Top 15 Films Of 2012. That's Right 15
"Diet by The Zec" in Jack Reacher
Thrillers always seem to feature a lesser thug being punished for not successfully hurting the main character. The result is usually a standard bullet to the brain; but Jack Reacher takes it to a new level. As local thug Linsky (Michael Raymond-James) answers to the shadowy figure later called "The Zec" (Werner Herzog), the boss gives Linsky two unthinkable options: bullet to the head, or prove his total dedication by eating his own fingers. Soon, The Zec shares in chilling detail how he was forced to eat his own appendages while in a Serbian jail, thus granting him the title 'prisoner.' It's a great scene, and Writer/Director Christopher McQuarrie (Usual Suspects) milks it for every uncomfortable moment that he can. The result is several seconds of pure anxiety for the audience before Linsky makes his decision.
Opening to Seven Psychopaths
As two hitmen wait for their next victim to arrive, they get into a spirited debate about the best way to kill someone, when a third person in a Mexican wrestling mask comes from behind to pop both of them. It immediately sets the tone for this wacky and violent comedy starring Collin Ferrell, Christopher Walken, and Sam Rockwell. Seven Psychopaths made it into our most overlooked films of 2012 for scenes like this. Who's the killer? You'll have to rent it this month to find out.
Game of Riddles from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
While I wasn't thrilled by The Hobbit, one scene in particular made the whole film worthwhile: the Game of Riddles. In this scene, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is introduced to the CGI character Gollum (Andy Serkis), who challenges him to unlock a series of riddles which Bilbo must answer correctly or die by Gollum's hand. Always a fan favorite, Gollum looks better than ever, as Serkis does a masterful job of expressing the deep conflict raging within him, all the while trying to rebufff Bilbo's increasingly difficult riddles. When Gollum realizes that the ring is gone, he launches into a frenzy to find it, ending the game and giving Bilibo the chance to escape. Gollum won't make an appearance again in The Hobbit series, so hopefully Director Peter Jackson will craft more equally memorable scenes for Bilbo and company.
Avengers Assemble and 'Puny God' from The Avengers
If there was ever a film that matched every expectation that I had, it was The Avengers. Filled with memorable comedic moments and terrific action sequences, the Joss Whedon-directed epic featured two instantly classic scenes. Called a 'tracking shot," the Avengers assemble after The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) smashes one of the Chitauri troop transporters, setting off Alan Silvestri's now-famous marching theme. It honestly gave me the chills watching such a perfect scene unfold, mostly because it was so unexpected given how the scene was playing out. Even though we saw it as part of the trailers, it nonetheless was so much more gratifying seeing it connected to the total story. We couldn't talk about The Avengers without mentioning the 'Puny God' exchange between Hulk and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). As Loki attempts to quell the beast while in Stark's livingroom, The Hulk answers in the only way he can: by smashing Loki into the ground. Righteous.
End Scene in Arbitrage
In one of the most underrated films of the year, Richard Gere plays Robert, an investment banker who must try to sell his company before the FTC finds out he bilked millions to cover the bills, all the while dodging a murder investigation involving he and his girlfriend. Needless to say, his wife Ellen (Susan Saradon) soon find out about the affair, and it seems like Robert's goose is cooked. Somehow, he manages to clean up every mess including the sale of his company, which he is soon rewarded by with a humanitarian statue. As the final scene unfolds, Director Nicholas Jarecki closes up on Gere's face as he's about to speak. Will he spill the beans ala Denzel Washington's Flight, or will he rattle off another prepared speech? You decide, but enjoy this well-made thriller.
"Thunder Buddy Song" and "White-Trash Girlfriend"
List from Ted Seth MacFarlane delivered the best comedy of the year about a teddy bear who soon learns how to talk and (later) misbehave. In one scene, his best friend John (Mark Wahlberg) sits on the couch rattling off in quick succession the names of various women he's dated. In another, Ted and John comfort each other during a thunderstorm by singing the instant classic "Thunder Buddy Song." If you've had a bad day and just need a good laugh, check out Ted.
Self-Cesarean Scene from Prometheus
The Alien franchise has always featured an uncomfortable 'birthing' scene from a human host; but Ridley Scott's prequel Prometheus took that to a new and more extreme level. Whether we truly understand how the alien organism/bacteria was transmitted into her, we soon learn that Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) becomes impregnated with said alien organism. Determined to remove the fast-growing squid-like creature from inside her, Shaw climbs into a "surgery pod" for a C-section. It's the scene everyone's talking about, and yet it made several people in our test audience leave the theater. It's one of those scenes you can't avert your eyes from, because you're so interested in whether Shaw will make it out alive.
"Listen to My Words' from The Watch
If Ted hadn't been such a huge success, The Watch would have been our Number 1 comedy of the year. Set in a neighborhood of white picket fences, The Watch tells the story about 4 neighbors who band together to form a neighborhood watch. Later, Jonah Hill and Ben Stiller question a high school skater about an incident, forcing the boy to listen to each of them as they ask their questions simultaneously. The ad-libbed scene soon becomes a match over which person the skater will ignore. Check out the scene on YouTube.
The Colonel's Role Revealed in Men in Black 3
Once stuck in development Hell, we finally got a third Men in Black this year that proved to be the best of the series. Near the end, Agent J (Will Smith) comes face to face with Colonel James Edwards, who J will soon learn is his long-lost father. However, J cannot stop these events from unfolding and is forced to watch his father gunned down. He learns that the reason why he can't remember his father is because his memory was wiped by Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) soon after the tragic event. It's a touching and fitting end to the film, returning the entire Men in Black storyline to its origins.
Guy Pearce Beatdown in Lawless
Lawless is another film that made our most overlooked list of 2012. A story about moonshine runners during the Prohibition Era, the Bronderant boys stand head and shoulders among the rest in Franklin County Virigina, that is until the county DA (Guy Pearce) enters the picture to end their reign. Among my favorite scenes is the now classic beatdown Pearce lays on the youngest brother (Shia LaBeouf), by grabbing the boy's head and punching it several times in rapid succession. And that's only one small section of the scene, which demonstrates the intensity to which Pearce approached the role. Pearce portrays a dark character with such bravado that I hope he nails an Oscar nomination for his efforts. Add to that great acting by Tom Hardy and an appearance by Gary Oldman, and it's a film not to be missed.
Please Leave A Comment-
Comments