Archive | Best of 2012
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Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty – After becoming the queen of ubiquity in 2011, it was only fitting that Chastain would limit herself to essentially one fantastic performance in 2012. And it could very well top anything she’s done previously. As Maya, the hard-nosed, tunnel-visioned CIA operative who orchestrated the takedown of bin Laden, what she lacks in flat-out character background development, she more than makes up for in a restrained, fleshed out turn as a woman of some mystery. We don’t know anything about Maya’s upbringing, personal life or future, but scene after scene proves that less is more – she’s full of character with a simple framed face shot – we don’t need an hours-long biography to understand her.
Ann Dowd, Compliance – One of the many annual unsung performances, Dowd managed a few critical notices but couldn’t quite muster up the Oscar nod. And it’s a real shame – the character actress’s turn as Sandra, a needy and gullible fast food store manager who learns the levels of depravity she’s willing to reach, is a revelation. It takes a character actress to truly understand what it means to make the most of each scene. And placing her front and center provides a big payoff. We’re both disturbed and understanding of this woman – her transgressions are unnerving, yet she sells them in a completely believable fashion.
Rachael Harris, Natural Selection – Often relegated to goofy background roles or providing comic relief on cable countdown shows, Harris has eked out a mini-career as someone you probably recognize but could never name. And with the indie comedy Natural Selection, she, like Dowd, is placed front and center to great effect. As a barren Christian woman who seeks out her husband’s potential long-lost biological son, she’s at times endearing and heartbreaking and at others frustratingly human. She injects her signature comedy throughout the sometimes serious film, but its her instinct and ability to evoke an audience feeling makes her one of the best of the year. A completely ignored gem, to be sure.
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook – Too much too soon for the young starlet? A Best Actress Oscar can often be a curse for a young twentysomething. Yet, with a killer instinct, a great attitude and a commanding screen presence, Lawrence shows off her intense star power in Silver Linings. Her interplay with older co-star Bradley Cooper is totally believable, and her self-assured performance, most notably going toe-to-toe with heavyweight Robert de Niro is an incredible feat for a virtually untested actress. Her uneven character makes for a sometimes harrowing but mostly intriguing task, and she more than delivers on David O. Russell’s oftentimes promise of bringing out great performances in his films.
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild – Sneaking her way into this audition despite her age turned out to be the best decision Wallis will probably ever make. The then-five-year-old understandably wowed her future director to land the lead of Hushpuppy, a girl who “lived with her daddy in the Bathtub.” And the result is a stellar youth performance – hell, it’s stellar by adult standards, and the voters in the Academy obviously agreed, dubbing her one of the five best of the year. And I tend to agree – she’s completely lived-in, with nary a spot of green in sight, despite her incredibly young age. Her interplay with her equally inexperienced co-stars marks what could be an illustrious few years for the young actress.
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln – Call me a band wagoner, but it can’t be helped. One of the best in the biz certainly turned in one of the best of the year as Honest Abe. Injecting his own unique interpretation into the canonized character, Day-Lewis proves that not every real-life portrayal has been completely done – not even the arguably most iconic person in American history. From his killer monologues and perfected carriage, to his back-and-forths with screen wife Sally Field and a host of noted actors playing advisors, Spielberg’s latest star commands the screen without ever leaving a scene free of chill-inducing moments.
John Hawkes, The Sessions – As a long-time fan of the Minnesota native, it was no surprise that I enjoyed the one-time character actor’s continued ascent into leading man status. As a real-life man seeking out a sex surrogate to experience the act for the first time, Hawkes is relegated to his back for the entirety of the movie. But his physical limitations never hinder the performance – his take on the witty gentleman at the film’s center is kindly, realistic and nicely played. He’s not a total treacly saint – and when playing someone in an iron lung for a Hollywood film, that’s no easy feat.
Logan Lerman, The Perks of Being a Wallflower – As the leading star of an adaptation of my all-time favorite book, the former Percy Jackson star had big shoes to fill. And much to my surprise, he more than excelled in the spot. Playing wallflower Charlie, Lerman’s doe-eyed stares and introverted line deliveries suggest his adulthood may produce some impressive work if given the right circumstances. Outplaying his accomplished adult co-stars proves that transcending age even in a film geared toward young people is a feasible task.
