The Five Best Movies Of 2012

This year I saw and reviewed over 130 movies here. And now that the calender has flipped, it's time for all kinds of best and worst lists. This week we've posted the Five Worst Movies, and the Five Most Surprising Movies, The Five Most Disappointing Movies And now it's time for The Five Best Movies of 2012.  The best movies of the year.

There overall were not those one or two runaway best movies like most years. There were some great movies, but the big takeaway for me from 2012 was the sheer amount of average movies.  There were some that did separate and go on to be great.  The race this year for me was as close as any year. Especially the distance between number one and number two.  Almost a dead heat.  So let's go!

The Five Best Movies Of 2012 

1/  Django Unchained  -  I never thought that Quentin Tarantino would actually top my list of great movies, although he has been on it before with Inglourious Basterds a couple years ago.  Of course this is very violent, and overly harsh at times. But behind all of that, this is a great story told exceptionally well.  Amazing character development as Christoph Waltz has one of the best performances of the year again, and should win his second Oscar.  The cast of Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Samuel L. Jackson is brilliant.   Fun cameos, a terrific script, and inventive movie making.  Tarantino is obviously an acquired taste.  But this, at its core is great.

 2/  Zero Dark Thirty -  This is amazing movie making. Kathryn Bigelow has become such an incredible film maker it's hard to overstate. This movie, about the CIA's ten year manhunt for Osama Bin Laden is riveting stuff.  This has a great cast, and is brilliantly written, produced and directed.  This is a story that you don't know, and will never see told this well again when Hollywood tries at some point.   Brave, strong and first class movie making from the very first frame.  Depending on Hollywood politics surrounding some of the subject matter of this movie, more than likely this will win the Oscar for Best Picture.

3/  Silver Linings Playbook -  This movie gets great marks for incredibly original storytelling, and a totally inventive idea.   Two young people, with serious mental illness and issues trying to have a normal relationship somehow.  Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert DeNiro all Oscar nominated for this.  This is a great mixture of drama, art, and razor sharp humor.  Wonderfully written and done directed with real care.   Jennifer Lawrence is a way long way from The Hunger Games here, and she's better off for it.  She deserves the Oscar for this.  She is the gas in the engine of this movie.  Somehow, see this.

4/  Lincoln -  Daniel Day Lewis is about a lock for another Oscar for his portrayal of President Lincoln here. It would and should be his third.  Yes, there are many nice things about this movie, with Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field each nominated for an Oscar as well. Wonderful story, and fantastic sets and costuming.   But let's be honest, Lewis makes this great.  Without his truly unbelievable performance this is simply very good and not great.  He elevates this to another level.  It's a performance for the ages in an enormous role that had a lot riding on it.
5/  The Words -  Again, a ton of originality points here. Bradley Cooper stars in this story of plagiarism, honesty and love.  This has a real nice cast, and a very strong story that keeps you with it the whole time. The Words is also very smart, with intricate and deep performances working off a really intelligent script. This is one of those movies where he star of the movie is...the movie.   Even though this was not a box office blockbuster, everyone I have every talked with that saw this, loved it.  Well done. Great ensemble movie.

There has to be an honorable mention or two

Argo -  I didn't love this as much as many, but it is still an upper tier movie.  Ben Affleck is great.

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen -  A true gem.  Emily Blunt needs to make more movies like this. She can be a big star in great movies if she wants to be. Choose wisely.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel -  Wonderfully charming movie.

Feel Free to e-mail me your thoughts and opinions to scott@wqmx.com
Let's recap  my list of The Best Five Movies From 2011 as well.