The Best Films of 2012 So Far (and where they rank in the 2010s so far)
by George Watches Things
Today, I disappoint you. In the first half of 2012, I only saw 10 films. I list them below, and explain why I am counting them as 2012, if you know them as 2011. I also crown the best of this decade so far.
The year.
- Martha Marcy May Marlene – Had an even more limited release than my #2. It came out on DVD in March, I believe.
- The Artist – I’m considering counting this as 2012, even though that’s the first time it opened in my town. Ultimately, you decide. Comment with your vote, please.
- The Interrupters – It debuted on TV (PBS) in February. It probably played on less screens than MMMM, but it did open in the summer. Then again… this.
- Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey – This may or may not be a 2012 film. Either way, I hadn’t heard of it until this year, and it wasn’t available on Netflix until this year.
- The Hunger Games
- Le Havre
- Bernie
- The Announcement
- Unhappy Country – Played at my local film festival.
- Chronicle – The only one on this list that I did not enjoy.
The decade.
- Rabbit Hole (2010)
- Dogtooth (2010)
- Poetry (2011)
- Never Let Me Go (2010)
- The Social Network (2010)
- Hugo (2011)
- Drive (2011)
- Weekend (2011)
- The Tree of Life (2011)
- Martha Marcy May Marlene (2012)
- The Artist (2012)
- Attack the Block (2011)
- Trust (2011)
- Moneyball (2011)
- In a Better World (2011)
- The Descendants (2011)
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
- Another Earth (2011)
- The Interrupters (2012)
- Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey (2012)
- Inception (2010)
- Four Lions (2010)
- Melancholia (2011)
- Margin Call (2011)
- Terri (2011)
Next time (in about a week): my review of the first film in our 2009 festival, Everlasting Moments.
Personally, I felt The Hunger Games was good, but not great. Overall, it had a very strong atmosphere and it was generally well-acted (ESPECIALLY on Stanley Tucci’s part) but I felt the plot was a bit predictable despite not having read the book. I’m surprised The Avengers didn’t make the list as that is definitely the best movie of 2012 I have seen so far.
These are the only 10 I’ve seen. I’ll get to The Avengers soon. As to The Hunger Games, I agree completely. It shouldn’t make my year-end list.
I will however say The Hunger Games was the second best movie I have seen this year so far as it was one of 4 I did so far, the other 2 being Safe House, basically Generic Mediocre Action Movie F, and Project X, a high school movie that actually makes my list of the 5 worst movies I have ever seen.
I was lucky to have steered clear of those two.
Sold list, Movie Man.
Nice list, but I’m saddened that you would put The Artist behind Hugo. :(
Oh, but I love Hugo so much.
I appreciate the longer decade list but numbers 1 and 2 from 2012 are from 2011. BERNIE is really the only notable film of 2012 thus far. Write on!
I decided to move The Artist (and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a movie I just saw today) to 2011. I hold firm on Martha, as it played for a only a very short time and only very far from me.
Hmmm looks like you have some work to do sir. May I suggest The Raid Redemption? Mesmerizing action that will leave you exhausted. Or The Cabin In The Woods? So not the typical pretty people slasher you would expect. Or Detachment? Tony Kaye makes a strong comeback from a long hiatus and little acclaim after American History X. I myself have missed some already this year on my list, so I do share in your pain. Press on and good luck!
I start playing catch-up in September. Right now, I’m focusing on 2009. Except for Prometheus, which I will catch on Thursday.