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master – Boasting one of the most committed performances in recent memory, Phoenix proves that often times a little bit of real-life kook can make for an incredible and fascinating actor (for more, see the unending genius of Melissa Leo). As disturbed Freddy, Phoenix goes all out in his portrayal of a frantic, desperate and confused soul. And playing against straight man Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Phoenix’s gutsy performance sticks with you and provides a whopping amount of awardworthy clips. Not to mention the physicality of the role, from every tic and tremor to every devilish grin and spasm.
Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths – As someone who admittedly didn’t warm up to Sam Rockwell initially (until his slam-dunk performance in 2010’s Conviction proved me wrong), I didn’t expect to come out of what became one of the best comedies of the year thinking he’d be best in show. Yet, combining his bombastic personality and intense acting chops, he gave one of the best comedic performances of the year. As Billy, a dementedly gleeful best bud to co-star screenwriter Marty (Colin Farrell), he steals every scene with psychopathic delight, giving us full-on hilarity while making us feel just a little bad about it knowing the root of his personality. See: comedy can be a challenging genre, despite what critics may say!
BEST PICTURE
Let’s start with this – a gem of the early-year festival circuit that clearly made enough of a lasting impression to land itself in position for a few Oscars. In my book, it’s one of the five best of the year, no question. From its moving father-daughter central story to its incredible performances from complete newcomers, this little experiment in filmmaking came with a huge payoff. It’s visually stunning on a maddeningly tiny budget, and though the actors weren’t SAG-sanctioned, they brought depth many card-carrying members probably wish they could.
best of 2012: the original scores
And this is where we leave it. Time to stop living in the past, I suppose, and move on to a bright new 2013. This is the last, and one of my personal favorite, category to recap for my best of 2012 series. For such a bum year in a lot of respects, there were plentiful innovative and wonderful scores to be had, and here are my tops:
1. Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
2. Jonny Greenwood, The Master
3. Heather McIntosh, Compliance
4. Michael Giacchino, John Carter
5. Dario Marianelli, Anna Karenina
6. Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek & Tom Tykwer, Cloud Atlas
7. Jon Brion, ParaNorman
8. Marc Streitenfeld, Prometheus
9. Henry Jackman, Wreck-It Ralph
10. Fernando Velazquez, The Impossible
best of 2012: the adapted screenplays
The other side of the writing spectrum is up next. Here’s to the adapters! We’ll venture over to music next, and then the best of 2012/LCT film awards celebration will be closed.
1. Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
2. Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Leslye Headland, Bachelorette
4. David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
5. Chris Terrio, Argo
6. Tony Kushner, Lincoln
7. Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
8. Zak Penn & Joss Whedon, The Avengers
9. John Logan, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Skyfall
10. Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill, 21 Jump Street
best of 2012: the original screenplays
We’re getting closer to the end, folks. I’ll be wrapping up my best films of 2012 features with the writing and score categories. And let’s be real – these are often the most fun to discuss merits-wise, as well as the most impressive in many cases. Here are the originals:
1. Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon, The Cabin in the Woods
2. Craig Zobel, Compliance
3. Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
4. Rian Johnson, Looper
5. Robbie Pickering, Natural Selection
6. Rashida Jones & Will McCormack, Celeste and Jesse Forever
7. Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty
8. Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom
9. Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
10. Martin McDonagh, Seven Psychopaths
best of 2012: the supporting actors
Rounding out the acting categories, here’s the last of the best movie performances of the year. A little bit of Oscar pedigree on display here, but alas, not all the choices they made from the respective films were the right ones…
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
2. Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Michael Fassbender, Prometheus
4. Garret Hedlund, On the Road
5. Dwight Henry, Beasts of the Southern Wild
6. Ben Whishaw, Cloud Atlas
7. Samuel L. Jackson, Django Unchained
8. Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
9. Javier Bardem, Skyfall
10. Jason Clarke, Zero Dark Thirty
best of 2012: the supporting actresses
The saga continues. It was a dry season for supporting actresses this year, but it made for a fun group of ladies to call upon for a top 10. Sure, Lead Actor had a much more competitive field, but these ladies were the gems of their respective movies.
