Here is my 2012 Top 10 movies and awards. I hope you enjoy it. Before the Top 10, let's give out a few awards.
2012 Awards
There were some good kids movies this year including Wreck it Ralph. But I liked this one the most. The story was orignial and multi-layered. And in the end, a story about identity is perhaps the best story of all.
The Almost Human Award
The parallels between human behavior and chimpanzee behavior are quite stunning. The natural footage of chimpanzees in the wild is pretty amazing, and the story is ultimately one of love. It is definitely worth the investment.
The Long-Term Therapy Award
Most critics will praise this movie
as “inspirational, redemptive, a triumph of the human spirit.” Even so, I could never get past the fact that
this neglected, unprotected 6-year old girl will likely spend the rest of her
life in unstable relationships, therapy, or both.
The Don't Drink the Kool-Aid Award II
Where to even begin????? Do you
like watching paint dry? Do you enjoy
watching a snail cross the sidewalk?
Then you will love Amour. The #1
movie on many critics top ten list, this movie was flat-out awful. Best Picture?
Best Director? Come on. My advice to the director? Have a script, don’t just set your camera on
a tripod during every scene, and yell cut once in a while.
The Nothing Like the First Time Award
At 41, I have seen most story lines
in the movies. But watching movies with
my 11 year-old son makes even familiar stories feel new.
The Disappointment Award
I am a big Wes Anderson fan. But he tries too hard in this movie and the
end result is a movie I couldn’t connect with it. I know some who loved it, but I would rent
Darjeeling Limited if you want a better Wes Anderson movie.
2012 Top 10
#10 Robot and Frank PG-13
A quiet movie about aging with a
science fiction twist. This is a well
acted, interesting story about loss and friendship. I had a hard time finding someone to go see
this with me (several times people had “other things to do”), but I enjoyed it
when I finally saw it (alone)!
#9 Monsieur Lazhar PG-13
This French Canadian film is a
powerful examination of kids coming to terms with tragedy. It also looks at the importance of teachers
in the lives of their students and what it means to search for meaning in one’s
work and life. An excellent movie.
#8 The Dark Knight Rises PG-13
Remember when you walked out of The
Return of the Jedi and you felt disappointed
because Ewoks defeated the Stormtroopers with rocks, and Darth Vadar suddenty became a weak old man? Well, you won’t suffer any such
disappointment here. In my opinion,
Christopher Nolan has created the best movie trilogy on record. It is amazing what he has done. The third movie comes full circle by linking
its story with the original Batman Begins. Well acted and directed, this is a
fitting end to The Batman Trilogy.
Let’s give this some grades:
Original Music A
Anne Hathaway A+
Hugh Jackman A-
Russell Crowe D+
One of the best stories about
redemption one can find.
#6 The Impossible PG-13
I have mixed feelings about recommending
this movie. It was incredibly difficult
to watch the devastating amount of human suffering caused by the 2004 tsunami
that took 300,000 lives. But the moments
of hope and humanity shown in this movie illustrate our shared values of love
and simple kindness in the face of impossible circumstances. I would not recommend this for kids or young
teens – there is too much physical and emotional trauma throughout the
film. But I do believe this is a story
that can change how you look at life, and which shows how love, generosity, and
sacrifice can alter the even the most horrible of conditions.
#5 Lincoln PG-13
The historical topic of this movie
– the unlikely passage of the 13th amendment ending slavery, alone makes it worth seeing. Of course, Daniel Day Lewis is amazing.
#4 Silver Linings Playbook R
This is a great movie for therapists or
anyone who has ever experienced the realities of mental illness. Funny and dramatic, this was one of the best
acted movies of the year.
#3 Argo R
A look at the CIA’s crazy plan to rescue
6 of the hostages in the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Ben Affleck shows he is a top director.
The movie perfectly captures the look of the 1970s. Suspenseful from beginning to end, and funny
when it needs to be.
#2 A Late Quartet R
This was the best movie no one ever heard
of this year. Christopher Walken
reminds us why he has won an Academy Award. The script is brilliant and the
tone is perfect. This movie is rich in
the dynamic interplay between music and relationships. I loved it!
#1 Zero Dark Thirty R
When I first heard they were making this
movie, I laughed and said I would never see it.
Wooopps! Kathryn Bigelow gets my prize for best
director of the year. She has made a
riveting account of the 10 year search for Osama Bin Laden. The movie is nearly
3 hours, but never feels like it. The
final 30 minutes were the most riveting I have seen in years.
No comments:
Post a Comment