Best of 2012
In no particular order. These are what I consider to be the best films of 2012. Don't like these movies? Make your own list...
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- DirectorRamaa MosleyStarsJuno TempleMichael AngaranoAlexis BledelWhen a couple discovers that a brass teapot makes them money whenever they hurt themselves, they must come to terms with how far they are willing to go.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJamie FoxxChristoph WaltzLeonardo DiCaprioWith the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.Brutal homage to spaghetti westerns and revenge films. My only complaint was that random rap song in the soundtrack. Get that *beep* outta there!
- DirectorDerek CianfranceStarsRyan GoslingBradley CooperEva MendesTwo men and their sons must deal with the unforeseen consequences of their actions.
- DirectorTom TykwerLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsTom HanksHalle BerryHugh GrantAn exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.
- DirectorJeff NicholsStarsMatthew McConaugheyTye SheridanJacob LoflandTwo young boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the vigilantes that are on his trail and to reunite him with his true love.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJared GilmanKara HaywardBruce WillisTwo 12-year-olds, who live on an island, fall in love with each other and elope into the wilderness. While people set out on a search mission, a violent storm approaching them catches their attention.Classic Anderson. Reminds me of Boy Scouts and makes me wish I was a kid again.
- DirectorAriel VromenStarsMichael ShannonChris EvansJames FrancoThe story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. When he was finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor his daughters had any clue about his real profession.
- DirectorCameron CairnesColin CairnesStarsOliver AcklandPaul BlackwellWard EveraardtReg and Lindsay run an organic fertiliser business. They need a fresh supply of their "secret ingredient" to process through the meat grinder. Reg comes across two guys and a girl with a broken-down vehicle on their way to a music festival.Very well done indie horror/comedy out of Australia.
- DirectorAndrew DominikStarsBrad PittRay LiottaRichard JenkinsJackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigJavier BardemNaomie HarrisJames Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.Some amazing cinematography from Roger Deakins (of Coen Brothers fame). It makes the list on that alone though I did enjoy the action elements. Not a huge Bond fan personally.
- DirectorAng LeeStarsSuraj SharmaIrrfan KhanAdil HussainA young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsJoaquin PhoenixPhilip Seymour HoffmanAmy AdamsA Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by the Cause and its charismatic leader.Strange and sweeping tale from P.T. Anderson. Everything is pretty solid here. Joaquin Phoenix's best performance to date. Evidence that popular director's can still travel through experimental and non-mainstream channels with ease.
- DirectorRamin BahraniStarsDennis QuaidZac EfronKim DickensA farming family's business is threatened by an unexpected crisis, further testing the relationship between a father and his rebellious son.Slow burner from Ramin Bahrani. If you like his previous films you'll probably like this. Dennis Quaid's best performance and the only 'real' film he's ever starred in.
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneRhys IfansAfter Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.Exactly what you should want in a comic book film. Very tight CGI here also. Skip the three Raimi films for this one.
- DirectorAndrew StantonStarsTaylor KitschLynn CollinsWillem DafoeTransported to Barsoom, a Civil War vet discovers a barren planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Woola and a princess in desperate need of a savior.A lot of people hate this and the CGI isn't very realistic looking but I think the mythology is some high end sci-fi which could easily develop into multiple films.
- DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsChase WilliamsonRob MayesPaul GiamattiA new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return no longer human. Can two college drop-outs save humanity from this silent, otherworldly invasion?Very good and unique. Too bad the CGI budget seemed to run out as the film went on. Hope to see more work from this author converted to film form.
- DirectorColin TrevorrowStarsAubrey PlazaMark DuplassJake JohnsonThree magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified advertisement seeking a companion for time travel.
- DirectorTony GilroyStarsJeremy RennerRachel WeiszEdward NortonAn expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on a new hero whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.From the director of Michael Clayton. This is here because there seems to be a popular strain of libertarian conspiracy theory involved. Drone use against Americans, pharmaceutical induced false flag mass shooting etc. Surprised to see that stuff on the big screen.
- DirectorCraig ZobelStarsAnn DowdDreama WalkerPat HealyA normal Friday service at a fast food restaurant becomes interrupted by a police officer who claims an employee stole from a customer, but something more sinister is going on.I think this film is very well done. It toes the line between [s]exploitation and docudrama. Strange and uncomfortable stuff.
- DirectorGyörgy PálfiStarsIsabelle AdjaniAnouk AiméeWoody AllenA simple yet timeless love story between a man and a woman, told using scenes edited together from hundreds of other films.The ultimate cut-up. This is always something I've wanted to do myself but this takes it to another level. William S. Burroughs would be proud.
- DirectorCiarán FoyStarsAneurin BarnardJames CosmoWunmi MosakuAn agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter from the clutches of a gang of twisted feral children who committed an act of violence against his family years earlier.Pretty decent horror with some not so subtle metaphorical undertones. Suspenseful, well acted. Reminds me of Heartless (2009) but with a more solid construction. Also stars your favorite IRA priest from Sons of Anarchy.
- DirectorH.P. MendozaStarsAnna IshidaJeannie BarrogaRick BurkhardtEmily, a troubled spirit, haunts her own house every day, wondering why she can't leave. With the help of Sylvia, a clairvoyant hired to rid the house of spirits, Emily is forced into a 'patient/therapist' relationship, uncovering disturbing mysteries about her past that may help her move on to 'the next place'.A unique take on the ghost story. It has been done before on film but this is the most original presentation - even with the $10,000 budget. I would've given it a higher rating if the introduction of the third "character" was done a bit better but H.P. Mendoza is still a director worth keeping an eye on.
- DirectorLen WisemanStarsColin FarrellBokeem WoodbineBryan CranstonA factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.
- DirectorJohn DasStarsMark GatissDario ArgentoFabrizio BavaActor, writer and life-long horror film aficionado Mark Gatiss follows his 'A History of Horror' with this exploration of European horror cinema. Including interviews with directors Dario Argento and Guillermo del Toro amongst others.