Saturday, September 1, 2012

Best of 2012 So Far


Every year, directly before the golden months of Oscar season take hold, I like to list the best films and performances I’ve seen so far into the year.

What’s interesting is, come January, seeing how many films on this list will remain part of my Top 10 of the entire year. By September of last year, I had seen The Trip, The Double Hour, The Tree of Life, and Incendies, all of which I hailed as one of the best films of 2011 as a whole.

Here’s what (and who) I’ve seen so far this year that I’ve loved. There’s a lot of repetition, but any way I look at it, out the films I’ve seen, these are the best. Titles link to my initial reviews.

Top 10
2. The Imposter
9. Haywire

Best Director
Christopher NolanThe Dark Knight Rises
Honorable mention: Bart Layton – The Imposter

The final 10 minutes of The Dark Knight Rises alone, in which Nolan brilliantly, harmoniously, perfectly, concluded his famed Batman franchise, are reason enough for Nolan as best director.

Best Actor
Christian BaleThe Dark Knight Rises
Honorable mention: Matthew McConaughey – Killer Joe

McConaughey went all in to portray Killer Joe, and to do it convincingly. It’s the bravest (male) performance I’ve seen so far this year. But Bale on the stairs with Michael Caine? I mean… Jesus.

Best Actress
Ann DowdCompliance
Honorable mention: Rashida Jones – Celeste and Jesse Forever

Is she wrong, right? Dumb, afraid? Naïve, scared? Dowd’s work in Compliance is one of the most layered performances of recent memory. She’s initially presented as a typical country bumpkin – but there is a lot more going on here.

Best Supporting Actor
Michael CaineThe Dark Knight Rises
Honorable mention: Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike

Yep, it’s those goddamn stairs. In which Caine broke my heart in the most tender way possible.

Best Supporting Actress
Dreama WalkerCompliance
Honorable mention: Quvenzhané Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild

Walker’s performance in Compliance is the bravest acting I’ve seen all year, period. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the fearlessness and conviction she put into her work here. See this film.

Best Screenplay
Craig Zobel – Compliance
Honorable mention: Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard – Cabin in the Woods

Like, really. See Compliance.

Best Documentary
The Imposter
Honorable mention: Side by Side

I’ll have my review for The Imposter posted later this week, but damn if director Bart Layton didn’t play with our preconceived notions of the documentary artform. You can never guess where this one is going.

47 comments:

  1. Okay, Compliance is officially on my watchlist.
    My favourite film of this year is still The Avengers.

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    1. Nice! Yeah I thought The Avengers was good (definitely far better than I thought it was going to be), but it hasn't "stayed with me" at all. Oh well!

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  2. You have Quvenzhane as a SUPPORTING actress?? Really? I thought the film was about her.

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    1. That's fair, and I should explain a little bit. When I put actors in categories, I do it with the assumption of where the studio and Academy will place in actor. So, I can tell you as an Oscar addict, there is no way in hell the studio behind Beasts of the Southern Wild will campaign Quvenzhané Wallis for Best Actress. She'd never make the cut. But as Supporting Actress, she may have a chance at getting nominated.

      Ah who knows, that Academy is so fucked anyway haha.

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    2. Really, Alex? Still haven't seen it, but I think she gets in for lead. This isn't like True Grit, with Bridges' pedigree excusing Steinfeld's category fraud. She's the star, and I think the studio and the Academy will go for it. While I wouldn't call her a lock, she seems like a solid prediction.

      But like you said, who knows?

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    3. This kind of reminds me of The Usual Suspects where Kevin Spacey won for supporting actor, but he carried whole movie. Sometimes the Academy is retarded.

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    4. Nah, I think this year they will keep her in lead AND I think she will get in. I really don't see any issue this year.

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    5. And this year is all about supporting actress. Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, Sally Field, Helen Hunt etc. She probably has a better chance in Lead.

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    6. Let me put it this way, if Quvenzhané is nominated for Best Actress, it will break an insane amount of rules or traditions or standings or whatever you want to call them. She's just too young to get in there, I think. The Academy HATES setting new records, which is partly why it will be very hard for Daniel Day Lewis to win Best Actor for Lincoln (no male actor has ever won three Best Actor statutes).

