Alright, I know I'm kinda late on this list but not that late, I mean the Oscars did just happen. I also have finally seen every movie that has come out worth seeing, took me awhile to see Life of Pi and Cloud Atlas. So with that at of the way here is my list for the Top 10 Films of 2012. I'm going to start off with Honorable Mentions, just listing them in no particular order not going into detail, then I'll get to the list.
Each of these Honorable Mentions are fantastic films and I highly suggest all of them. In no particular order-
Honorable Mentions: Looper, , The Hobbit, The Hunger Games, Men in Black 3, The Woman in Black, 21 Jump Street, The Amazing Spider-man, Ted, The Expendables 2, Seven Psychopaths, Man With The Iron Fists, Les Miserable, Zero Dark Thirty, Chronicle, Dredd, Beasts of the Southern Wild
10.The Cabin in the Woods
Being a horror fan, I always try to see as many horror movie as I can every year. This is by far the one of the best horror movies in the past ten years. It's a movie where you really don't know where its going but when it gets there you are completely satisfied.
9. Prometheus
This is a story that I have been waiting for since the first time I saw Alien. I've always been a huge fan of the series but there's always been one question, what's the deal with the space jockey? Prometheus answered this question, sort of. It's a great looking film with some very inventive story telling. It didn't drastically change the game but it's a welcome back for Ridley Scott to the genre that started his career.
8. Life of Pi
Took me awhile to see this one but I'm extremely glad I did. It's a beautifully crafted film with a heartwarming inspirational story and effects that look amazing. Going into it I wasn't sure if I was gonna like it but I'm very glad I took the chance on this. The only thing bringing this down is the ending which many people have complained about, but it wasn't that bad and I think it worked.
7. Silver Linings Playbook
Defiantly had one of the best casts of the year and also a very well written film. The film also really shows the things that people who are bipolar go through and it does it very well. It was really great to see DeNiro in a good movie for once as well and he would have been well deserving of an Oscar for his performance.
6. Moonrise Kingdom
This is the film that got me into Wes Anderson and I'm extremely glad it did. It's a fun quirky comedy that also has the best script of the year, besides Django. After seeing this I watched all of Anderson's films and this easily sits as one of his best. I'd say its second only to The Royal Tenenbaums.
5. The Avengers
What can I say about this one. It was everything I had hoped for and more. The hype behind this one was so huge and it delivered on all aspects. The cast was amazing together, the story worked, it was fantastically shot, and it was filled with bad ass moments that a comic book movie fan would expect from this film. To me, this was the best comic book film of the year and delivered on things that fans were looking for, unlike some other comic book movies that came out this year that have the initails TDKR.
4. Cloud Atlas
This was another one that took me awhile to see but again I'm so happy I did. This was the must see movie of the year for the sheer scope and approach of it. This left many critics divided with some hating it and others adoring it. Obviously I'm on the latter's side. I've been waiting for a film like this to happen for a long time. I just love the idea of a genre crossing anthology type movie, and the idea for using the actors as different characters in the stories was genius, I think it really works. It looks stunningly beautiful and it's definitely the Wachowski's best film to date.
3. Django Unchained
It was inevitable that the new Tarantino flick would find it's way onto my list being that I've loved everything the man has made so far. While Django isn't his best it is still a step above everyone else and that's what's great about Tarantino. His worst film could be considered someone elses best. This is one that you can really tell he's been wanting to make for a long time being that he is such a fan of spaghetti westerns, and his love for them really shines through. Its a very fun and well made film. If you are a Tarantino fan, you won't be disappointed.
2. Lincoln
It's a bit surprising even to me that this isn't my number one pick because it is Spielberg at his best. This is another one that I was destined to love right from the start simply because it's Spielberg. His ability to capture a character's essence shines through in this love letter to his hero Abraham Lincoln. The decision to focus on just the one moment in time of the mans life really works and the decision to cast the great Daniel Day-Lewis as the man himself was also a brilliant move. It's been great to see Steven Spielberg bounce back from Indiana Jones 4 and the last three years have been very kind for the man putting out two very fine films, War Horse and The Adventures of Tin Tin, and one truly great film in the form of Lincoln.
