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.
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
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