#30
Haywire
Dir. Steven Soderbergh
The end of the last post ended with Soderbergh’s other movie from 2012, Magic Mike. I really liked that one (I know), but I liked his first film more. I wasn’t sure how he could handle an action movie (and if Gina Carrano could do more than fight and actually act), but I should’ve known he was going to stick to his independent roots. Don’t get me wrong, this is a straight action flick, but unlike other action movies, this one has some decent character development and some great cinematography. The action scenes were still shot with a lot of intensity and vigor that they keep you on the edge of your seat.
#29
Flight
Dir. Robert Zemeckis
After making films such as The Polar Express, Beowulf, and A Christmas Carol, Forrest Gump and Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis finally returns to live action. I liked the film just fine as it’s a great take on alcoholism and it’s effect on a person, but I’m not sure how good it would have been without Denzel Washington. His portrayal of a man controlled by the outside factor of his addiction is fantastic, so much to the point that you, as the viewer, are conflicted as to root for him or hate his guts. It’s one of the better performances of his career.
#28
The Snowtown Murders
Dir. Justin Kurzel
The Aussies really know how to make a true crime flick. Like Animal Kingdom two years ago, Snowtown brings a gritty realism to the screen that almost never seen in Hollywood. The film is so real that it’s very difficult to watch at times because its so unnerving. It almost feels like a horror movie at time. The violence is very minimal, but when it happens it is graphic and brutal. An interesting look into the mind of real life serial killers.
#27
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Dir. Benh Zeitlin
The big surprise of the Oscar nominations as the amount of accolades Beasts of the Southern Wild received. It’s really awesome. It’s like the little indie movie that could. With that being said, each nomination is warranted in my book. It’s a great screenplay and Benh Zeitlin is able to take said screenplay and craft a magical world that’s everything a movie should be. Nine year old (only six at the time of filming) Quvenzhané Wallis gives one of the best performances of the year, regardless of how old she is. Put all that together and you get a great film, worthy of a Best Picture nod.
#26
Bernie
Dir. Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater is one of the most underrated filmmakers in the world. He first found himself on the map with Dazed and Confused and has continued to have success on the indie scene since then. With Bernie, Linklater puts a refreshing twist on the crime story. First off, it’s a pretty hysterical comedy, thanks to great performances by Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey. Next and the thing that I think I liked most about it was the style in which the story was told. The film is based on a true story, so they used real people involved to portray themselves and it turned into a documentary of sorts. It’s a really interesting storytelling technique.
#25
Seven Psychopaths
Dir. Martin McDonagh
If you ever seen In Bruges then you know what to expect from a Martin McDonagh film (if you haven’t I suggest finding a copy). The director finally returned for his second feature and raises the bar without hitch. Like Bruges, Seven Psychopaths has a great cast, but instead of having some of the best from the U.K. you get some of the best in Hollywood. Colin Farrell returns from Bruges and this time he is joined by the fantastic Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, and Sam Rockwell. The film is as funny as it is brutally violent, always a good mix in my book.
#24
Cloud Atlas
Dir. Andy & Lana Wachowski and Tom Tykwer
The big word surrounding Cloud Atlas was ambitious. Well, that’s certainly true. If anyone was going to tackle a project like this, The Matrix directors The Wachowski siblings and Run Lola Run’s Tom Tykwer were the right ones for the task. Trying to blend six different storylines from six different time periods cannot be an easy task, and for the most part, I think they succeeded. I thought the actors having to play so many different characters was admirable and the only real problem I had with the film was the length. But what do you expect from a movie with so many different plot lines.
#23
Lincoln
Dir. Steven Spielberg
The 23rd spot is pretty far down the list for a movie that, for most of the year, was the Oscar front runner. I did really like it, but I’m still not sold that the film was that great. Aside from Daniel Day Lewis, who should win Best Actor, and Tommy Lee Jones’ performances, I felt that the movie could have been slightly better. Still, it’s a solid work by Spielberg that is definitely a must watch.
#22
Cosmopolis
Dir. David Cronenberg
Surprise! Beyond the world of sparkly vampire romance bullshit, Robert Pattinson can actually hold his own. I’m sure it helps when you have David Cronenberg calling the shots. After movies like Eastern Promises and A History of Violence (both of which I enjoyed, a lot) Cronenberg looks like he’s going back to his crazy roots, more in the vein of Videodrome. That’s always a good thing. Underneath all the craziness, the film does seem to say something about the world we live in. It was marketed as “The First Movie About the New Millennium” and they may be right.
#21
The Grey
Dir. Joe Carnahan
It’s an accomplishment when a movie that gets released in January remains so prevalent at the end of the year. So what makes Joe Carnahan’s The Grey so special? What could have easily have been just another Liam Neeson action flick turned out to actually be a well thought out drama about the will of human beings to survive. That bucking of expectations turned a lot of mainstream audiences off, which is disappointing because this is one of the best of the year.
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