1. Skyfall
This is the greatest Bond film ever made. Yes, better than Goldfinger. I never thought I'd see the day that a Bond movie would beat out Goldfinger as my favorite, but then I saw Skyfall and it blew me away. The action, the story, the cast, the beautiful cinematography, Sam Mendes's direction, I mean everything was pitch perfect and this is is also the best performances by both Daniel Craig and Judi Dench of the series. It also has the greatest Bond villain as well in the form of Silva played tremendously by Javier Bardem, who was robbed an Oscar nod for his performance. It also delved way deeper into the Bond character than any other one of the franchise ever has. All of this put together is what makes this not only the best picture of the year, to me, but also the best Bond movie ever.
Reviews of movies and television new and old. This is strictly opinion so don't be offended if you disagree, even though I'm right. Segments include Netflix Reviews (movies I get in the mail from Netflix), Top 10 Lists, Reruns, (reviews of certain series's in full and certain episodes), and The Cinema Lounge (reviews of new films in theaters). There will also be a few specials every now and than.
Showing posts with label Lincoln. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lincoln. Show all posts
Friday, March 1, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
2013 Oscar Picks and Predictions
Well it's that time of the year again and what better way to celebrate the mediocrity of the
Academy Awards than to pick my own winners? So in this segment I'm going to be predicting who the winners will be and who I think SHOULD win, many of them will be different. Now as of now I've seen 7 of the 9 films nominated for best picture, the two I didn't see are Life of Pi and Amour, so obviously I can't account for those two. I'm also not gonna be covering the Best Short Films categories or Documentaries being that I haven't seen any of them. Okay, on to the ballot.
Best Visual Effects:
The Avengers
Prometheus
Snow White and The Huntsman
Life of Pi
The Hobbit
-What Should win: The Avengers
-What Will Win (probably): Life of Pi
Avengers definitely had the best effects and deserve to win for The Hulk alone. Life of Pi is a safer choice for the Academy and is also nominated for picture so this is kind of a shoo-win.
Best Original Song:
Chasing Ice (Before My Time)
Les Miserables (Suddenly)
Life of Pi (Pi's Lullaby)
Skyfall (Skyfall)
Ted (Everybody Needs A Best Friend)
-What Should Win: Skyfall
-What Will Win (probably): Skyfall
It already won the Golden Globe and out of everything it was the best original song. The only real competition it has is from Les Miserables.
Best Original Score:
Lincoln (John Williams)
Argo (Alexandre Desplat)
Life of Pi (Mychael Danna)
Anna Karenina (Dario Marianelli)
Skyfall (Thomas Newman)
-What Should Win: Lincoln
-What Will Win (probably): Life of Pi
Every year the Academy seems to pick a movie that is nominated for picture but won't win and give it all the technical awards. I have a feeling it's gonna be Life of Pi this year even though I feel the score in Lincoln was tremendous and John Williams hasn't won since Schindler's List, even though he's deserved it in several cases in my opinion.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Design:
Les Miserable
The Hobbit
Hitchcock
-What Should Win: The Hobbit
-What Will Win (probably): The Hobbit
I'm giving the Academy credit here and hope that they're not complete idiots, even though they'd probably pick one of the other two.
Best Costume Design:
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Anna Karenina
Mirror Mirror
Snow White and The Huntsman
-What Should Win:Les Miserable
-What Will Win (probably): Les Miserables
I don't really care either way what wins but if I had to guess it would be Les Miserables
Best Production Design:
Les Miserable
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Anna Karenina
The Hobbit
-What Should Win: Les Miserables
-What Will Win (probably): Life of Pi
Again, it's technical so Pi will probably get it.
Best Editing:
Argo
Zero Dark Thirty
Lincoln
Life of Pi
Silver Linings Playbook
-What Should Win: Sliver Linings Playbook
-What Will Win (probably): Argo or Life of Pi
Silver Linings Playbook was very well put together and out of these is the best choice. Argo will probably give it a run for it's money and Life of Pi is a big contender for the technical as well.
Best Cinematography:
Skyfall
Lincoln
Anna Karenina
Life of Pi
Django Unchained
-What Should Win: Skyfall
-What Will Win (probably): ???
