Caffeinated Clint
2012 was the year of The Crow – not so much cinematically, but for my part.
I had no idea what kind of year I was in store for when fireworks went off last December 31, but the experience of what’s now logged in my book one of the worst year’s I’ve ever experienced has had a positive effect at the end of the day.
I was brought back to life, after suffering through a series of rather nightmare-inducing events earlier this year, with wings, a new lease on life, and a killer new soundtrack to motivate my moves. While it’s hard to revisit what happened in the first half of the year, the comeback phase – or, as some have described, ‘my transition into Jerry Maguire’ – was a joyous time -starting companies, taking my career to the next level, finding happiness elsewhere. It’s been quite the ride. No buck coin needed.
Quite frankly, I’m glad and rather surprised I’m still here. But if I weren’t, I would’nt have the filmish treasured memories of Bane beating Batman to a pulp, seeing Joss Whedon get the blockbuster movie we always knew he had in him, or seeing Anne Hathaway squeeze herself into a nice glass of leather lemonade.
Film wise, I believe I caught most things, and on the whole, enjoyed the majority of product this year. I think it was a pretty good year for film across the board – there were some terrific blockbusters, some amazing indy films, some really inspired studio dramas, and a shit-hot James Bond movie to see out the year.
2013 is going to be a big one for Moviehole, we’re taking the brand to an even bigger platform, and making stars and giving careers to the team behind the name. We look forward to another year or keeping you in tune with the hot and not.
Without any further ado, here are my top 10 films – based on films released in the United States before December 31 – of 2012 :
1. Argo
And they said Ben Affleck would never see anything quite as big as JLo’s ass. They lied.
A decade ago he was box-office poison, now Affleck – wearing his newly-tailored hat as filmmaker – is cinema’s golden boy. His “Argo” is an extremely enjoyable, amazingly gripping, and brilliantly performed history piece disguised as popcorn cinema.
Thanks for stepping in for Ben on the exploding planet, Bruce.
2. Skyfall
The 23rd Martini for Jimmy B, and this one was spiked with something special. Determined to bring his own sensibilities and trademark storytelling techniques to the world of 007, director Sam Mendes served up a film that made love to the core, loyal audience that’s always been there before flipping over and giving it nicely to the newcomers.
If Oscar got hard for blockbusters, “Skyfall” would be getting some next year.
3. Zero Dark Thirty
You don’t celebrate a remarkable film like Kathryn Bigelow’s Terminator : Osama, you absorb, admire and bloody applaud it. You absorb it’s engaging, occasionally nail-biting register of the hound for Osama Bin Laden, you admire it’s braveness to inject villainy into both sides of the warring coin, and you bloody applaud it’s masterful configuration – its likely we’ll never see a more engrossing, affecting epic on the memorable manhunt again (though many will no doubt try). An Osama film not to bin.
4. The Dark Knight Rises
Bane there, don’t that? I don’t think so.
Christopher Nolan finishes off his Batman trilogy with another stupendous, impossibly all-engrossing thrill-ride that served as another reminder to Hollywood that superhero movies don’t all have to be about the outside-undies.
5. Looper
Loopy, crafty, beautiful and thrilling, Rian Johnston’s latest masterpiece (he hasn’t made a dog yet) rescued Bruce Willis from 50 Cent-Direct-to-Video land, teaming him with Joseph Gordon-Levitt for a time-travel movie that’ll have most of us going back and back, and sometimes forward (to see the beautiful Emily Blunt bits), time and time again to relive it’s coolness.
6. Wreck-it Ralph
Like two kids on BMX’s riding towards each other down an unmaintained forest track, Disney’s love letter to video games provides an exciting collision between old and new, as director Rich Moore rubs together the best bits of the retro gaming world with the snazzier, more contemporary kid-friendly offerings of the Mouse and beyond. I got a Woody and a Buzz from the visual spectacle!
7. The Avengers
Scarlett Johnasson, in tight leather, crushing guys with her nicely-toned legs would’ve scored a point on its own. Thankfully, Joss Whedon’s superhero orgy encompassed much more than prettiness – it has panache, punch and the kind of perfect team prattle Whedon knows how to do best.
8. 21 Jump Street
Michael Bacall and Jonah Hill haven’t simply written a good comedy, full of genuinely well penned gags and characters, but also a movie that successful satisfies the needs of both the contemporary teenager and those who pencilled “Tommy Hanson Forever” into their wooden school desks back in 1988.
“21 Jump Strreet” could’ve closed down Churches with its badness, instead it tore the roof off!
9. Django Unchained
You’ve seen the crap western, now see the rap western.
For me, a Quentin Tarantino movie is like ordering a Ham sandwich in the states.
Here in Australia, you order a Ham sandwich, you get just that – a Ham sandwich.
Order the same thing in the U.S, you’ll get the sandwich plus a side-serve of potato chips (on most occasions).
Tarantino makes his movies to suit the Manhattan sandwich bar crowd – giving punters what they expect plus that little something extra.
Tarantino’s customary side-serve? An everlasting portion of clever chit-chat doused in a hickory sauce of hipness and film-fan fun.
10. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Like getting a full bag of Twisties in a world that expects mostly concealed air, this Armageddon rom-com starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley was one heck of a surprise.
Carell and Knightley play an inconceivably perfect romantic couple, or soul mates, who discover each other just as doomsday rolls around.
This one will inspire you, move you, motivate you and, as I said, surprise you.
Runners-Up
11. “Take This Waltz” – A reminder that the grass isn’t greener on the other side. Impulsive decisions to play switcheroo usually backfire.
12. “The Master” – Script may be lacking, but the performances are as good as Schnitz chips.
13. “The Hunger Games” – Right on target as far as adaptations of books go. Lots of fun.
14. “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” – Ewan and Emily go fishing and hook a winner!
15. “Cabin in the Woods” – Come for scantily-dressed Anna Hutchison, stay for the screwing of a well-worn, clichéd genre.
16. “Prometheus” – It wasn’t the Alien movie we wanted, but it still bowled us over.
17. “Safety not Guaranteed” – A romantic time-travel movie with a difference. Aubrey Plaza for the win.
18. “Flight” – best upside-down plane movie you’re likely to see.
19. “Top Priority : The Terror Within” – 007 wasn’t the only one shaking and stirring in 2012.
20. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” – See : “The Hunger Games”.
