbuster: mostly a lot of fun with the right amount of heart.
6
Beasts of the Southern Wild is a spectacular movie that audiences should rent on iTunes or Amazon today. It's the story of a young girl named Hushpuppy living with her father in the Bathtub, a wild swampy area outside of New Orleans. When a Hurricane Katrina-like disaster happens, six-year old Hushpuppy's community is wrecked and its members are forced to find courage in an ecologically changing world. Dwight Henry, as a harsh but caring father, provides one of the best performances of the year. He should receive the award for Best Supporting Actor with Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln right behind him. It's hard to believe that Henry is not an actor by trade. Quvenzhané Wallis as Hushpuppy is superb too. Many of her scenes will bring you to tears as Hushpuppy tries to understand life, death, and survival. She could be the youngest Best Actress nominee in Oscar history. If you're looking for a great Indie movie to impress your friends with, here's my pick.
5 (Tie)
I feel uncultured for saying this, but this version was my introduction to the Les Miserables story. I would really love to see it on stage after watching director Tom Hooper's sweeping film. Having never been exposed to the story before, I found the themes powerful, particularly the dichotomy between Hugh Jackman's Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe's relentless Inspector Javert. Both were good men that were ultimately done in by the unfairness of the legal system under which they lived. As for this version of Les Mis, I know that Anne Hathaway is receiving most of the hype, but Hugh Jackman carried the show. He played Valjean with a weariness that I didn't expect from him, especially since X-Men Origins: Wolverine is seared in my memory as one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Another scene stealer is Samantha Barks as Eponine. Her character felt underdeveloped but her acting performance overwhelmed me to point of feeling sympathy, and, yes, I think I fell in love with her. The ultimate winner here is Tom Hooper. By making this movie in complete song, there was a flow to each scene that I found irresistible--well worth the price of admission.
Below is a great article on the enduring radicalism of the Les Miserables story:
5 (Tie)
Flight was the most surprising movie of the year. Unlike Robert Zemeckis' Castaway trailer, the preview for Flight actually reveals very little of what the movie is about. Alas, if you haven't seen it yet, I don't want to fill you in on the plot. This is the most powerful performance Denzel Washington has ever given. As pilot Whip Whitaker, Denzel seems tormented as a man who profoundly needs help. His slow evolution of character is painful to watch throughout the movie, but fascinating nevertheless. This movie is an emotional powerhouse, from its terrifying first sequences in the plane to the small buzz of a refrigerator.
4
Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom was my forgotten movie of 2012. I saw it in the middle of the summer when I was traveling in France, and I only remembered it when I was creating this list. There's no doubt it's offbeat, like most of Wes Anderson's movies, but it has so much heart and proves to be a memorable coming of age tale. The young teenagers' adventures after they run away from home provide an interesting way to explore the lack of fulfillment in adult life. Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Frances McDormand all provide strong supporting performances. Yet, the most enjoyable part of this movie was seeing Wes Anderson's artwork at play. The color and cinematography of each scene created a sense of real-time nostalgia. A lesser director could have made Moonrise Kingdom a much simpler film, but with Anderson at its helm, Moonrise Kingdom is a beautiful story about growing up.
3
I'm shocked this movie hasn't gotten more attention from the masses. It's a real crowd pleaser. Silver Linings Playbook is funny, heart-warming, and romantic. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence made me empathize with the two unstable main characters trying to find love in a world that is as uncontrollable as their own emotional well-being. Robert Deniro and Jackie Weaver also have strong performances as enabling parents that only want the best for their family. Yet, what truly made me love this movie is how director David O. Russell perfectly captures reality. When Cooper and Lawrence jog around the neighborhood, I feel as if I am actually getting to know their town, from the gritty diners to the crazy neighbors that live there. Russell creates a world that is utterly believable. And boy, the Christmas light laden ending is wonderful.
2
Seeking a Friend For the End of the World is the most underrated movie of the year. Its a true gem and a must-see film. The movie begins with a radio broadcast of a failed armageddon mission, which prompts Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley as Dodge and Penny to road trip during the apocalypse to find the love of Dodge's life and Penny's family. Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley provide brilliant performances. I was impressed and slightly uncomfortable with how quickly the movie shifted from dark humor to romance to suspense. But the true beauty of this film rests with the main characters. Through Dodge, writer/director Lorena Scafaria questions why people go about the daily grind when death is a guarantee, but suddenly when the apocalypse is known to happen, everyone seems to wake up to this reality. And through Penny, Scafaria explores how we can only have fulfilled lives by appreciating the small details of people. Most apocalypse movies would have had a grand ending with spectacular fireworks, but Seeking a Friend For the End of the World is better than that. Its beauty is in its simplicity.
1
Despite being bias, since I am a pseudo, pseudo-Abraham Lincoln expert, Lincoln is the best film of the year. Everyone is talking about Daniel Day Lewis' turn as Honest Abe, and it's well-deserved since it's historically accurate and powerful. Everything I read about the man seems to find a way into the film, from how he tells to stories to how he interacts with his cabinet. Furthermore, director Stephen Spielberg masterfully creates an 1865 Washington D.C. world. Lincoln's cabinet members seemed so at home in the White House, War Department, and Capitol Building. Tommy Lee Jones' Thaddeus Stevens also had many powerful scenes that nearly brought me to tears, particularly when he gives a speech on what is natural. Yet, the true force behind this film is not the superb directing or acting, but rather the script. Tony Kushner wrote many powerful scenes concerning the balance between morality and politics. I think it's undeniable that he also had an eye on present day equal right issues while writing most of Lincoln's and Stevens' dialogue. Lincoln leaves me in awe of the man that led our country from 1860-1865, and it also leaves me wishing we had his leadership today.
