2012 was a year filled with as many cinematic highs than I’ve ever experienced. Not so much because of the quality of films that the year had to offer, but mainly due to the fact that I’d attended TIFF and had finally met so many online friends for the first time. This isn’t to say that 2012 was a bad year for film, as it just had the misfortune of following such a brilliant 2011. I look forward to what I think will be a phenomenal 2013, but let’s take a look back at my favorites from 2012:
Blind spots (mostly festival related):
Barbara (Petzold, Germany)
Leviathan (Castaing-Taylor/Paravel, Multinational)
Passion (De Palma, Multinational)
Post Tenebras Lux (Reygadas, Mexico)
To the Wonder (Malick, USA)
You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet (Resnais, France)
Honorable mentions:
In Another Country (Sang-soo, South Korea)
Magic Mike (Soderbergh, USA)
Paradise Love (Seidl, Austria)
Tabu (Gomes, Portugal)
Amour (Haneke, France)
Cosmopolis (Cronenberg, Canada)
Dredd (Travis, UK)
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (Hyams, USA)
Killer Joe (Friedkin, USA)
End of Watch (Ayers, USA)
The Comedy (Alverson, USA)
10. Zero Dark Thirty (Bigelow, USA)
9. 4:44 Last Day on Earth (Ferrara, USA)
8. The Color Wheel (Perry, USA)
7. Girl Walk // All Day (Krupnick, USA)
6. Like Someone in Love (Kiarostami, France/Japan)
5. Holy Motors (Carax, France)
4. Moonrise Kingdom (Anderson, USA)
3. Frances Ha (Baumbach, USA)
2. The Master (Anderson, USA)
1. Spring Breakers (Korine, USA)
Notes: Listen to further thoughts on list in podcast form on Almost Arthouse ep #12
Entire 2012 TIFF recap
Best non-2012 viewings of last year
A look back at my favorites from 2011
serene cinema 