Ian's Top Films of 2012

OK, here's my list. I also didn't get round to seeing The Master although I meant to, and in fact have only seen 4 in Mark's Top 10 and 7 of the 18 he mentioned. But I did see over 30 films, so it feels like a good enough selection. It probably means the field is pretty open for the list of lists, so you others better get your contributions in...

 

Worst movies of the year

The Iron Lady: An almighty clunker of a script. So bad it resembled an extended French & Saunders parody of itself. Meryl Streep playing Jennifer Saunders playing Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher anyone?
To Rome With Love: Oh, Woody, no, no! Absolute tripe from start to finish.
Avengers Assemble: Probably not that bad, I'm not just the target audience. I watched it because of Joss Whedon, bit it felt like being slapped in the face continuously for two hours. Exhausting.

 

Best...

Actor: Michael Fassbender (Shame)
Actress: Charlize Theron (Young Adult)
Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender (Prometheus...for just about making a silly movie watchable)
Supporting Actress: Emily Blunt (Looper)

 

Just outside the Top 10

The Cabin In The Woods
A Dangerous Method
Ted (because a teddy bear with coke round his nose will always be funny)

 

Top 10

10     Skyfall
Who knew a Bond film would ever make my Top 10. Accidentally catching some of the silly, campy Die Another Day over Xmas just highlighted how far the franchise has come. Nice job Mr Mendes.

9       Keep The Lights On
I found this unflinching portrait of 10 years of a gay relationship more honest and more involving than last year's overpraised Nottingham-based fairy tale Weekend.

8      The Angel's Share
I'm not normally a Ken Loach fan, but this Scotch tale (in two senses) made me smile from ear to ear by the end.

7      Looper
A sci-fi movie which was clever, and did make sense! Terrific third act set around the farmhouse.

6      Lawrence Of Belgravia
OK, you probably have to be a fan of Felt/Denim/Go-Kart Mozart for this film to mean anything to you, but Saint Etienne collaborator Paul Kelly's documentary managed to paint a hugely charming portrait of a bit of a loser without an ounce of cruelty, and actually showed Lawrence to be a great dry wit of our times. Considerably enhanced by seeing a fab Q&A with director and subject at The Ritzy.

5      Young Adult
How did Charlize Theron get overlooked at awards season? She managed to get you to root for a dreadful person in a really funny but truthful film. Maybe I just relate to people who haven't grown up properly...

4      The Imposter
Two documentaries in the Top 10? Such an extraordinary story it couldn't be made up and had my mouth gaping open throughout. Told with pace of a thriller, and with a dark and unresolved twist in the final third. Terrific.

3      Sightseers
"They're not people, Tina, they're Daily Mail readers." This totally had my name on it. Best dog death in a film ever. And a really good ending. I want to see it again already.

2      Shame
Brilliant direction and acting, this has stayed with me all year and nearly held on to the top spot. But not quite...

1      Holy Motors
I could understand someone hating this film's weird surreality, but I was absolutely entranced. The most original film of the year, you never knew what was going to happen next, and it was full of extraordinary set-pieces and arresting images. A total one-off and the antithesis of aimless cartoony blockbusters. Its images just won't leave my head. And it even had Kylie (who was great)!


Look forward to seeing others' lists. See you soon, Ian x