Top 5 Films of 2012

The two that almost made it: Avengers Assemble and Argo

5. Indie Game the Movie

This totally counts. It came out in 2012 and it is a movie, it's even got movie in the title! Though saying that, there was that game 'Street Fighter the Movie' and 'Joe Danger 2- The Movie' came out last year... Hell I even have the game 'The Movies' on my shelf. So apparently in games movie can mean game also. But in this very specific instance, this is an actual movie. It's a real good movie to, you could point out its perhaps pretentious artsyness with its panning shots of buildings or whatever, but I'm not going to. The core of this movie was some enlightening interviews with a variety of Indie Devs (Team Meat, Jonathan Blow and Phil Fish) that chronicled stages in the life of their games. Whether it was release period, post-release reception or just pure development, it was all really interesting. It gave a seemingly very open and honest look into the world and by letting the developers speak for themselves it didn't artificially colour your opinion of them but let you form your own. It wasn't look at these great guys that make games, and it wasn't wholly the whining of people that make games for a living. You wouldn't sympathise with some people, but you would be totally won over by some, but most importantly every aspect they looked into was fascinating. I'm not going to beat around the bush; I love video games (as I'm sure most of you do) so I have a vested interest in hearing about this subject. I also particularly love Super Meat Boy, Braid and Fez, so a documentary on the three is my kind of thing. That being the case I still think this is a great film somewhat independently of my bias. It shows another side to game development that some people don't realise exists. Specifically it goes against what some of the stereotype for a game developer is and shows them as ambitious, but relatively normal people. I would recommend it to anybody, though partly to show others how interesting games can be. Maybe it is just that it is about Indie games I like, but hey, still my number five film of the year. Go buy it. And then watch it, obviously.

4. Prometheus

No surprise here, I mean everybody loved this movie right? Wait... What?! Say it ain't so! Well I love it. I was so surprised this film got so much bad press. Like all of you I was fully on the Prometheus hype train, watched the trailer countless times, shouted the trailer noise at housemates, re-watched the two films in my Alien box set that matter (you know the ones), and got generally giddy. A friend visited me in Uni just before it came out and me, him and some of my housemates all booked tickets for the very first screening, at midnight. And I was blown away, it was a universe I just wanted to stay in. World building on a fantastic scale from a beloved director, stunning cinematography, thought provoking themes and open ended elements. Some good old fashioned nasty bits also, it fit the bill for me. It had me interested on a philosophical level whilst also just enjoying the whole sci-finess of it all. It could be a bit on the nose at times and certain characters didn't stand out or perhaps annoyed (and Guy Pierce's casting just seemed a bit pointless, if you want an old guy... Hire an old guy), but the whole was far greater than the sum of its parts. I'm the guy who usually complains when a movie is too long, and Prometheus didn't feel long at all even though it hit the two-hour mark. I wanted more but I didn't feel unsatisfied, I felt I knew enough and couldn't wait to see where he took the series next. Was it an Alien movie? Technically yes, but to all intents and purposes no. On a filmic level, it's not the same kind of movie, and I fear people went in expecting that and came out disappointing. I got an engrossing and intelligent sci-fi movie, and was totally taken aback when other people started to go see it and took against it. I went to see it again, still really liked it, and now I have it on Blu-Ray waiting to be watched again.

3. Skyfall

So I'm a massive James Bond fan. Glad we got that out of the way. I liked a James Bond film... Surprised? Well I kind of was, especially after the terrible Quantum of Solace (or 'Question of Sport' to Wittertainment fans) and MGMs financial woes, Bond dropped off for me. I still loved the old stuff, but the new stuff was not good and Bond seemed dead. But then Skyfall information started to pour out and I was back on board, I loved Casino Royale and had great faith in Craig (who I still view as one of the better Bonds). Of course I was still cautiously optimistic, I mean it was an anniversary year, they had big boots to fill and they could easily mess it all up. Thankfully they made a frankly excellent film. Just excellent. In a year where I thought I was done with overt action movies because video games give me that but better (the all action Expendables 2 trailer was dull without a controller in hand and the action in the Dark Knight somehow failed to excite me at all),but Skyfall was genuinely thrilling. My jaw dropped on occasions, mostly metaphorically, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next piece of superbly choreographed action. Beyond that, I really liked the story stuff and the down time. The cinematography was superb, certain scenes (like Bon's arrival by boat in Hong Kong) were simply beautiful to watch. Though when you have director of photography like Roger Deakins(known to me for his work with the Coen brothers (my favourite directors)) you are bound to get one good looking movie. Couple that with American Beauty director Sam Mendes and Javier Bardem playing the villain. You have quite the recipe the Mr Bond. I especially liked how they seemingly caught JavierBardemas he walked off the set of No Country for Old men and said, "that thing you just did, can you do it again, but with a touch more... Bond villain". Well he delivered on that account. So the film was great, it balanced homage and foray into new territory perfectly, and managed to capture Bond whilst recognising Bond doesn't quite fit in toady's world. In my mind it was a triumph, and a true return to form for a beloved franchise.

