2012 in film. • Page 2

For sure...It's because a lot of the films didn't get widespread release until the following year of their festival or NY/LA date. Like, The Place Beyond the Pines for example, it didn't come around me until Spring of 2013.

 

it isn’t even the best PTA film that i’ve seen but that isn’t a dig, it’s probably still a top 12-15 movie for me ever and is incredible

 

It is close to career-best work from all the major contributors. I assume it is why Anderson went for something as light as Inherent Vice after such an intense film.

 

It's at number 3 for me this year but could easily be number 1 on a different day. This might be the closest top 3 I've had so far.

 

This feels like a bit of a slimmer year to me.

1. The Act of Killing
2. Like Someone in Love
3. The Angel's Share

The Act of Killing is one of the most upsetting and terrifying films I've ever seen. A documentary about the participants in a genocide re-enacting their roles, and it's compelling and horrifying in equal measure.

Like Someone in Love is Kiarostami in Japan, about the friendship between a young escort and an elderly man over the course of a night and day. Like most Kiarostami movies, it finds moments of beauty and tenderness in the smallest places.

The Angel's Share is a bit of a feel good Ken Loach film about a group who steal some priceless whiskey from a distillery. Not Loach's best, but it's warm and comic with a happy ending, which you really don't always get from Loach.

Honourable mentions;

From the UK, Good Vibrations is a great viopic about Terri Hooley and about Belfast punk in general in the late 70s. Features one of my absolute favourite uses of pop music in film. Sightseers is Ben Wheatley's fun dark comedy about a pair of serial killer campers. Berberian Sound Studio is Peter Strickland's nightmarish ASMR-esque film about a man who does the sounds for a 70s giallo horror.

From Japan, there's the outrageously silly and charming Dead Sushi, about (what else?) killer sushi. There's also Mika Ninagawa's Helter Skelter, a colourful and stylish film about a model who has had extensive plastic surgery, and then starts falling apart.

Pablo Lorrain's No is a great film about the end of Pinochet's reign, and the ad men that helped defeat him. Filmed in VHS style, with similar aspect ratios, it's fantastic.

From HK, Vulgaria is a fun Pang Ho-Cheung film satire about the film industry and Hong Kong Category III cinema.

From America, there's It's Such a Beautiful Day, Don Hertzfeldt's beautiful animation about life and lots else. The Five Year Engagement is one of the better modern American rom-coms in recent years, albeit a bit long. 21 Jump Street is very funny too.

Dishonourable mention to Frances Ha, which I couldn't stand.

 

1. Holy Motors
2. The Master
3. Spring Breakers

ugh this year is stacked. Really hard to leave out The Act of Killing and To the Wonder. Really enjoyed 21 Jump Street, Mud, Frances Ha.

 

What is better? TWBB? That's the only one I could see an argument for, I just think the dynamic between Phoenix and PSH is more interesting

 

yes

 

1. Holy Motors
2. Tabu
3. The Master

 

1. The Master
2. It’s Such a Beautiful Day
3. Cloud Atlas

 

1. Django
2. The Master
3. Silver Linings Playbook
4. Argo
5. Moonrise Kingdom
6. Flight

 

The Master wins it with 30 votes. Spring Breakers was in second place with 11 votes. The Master will move on to the bracket.

 

Dredd ruled.