2012 was a fantastic year for film. So much so that I wrote a Top 40 list instead of last year’s 20, and pretty much everything from 25 and up could easily be in a top 10 had they come out any other, less crowded year. That good. So let’s not beat around the bush and get straight to it. These are the top 40 movies I saw all year plus the best performances, worst and most overrated films, and more:
Hey! Sorry for not posting for a couple weeks. Caught up with college work and whatnot. To make up for that, here’s something that I used to do in one of my tumblrs that I’m re-using so that there’s a steady stream of content even when it isn’t an “official” review. This way, I can talk about literally every movie I watch on this blog. And I mean everything. Have fun with this.
Flight (Robert Zemeckis, 2012)
A surprisingly strong character study. What it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in sheer sympathy and nuance in detail. Denzel Washington gives his best performance in years, as does Zemeckis in terms of direction. The plane-crash sequence is one of the most intense, nerve-wracking, and all-around memorable scenes I’ve seen in any movie released this year. That alone is worth the price of admission.
Skyfall (Sam Mendes, 2012)
Great as an action movie, with a finale that’s so satisfying on equal parts emotional, thematic, and action-heavy levels. The plot isn’t really strong, which isn’t too big a problem since the main focus is theme instead of narrative, but it makes a few sequences sort of boring. Javier Bardem walks away with every scene he’s in, creating one of the most memorable villains of the year, and Sam Mendes directs the hell out of the action, with special thanks in part to Roger Deakins’s incredible cinematography.
The Exterminating Angel (Luis Bunuel, 1962)
50 years old and this movie still has a grand power. Takes a while for it to get going, but once it starts firing on all cylinders, it never stops. A gorgeously bizarre, enigmatic, blackly comedic satire.
Mulholland Dr. (David Lynch, 2001)
I saw this for the third time a couple nights ago and each time I revisit it, it gets closer and closer to becoming one of my favorite movies ever. Everything about it is just so gripping and uncompromising, and the final act still reels the brain to this day. The final sequence itself (involving giggling old people) is still one of the most terrifying things ever put in a film, while also being incredibly emotional in its own bizarre way. I personally think it makes almost total sense, but that’s my interpretation….get your own…
Schindler’s List (Steven Spielberg, 1997)
To prepare for Lincoln (Which I’ll most likely be reviewing soon, don’t worry you guys), I decided to see Spielberg’s dramatic magnum opus for the first time in about 4-5 years. Part of me regretted doing it, because this is such a harrowing (and extremely long) film, but it’s always comforting to be reminded of this film’s staggering power. Liam Neeson has never been this good since (To be fair, this performance is incredibly hard to top), and it can reduce you to a mess of tears with just the simple image of a red coat. In some ways, Lincoln (Though I haven’t seen it yet) could be seen as a spiritual successor to this film. It’s a portrait of an extraordinary historical figure that extensively recreates the feel of the events of the time period, features a no-holds-barred performance from its lead actor, and educates as much as it entertains (Or deeply disturbs, in the case of Schindler). So yeah, this movie’s still a masterpiece. You didn’t need me to remind you, but still…
Stay tuned for reviews of Lincoln and possibly Breaking Dawn Part 2 soon…
CinEffect 