Saturday, December 29, 2012

My Unofficial 5 Worst and 10 Best Films of 2012

Oh hey, so since the year is ending and I've seen less than five 2012 movies (okay, that's a lie, but seriously, I haven't even seen Argo), I thought I may as well still do list the films I loved and loathed from the small selection I've seen. As I explained last night, these are films that had their American release date (or in the case of one of them, will probably not have an American release date so it is the NZ release date) this year, because I've already cleaned up 2011. First, let's look at the five worst films I've seen this year.


5. Rock of Ages
I really liked Adam Shankman's last musical, Hairspray. All I wanted was a nice, groovy musical with toe-tapping, feel good, sing-along songs. I got auto-tune piled upon more auto-tune. Gee thanks, Glee.
Tom Cruise was at least okay and really seemed to be in his element as filthy rocker Stacee Jaxx, but the rest were just people singing and dancing like they'd been boosted up on energy drinks. In other words, nothing was very good at all.


4. Battleship
Forgive me when I say that I didn't have very high expectations for this film, based on the board game. And those expectations were met: there were a lot of explosions for two hours, accompanied by a lot of slow-mo, and not much else. Oh Liam Neeson, what were you thinking when you decided to be in this movie for five minutes? You too, Alexander Skarsgard. I practically watched it just to see you being hot and you got killed off so I had to spend the remaining five hours with Taylor Kitsch and Rihanna. Yay.




3. Iron Sky
The fact that some great indie films like, I don't know, Margaret, struggle to get made and then we get a movie about Nazis coming back to Earth from the moon straight away. There's probably a place for this movie but I'm not entirely sure of where that is.


2. Project X
Aside from Magic Mike and Ted, this movie has been the most popular one to hit Dannevirke teendom this year. I'm fairly sure everyone has seen it, which is a little depressing because as much as I love films and all, this movie is literally a piece of dog poo wrapped up in even more poo. Just poo poo poo is what I'm saying. I mean, wipdeedoo, you're a group of dumb teenagers who think the only way to be popular is to throw a huge party which destroys literally everything. I'd probably like this movie a little more if I was at all into drinking (which I'm not, unlike everyone else my age). But as it stands, I am greatly offended that this is what people think of teenagers as.


1. That's My Boy
Just the most offensive, unfunny and over-the-top thing that Adam Sandler has ever graced us with. It is so terrible that I want to gouge my eyes out every time I see the cover of it.

Now we have all of that negativity out of the way, here are my unofficial ten best...


10. The Most Fun You Can Have Dying
I honestly can't believe how well-made this NZ film was. It was just so different to what I'm used to seeing for this country - a film that is in touch with just about everything, and is so beautifully shot, ringing back to the days of the French New Wave movement. Heralded by a great central performance by Matt Whelan and an interesting supporting performance from Roxane Mesquida, The Most Fun You Can Have Dying will likely only get an audience from NZ (and Australia, as it showed at one of their film festivals), but it deserves so much more than that.


9. 21 Jump Street
Honestly, I just love this movie because it is so damn funny. I don't even like either Jonah Hill or Channing Tatum all that much but they're just so damn funny. And Brie Larson is so adorable. I don't really have much else to say other than I laughed and laughed and laughed at this movie, and even on my fourth watch I still had plenty to laugh at.


8. Bernie
Richard Linklater is a much better filmmaker than I think people give him credit for. He has one of the most strangely intricate filmographies out there - he doesn't have a distinctive style or genre, but is films are consistently good. Bernie is no exception. It tells the bizarre true story of Bernie Tiede, a do-gooder who kills his partner, an elderly widow, after he's had enough of her manipulative ways. Filmed in a documentary style way, even featuring interviews with some of the people who knew Tiede and his story, Bernie is a rather interesting project that was certainly a lot more different than I had expected. Jack Black, Shirley Maclaine and Matthew McConaughey are all so great in their roles, too.


