Where did Lincoln end up on the revised top 10
As the Oscars approach once again it’s time for the annual
tradition of revisiting the top 10 films of the year to create a more complete
list. In all, 2012 was a phenomenal year for film and the best year for films
in recent memory, although not until about October. Yes 2012 continued the
recent tradition of being a back loaded year and all the films on my top ten (except one)
are from the second half of the year. Even so there are some fantastic films on
this list and I’ve had the most trouble making this list this year than any
other year. As usual the precaution does apply that I am an amateur film critic
and thus don’t see everything that this year would have to offer. That being
said I believe that this is my most complete list to date by far and I couldn’t
see any of the films that I haven’t seen bumping these off the list. So let’s
get down to business shall we, these are the top 10 films of 2012.
Honorable Mentions:
The Dark Knight Rises, Moonrise Kingdom, Life of Pi, The
Avengers, Les Miserable
10. Skyfall
It is so great to see
a Bond film land on the top ten. One of the best action pictures to be released
this year Skyfall had everything that any Bond fan, or an espionage film fan in
general, could want. Great direction and cinematography, an intelligent plot
that examined the Boss and Agent relationship between M and Bond, and some
great callbacks for the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise.
Overall Skyfall is just a great action film one that deserves every cent of the
massive amount of money it earned around the world.
Ben Affleck’s third film Argo provided one amazing thriller
experience. Argo provides the perfect mix of high tense set pieces and
perfectly timed comedy that made for one amazingly balanced film. The best
thing about Argo though is that it keeps getting better upon repeat viewings
allowing it to squeeze past Skyfall which was initially higher than Argo on
this list.
8. Beasts of the Southern Wild
2012’s little film that could was Beasts of the Southern
Wild. Beasts of the Southern Wild was small but left a large impact on almost
everyone who watched it with its triumphant performances and heartbreaking
storyline. It may be the smallest film to end up on this list but ultimately it
may have been the film that left the biggest impact on the viewer in 2012. What
a fantastic achievement on all fronts!
7. Cloud Atlas
The most polarizing film of the year Cloud Atlas was a film
that you either loved or despised the existence of. The ambition that is
present throughout Cloud Atlas’s over 2hour and 45 minute is worthy of
admiration on its own. What makes the film truly special though is that in the
end the film is not only ambitious but a really entertaining film. There are so
many great moments throughout from a Matrix like dystopia to a crazy escape
from an old folk’s home. Cloud Atlas is a film that is hardly seen in the days
of formulaic blockbusters and that itself is a fantastic achievement.
6. The Master
Two of the best performances of the year and the best
character study of the year came from Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious and
powerful film The Master. There are so many great moments that happen
throughout this film such as the dynamite first interrogation and the father,
son relationship that is consistent throughout the entire film. Not to mention
that Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman tore up the screen whenever
they were on it. It’s a shame that The Master is getting such little love from
the Oscars.
5. Lincoln
It’s a great year for films when the amazing Stephen
Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis film Lincoln only makes the fifth spot on this
list. The power of Lincoln comes through making the legendary president a human
being and not a looming legend. That mixed with great Spielbergian style and
drama made for a big emotional drama that cannot be missed. This plus Daniel
Day-Lewis giving yet another earth shattering performance made Lincoln an
amazing Stephen Spielberg film.
4. Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino doesn’t make many films, but when he does
make a film it’s an event. His take on the spaghetti western Django Unchained
continues this trend with a bang with all of great Tarantino on display here.
What makes Django Unchained a top notch Tarantino film is the message regarding
slavery and racism in America. Tarantino takes his big over the top spin on the
concept and takes it to the max. Tarantino is one of those directors that you
either love or detest, for me as long as he keeps making films like this I will
continue to love his filmmaking.
3. Amour
Another great veteran director Austrian born Michael Haneke
delivers perhaps his most powerful and jarring film to date, but not in the way
that is expected. Amour is about the survival of love at an old age and the
pain of losing the one you’ve loved for your entire life. Haneke employs the
powers of his Octavian lead actors, and the squirm inducing power of incredibly
long shots of simple emotional challenges. The best aspect of Amour is the
power it can produce from the smallest moments and the fact that the film never
attempts to manipulate the audience. It’s just about the simplicity of love and
pain, and in this case that is definitely for the best.
2. Zero Dark Thirty
Zero Dark Thirty is Kathryn Bigelow’s masterpiece, plain and
simple. Bigelow and writer Mark Boal have created a perfect example of how to
make the near perfect military thriller. The magic of Zero Dark Thirty is in its
balance of brilliant espionage thriller and a powerful character study. Jessica
Chastain delivers the female performance of the year as the broken and overcommitted
CIA agent who took down Osama Bin Laden. Sure the film isn’t entirely accurate but
demanding complete and total accuracy in a film like this is absurd. Zero Dark
Thirty is just an amazing film regardless of accuracy and a prime example of
how to make a brilliant thriller.
1. Looper
The best original Sci-Fi film since Minority Report Looper
has everything one could want from a Sci-Fi film and more. Looper contained the
best use of the premise of time travel ever in a film and that’s just the tip
of the iceberg. Looper is another example of the power of character development
on the fly and how truly plot and characters not action made this film the
great film that it is. Ultimately Looper is the best film of the year is
because it is the film that satisfied me on every level, the plot was twisty
and unpredictable, the characters fully developed, and the Sci-Fi elements unique
and powerful. Looper is pure Sci-Fi at its finest and the best film of 2012.
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