A Reel Opinion: The Best & Worst Movies of 2012, Episode II

Last week, in Episode I, Reel Speak explored the biggest stinkers of 2012.(here) This second and final Episode praises the achievements.

2012 was a good year for film. This Blogger screened nearly 50 movies in the theatre this year, with 18 of them rising to the top. It was agonizing work whittling that 18 down to 10, and any one of those ten could be debated or argued into the No. 1 position. Some Very Honorable Mention needs to go to the films that just missed the Top 10 cut: BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, ROBOT & FRANK, KILLER JOE, LOOPER, CLOUD ATLAS, SKYFALL, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, and James Cameron’s outstanding TITANIC 3D conversion; all great experiences at the theatre.

To business…

Musicals on film can be a tough egg to crack, but Tom Hooper’s LES MISERABLES adaptation finishes as satisfying and filling as a ten-egg omelet. It has a perfect balance of being grand in scale and intimate with the characters; offering a gentle yet effective emotional journey.

Peter Jackson’s return to Middle-Earth with THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY may speak more to the JRR Tolkien fans and die-hard LORD OF THE RINGS film-buffs, but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining. Jackson lays down a thick and lush foundation for the next two chapters, while never forgetting to take care of enough business to make the first film a fulfilling journey.

For his second film in a row, Paul Thomas Anderson proves his superior skill in the craft of filmmaking, and in fleshing out a story involving characters who love to battle for another’s soul in THE MASTER. The will of wits between Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams makes for the best ensemble acting performance of the year. Between the performances and the brilliant cinematography, it is tough to pull your eyes away from Anderson’s screen.

There are two ways to look at Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN. The first is as if Steven found a way to get a C-SPAN camera into the chambers of Congress in the 1860’s. The second is a stageplay on screen. Either method works, as LINCOLN succeeds as an overall movie by having an important story to tell using characters with strong motivations. The heart of it all is Daniel Day-Lewis’ portrayal of Abe himself. Everyone expected a fire-and-brimstone performance, but instead got a gentle soul with a penchant for light jokes and good stories. Day-Lewis not only made the character human, but also the type of uncle, father, or grandfather you can’t wait to spend the holidays with; lovable yet demanding of your respect.

There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe the visual impact of Ang Lee’s LIFE OF PI; words like stunning, breathtaking, and beautiful only begin to scratch the surface. There are images here which the eyes can process but the brain will disbelieve, including a few which will tear out your heart. In addition to the visuals, Lee weaves a remarkable tale of survival while offering a thing or two about life as a whole. The ending may be frustrating upon first viewing, but the power of LIFE OF PI will eventually sink in upon some careful thought; for this is a story all about the magic and power of storytelling. There are many levels at work with this film, and that is a sign of greatness.

Joe Carnahan’s THE GREY looks like a great survival film, but similar to LIFE OF PI, it would be dismissive to call it just that. THE GREY above all else is one man’s spiritual journey to rediscover life, and he does so by facing death. At the center of it all is Liam Neeson’s deep and powerful performance; his best to date.  

Kathryn Bigelow’s ZERO DARK THIRTY is a remarkable film which will hang around your head for a long time. The climatic, harrowing raid on the compound feels so important because of the great steps taken to get there by its main character and gripping plot. It is innovating in its approach, masterful in its execution, and relentless in its honesty.

Joss Whedon’s THE AVENGERS deserves major praise for being the only film this year which had the ability to transform a movie-theatre into a frenzied Super Bowl crowd; cheering and clapping and losing their minds. AVENGERS has many crowd-pleasing moments but also works as an overall film because of its ability to give its many characters ample screentime and development. Characters are allowed to be themselves and their interactions and conflicts with each other drive the plot and never fails to entertain. Whedon’s final solution to bring all the heroes together is clever, appropriate, and one of the best cinematic themes of 2012. On top of it all, outsiders were more than welcome; not much comic-book homework was required to enjoy it.

Wes Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM is hard evidence that even the oldest of all stories can still be effective, for as long as you keep the presentation fresh. MOONRISE is Anderson’s take on ROMEO AND JULIET; two young lovers being kept apart by the classes they belong to. In this case the setting is a quaint island village, and the young lovers are a pair of 12 year olds who seem to understand love and life better than their adult families and neighbors. It is Anderson’s “out of the mouths of babes” statement, and it makes for the most charming and sweetest film experience of 2012. Fans of Wes Anderson and his distinct style will lap this up, but it has just enough charm to bring in a newcomer or two.

For years, he was the biggest laughing stock and late-show joke in Hollywood. Today, he is one of the most respected directors in the business. His name is Ben Affleck, and his new film is ARGO. Based on the true events in which a CIA operative extracted U.S. hostages from Iran using a Hollywood sci-fi movie production as a cover story, ARGO reaches for and grabs many things all at once in its storytelling. It is a spy drama, a behind-the-scenes Hollywood flick, and a character piece with a sprinkle of well-timed comedy. It is the most well-rounded film of the year, and it re-creates an important part of history without getting preachy or self-important. As an added bonus, the eventual wrap drives home its theme by way of sci-fi film-geek twin-sun passion, the type of passion which ARGO oozes with.
Ar-Go see this movie without hesitation.

THE BEST MOVIES OF 2012

10. LES MISERABLES

9. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
8. THE MASTER
7. LINCOLN
6. LIFE OF PI
5. THE GREY
4. ZERO DARK THIRTY
3. THE AVENGERS
2. MOONRISE KINGDOM
1. ARGO