Sometimes, this is how reviewing movies makes me feel.
You probably didn't miss me and didn't really notice, but I haven't reviewed many films this year. In writing the critiques I have completed so far, I have gained a great respect for those who write them as an occupation. I just can't seem to muster up the energy it takes me to analyze a film in full, nor the discipline it takes to really WATCH a film with the goal of critiquing it. The viewing just isn't the same as plopping down with some snacks to loose yourself in a movie. I could write like Peter Travers, but that just isn't my style. (honestly, what is the point of him "writing" a review besides the tagline?) So I'll instead summarize everything for you in a neat little package below. I really enjoy the discussion much more than my sole point of view and hope to possibly continue this blog in 2013, with more frequent entries and a different approach. Where have I heard that before? Anyway...
First let me point out that these lists are missing many of the top films from the year because I haven't seen them yet. I'm sure I'll treat you to an updated list once I see them all. The films from 2012 I hope to view shortly in 2013 are The Dark Knight Rises, ParaNorman, Frankenweenie, Sleepwalk With Me, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The Amazing Spiderman, Brave, Kill List, Argo & Django Unchained. I expect a few of those to bump other titles from my current list, while the others just look like fun and I want to see them.
First let me point out that these lists are missing many of the top films from the year because I haven't seen them yet. I'm sure I'll treat you to an updated list once I see them all. The films from 2012 I hope to view shortly in 2013 are The Dark Knight Rises, ParaNorman, Frankenweenie, Sleepwalk With Me, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The Amazing Spiderman, Brave, Kill List, Argo & Django Unchained. I expect a few of those to bump other titles from my current list, while the others just look like fun and I want to see them.
First up:
THE BAD
The Woman In Black, 21 Jump Street, Wanderlust, Underworld: Awakening, Hugo(2011), Horrible Bosses(2011) and Don't be Afraid of the Dark(2011)
Your first thought was probably, "Hugo? Really?" Yes. Hugo. I guess my section titles don't allow for any leeway as I don't think Hugo is a bad film by any stretch of the word. It falls into a yet to be named category that Rango fell in last year; it just didn't grab me. It's an epic film from one of the best directors of all time and I just didn't care what was happening on the screen. If I was an older movie goer, or knew who Georges Melies was, I suspect I may have been more easily swept off my feet. I definitely appreciate the effort and sentiment, but Hugo was a huge disappointment for me.
21 Jump Street was a cute try with some funny moments but just didn't do it for me. Wanderlust was simply unfunny, but that's how it is with David Wain and friends; when you swing so wildly the misses are bad but the connections are home runs. The first two films of the Underworld series are one of my guilty pleasures. This one was completely forgettable. I literally couldn't tell you what happened. Horrible Bosses has it's moments, but...EH. That leaves the two horror movies, which I'll say up front are still worth renting if you like horror movies. The Woman In Black and Don't Be Afraid of The Dark both have great atmosphere and ideas but just don't execute the scares. I'd definitely rate The Woman In Black above the other. Side note: if you like horror movies (especially vampire ones) check out Stakeland from 2010. One of the best movies I've watched this year, but I didn't feel right including it since it was from 2010. It's not award winning in any way, but it is everything you would ever hope for in a low budget vampire flick.
21 Jump Street was a cute try with some funny moments but just didn't do it for me. Wanderlust was simply unfunny, but that's how it is with David Wain and friends; when you swing so wildly the misses are bad but the connections are home runs. The first two films of the Underworld series are one of my guilty pleasures. This one was completely forgettable. I literally couldn't tell you what happened. Horrible Bosses has it's moments, but...EH. That leaves the two horror movies, which I'll say up front are still worth renting if you like horror movies. The Woman In Black and Don't Be Afraid of The Dark both have great atmosphere and ideas but just don't execute the scares. I'd definitely rate The Woman In Black above the other. Side note: if you like horror movies (especially vampire ones) check out Stakeland from 2010. One of the best movies I've watched this year, but I didn't feel right including it since it was from 2010. It's not award winning in any way, but it is everything you would ever hope for in a low budget vampire flick.
Next:
THE GOOD (2011)
Moneyball, 50/50, Hanna, Midnight in Paris, Young Adult, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Source Code, X-Men: First Class, The Muppets and Fright Night.
There aren't any surprises here except maybe Fright Night so I'm not going to waste too much of your time. Fright Night is a fun popcorn movie for you vampire fans. This is 100% a remake. If you're a fan of the original, don't go expecting any miracles. Colin Farrell is pretty funny as the vamp.
