My Top 10 Movies of 2012

I'm well aware that 2012 is ancient history now and that the year-end polls are over and done with, but with the Golden Globes just gone and the BAFTAs and Oscars around the corner I thought it was still worth sharing my favourite movies of last year. This is actually more an explanation, since I've already posted this in the Chillidogs Facebook group and contributed to their overall Top 10. Anyway, here we go...

10. Argo

Ben Affleck demonstrated an almost workman-like reliability with his first couple of films and scored a veritable 'Hat Trick' with this inspired third effort. Directed by and starring the man himself, Argo tells the story of an unconventional CIA extraction from Iran with a Hollywood twist. An excellent supporting cast, including Brian Cranston and John Goodman complemented an intense thriller which made room for a few welcome laughs along the way.


9. Chronicle

As far as superhero movies go, Chronicle was far from conventional. The found-footage format lent the movie a wish-fulfilling hyper-realism that modern genre blockbusters can only hint at and as an examination of 'what might really happen' to a group of teenagers were they suddenly bestowed with telekinetic abilities it utterly succeeded.

8. The Raid

The set up for The Raid is almost like a video-game: A small group of armed police must battle their way to the top of an apartment complex where a criminal mastermind has offered free rent to it's inhabitants in exchange for taking out said police. Queue some of the most breathtaking martial arts choreography since Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - and directed by a Welshman no less! Here's hoping the sequel comes sooner than the inevitable english language remake.

7. Skyfall

I had a good feeling about Skyfall when I heard that Sam Mendez and Javier Bardem were involved. This film really needed to be good, not just because of the 50th anniversary or the four year hiatus, but because Quantum of Solace had been such a dissapointment after the ball crunching reboot that was Casino Royale. Luckily, with an Oscar nominated team behind it, Skyfall was a triumph. The story cut to the core of the franchise, Bardem's villain was deliciously creepy and the finale went places no other Bond movie had dared to go before. And if Roger Deakins doesn't get an Oscar for Cinematography this year I will boycott the Oscars for good.

6. The Dark Knight Rises

As a follow-up to arguably the most critically well received genre movie of all time and the final installment in Christopher Nolan's epic Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises had some mighty shoes to fill. It also had to contend with the negative press generated by a tragic incident at a Movie Theatre in Denver the week of release. The fact that Tom Hardy's portrayal of Bane was a tad muffled at times didn't help matters either. It's a good thing then, that the story, action and - notably - Anne Hathaway's performance as Selina Kyle were able to make this a finale to remember...

5. Marvel Avengers Assemble

If I could go back in time and tell my younger self that one day there would be a movie featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and The Incredible Hulk, that it would become the third highest grossing movie of all time and - shudder the thought - actually be good, I would probably be more interested in how I managed to not trigger some kind paradoxical catastophy (but more on that later...). Seriously though, the Avengers was a whole lot of fun. I can't remember the last time a movie made me smile so much...

4. Cabin in the Woods

Before helming The Avengers, Joss Whedon co-wrote this little gem, which was languishing in studio hell until Chris Hemsworth became a big enough star for the film to be marketed. It's difficult to explain why I loved this film so much without spoiling it, suffice it to say, this is a deconstruction of the Horror genre and even if you think the trailer gives it away, trust me - it doesn't. The less you know about it, the more you'll enjoy it.

3. Looper

Looper was a Time Travel movie that wasn't really about Time Travel. Sure, it was an important part of the setup, but the movie turned out to be about something else entirely. Joseph Gordon Levitt's attempt at portraying a young Bruce Willis was uncanny in places, but it was the twisty-turny script and artful direction that really wowed me. If Rian Johnson remains on this trajectory then we have some very exciting movies to come...

2. The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey

Contrary to popular opinion I didn't find this movie to drag in the slightest. I was far too thrilled to be back in  Peter Jackson's realisation of Middle Earth once more. The Hobbit might not be as apocalyptic and epic as the Lord of The Rings, but quite a lot still happens. Certainly enough to make it more than one film -although I myself remain dubious about it being stretched to three. Even so, when it was all over I just wanted it to carry on. I could honestly have sat there for another 3 hours. Bring on the 6 Bluray boxset...

1. Life of Pi

I'm a sucker for a good cry and the trailer for this movie had me misting up every time I saw it. The movie itself turned out to have a similar emotional weight, but also a profound depth that I didn't see coming. They said the book was unfilmable, but what we have here clearly demonstrates otherwise. This movie also featured some of the most impressive 3D I'd seen since Avatar.

Coming soon: The movies I'm most looking forward to in 2013...