01) I severely dislike these lists that are presented as "Top Ten Of 2012" or "Best Films Of 2012". I'm not a fan of film critics, I don't read them and I don't like them. I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Why do I care what someone says, thinks or writes whom I don't even know personally? What do I care what that person thinks about something I'm interested in? Shouldn't I experience it for myself? Shouldn't I go to see what it's all about, then form my own opinion about it?
02) These lists drive me crazy because they are so skewed. Some lists try to feature obscure films, while others feature the same films list after list etc. Feature the films that you loved the most, or inspired you the most!
03) My list contains only films actually released in 2012. There are no films here that were released theatrically in 2011. Or that came to DVD in 2011. If IMDB or Google or Rotten Tomatoes lists the film as being released, whether it be on the festival circuit, in a limited engagement or wide theatrical release - if these websites report the film as being released in any way in 2011, then it was. These are websites that the film industry deems as offering to the general public the standard of film industry information. Regardless of how many of us know that these same sites often feature big errors. It is what it is. Take it or leave it.
04) Finally, I don't "DO" reviews. I'll save you time by not writing a review of each. If you've seen any of these films, then you already know what each is about, or if you appreciated each of these or not, right? Each of these films struck a deep chord inside viscerally. Whether it was the inspiring visual poetics of Beasts Of The Southern Wild, or the profound spirituality I felt during Searching From Sugarman, or the good, hard mind-fucking I took without lubrication from Foxfur, Cloud Atlas or The Master, or the need to puke from the narrative anxieties of Argo and its last 45 minutes, or the extreme sadness I felt in the final minutes of Amour, Ruby Sparks or End Of Watch. It's a simple process for me. These are all really great films.
This year, much to my neglect and busyness was a great year of films. There were films that I saw on other's lists this year that I missed. I didn't get to see Gus Van Sant's Promised Land or Kathryn Ann Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty, but I look forward to them in 2013.
JUSTIN'S 20 FAVORITE FILMS OF 2012
02. THE MASTER
03. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
04. ARGO
05. END OF WATCH
06. SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN
07. RUBY SPARKS
08. AMOUR
09. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
10. LINCOLN
11. LOOPER
12. CLOUD ATLAS
13. DJANGO UNCHAINED
14. MOONRISE KINGDOM
15. THIS IS 40
16. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
17. A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWAN III
18. LIFE OF Pi
19. TABU
20. A FANTASTIC FEAR OF EVERYTHING
Terrific list.
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