      If Quvenzhané is nominated in the Best Actress category, I'll be thrilled. Definitely no complaints from me. But I seriously doubt it'll happen.

      Now Hathaway in TDKR, I can tell you for a fact that'll never happen.

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  3. 1. The Dark Knight Rises
    2. Cabin In The Woods
    3. Headhunters
    4. Moonrise Kingdom
    5. Bernie

    Damn, I guess I really need to see Compliance. Killer Joe sounds right up my street too.

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    1. That's a bitchin' list though man. I've been putting Bernie off on purpose. I guess it's worth it?

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    2. Oh yeah, just a good, breezy film. And I guess I never really think of Jack Black as that good an actor, but then a lot of his roles (High Fidelity, Tropic Thunder, School of Rock) are just damn good fun, and this adds some serious depth to his cartoonish campiness. Nice seeing Matthew McConaughey too - I gotta see his other two roles from this year. Really laid-back movie.

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    3. oh, you're on the money about Michael Caine too.

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    4. Watched Bernie last night. Loved it. Not a shred of everything I most hate about Jack Black. Thought the movie was genuinely hysterical. So, nice recommendation!

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  4. Love this post. Totally called Michael Caine, but I'm slightly surprised by Bale. If I did one of these, TDKR would get 4 wins (Picture, Director, Supp Actor: Hardy, Supp Actress: Hathaway) from me though. :)

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    1. Thanks dude! Bale is only there because it's so early. Honestly, when I thought about it, I was like..."Really, him?"

      Great performance, but I doubt it's even in my top five by year's end.

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  5. Will be publishing my shortlist before I head to TIFF (considering the festival will likely radically change said list).

    I've seen 6 out of your 10. Compliance and The Imposter are at the top of my watch list.

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    1. Nice man. I hope you dig them both. Engrossing, powerful shit.

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  6. what about the masterpiece that was Cosmopolis (Haven't seen it but from reviews is apparently terrible, wtfs up with Cronenberg)? I have only seen two of the ten so I have not kept up on recent releases as well as I would like. Agree that the final ten minutes of TDKR are flawless, I actually like TDKR better than TDK overall as a film, I mean both are great but I think TDK gets alot of acclaim just for the Joker. Just found Compliance online, sorry indie filmmakers that my library and Netflix don't stock every film I want to see. Will watch soon and get back to you.

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  7. Have only seen two so I have a lot of films to watch. Just added Compliance to my queue though, I haven't even heard of it until now but it sounds interesting. Oh you forgot Cosmopolis. Whats with Cronenberg?

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    1. Fuck dude, don't even get me started on Cosmopolis. That movie was a complete and utter waste of time. Just bloody horrible. Like, wow.

      Glad you dig the end of TDKR as much as I do. Solid work by everyone involved.

      While I don't necessarily agree or "condone" how you're watching Compliance, who am I to judge? More indie filmmakers need to be releasing their flicks in theaters and on iTunes/Amazon at the same time. That's coming.

      Also, most all of your comments you leave on my site go to spam. Not sure if that's a problem on my end or yours, just wanted to let you know!

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  8. You must have read my mind, because I was hoping you would post something along the lines of this! Thanks.

    You're love for Compliance is clear to see.

    Agree about Michael Caine's performance. Only thing that came close recently to matching in terms of tears was the trailer for WHEN DAY BREAKS (2012)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeefEdh0T0

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    1. Thanks for saying that, Chris!

      Damn, that flick looks intense. Really interested in seeing it now.

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  9. So I realize I need to see Compliance, definitely. I have a Best of 2012 List (So Far) list too, but I think I need to revise some choices :)

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    1. Yes, PLEASE see Compliance. It deserves the biggest audience possible.

      Can't wait to see your list!

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  10. Interesting list, Alex. I've only seen four of them, but that's due to the fact that I haven't watched as many movies in the theater lately. I'm a bit surprised that you listed Bale as the Best Actor. I think he did a great job and doesn't get enough credit for his role in the trilogy. However, he disappears for long parts of the latest film. It's cool to see him getting more attention, though. I get tired of hearing people act like the films work despite him. Cool list!

