Usually my Top Ten lists aren't done until October, but this year I found myself getting through my list of must-sees a whole lot faster than I did in previous years. This was thanks to a combination of factors. First, access was a lot better. Movies were coming out on home media quicker or were hitting the streaming services more reliably. There are still a couple of titles that remain in limbo, but they were the ones I was willing to skip. Secondly, I was far more selective this year about what I watched and what I didn't. There were fewer movies I had to expend real effort to track down, and the whole process felt like less of a slog. Still, the total count for the year is over 160 films.
As always, my criteria for eligibility requires that a film must have been released in its own home country during 2012, so film festivals and other special screenings don't count. Picks are unranked, previously posted reviews are linked where available, and the "Plus One" spot is reserved for the best film of the previous year that I didn't manage to see in time for the last list.
Lincoln - It isn't just Daniel Day-Lewis's career-topping performance that makes the film a success, but the strong ensemble, excellent production values, and intelligent script. "Lincoln" is a good reminder of what solid, old-fashioned filmmaking looks like, and it's a shame that we're losing these more substantive mid-range dramas as the studios become more and more risk-averse. "Lincoln" also represents a strong return to form for Steven Spielberg after a worrying string of medocre pictures.
The Master - Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman both deserved their Oscars nominations, but director Paul Thomas Anderson deserved to witn one, for sheer daring. More interested in asking uncomfortable questions than providing any answers, "The Master" is a rare American film that isn't afraid to provoke, to challenge, to outrage, and to upset. The debate over what the film is trying to say and what it means will likely be raging long after all the other films on this list have faded into obscurity.
War Witch - A girl in a war-torn country can't escape tragedy and suffering, but she can find moments of love and happiness, and grow up to put her ghosts to rest. The story of Komona provides a candid and humanizing look at the lives of African child soldiers. Violence and warfare are ever-present in her world, but "War Witch" is also a film of unexpected beauty and life-affirming joy, full of spirituality and magic. The material may be too intense for some, but it's strength comes from never holding back.
Bernie - Richard Linktlater combines real-life interviews with dramatizations to tell the stranger-than fiction tale of a peculiar murder in a small town, and the even more bizarre road to justice. Part comedy and part documentary, it looks like a mockumentary, but is it making fun of its subjects or celebrating them? This is a movie as curious and intriguing as the crime it examines. And special kudos to Jack Black in the role of the title character, who delivers his best screen performance in ages.
Zero Dark Thirty - Had the guts to be a movie that addressed the most controversial parts of the War on Terror head on, and forced its audience to face many uncomfortable truths. "Zero Dark Thrity" is a wonderfully murky, ambiguous, morally gray film that stands very well on its own as a war narrative, but is remarkable for how it chooses to characterize very recent historical events. You only have to look at the firestorm of vitriol that greeted it to appreciate how provocative - and how necessary - the film was.
It's Such a Beautiful Day - Animated stick-figure drawings illustrate the epic journey of an ordinary man on the brink. Don Hertzfeldt's tryptich of "Bill" shorts, edited together to from one feature-length film, takes on such heavy issues as family, love, madness, illness, death, and the nature of existence, with generous helpings of Hertzfeldt's trademark dark humor and morbid creativity. "Beautiful Day" is the most fiercely personal and deeply emotional of his one-man animated works so far, and is a truly touching experience.
Blancanieves - Pablo Berger's answer to "The Artist" is a lovely silent feature that retells the tale of Snow White as a strirring Andalusian tragedy, where Snow White is the daughter of a celebrated bullfighter and a flamenco dancer. "Blancanieves" is clearly a modern production that doesn't always follow the rules of a proper silent film, but it uses the constraints of the format to very good effect. Maribel Verdu in particular is a treat to watch as the evil stepmother, who oppresses our heroine with lip-smacking panache.
Brooklyn Castle - After so many documentaries about the dysfunctional American educational system, focused on the children who have fallen through the cracks, it's good to see one looking at the issue of from another angle. "Brooklyn Castle" examines a beloved junior high chess program that is making a real difference to a group of truly talented, intelligent kids. It's a joy to get to know each of the students in the film, and to follow their development. And it helps the documentary's message hit home much harder.
Pitch Perfect - I save a spot on these lists every year for a film I enjoyed on a purely for entertainment value. This year I've got two, because I couldn't decide between them. Up first, we have a girl-power comedy about a college acapella group, where a diverse crew of squabbling misfits come together and win the day. It's an old formula, but formulas work for a reason, especially when they make room for bad acapella puns, vomit jokes, and Rebel Wilson's glorious Fat Amy. "Glee," eat your heart out.
Cabin in the Woods - My favorite theatrical experience of 2012 was the elevator sequence of "Cabin in the Woods," which had me shrieking with laughter at the sight of the over-the-top carnage being unleashed on the screen. Horror movies can be fun, but they're rarely very smart. "Cabin in the Woods" is perhaps too smart at times, with its meta references and clever commentary on the absurdities of the horror genre, such that it's not very scary. However, it is endlessly entertaining and I'm so happy it was finally released.
Plus One
Girl Walk // All Day - Kickstarter funded, and released for free on the Internet, "Girl Walk // All Day" is described as a feature length music video, following a young woman, "The Girl" as she spends a day dancing her way through New York City. There's not a word of dialogue spoken, only the barest threads of a narrative, and a grand total of three named characters. However, this is undeniably a film, and a good one. And Anne Marsen as the main character gives an absolutely astonishing performance, entirely through dance.
And finally, a couple of honorable mentions
Magic Mike
A Royal Affair
Beyond the Hills
Damsels in Distress
The Life of Pi
Pieta
Holy Motors
Chronicle
No
Beasts of the Southern Wild
And tomorrow, what didn't make the list.
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