I started writing a full review for Moneyball but never got to it. It's a beautiful film and it's about baseball. More specifically it takes a specific moment in baseball history and illustrates why competitive sports are fascinating and loved. I adored how Bennett Miller handled the relationship between Billy Beane and his daughter. Those scenes really make the movie. I would love to be Scott Hatteburg.
I also want to focus on Source Code. This is a film I had zero desire to see. The only thing that made me hit play was that it was Duncan Jones' follow up to Moon, which was fantastic. I have a hunch that Mr. Jones was subject to creative and casting restrictions that come with having a big studio/big budget release. I think Source Code would have a completely different feel if it was done on the same budget as Moon. However, the story itself and execution of that story is what drew me into Source code and if you had no desire to see it either I hope you reconsider.
Finally:
THE GOOD (2012)
Looper, Prometheus, Safety Not Guaranteed, Jeff Who Lives at Home, The Grey, Goon, Haywire, The Avengers, Les Miserables, Moonrise Kingdom, The Cabin In The Woods and The Innkeepers
The above list is ascending from favorite to least favorite of the favorites.
Looper is fantastic and in ten to fifteen years will be looked back on as a classic. I wouldn't call it EPIC like many wanted Prometheus to be, or Blade Runner ended up being, but it's hard to deny how well made it is on all levels in addition to being wholly unique.
Oh Prometheus, how polarizing you are. This film floored me from start to finish. I loved it. However, after further discussion with friends and reading other points of view, I can see how some might find parts "ridiculous" and as a whole not the classic that fans of Alien and Ridley Scott hoped it would be. However, this brings me to my point of getting some snacks and loosing yourself in a film. All expectations aside I was completely lost in it, I loved the new world that Scott and Co. created and it left me immediately looking forward to seeing the next installment (hoping that everyone is still on board).
Oh Prometheus, how polarizing you are. This film floored me from start to finish. I loved it. However, after further discussion with friends and reading other points of view, I can see how some might find parts "ridiculous" and as a whole not the classic that fans of Alien and Ridley Scott hoped it would be. However, this brings me to my point of getting some snacks and loosing yourself in a film. All expectations aside I was completely lost in it, I loved the new world that Scott and Co. created and it left me immediately looking forward to seeing the next installment (hoping that everyone is still on board).
I suppose Safety Not Guaranteed and Jeff Who Lives at Home are both what would be called "Indie Darlings". Interestingly they each have one or both of the Duplass brothers involved. Jeff Who Lives at Home is directed by The Duplass Brothers and Safety Not Guaranteed stars Mark Duplass. They both have very endearing leads, wonderful acting and great stories. Check them out.
The Grey completely caught me off guard. Not that I wasn't expecting it to be good, as I read in more than one place on the Internet that it was more than the trailer suggested, but I definitely wasn't expecting a Liam Neeson action movie about escaping wolves in Alaska to make me cry like a baby at the end. I don't what it is with these nature films that explore the human condition (see Into the Wild) but they get to me. So if you weren't into seeing this film because you didn't really care about watching some guys fight CGI wolves, I urge you to reconsider.
Goon is a good hockey flick about enforcers. It has a great performance from Sean William Scott as the lovable main character which really makes me love it the way I do.
Haywire is a badass spy movie from Steven Soderbergh. The fight scenes are worth it alone.
I don't think I really need to go into detail about The Avengers. ASSEMBLE!
Les Miserables was really good. Not great, not mind blowing, not a classic, but just good. Anne Hathaway's performance of I Dreamed a Dream is pretty intense. Tom Hooper's director of photography is fantastic.
I write about Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom knowing that when I saw Wes Anderson's Life Aquatic in theaters I walked about really disappointed. I think at that time I was hoping for some sort of development or progress from Anderson as a director. I know now that he is what he is and is probably at the top of his game. Life Aquatic is probably now my second or third favorite Wes Anderson film. Moonrise Kingdom is no let down, but it is more of the same. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The Cabin In The Woods and The Innkeepers are probably the first two off my list if any of the unseen films of 2012 rise to the top. However, that doesn't mean they're not great. They're both horror movies, but at completely different ends of the spectrum. The Innkeepers is a throwback to classic psychological horror and The Cabin In the Woods is a critique on horror films as a whole. If you're a fan of the genre I hope you get to see both.
That's it. Discuss.
