Top Ten of 2012

What a totes cracking cinematic year it has been. I certainly haven’t seen as many films as I had hoped (I never do!), but I had no trouble coming up with enough stellar movies to easily populate the list. In fact, it was quite an effort to stick to ten. Disclaimer, as always: I take no responsibility for movies in this list technically being 2011 films – I see them as they arrive on Kiwi screens. In alphabetical order, my top ten of 2012 are:

The Dark Knight Rises – I agonised for quite some time about whether to include this film or Whedon’s brilliantly entertaining Avengers. In the end, TDKR simply moved me more.

The Hobbit – I risk being deported if I don’t include Sir Peter Jackson’s latest Middle Earth caper in this year’s list. And, furthermore, this is a film made by a cinematic pioneer, with an undying passion for the material. Nuff said.

Into the Abyss – My spiritual hero, Werner Herzog, at his best. A simply wonderful look at an awful subject, this film surprises and angers and saddens and challenges, but manages to do so without preaching.

Looper – A real surprise: compelling and thrilling and smart. I immediately wanted to watch it again. With a masterful performance by Joseph “He’s Everywhere All the Time” Gordon-Levitt.

Martha Marcy May Marlene – By no means an easy watch, this film is outstanding and has remained with me for months. Disturbing and unsettling, with a lead performance that is out of this world.

A Royal Affair – Wonderfully lush, this film was definitely a standout. I laughed, I cried and I learnt a great deal about Danish history.

Searching for Sugar Man – Two documentaries is maybe a hard sell for such a short list, but I simply couldn’t leave out this mysterious and uplifting story of an unknown superstar. I was an instant fan of the film and the music.

Skyfall – It hasn’t pleased everyone, especially those who like their Bond more misogynistic and wise-cracking. But it’s a Bond for the times – failure, emotional depth and all. And I loved it.

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy – It was film of the year ‘thus far’ when I saw it in January and remained a strong contender at the year’s end. Brilliant cast, brilliant story, brilliant atmosphere.

We Need to Talk About Kevin – And finally, my film of the year. An absolutely glorious film – stark, disturbing, beautiful and utterly unforgettable.

Very highly recommended (and so very nearly in the top ten):

The Artist, The Avengers, Chronicle, The Descendants, The Ides of March, Seven Psychopaths, The Way

Disappointment of the year:

Rock of Ages

Quote of the year:

Tony Stark (to Loki) in The Avengers - "There is no throne, there is no version of this where you come out on top. Maybe your army will come, maybe it’s too much for us, but it’s all on you. Because if we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damn sure we’ll avenge it!"

Seven Psychopaths

Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Long Nguyen, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Linda Bright Clay

Dir & Scr. Martin McDonagh

Well, what a great film to get you right into the Christmas spirit! I’m kidding. But, you know what, I like to laugh at Christmas and I certainly laughed a lot during Seven Psychopaths … a little too much perhaps. It’s one of those black comedies in which you laugh, and then feel just a little bit of shame for doing so. I really liked this film. It’s not the best of its genre or even the best by McDonagh (of In Bruges fame). But it certainly ticked a lot of boxes. Highly recommend.

Seven Psychopaths is what you might call meta. A movie within a movie, and then some. Marty (Farrell) is a struggling screenwriter, possessed of a movie title – Seven Psychopaths – and not much else. His dog-napping friend, Billy (Rockwell), is desperate to help Marty write his movie and curb his drinking. Alongside this artistic struggle is the story of, well, quite a few others. Including Hans (Walken), Billy’s dog-napping accomplice; Charlie (Harrelson), a crazy gang lord who just wants his dog back; Kaya (Cornish), Marty’s long-suffering girlfriend. By the end of it all, Marty has his film.

McDonagh set his own bar extremely high with the brilliant In Bruges and this film has certainly suffered from constantly being compared to it. Sure, it’s not as good. It meanders in places, especially towards the end. Excuses itself from its shortcomings too easily and is, at times, a little too self-aware. Is perhaps a little too ridiculous in places. McDonagh has enough going on to pack several films. But for all its erratic-ness, there is much to like about Seven Psychopaths. Not least, it’s blooming funny. It’s also quite bloody, so be warned.

Perhaps the movie’s biggest saving grace is its brilliant cast. Here, McDonagh is truly blessed. Farrell is, as ever, very watchable. And set quite against type, as a floundering, cowardly screenwriter. Harrelson is spot on type – violent, crazy and emotionally unstable; he’s a treat to watch. The women don’t have much to do here (something which is humorously noted in the movie itself), but Clay is sublime and Cornish a welcome addition. Waits is creepily wonderful as a former-serial killer just searching for his long lost love. But the real stars of the film are Rockwell and Walken. They simply steal every scene they are in. Rockwell is right in his comfort zone, as wacky and unbalanced Billy. And Walken is… well, he’s Walken. Speaking in that way he does and shining every time he’s on the screen. And he injects most of the heart into the film, which is certainly needed.

