The 10 Best Films of 2012
This is only a list of films released in 2012 and only films that I actually saw. I have no doubt that there are many, many, many incredible movies that I missed and hopefully will catch up on! For the record I did not score a single 2012 film with a 10/10 which is sort of sad but these are the films that scored an easy 9 for me.
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- DirectorTom HooperStarsHugh JackmanRussell CroweAnne HathawayIn 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory worker's daughter. The decision changes their lives forever.Breathtaking, stunning, brilliantly created and performed flawlessly. It wrenches your heart and is sure to make the critics take notice as well as the Academy. The latter half of the film was not as powerful as the first half making it not a perfect scorer but probably the best movie of 2012 that I saw.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseRosamund PikeRichard JenkinsA homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper responsible for a mass shooting.Say what you will about Tom Cruise but the man is still a Hollywood star. This clever and well made mystery thriller was darkly comic, very intelligently written and well acted. Its still in theaters and I highly recommend it because it is the perfect throwback to the Grindhouse era films.
- DirectorJason MooreStarsAnna KendrickBrittany SnowRebel WilsonBeca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.Downright hilarious and perfectly put together for its genre and for its demographic. It brings together the quintessential recipe for a great teen classic film like The Breakfast Club or modern day entries like Ten Things I Hate About Your or Bring It On. Its the type of movie I am sure I will watch again and again.
- 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.Without a doubt the most ambitious action/super hero flick ever made. It turned a superhero into a historical epic or enormous proportions. It was so chock full of everything that it easily could have been three movies on its own...but it was one...making it seem a little cluttered but AMBITIOUS the likes of which we have never seen. It sets a new standard of comic book adaptations.
- 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.One of the deepest and most thought provoking spiritual films I have ever seen. It is also only one of a very very few films I thought 3D actually made a difference or was at least impressive. A stunningly beautiful movie with so much heart and pure spirit. It won't be for everyone but I was floored by how much emotion was behind it.
- 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.A total shocker for me. I decided to watch this on a whim and give it a try and next thing you now I was laughing, smiling and cheering. It was quirky and funny and sweet and full of humor and drama and emotion. It was just a nice and unique movie. People complain that Hollywood has nothing new to offer? This was new! It was fun and the characters were great and it just instantly won me over hands down!
- DirectorSimon WestStarsSylvester StalloneLiam HemsworthRandy CoutureMr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.This entry is sure to cause a lot of debate and teasing. However, this is my list and I have personal reasons for liking these films. When I first discovered my insane love for movies I discovered an insane fascination with Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger action flicks. So the sheer idea of the three of them being together in a film was mind blowing. Expendables 1 sort of touched on that but #2 took it to absolutely new heights. The sheer fan service paid out in this movie deserves recognition. Rambo, Die Hard, Terminator, Rocky and so much more was mentioned in a cheeky and fun way while blowing the $#&% out of everything. It was just complete balls to the wall FUN!! Sometimes you gotta turn off your brain and just go for the ride.
- 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.A Summer Blockbuster that had more bust than Blockbuster but I loved it. I thought it was at least as good as the original in its own way. The action was non stop and the actors were spot on in their roles. I think in ten years it'll be considered as much of a sci fi classic as the original was. Its certainly less campy and the production value was brilliant. The bleak future world they created was spot on in my books!!
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.Bringing together a huge group of superheroes could have been a real mess. And yet Joss Whedon did it flawlessly. No one hero was under used or over used, he exceeded certainly my expectations at every turn. I am much more of a DC guy than a Marvel guy but overall these Marvel hero films have been sheer brilliance!! The Avengers proved how much more life there are in this series of movies. It was the one to beat at the box office that jump started the summer and it was glorious!
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittBruce WillisEmily BluntIn 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent into the past, where a hired gun awaits - someone like Joe - who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by sending back Joe's future self for assassination.My hero Bruce Willis came back firing on all cylinders in this sci-fi action flick that he was born to head up. On top of that he was joined by Hollywood It boy (who is really growing on me) Joseph Gordon Levitt. The film was complex and well crafted. It opens door after door of questions and only answers some leaving you to discuss the film with everyone for months afterwards. It was really well done. Some significant plot holes have to taken at face value because the film is done on such a grandiose scale. Still an epic if not understated sci-fi flick which I will certainly add to my yearly Bruce Willis rotation of films.