1. Rebel Wilson, Pitch Perfect
2. Jennifer Ehle, Zero Dark Thirty
3. Amy Adams, The Master
4. Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
5. Emma Watson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
6. Sally Field, Lincoln
7. Anne Hathaway, The Dark Knight Rises
8. Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook
9. Lucy Liu, Detachment
10. Elizabeth Banks, The Hunger Games
best of 2012: the lead actors
The top 10s continue, now with my favorite lead actor performances of 2012. And thanks to a year with a little bit of everything, quality-wise, this list ended up being a fun genre-spanning grouping. Here goes:
1. Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
2. Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
3. Logan Lerman, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
4. John Hawkes, The Sessions
5. Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths
6. Martin Freeman, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
7. Matthias Schoenaerts, Rust & Bone
8. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
9. Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
10. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Looper
best of 2012: the lead actresses
It’s nearly April, so I suppose it’s high time I attempt to wrap all this 2012 madness up! Let’s continue the top 10s (thought my movies list capped off at 25) with the lead actress performances of the year:
1. Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
2. Ann Dowd, Compliance
3. Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
4. Rachael Harris, Natural Selection
5. Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
6. Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
7. Elizabeth Olsen, Liberal Arts
8. Aubrey Plaza, Safety Not Guaranteed
9. Isla Fisher, Bachelorette
10. Sara Paxton, The Innkeepers
the 25 best movies of 2012
Yes, I’m aware that the Oscars have come and gone, and 2013 is all the rage now that Argo has collected its prize, but I got back into the blogging game on the tail end of Oscar mania, so my best of 2012 lists are coming a tad late. To kick things off, let’s start with the 25 best movies of the year that turned out to be modest in terms of “classics.” Unlike the great 2007s and 2009s that came before it, 2012 was home to some nice flicks, but few gargantuan moments. Nevertheless, here is a handful of my favorites, starting, of course, with my five Best Picture nominees in ranked order…
1. Beasts of the Southern Wild
dir. Benh Zeitlin
Fox Searchlight Pictures
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
dir. Stephen Chbosky
Summit Entertainment
3. The Master
dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
The Weinstein Company
4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
dir. Peter Jackson
Warner Bros. Pictures
5. Zero Dark Thirty
dir. Kathryn Bigelow
Columbia / Sony Pictures
6. Life of Pi
dir. Ang Lee
Fox 2000 Pictures
7. Compliance
dir. Craig Zobel
Magnolia Pictures
8. Looper
dir. Rian Johnson
TriStar Pictures
9. Argo
dir. Ben Affleck
Warner Bros. Pictures
10. Silver Linings Playbook
dir. David O. Russell
The Weinstein Company
11. Lincoln
dir. Steven Spielberg
Touchstone Pictures
12. The Cabin in the Woods
dir. Drew Goddard
Lionsgate
13. Pitch Perfect
dir. Jason Moore
Universal Pictures
14. Bachelorette
dir. Leslye Headland
The Weinstein Company
15. Natural Selection
dir. Robbie Pickering
The Cinema Guild
16. Django Unchained
dir. Quentin Tarantino
The Weinstein Company
17. The Avengers
dir. Joss Whedon
Walt Disney / Paramount Pictures
18. Wreck-It Ralph
dir. Rich Moore
Walt Disney
19. Brave
dir. Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman & Steve Purcell
Walt Disney / Pixar
20. ParaNorman
dir. Chris Butler & Sam Fell
Focus Features
21. Moonrise Kingdom
dir. Wes Anderson
Focus Features
22. Cloud Atlas
dir. Tom Tykwer & Andy and Lana Wachowski
Warner Bros. Pictures
23. Celeste and Jesse Forever
dir. Lee Toland Krieger
Sony Pictures Classics
24. Prometheus
dir. Ridley Scott
20th Century Fox
25. Liberal Arts
dir. Josh Radnor
IFC Films
2012 lct awards: lead acting nominees
The hits keep on coming! Now that we’ve got Best Picture out of the way, it’s time to get into the acting nominees for 2012, starting with the lead performances. It was an interesting year for film – probably one of the weakest since 2005, in fact – yet a somewhat weak overall year can make for a more exciting lineup in some of these categories. Plum roles that would’ve gone easily unnoticed in years with plentiful bombast get their due. Here are my choices for Best Lead Actor and Actress.