7. The Raid: Redemption
A film where the actions speak louder than words, and it is all so awesome to watch. People just beat the crap out of each other and somehow, this makes for some of the most visceral, entertaining scenes of the year. It is just endlessly fantastic.


6. Your Sister's Sister
I didn't have a clue of what this film was about when I started watching it, but that didn't matter - the less you know about it, the more surprised you'll be by it. This film is driven by conversation and a couple of acts which end up meaning a lot more than you thought they would, and this is all driven home by stunning performances from Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt.


5. The Avengers
I can honestly say that I haven't had a better time at the movies than I did with The Avengers. It was just so fun and entertaining, with plenty of stellar comedic punches and great action sequences to match. I can't really say that it is the best superhero movie ever, but I had a damn good time watching it, which is all I could really ask for.


4. Brave
This film has stayed with me since I first saw it in June, mainly because I find it to have one of the best messages for the younger generation to surface in quite some time. It is a simple film, and it gets its message across simply - and we have to remember that that's what kids movies are supposed to be like. This isn't a Pixar failure. Sure, Toy Story 3 is a masterpiece, but I'm fairly sure that worked better for an older audience. Brave hits all the right notes, particularly because of the unique heroine, Princess Merida.


3. Looper
What is so amazing about Looper is that it has all of the blockbuster trimmings, but it is made like a true indie. It sometimes feels as if it is in a league of its own, being both glossy and rustic at the same time. It is a stunning vision of the future, without delving into the dream-like fantasies that most people use when trying to imagine the future. Plus, it features one of Bruce Willis' best performances in years.


2. Killer Joe
I don't even know where to begin with this film. It is so batshit insane that I had to watch most of it through my fingers, but still, it is strangely comic and terrifying and...just everything. The film needs to be praised first for Matthew McConaughey, then by the work of its brilliant cast, and then by the fact that it is so brave and it doesn't shy away from ANYTHING. The only thing I'm worried about is the fact that one day, Matty M's kids (apparently his wife had another child today, congrats!) will see this film, and then he'll have a lot of explaining to do. I'm not even related to him and I honestly can't handle how amazing he was in this film.


1. The Dark Knight Rises
I'm kinda over explaining why I love this film so much, but I will say that this time last year I knew that this would top my list, and I wasn't disappointed. Everything about this film, apart from maybe Marion Cotillard before her reveal and her death scene, is just so magnificent. That is all.

What do you think of my selections? What are your favourite and least favourite films of 2012?

40 comments:

  1. Knew Dark Knight Rises would be there :) And hooray for Killer Joe and all the rest - great list!
    Man, I need to see Brave again. Merida is amazing!
    Also, I have not seen a single film on your worst list - achievement unlocked?

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  2. Urgh, Rock of Ages nearly put me off musicals forever!

    I'm now so tempted for a 4th watch of The Dark Knight Rises... will save it for a rainy day! The Raid + 21 Jump Street were awesome. I may seek out The Most Fun You Can Have Dying as we seem to have similar taste.

    Good work :D

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    1. Haha, same here! It was so bad.

      I'm tempted for a 5th watch of TDKR ;) And if you can find Most Fun, definitely check it out. NZ done good this time.

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  3. This is such a cool list! I'd definitely have to agree with Battleship being in the worst movie section - that film is sooooo boring! Biggest waste of 2 hours ever!
    Luckily The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers in the 10 best film section remind me that 2012 thankfully had some decent flicks! Still have to get round to watching Looper though - arrrgggh it looks so darn good!

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    1. It was a very boring film :(

      Looper is mega awesome! You'd love it!

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  4. Stevee, it's really cool to see such love for The Dark Knight Rises. It's been the standard for bloggers to rip on the plot holes or dig into minute details, and it's tiring. I'm not sure if it will make my list, but it will be considered for sure. I also had a great time checking out The Avengers in the theater last summer. Nice work putting Bernie, Looper, and even the surprisingly hilarious 21 Jump Street on there. I haven't seen any of your worst picks, and none are a huge surprise given what I've heard.

    Great job!

