5. Django Unchained (Directed by Quentin Tarantino)
What happens when you get an all star cast, brilliant supporting performances, and a sharp script? You get Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino's slavery revenge fantasy. What he did with Basterds to World War II, he's doing here for Antebellum America and the Civil War. The film doesn't work quite as well as Basterds, but it's a fantastic film in its own regard. Jamie Foxx is fine as Django, but the true scene stealer is Christoph Waltz as the charming psychopath Dr. King Schlutz. He's basically playing the same character as he did in Basterds, but he's a good guy now. Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson are also fantastic, especially considering that their roles were pretty despicable characters. The ending was the only weak link to me in the movie, but that's hardly a reason to call this film anything other than great.
4. Zero Dark Thirty (Directed by Kathryn Bigelow)
At a runtime of 157 minues, much like everything that came out over the holidays, Zero Dark Thirty is constantly hypnotic. Jessica Chastain shines bright in the first two hours, which acts as the ultimate procedural drama. The film provides great excitement and intrigue for this duration of the film. Even while Chastain was great, she's being supported by one of the best ensembles of the year, with highlights such as Jennifer Ehle, Chris Pratt, Mark Strong, and Jason Clarke. As for the last half hour, the killing of Bin Laden, you're witnessing some of the most intense moviemaking of the year. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and we all knew how it was going to end. Kathryn Bigelow gives us what may be the best possible take on this highly intriguing story.
3. Argo (Directed by Ben Affleck)
Argo proves that Ben Affleck is one of the decade's best directors. His adaption of an unbelievable true story, involving the rescue of hostages using the front of a fake movie, combines comedy, drama, thrills, and intrigue to create an all around unforgettable experience. Chris Terrio's script for this may very well be the best script of 2012, beating films like even Lincoln, Django, and ZDT! Even when it was a little slow, Ben Affleck's filmmaking skill, on top of his solid performance, is clearly evident here. This is a truly fantastic movie, one that I would recommend in a heartbeat to anyone, be it a film lover or a history lover.
2. Moonrise Kingdom (Directed by Wes Anderson)
Okay, you got me. I'm a sucker for Wes Anderson, so it should be no surprise that I loved this movie. This tale of young love, set across the backdrop of a New England island in the 60s. The ensemble for this movie is so unique and wonderful, led me two wonderful performances by Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, who play youthful lovers Sam and Suzy. On top of that, you've got Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, Tilds Swinton, and of course, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. With Moonrise Kingdom, you get what you pay for, and if you love Wes Anderson, you're sure to love this movie.
1. Cloud Atlas (Directed by Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, and Tom Twyker)
The most underrated film of the year, Cloud Atlas, is truly a modern masterpiece. Six stories, all combining humor, drama, action, and wonder, combine, telling the story of how we are all but incarnations of our own soul over different time periods. The three directors clearly put a lot of passion into this movie, and boy did it all pay off. The unique storytelling methods, visual richness of the film, and the poignant themes help Cloud Atlas to transcend its time period and create one of the most unique movie going experiences of the 21st century. (I was very upset upon learning that this recieved zero nominations for Academy Awards.) Given its demanding runtime, I can see why some would call it boring, but I couldn't disagree movie. For the whole 172 minutes, Cloud Atlas is an incredibly engaging film. I recommend this film whole-heartedly.
Thank you for listening.