Best Lead Actress
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty – After becoming the queen of ubiquity in 2011, it was only fitting that Chastain would limit herself to essentially one fantastic performance in 2012. And it could very well top anything she’s done previously. As Maya, the hard-nosed, tunnel-visioned CIA operative who orchestrated the takedown of bin Laden, what she lacks in flat-out character background development, she more than makes up for in a restrained, fleshed out turn as a woman of some mystery. We don’t know anything about Maya’s upbringing, personal life or future, but scene after scene proves that less is more – she’s full of character with a simple framed face shot – we don’t need an hours-long biography to understand her.
Ann Dowd, Compliance – One of the many annual unsung performances, Dowd managed a few critical notices but couldn’t quite muster up the Oscar nod. And it’s a real shame – the character actress’s turn as Sandra, a needy and gullible fast food store manager who learns the levels of depravity she’s willing to reach, is a revelation. It takes a character actress to truly understand what it means to make the most of each scene. And placing her front and center provides a big payoff. We’re both disturbed and understanding of this woman – her transgressions are unnerving, yet she sells them in a completely believable fashion.
Rachael Harris, Natural Selection – Often relegated to goofy background roles or providing comic relief on cable countdown shows, Harris has eked out a mini-career as someone you probably recognize but could never name. And with the indie comedy Natural Selection, she, like Dowd, is placed front and center to great effect. As a barren Christian woman who seeks out her husband’s potential long-lost biological son, she’s at times endearing and heartbreaking and at others frustratingly human. She injects her signature comedy throughout the sometimes serious film, but its her instinct and ability to evoke an audience feeling makes her one of the best of the year. A completely ignored gem, to be sure.
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook – Too much too soon for the young starlet? A Best Actress Oscar can often be a curse for a young twentysomething. Yet, with a killer instinct, a great attitude and a commanding screen presence, Lawrence shows off her intense star power in Silver Linings. Her interplay with older co-star Bradley Cooper is totally believable, and her self-assured performance, most notably going toe-to-toe with heavyweight Robert de Niro is an incredible feat for a virtually untested actress. Her uneven character makes for a sometimes harrowing but mostly intriguing task, and she more than delivers on David O. Russell’s oftentimes promise of bringing out great performances in his films.
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild – Sneaking her way into this audition despite her age turned out to be the best decision Wallis will probably ever make. The then-five-year-old understandably wowed her future director to land the lead of Hushpuppy, a girl who “lived with her daddy in the Bathtub.” And the result is a stellar youth performance – hell, it’s stellar by adult standards, and the voters in the Academy obviously agreed, dubbing her one of the five best of the year. And I tend to agree – she’s completely lived-in, with nary a spot of green in sight, despite her incredibly young age. Her interplay with her equally inexperienced co-stars marks what could be an illustrious few years for the young actress.Best Lead Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln – Call me a band wagoner, but it can’t be helped. One of the best in the biz certainly turned in one of the best of the year as Honest Abe. Injecting his own unique interpretation into the canonized character, Day-Lewis proves that not every real-life portrayal has been completely done – not even the arguably most iconic person in American history. From his killer monologues and perfected carriage, to his back-and-forths with screen wife Sally Field and a host of noted actors playing advisors, Spielberg’s latest star commands the screen without ever leaving a scene free of chill-inducing moments.
John Hawkes, The Sessions – As a long-time fan of the Minnesota native, it was no surprise that I enjoyed the one-time character actor’s continued ascent into leading man status. As a real-life man seeking out a sex surrogate to experience the act for the first time, Hawkes is relegated to his back for the entirety of the movie. But his physical limitations never hinder the performance – his take on the witty gentleman at the film’s center is kindly, realistic and nicely played. He’s not a total treacly saint – and when playing someone in an iron lung for a Hollywood film, that’s no easy feat.
Logan Lerman, The Perks of Being a Wallflower – As the leading star of an adaptation of my all-time favorite book, the former Percy Jackson star had big shoes to fill. And much to my surprise, he more than excelled in the spot. Playing wallflower Charlie, Lerman’s doe-eyed stares and introverted line deliveries suggest his adulthood may produce some impressive work if given the right circumstances. Outplaying his accomplished adult co-stars proves that transcending age even in a film geared toward young people is a feasible task.
