The Best Films of 2012: 15-11

#15

Moonrise Kingdom

Dir. Wes Anderson

I didn’t grow up in the ‘60s, but if I did, I could only hope my life was like Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom.  Anderson uses his trademark quirkiness to create a world like no other put on film this year.  The film is an incredible story on young love that has a more than a touch of charm working for it.  Along with it’s nostalgia inducing atmosphere, the film boast one of the best casts of the year which includes Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Bill Fuckin’ Murray, and newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward.

 

Hit the jump for #'s 14-11...

#14

The Raid

Dir. Gareth Evans

You remember that scene in Pulp Fiction where Uma Thurman overdoses and a shot of adrenaline revives her?  Gareth Evan’s The Raid feels kind of like how that would feel.  Easily one of the best action movies in years, it does it all without the help of CGI.  It’s an hour and a half of “HOLY SHIT” stunts and kick-ass martial arts.  It’s brutal, yet it’s shot so well, that it is slightly beautiful in it’s own way.  Iko Uwais could be the next great Asian action star in the vein of Chow Yun-Fat or Tony Jaa.  For now, he’ll just stick with what made him a star, as The Raid 2 is currently in production.

#13

Bullhead

Dir. Michaël R. Roskam

Although this was released in mid-February in the U.S., it’s 2011 release overseas made Bullhead eligible for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar last year.  It got a nomination and deservedly so.  Matthias Schoenaerts is a revelation in this interesting twist on the gangster movie.  His performance is full of raw emotion and aggression that makes this film feel so real that it’s terrifying.  He showed off a lot of talent, so much so, that you can expect to see another film of his later on this list.

#12

The Imposter

 Dir. Bart Layton

I don’t mind documentaries, but for me personally, they just don’t hold the same place in my heart as narrative features do.  That being said, there was probably no movie this year that kept me on the edge of my seat for as long as The Imposter did.  A documentary that plays out like a narrative feature, director Bart Layton crafts a true crime tale that is almost too strange to be true.  But, you know what they say, fact is stranger than fiction.  There are so many twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up to the very end and when the movie is over, you can actually physically feel the tension release from your body.  This film alone gave me a whole new outlook of documentary filmmaking.

#11

The Master

Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson 

Paul Thomas Anderson is possibly the best filmmaker working today.  He usually takes his time making movies, which makes every one he shoots an event in the arthouse circles.  It has been five years since his last movie, There Will Be Blood (which is considered by many to be the best movie of the last decade), and he’s only made a total of five movies since his career, which began 17 years ago.  He finally returns and he brings his unique brand of filmmaking with him.  The Master features two brilliant performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, both of whom received Oscar nods for their work.  I’m rooting for Joaquin, though it will probably be hard to stop the Daniel Day Lewis train.  The movie is visually-stunning, which is a hallmark of all of Anderson’s work and through it’s images, it creates a work of art, albeit a very abstract one.