Top 15 Film of 2012 (So Far)

by ThePadraigMoista | created - 03 Dec 2012 | updated - 06 Jan 2013 | Public
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1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

PG-13 | 103 min | Drama

67 Metascore

Charlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend's suicide and his tumultuous past.

Director: Stephen Chbosky | Stars: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd

Votes: 547,907 | Gross: $17.74M

I couldn't believe how much I loved it. It really captures the essence of being a teenager with problems and a feeling of social inadequacy. What makes it better than any other coming-of-age film is in my opinion, controversially, the ending.

2. Seven Psychopaths (2012)

R | 110 min | Comedy, Crime

66 Metascore

A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.

Director: Martin McDonagh | Stars: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken

Votes: 273,889 | Gross: $15.02M

Loved In Bruges and this wasn't as good, however it was funnier. So many quotable scenes and memorable too. An all together, extremely well acted, well written film with fun written all over it. I look forward to McDonagh's next venture.

3. Ted (2012)

R | 106 min | Comedy

62 Metascore

John Bennett, a man whose childhood wish of bringing his teddy bear to life came true, now must decide between keeping the relationship with the bear, Ted or his girlfriend, Lori.

Director: Seth MacFarlane | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale

Votes: 657,386 | Gross: $218.82M

I am a fan of MacFarlane, including the recent episodes of Family Guy, which people seem to hate. Everything he does is hilarious to me and Ted is defiantly no exception. Gets funnier on repeat viewings and provides many, many laughs. A tremendously, often unpredictably, funny film.

4. Killing Them Softly (2012)

R | 97 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

64 Metascore

Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.

Director: Andrew Dominik | Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy

Votes: 153,123 | Gross: $15.03M

I quite enjoy Andrew Dominik's films - Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James and this. - I felt the film was intellectual, not quite as intellectual as people claim it to be however. But the film felt great, contained a great performance from Pitt, as always, and the closing scene was something to remember. Very much enjoyed it.

5. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

PG-13 | 94 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

84 Metascore

Two 12-year-olds, who live on an island, fall in love with each other and elope into the wilderness. While people set out on a search mission, a violent storm approaching them catches their attention.

Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray

Votes: 366,725 | Gross: $45.51M

A tremendously acted little gem which was overlooked upon its release. The film deals with some great and broad themes, but all from two children's perspectives, which was well incorporated. I have yet to see any of Anderson's other works, but if this is anything to go by I am sure to enjoy them.

6. Lawless (2012)

R | 116 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

58 Metascore

Set in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits.

Director: John Hillcoat | Stars: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce, Jason Clarke

Votes: 253,430 | Gross: $37.40M

Not as great as I had hoped, but it did garner great performances from everyone involved and held my interest throughout. Plus there was some good scenes. It just needed a little more work and it could've been something special. It was bordering on it, then drifted away, returned, then drifted away again. However, it is enjoyable.

7. Argo (2012)

R | 120 min | Biography, Drama, History

86 Metascore

Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.

Director: Ben Affleck | Stars: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin

Votes: 639,041 | Gross: $136.03M

I think this film is slightly overrated but it is good. I shall not praise any of the acting, except for John Goodman and Alan Arkin who were great, as none of them stood out and Affleck didn't feel right for that part. The last 20 minutes or so I also didn't like, it was way too dramatized and didn't feel like it fit in the film, it lost some of its intelligence.

8. Life of Pi (2012)

PG | 127 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

79 Metascore

A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.

Director: Ang Lee | Stars: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain, Tabu

Votes: 666,747 | Gross: $124.99M

Really well done. Fantastically acted and the two hours fly by. The really great thing about it is it's originality. Everything feels so fresh. The directing, and cinematography in particular, are great. And the 3D is not used as a gimmick, but as it should, it is used to it's full potential and makes the film better, not worse. The same with the CGI. Both of which I don't normally like. A thoroughly enjoyable film, with intelligent humor.

9. The Impossible (2012)

PG-13 | 114 min | Drama, History, Thriller

73 Metascore

The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Director: J.A. Bayona | Stars: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergast

Votes: 244,018 | Gross: $19.02M

Juan Antonio Bayona knows how to make a good film. He knows how direct actors, he knows what works and what doesn't. And above all else, he knows how to operate a camera. This was one fine film, with great performances and gripping scenes. He is most defiantly a director to watch.

10. Savages (I) (2012)

R | 131 min | Action, Crime, Drama

59 Metascore

Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend.

Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Benicio Del Toro

Votes: 134,512 | Gross: $47.38M

Maybe I'm a little biased as I do enjoy most of Stone's films, but you have to admit that this film does show promise and it does return Stone back to his former greatness of gritty, raw films made for a select audience. Not everyone is going to like it, and not everyone isn't going to like it. Whatever you may say, it is quite enjoyable, and Stone is back.

11. End of Watch (2012)

R | 109 min | Action, Crime, Drama

68 Metascore

Shot documentary-style, this film follows the daily grind of two young police officers in LA who are partners and friends and what happens when they meet criminal forces greater than themselves.

Director: David Ayer | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick, America Ferrera

Votes: 269,019 | Gross: $41.00M

One of the best buddy-cop films for a long time and boasts great performances from its leads. Instantly recognizable as David Ayer film which is a compliment. I enjoyed it. Sustained my interest, made me laugh, and want them to triumph. Fell apart at the last 20 minutes or so though, which is too bad because it was on track to being the best film of this year.

12. Prometheus (I) (2012)

R | 124 min | Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi

64 Metascore

Following clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron

Votes: 644,076 | Gross: $126.48M

I did enjoy this film. It wasn't the best film ever but was far from the worst. Recaptured what made the first one great and in my opinion was a little bit better than the first. I was never a HUGE fan of the Alien series which explains why this isn't higher. Looks great and features a great Michael Fassbender performance. Enjoyable.

13. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

R | 122 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

81 Metascore

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

Director: David O. Russell | Stars: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver

Votes: 742,637 | Gross: $132.09M

Pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the film's first act, contained some good scenes, dialog and acting. The same continued onto the second act, by the third act and for the duration of the third act though I was a little upset as everything went downhill, dragged out and faltered. However, is good.

14. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

PG-13 | 136 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

66 Metascore

After Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.

Director: Marc Webb | Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Irrfan Khan

Votes: 702,174 | Gross: $262.03M

Nobody asked for this remake so I expected it to just be a moneymaking scheme with no effort or thought put into it. I was wrong, way wrong. The film was actually good. Better than the originals and more true to the comic book. It also has the best Stan Lee cameo out of them all.

15. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

R | 95 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller

72 Metascore

Five college friends head out to a remote cabin for a getaway, but things don't go as planned when they start getting killed. They soon discover that there is more to the cabin than it seems.

Director: Drew Goddard | Stars: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz

Votes: 450,608 | Gross: $42.07M

I don't normally like horror films. The classics and then one that comes around every so often which is great. Saw was one, and so is this. The generic formulaic modern horror film is turned on its head with a rather superbly unrealistic situation. Its commentary on modern horror is very well thought out. I liked it.

16. Marley (2012)

PG-13 | 144 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

82 Metascore

A documentary on the life, music, and legacy of Bob Marley.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, Jimmy Cliff

Votes: 14,490 | Gross: $1.41M

HONORABLE MENTION: Not including it as it is a documentary. But it is highly entertaining and for its long run time it sustains my interest. Depicts a great picture of a great man.



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