The Very Best of 2012

EDIT (1/26) - I re-arranged my choices for 15-6, basically moved Silver Linings Playbook up a few notches after giving it some more thought.

It was a big year for movies.
We had a shit load of sequels and adaptations with a few bad eggs here and there. Theater profits went up something like 5 percent, so that's good news. We got a new James Bond, the last Batman movie which followed up 2008's masterpiece The Dark Knight, and a masterful superhero epic from everybody's favorite Joss Whedon. Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson released a couple of hits causing fanboys to piss themselves with glee (seriously, film students fucking love Tarantino and Anderson a little too much, it's almost funny), and Daniel Day-Lewis was in another movie, which is always exciting.
We learned that a new Star Wars was in the works and George Lucas ISN'T writing or directing. We got trailers for the highly anticipated Man of Steel, Iron Man 3, and Star Trek Into Darkness. 
But onto happier times. Here are my Top 15 movies of 2012, the top 5 have a brief description  so read if you want.
So these are, in order, my favorite movies of 2012.


TOP 15 OF 2012

15. Safety Not Guaranteed
14. The Dark Knight Rises
13. Moonrise Kingdom
12. Life of Pi
11. Les Misérables
10. Wreck-It Ralph
9. Lincoln
8. The Avengers
7. Silver Linings Playbook
6. 21 Jump Street

5. Zero Dark Thirty
The dramatic tale of the manhunt for Osama bin Laden proves to be one of the most incredible tales in US history. Even more dramatic was the raid itself, which in my opinion was one of the most exciting moments in any movie of 2012. You know how it's going to end, but seeing it in action was just too incredible for words.

4. Argo
It's a fucking insane idea: make a fake movie to help a bunch of people escape from a hostile country. But it's true, and it worked. Argo has plenty of heart-pounding moments and a surprising amount of humor. Ben Affleck proves once again that he is probably a better director than he is an actor.

3. Django Unchained
I would say it's a typical Tarantino flick, but no Tarantino movie is typical. Plenty of style with an equal level of substance, Django is just as exciting and bloody as it's fantastic trailers make it out to be. Tarantino has outdone himself.

2. Skyfall
Taking on the challenge of directing a Bond film must be pretty tough, but Sam Mendes has created the best Bond movie in its 50 year history. For every innovation there is an homage, and with a tight script and beautiful cinematography, it's easily one of the most exciting Bond movies in years.

1. Looper
You must've known this was gonna happen. Looper was honestly the most exciting time I had at the movies this year. It could've been a typical cat-and-mouse sort of movie that the trailers made it out to be, but it turned into so, so much more. It's incredibly original, taking an overused concept and grounding it in what feels like a very realistic reality. Not to mention, the second act of the film takes you in a complete 180 and brings a good amount of emotion to the table. Frankly, I wish that I had made this movie, I love it that much.

Honorable Mentions:

Dredd

The Master

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Chronicle

Seven Psychopaths

ParaNorman

So yeah. Oscar nominations come out in just a few hours from now. I really hope that my top 3 picks get some lovin, I'd say action flicks are the least likely to get any from the Academy.

Here's to a great 2013!

-Josh

*EDIT - I re-arranged my choices for 15-6, basically moved Silver Linings Playbook up a few notches.