2. The Cabin in the Woods

I'm a huge Evil Dead fan, I'm also a massive Joss Whedon fan (did my user icon give it away?). You tell me you have Joss Whedon producing an Evil Dead inspired horror movie, well I am onboard. You tell me it's a highly intelligent piece of genre commentary that is also supremely entertaining. I am more onboard! You then tell me one of the LOST producers is also a producer (Drew Goddard), and then tell me that Drew was also a LOST writer and him and Whedon are also writing Cabin in the Woods. Firstly, why are you telling me things in this elongated fashion, out with it I say, secondly... Did I mention I also love LOST? Well I'm so onboard now I may actually be singing sea shanties in the captains quarters. What are you telling me now? Drew Goddard wrote another movie... Pray tell me what movie it was. Cloverfield you say? I hated that movie you say? Why yes I did. Well I'm slightly less onboard now, but still onboard. Maybe I'm just by the mast. But naval analogies aside, I was pretty excited for Cabin in the Woods. Turns out I was right to be excited. This movie was amazing. Brilliantly funny, full of great gore and it actually managed to be an intelligent horror movie. Maybe it's not really a horror movie, but it is clearly inspired by the, and largely about them. Horror is a genre I enjoy, but it's usually so mindless and so cliché heavy. This film took the clichés and... Well watch it. It's the kind of movie you don't want to say much about, maybe I said too much already. Well you should have seen it (if you were able to). It was fantastic, the second best movie of 2012 in fact!

1. The Master

Seeing as this blog seems to be one of my admitting I love things, it's time to admit I love Paul Thomas Anderson movies. If you love Paul Thomas Anderson movies, then you will love the master. If his previous films haven't done it for you, you will probably hate this one. The Master is a film that I thought was nothing short of incredible, though weirdly I can see why people wouldn't like it. It is a film which has no conventional narrative, it doesn't tell a story which starts some place and definitively ends in another. It just meanders around the intertwined lives of two characters. The strength of the film was just how brilliant those characters were and how enthralling it was to be in their presence. If there is any justice in the world, and I am pretty sure there is some, Hoffman and Phoenix should walk away from this Oscar winners in lead and supporting actor categories. It should also get best film and best director, and Amy Adams should get something, she was excellent. It probably won't get all this, but I don't overly mind because I know it's the best film of 2012. The atmosphere is perfectly judged, and though it lacks a real structure the film doesn't drag or lack direction. It keeps going and you keep wanting to watch it. PTA is a man that puts out long movies, but this has never been an issue with me. Boogie Nights and Magnolia may have been about three hours long each, but they engrossed me throughout in a way some ninety minute movies can't. The Master was another movie that I could have spent so much more time with, but I didn't feel like I was short-changed. I got a glimpse into the fascinating and disturbing lives of two sublime characters, and am thankful for it. Also I need to mention Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, who once again delivered a superb score that matched the unconventionality of the rest of the movie. The bottom line on this one is that if you want a flawlessly directed and beautifully shot period piece that may or may not be directly based on the origins of scientology (or at least it's early days) then you should see the master. Even if you ignore scientology connections it still paints a superb picture of why such organisations can be so seductive, and it doesn't just damn them but shows a potential benefit to them while not shying away from their downfalls. Ultimately of course it's a somewhat negative look on the whole thing, but it isn't just a movie of frauds, this means something to these people the problem is just how far things get. It's fascinating and it's something you won't forget. Dare I say it? I'm going to say it. The Master is quite simply, masterful... Apologies for the pun...