2012 was a great year for movies. Everybody, from Wes Anderson to Ben Affleck to Steven Spielberg, were in top form. Frankly, there’s no real science behind why this year was particularly good for movies, but a recurring element was taking risks. More often than not, it worked out beautifully, bringing unique ideas and wonderfully different approaches to many of this years best movies.
And now, for the next installment of the Top 25 2012 movies:
15. “The Cabin In The Woods”: Joss Whedon sure had a great year! Between destroying every box office record with “The Avengers”, his long shelved horror picture “The Cabin In The Woods” finally hit the big screen. Although he’s only a writer on the project, his influence is felt in this movie that turns the entire horror genre on it’s head in ways that are incomprehensible. To say anymore would spoil the fun, but rest assured plenty of thrills, laughs and shocking twists will make you adore the experience.
14. “The Sessions”: This unusual tale was completely off my radar, but after seeing it, it’s emotional punch has stayed with me. John Hawkes takes the character of Mark O’Brien, a man paralyzed from the neck down, and brings him to life in both humor and a relatable desire to be accepted and be part of routines the rest of us consider parts of everyday life (he was robbed of an Oscar nomination) The film’s unusual tale is one of the most poignant and inspiring of the year and will definitely remain in your memory long after it’s over .
13. “Lincoln”: Steven Spielberg doesn’t so much re-enact Lincolns last 2 months of presidency, so much as seemingly take us to that exact point in time and history. Daniel Day Lewis is perfect as the President, making every audience member feel like they’re standing right in the same room as the great man. This amazingly well told flick creates a sense of history and atmosphere like no other this year, and re-affirms Steven Spielbergs power of creating great cinema.
12. “Life of Pi”: This powerful tale of a boy and a tiger becomes so much more in the eyes of Ang Lee, who crafts a masterfully told tale that soon delves into the ideas of friendship, survival and religion. Every frame of the movie seems like a moving painting, with it’s idyllic looking sunsets and gorgeous islands, which look all the more perfect in the stupendously implemented 3D format. “Life of Pi” will be known for many things, namely it being the quintessential 3D movie, but it should also be known as the movie that brought thought-provoking ideas to life with beauty and unsurpassed emotion.
11. “Les Miserables”: Similar to “The Dark Knight Rises”, there are some minor problems with “Les Miserables”, but it’s hard to resist it’s massive scope and unusually lofty aspirations. Hugh Jackman gives the performance of his career here, conveying raw emotion and occasional elation at the drop of a hat, and even folks like Sacha Baron Cohen and Russell Crowe give dazzling performances. But it’s Anne Hathaway who’s the real show-stopper, making even the most stalwart audience members sob with her heartbreaking rendition “I Dream A Dream”. And as for the music, well, let’s just say it’s some of the best heard in any musical ever.