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    1. It is very tiring - but I still stand by it. Wasn't 21 Jump Street hilarious? I used to think it would be a pile of crap, but when I saw it, I was nicely surprised.

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  5. I should consider myself lucky I guess - haven't seen any from the worst films list.

    Our top 3 is the same! :)

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    1. LOL. I just wrote the same thing in my comment without reading yours.. We're lucky indeed.

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    2. High 5 for having the same top three!

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  6. I must see Killer Joe and Bernie! Snap on our number one!

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  7. Best movie of 2012 so far is definetely Cloud Atlas, hope it gets released in NZ so you can see it!

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  8. "Just the most offensive, unfunny and over-the-top thing that Adam Sandler has ever graced us with."

    Really? Even worse than Jack and Jill? Because from what I've heard, Jack and Jill is a travesty...so by that logic, That's My Boy has to venture into some once-theoretical level of supra-travesty.

    Also, seeing Battleship on your list reminded me of a conversation I had earlier this week; my friends and I were making plans to see Django Unchained (which has since become my movie of the year), but I misheard and thought we were going to see some sort of Jenga movie. Given the presence of one board game movie, maybe the door has been opened for others.

    In which case, my body is ready for a movie based on The Goofy Golf Machine.

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    1. In my opinion, That's My Boy is worse than Jack and Jill. They're both terrible movies, but That's My Boy was just so offensive I wanted to punch Adam Sandler several times in the face.

      Hahaha, now that's an interesting by-product of Battleship.

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  9. i really didn't like Your Sister's Sister and I thought Rock of Ages was fun. I loved Brave too! Killer Joe was crazy.

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  10. Wii, Looper! Wiii!
    PS: I feel overly satisfied the fact that I haven't seen any of the five worst ones you mentioned - yay!

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  11. Haven't seen any of the worsts either. My worst of the year is The Amazing Spider-Man. Hate that film with a passion.

    Good best films list. Glad to see Your Sister's Sister there especially.

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    1. Haha, the worst, really? Go see Project X and then we can talk ;)

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  12. That is a great list. I saw some of Project X on TV. I was offended by that film. Especially the behavior of those kids.

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  13. Woohoo. Im glad to see both Bernie and Killer Joe listed on your best of 2012 list. I agree that these are two movies that more people should check out.

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  14. I haven't seen any terrible movies from 2012 (so far), but of the movies from this year I've seen, I thought Your Sister's Sister was really mediocre (I liked the performances by Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt, though). My favorite movies (so far) of this year are Ruby Sparks, Being Flynn, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Take This Waltz, and Chronicle.

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    1. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Chronicle just missed out on a spot on this list. I really didn't like Take This Waltz though, unfortunately.

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  15. Great to see The Raid: Redemption and 21 Jump Street on here, as well as, of course, TDKR. The film has fallen out of my top 5, but it's still in my top 10. :)

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    1. Yay! At least it is still hanging in there for ya.

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  16. Yay for Looper and TDKR! I really enjoyed Your Sister's Sister and Bernie too. Great little films. I should probably see Brave.

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  17. lol, have you seen this? Even if you like Dark Knight Rises, this is still really funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2tE-BCwZtw

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    1. Twas rather funny...but some people have way too much time on their hands haha.

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  18. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I haven't seen Brave yet. I probably need to do that before I can finish my top list, no? It's out there on DVD so I don't really have any excuse not to...

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  19. Hi Stevee! We're in agreement with four on your best list, nice to see BRAVE on there, so adore that movie! Ahah, Iron Sky is crazy and bizarre, I laughed a lot watching it but yeah, it's only worth a rental at best.

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  20. It's a rare teenage girl who has KILLER JOE as their second favourite film of the year. A rare, AWESOME teenage girl. I'm also really curious to check out THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE DYING based on your recommend.

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  21. Excellent list Stevee. I really must see The Most Fun You Can Have Dying. Oh, and I'm going to watch Killer Joe tomorrow night.

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You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.

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