Personally I feel that Skyfall was, not only the best looking film of the year, but the best film of the year overall. This is a very tough category and I don't really think I could guess what will win. It would be awesome for Skyfall to get recognition but Django Unchained had some amazing cinematoraphy as well and Pi is always a tough contender too as is Lincoln. Could be anything.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Argo
Beasts of The Southern Wild
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Life of Pi
-What Should Win: Beasts of The Southern Wild
-What Will Win (probably): Silver Linings Playbook
Now a movie like Beasts of Southern Wild isn't really my thing but I can admit that it was done beautifully and that the writing was very well done. Silver Linings was great as well but Beasts had that extra something that really made the world, dialogue, and characters very memorable and fully realized.
Best Original Screenplay:
Zero Dark Thirty
Amour
Django Unchained
Flight
Moonrise Kingdom
-What Should Win: Django Unchained or Moonrise Kingdom
-What Will Win (probably): Zero Dark Thirty or Django Unchained
Both Django Unchained and Moonrise Kingdom were the most unique and well written works this year and they both deserve to win. However Zero Dark Thirty is the safer, regular route that the Academy goes for. But Django did get the Golden Globe for writing and the last time Tarantino got the Globe he also went home with the Oscar for Pulp Fiction.
Best Supporting Actress:
Sally Field (Lincoln)
Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)
Helen Hunt (The Sessions)
Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook)
-Who Should Win: Anne Hathaway
-Who Will Win (probably): Anne Hathaway
She was one of the shining gems in the otherwise just- slightly- above- average Les Miserables and everyone has acknowledged it. She's a shoo-win.
Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
Alan Arkin (Argo)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (The Master)
Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook)
Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
-Who Should Win: Christoph Waltz
-Who Will Win (probably): Christoph Waltz
Now the Academy could surprise us and give it to Robert De Niro, who rightfully deserves it as well but Christoph Waltz was just fantastic and he really was the best of the year.
Best Actress:
Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty)
Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of The Southern Wild)
Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
Emmanuelle Riva (Amour)
Naomi Watts (The Impossible)
-Who Should Win: Jessica Chastain
-Who Will Win (probably): Jessica Chastain
Her performance has been raved and she carried that entire movie herself, plan and simple.
Best Actor:
Bradley Cooper (silver Linings Playbook)
Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables)
Daniel Day- Lewis (Lincoln)
Joaquin Phoenix (The Master)
Denzel Washington (Flight)
-Who Should Win: Hugh Jackman
-Who Will Win (probably): Daniel Day- Lewis
Jean Valjean was easily Hugh Jackman's best role and he finally deserves some recognition in his career. Daniel Day- Lewis was tremendous as always but it should really go to Jackman this time around.
Best Director:
Ang Lee (Life of Pi)
Michael Haneke (Amour)
Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)
David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook)
Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of The Southern Wild)
-Who Should Win: Steven Spielberg or Benh Zeitlin
-Who Will Win (probably): Steven Spielberg
As I said before, Beasts of The Southern Wild wasn't necessarily my cup of brandy, however there are certain elements that definitely outshine every other film on this list namely writing, supporting acting, and directing. Now I wanted to recognize Zeitin because if I had to choose I would go with Spielberg personally even though technically Zeitin did a better job considering everything he had to do. But Spielberg is the master and it is completely clear in Lincoln just how good he is, and why he's my favorite director of all time.
Best Picture:
Amour
Life of Pi
Django Unchained
Lincoln
Argo
Zero Dark Thirty
Beasts of The Southern Wild
Les Miserables
Silver Linings Playbook
-What Should Win: Lincoln or Django Unchained
-What Will Win (probably): Lincoln
-What Truly Is The Best Movie Of 2012: Skyfall
I can't begin to describe how disappointing it is that Skyfall got snubbed for Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor because it deserved all three of those. Skyfall was a masterpiece and was able to shift the Bond franchise from fun action movies to deep internal conflicts of a character that was finally shown his full potential. And it's a crime that Javier Bardem wasn't recognized as Best Supporting because he was magnificent. But enough of my griping. Out of the films nominated Lincoln seems to be leading the race with good reason though I must say I would prefer to see Tarantino finally fully recognized by winning Best Picture.
Well those are my picks and Predictions for this year's Oscars. We shall see come February if I'm right on any counts.
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