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    1. Thanks Dan! Yeah my choice for Bale is pretty much exactly what I said to Josh (and what Sati says below). In short, he's the best I've seen, right now. And when we look at what's coming over these next few months, I really doubt he'll be even close to my top five lead male performances of the year. We shall see!

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  11. Interesting you didn't have Fassbender for best supporting in 'Prometheus', he was the only thing I took away from it. I liked to hear what you're most looking forward to this fall/oscar season. 'The Master' and 'Lincoln' have me waiting with giant expectations, but the trailer for 'Cloud Atlas' has me cautiously optimistic though it'll probably be a total mess, but still i'm hopeful.

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    1. Oh don't get me wrong, I fuckin' loved Fass in that movie. Dude was solid through and through. But Caine devastated me, and watching McConaughey in Magic Mike is the most fun I've had so far this year.

      I'm tempted to do a list like the one you mentioned, just gotta compile all the info! Could not agree more with you about Cloud Atlas. No better way to describe my sentiments than as "cautiously optimistic."

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  12. Yeah for all The Dark Knight Rises love! It is definitely my favourite film of the year (but I haven't seen that much). Chris Nolan and Michael Caine get big ups from me, too.

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    1. Nice! Movie rocks ass. I'm curious to see how it holds up in my book against the rest of the flicks we have coming this year.

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  13. Awesome list dude! TKDR is my #1 of the year so far so I love seeing all the love you have given it. From your top 10 I've seen 8, dying to see Side by Side. I will be watching Compliance very soon, definitely has a lot to live up to!

    Wasn't The Imposter awesome :)

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    1. Thanks man! Oh God, The Imposter was remarkable. It takes a lot of balls and skill to successfully manipulate the documentary form like that. Loved every minute of it.

      Can't wait to hear what you think about Side by Side and Compliance!

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  14. Very nice list! I can see why you liked Bale and Caine, but for me Caine was better in BB and Bale, well, while good it feels a bit odd placing him on number one though currently he is there for me, but that's only because so far from what I've seen there really was nothing special from lead actors.

    Hathaway is my current win so far and as for other categories it's Fass and Rapace from Prometheus. Though I think only Hathaway stands a chance to stay as my win.

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    1. Yep, couldn't agree more about Bale. He's the best I've seen so far, but he'll definitely be replaced and them some. Rapace is high on my list right now, as is Fass.

      We're gonna have a great fall!

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  15. Nice list! I really need to see some from your list, including Keanu Reeves' documentary. Surprised with Magic Mike, makes me want to see it more. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks for reading! Both Side by Side and Magic Mike are movies I loved wholeheartedly. Definitely recommend checking them out!

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  16. I agree with you that Michael Caine should get an Oscar,perfect in these sentimental scenes.

    You might miss an important contender here - PTA's The Master,I've heard that Phoenix is great in it.

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    1. Oh I cannot wait for The Master. Although I didn't include it here because I haven't seen it yet. Movie is gonna rock.

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  17. So i guess i really need to see Compliance

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  18. Glad to see 'Side by Side' in your top 10, that was quite enlightening. And yeah for Bale and Caine in Best Actor/Supporting Actor, especially the latter. Caine was just sublime as Alfred.

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    1. Indeed he was! Side by Side was perfect. Fuel for any film fan!

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  19. I've mostly seen the bigger, flashier pictures of 2012 so far. The only 2012 movie that will definitely be on my year ending Top 10 is The Avengers. Two smaller films - Beasts of the Southern Wild and Safety Not Guaranteed - intrigue me. I'm waiting for them to come to DVD.

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    1. Beasts is damn fine, and I still need to see Safety Not Guaranteed myself. Hopefully on DVD soon.

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  20. Nice! I did a similar wrap-up recently and we share 5/10 so far. The one that I am most excited to see that I haven't yet is The Imposter. Hopefully I can catch it this week before it leaves the local theater.

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    1. Thanks dude! Yeah man, I highly recommend that you check out The Imposter before it leaves. Flick was awesome.

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