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master – Boasting one of the most committed performances in recent memory, Phoenix proves that often times a little bit of real-life kook can make for an incredible and fascinating actor (for more, see the unending genius of Melissa Leo). As disturbed Freddy, Phoenix goes all out in his portrayal of a frantic, desperate and confused soul. And playing against straight man Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Phoenix’s gutsy performance sticks with you and provides a whopping amount of awardworthy clips. Not to mention the physicality of the role, from every tic and tremor to every devilish grin and spasm.
Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths – As someone who admittedly didn’t warm up to Sam Rockwell initially (until his slam-dunk performance in 2010’s Conviction proved me wrong), I didn’t expect to come out of what became one of the best comedies of the year thinking he’d be best in show. Yet, combining his bombastic personality and intense acting chops, he gave one of the best comedic performances of the year. As Billy, a dementedly gleeful best bud to co-star screenwriter Marty (Colin Farrell), he steals every scene with psychopathic delight, giving us full-on hilarity while making us feel just a little bad about it knowing the root of his personality. See: comedy can be a challenging genre, despite what critics may say!2012 LCT awards: best picture nominees
Sure, the Oscars have announced their nominees, but what of the LCT Awards (est. 1995), my own personal choices in the world of film, television and music? Well, to be honest, these nods were announced a few weeks ago… but via the blog, not so much! So, I give you the 2012 entrants on my best-of list, starting with the first few film categories on my roster.
BEST PICTURE
Let’s start with this – a gem of the early-year festival circuit that clearly made enough of a lasting impression to land itself in position for a few Oscars. In my book, it’s one of the five best of the year, no question. From its moving father-daughter central story to its incredible performances from complete newcomers, this little experiment in filmmaking came with a huge payoff. It’s visually stunning on a maddeningly tiny budget, and though the actors weren’t SAG-sanctioned, they brought depth many card-carrying members probably wish they could.Next up is Peter Jackson’s latest Tolkien effort, The Hobbit, which has found its lion’s share of detractors with which I couldn’t disagree more. Yes, there’s less source material being stretched into the same amount of screen time, but the visionary efforts are still there 10 years on – Jackson has a knack for telling a fantastical story like no other working today. And it helps that he has a very able lead in Martin Freeman to head up the cast. This first entry in a new trilogy is thrilling, delightful and pleasing to the eye. And while some felt it dragged on a bit long, I left the theater with no such feelings. A brilliant effort in many regards. Ignore what you’ve been told about it – it really is one of the five best of the year.
Speaking of divisive films, The Master was no stranger to oddly placed ill will. A harrowing glimpse at the inner workings of a charming cultish following through the eyes of a demented protagonist – what doesn’t sound like film gold in that description? Joaquin Phoenix is phenomenal, and the interplay with his co-lead Phillip Seymour Hoffman is in many scenes gut-wrenching. With a slick editing technique, an artistic approach in the screenplay and triumphant performances from the lot, it’s perhaps just misunderstood – and will surely develop into a future classic. Seeing it felt like encountering a truly cinematic experience.
Sometimes there are movies that you’ve been waiting years to see. Based on a book that I cherished when reading, once I heard Perks was at last being adapted into a film, I held onto skepticism to the bitter end. I just didn’t think the casting was right, and I didn’t see how a movie would be able to capture the unique nuance within an atypical high school story. Oh, how wrong I was. Thanks to some careful work from its young stars and a faithful adaptation from the author himself (not to mention his own directing debut), The Perks of Being a Wallflower easily landed itself on the “best of” list and thankfully caught the attentions of many viewers who didn’t necessarily come of age around the time of the book’s release – the true mark of a teen fiction adaptation done right.
Can’t say I’m not diverse in my choices, I suppose. A strong central performance can do an awful lot to bolster a film’s overall estimation. And with excellent pacing and an able director, Zero Dark Thirty outdid its helmer’s predecessor by injecting a degree of tension unmatched in any of the year’s blockbuster action movies. Chastain is a revelation as the central amalgamation, Maya, and her female co-stars, large parts and small, make for commanding screen presences in what is pigeonholed as a “masculine” genre. Not to say that the men, namely Jason Clarke, don’t have a great deal of authority over the material. It’s an all-around success in what could’ve been a retread. A gamble, to be sure, but with a big payoff in the form of a masterful, suspenseful, and satisfyingly uneasy premise.
Journalistic Skepticism 