It’s not perfect. But its dialogue is razor-sharp and the performances are brilliant. Spending a couple of hours in the company of Walken and Rockwell and Farrell means I can forgive a lot.

P.S. Him Indoors pointed out that it should really be called Seven Sociopaths, for many reasons he outlined on the drive home from the cinema. I’ll let you make your own decision. Personally, I just think psychopath is funnier.

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Hans: An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

Billy: No, it doesn’t. There’ll be one guy left with one eye. How’s the last blind guy gonna take out the eye of the last guy left?

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Hugo Weaving, James Nesbitt, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Andy Serkis, Sylvester McCoy, Cate Blanchett

Dir. Peter Jackson
Scr. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens & Guillermo del Toro (based on the novel by JRR Tolkien)

This movie is like nothing you have ever seen before. And I’m not being hyperbolic, I promise. I can also say with near certainty that some movie-goers will hate it and complain that it’s not “cinematic” or that it looks “too real”. These people have small minds and need to get out more. Seriously though, this is something new and shiny, much like colour or sound or high definition. It’s innovation; it’s pushing the boat out. And kudos to Jackson for taking us to a new place, whether this new place is universally embraced or not. Let’s not forget also, this is a charming and enchanting story, with larger than life characters and a whole lot of heart. I highly recommend.

I am somewhat embarrassed to say I have never read The Hobbit (or anything by Tolkien for that matter). For those of you who have, you’ll know the story well. Bilbo Baggins (Freeman), a quiet-life-loving hobbit, gets swept along on an adventure with wizard Gandalf the Grey (McKellen) and thirteen displaced dwarves led by warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Armitage). Their kingdom, Erebor, has long been ruled by the evil dragon Smaug and they embark on a quest to reclaim their home. Along the way, friends and foes are encountered, including the strange creature Gollum (Serkis) who will change Bilbo’s life forever.

The book will spawn three movies, fleshed out by other writings and details by Tolkien. And indeed Jackson and his creative team. An Unexpected Journey feels very much like part one of a larger story. Jackson takes time in setting the scene and giving key characters depth and motivation – it’s a nice thing that he has the luxury to do so. The movie, because of this, does seem to take some time to get going. But when it hits its stride, it’s unrelenting, chaotic and cracking. This is also a much brighter and happier Middle Earth than the one we experienced in the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy. There is less lurking in dark corners and it lacks that constant sense of foreboding. Which I admit I missed a little.

The Hobbit is the first feature to be filmed and projected at 48 frames per second (fps). The standard is 24 fps. In addition, it’s in 3D. I guess if anyone is up to this task, it’s Jackson and his team. There is no question that this combination messes with your mind. How long it takes an audience member to adjust might directly correlate to how much the film is enjoyed and embraced. It’ll be a very personal journey. For me, the adjustment was swift but I was still repeatedly surprised and thrilled by the detail and smoothness and clarity. Although I could have done with a pause button to simply take it all in.

The cast on offer here, much like that in the LOTR trilogy, is stellar and clearly having the time of their lives. If some feel the look of the film is too clinical, they can be rest assured that this cast ably offer the emotional connection the audience needs and craves. First and foremost, Freeman is simply perfection. He was born to play Bilbo. Such enthusiasm and heart and humour and nuance, he is a delight. I connected with him so much more than Elijah Wood’s Frodo. McKellen is back as a younger Gandalf and is brilliant as ever, a little more vulnerable and unsure than his LOTR Gandalf. The gaggle of dwarves is very entertaining, though few are truly fleshed out. Armitage, as their driven and courageous leader Thorin, has the most to do and does it very well. The other standout for me is Serkis, reprising his role as Gollum. Without question, the best scene is the riddle battle between him and Bilbo – absolutely captivating and wonderfully funny. Some have compared McCoy’s wizard Radagast the Brown to Jar Jar Binks, which is awfully unfair.

If you are a Tolkien and LOTR fan, you will not be disappointed by this visit to Middle Earth. The technology on display here may divide audiences and I’m sure the likes of James Cameron are looking on with great interest – if it goes well, who knows how many frames per second Avatar II might be filmed in. Jackson clearly believes in his vision. This particular movie-goer was simply delighted by it all.

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Gandalf: You’ll have a tale or two to tell when you come back.
Bilbo: You can promise that I will come back?
Gandalf: …. No. And if you do, you will not be the same.