As the Way Too Indie Staff compiled their favorite films that had a U.S. theatrical release in 2012, there was some debate as to whether or not 2012 was an overall good year for films. I landed in the “it was a pretty good year” camp personally, but let’s take a moment to recap some of the big releases that came out. In particular, 2012 was quite a year for blockbuster films as The Avengers broke 28 box office records during the summer. Christopher Nolan finished up his Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises. Steven Spielberg shot an epic biopic about the history behind one of America’s most famous presidents with his film Lincoln. No one from the staff had a chance to see Zero Dark Thirty before making their list, which is bound to have a nice box office run. Next, consider how many modern legendary filmmakers released a film this year; Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom), Paul Thomas Anderson (The Master), Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained), Leos Carax (Holy Motors) and the final film by Bela Tarr (The Turin Horse). While there may not have been a plethora of masterpieces in 2012, overall it was a solid year for fans of cinema.

Way Too Indie’s Best Films of 2012

#1 This Must Be the Place

Paolo Sorrentino’s new film about a retired gothic rock star living in Dublin, Ireland who sets out across America to find the ex-Nazi who tortured his father is one hell of a road trip film. Sean Penn plays the rocker and it’s one of his best performances in years. Some parts are very funny and others will touch your heart. Supporting turns from Judd Hirsch, Frances McDormand, Harry Dean Stanton and real life rock star David Byrne are just a few of the quirky people that populate Sorrentino’s whimsical journey into the heart of not only America, but darkness itself. (Blake)
This Must Be the Place Review | Watch Trailer

#2 Looper

Having worked in a cinema over the summer I can say that in the UK, Looper wasn’t a film that generated that much hype, I think we were all sure that it was just another Bruce Willis action stereotype. After seeing the trailer, my opinion changed dramatically and I was forced to admit I was eagerly awaiting the release. This sci-fi designed to avoid the deep nature of time travel and accept that there are many ‘loop holes’ to the whole experience focuses on a single man’s fight for survival. The people and/or person that he is fighting against are where this story pulls at the complex strings of our mind. We’re constantly fighting our own battle to understand what’s happening and our constant personal debate as to who to root for is why this film is so high in this list. (Amy)
Looper Review | Watch Trailer

#3 Beasts of the Southern Wild

Benh Zeitlin blindsided everyone this year with his fantastic filmmaking debut in Beasts of the Southern Wild. One of the year’s best films was comprised of people who have never acted before, making the film that much more impressive. The film is told through the eyes of a self-aware child who has extraordinary determination to find her place in the world. Many allegories can be found within this poetic fairy tale of a film, making it not only an imaginative coming-of-age story but also a though-provoking one as well. (Dustin)
Beasts of the Southern Wild Review | Watch Trailer

#4 Oslo, August 31

You will not find a more devastating film in this year (or possibly any year). Led by the best performance by an actor this year, this Norwegian drama will have you weeping in parts and your hands balled in fists rage in others. Anders, a recovering drug addict, wanders the streets of the Norwegian capital for 24 hours wondering his life’s worth and where he fits it in the grand scheme of things. The film is brutally honest for most of it’s 95 minutes, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more complete film than this Scandinavian masterpiece. (Blake)
Oslo, August 31 Review | Watch Trailer

#5 Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson has created such a spectacular adventure fantasy I challenge anyone to dislike it. With two fantastic young actors portraying disturbed and lonely children searching for love, happiness and adventure you can’t help but adore their almost-adolescent behaviour. Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) the daughter of Laura (Frances McDormand) and Walt (Bill Murray) Bishop always carries a pair of binoculars due to her investigative and interesting nature. Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) is a devoted boy scout who doesn’t fit in with his group of peers. His destructive attitude towards bullies makes him an outsider to society and abandoned by his foster family. The pair’s loneliness and abstract personalities force them to run away with each other. The story is brilliant and a personal favourite of the year. (Amy)
Moonrise Kingdom Review | Watch Trailer

#6 Jeff, Who Lives at Home

In this fourth feature film from the indie darlings Jay and Mark Duplass, they have perfected the comradery of brotherhood using their signature approach of quick zoom cinematography and less scripted dialog. Jeff, Who Lives at Home delivers a powerful message about believing things happen for a reason by blurring the line between choice and destiny. Along the way are some hilarious scenes that make the film an easy and entertaining watch. The Duplass brothers may be edging into more mainstream movie making, but they are not sacrificing their style or creativity. (Dustin)
Jeff, Who Lives at Home Review | Watch Trailer

#7 The Deep Blue Sea

“You know what real love is? It’s wiping someone’s ass … and lettin’ ‘em keep their dignity so you can both go on.” That advice one character gives to Hester (Rachel Weisz) more or less sums up the message of Terence Davies’ film. Hester, who left her marriage to a wealthy judge for a young Air Force pilot (Tom Hiddleston), is so madly in love with her boyfriend that she resorts to suicide if he doesn’t return the same feelings entirely. Weisz is naturally terrific at earning sympathy despite her character’s irrational behaviour, but it’s Davies who stands out (returning to narrative filmmaking after a long hiatus). Shooting through the same perspective as Hester, Davies uses a soft, hazy look and plenty of jaw-dropping sequences/shots that make The Deep Blue Sea the most romantic film of 2012. (CJ)
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#8 Your Sister’s Sister

Lynn Shelton shot Your Sister’s Sister in under two weeks, but there is no evidence that the film suffers from such a short production. While the premise is simple, a man falls for his friend’s sister, the film turns out to be more intelligent and less conventional that it may sound like. Shelton brilliantly takes simple situations and turns them into extraordinary ones without sacrificing believability. Because the film mostly consists of improvisational dialog, genuine emotions and conversations are fully captured. To top it off, it wisely steers clear of a safe ending and goes with one that perfectly fits with the rest of the film. (Dustin)
Your Sister’s Sister Review | Watch Trailer

#9 The Turin Horse

Bela Tarr’s final film (and final masterpiece) is such a satisfying end to the Hungarian director’s career that it’s easy to understand why he retired. Unfolding over two and a half hours in 30 long takes, The Turin Horse observes six days in the life of a farmer and his daughter in a desolate landscape. They do the same tasks repeatedly with each passing day, but soon their world is slowly dismantled piece by piece until there’s nothing left. Tarr’s bleak vision, with the brutal soundscape of pummeling winds and intense focus on the farmer’s tedious tasks, are so gorgeously realized with DP Fred Kelemen that it’s impossible not to be affected by it. The Turin Horse may not be an easy watch, but it’s undeniably pure cinema. (CJ)
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#10 Cabin in the Woods

Reading through Blake’s review of this movie, I can safely say that I agree with him quite strongly. The film was 100% refreshing to the horror genre and indeed “on the edge of being great”. The Cabin in the Woods offers us a chance to see horror for what it is and what it should be, awesome, ‘scary’ and sometimes absolutely spontaneous. In a genre that suffers from over use of the stereotype high-school death sequences this film gives it a breath of fresh air, something much needed due to the drivel that’s been pumped out over the years. (Amy)
Cabin in the Woods Review | Watch Trailer

#11 End of Watch

Set on the mean streets of Los Angeles this tale of two beat cops is one hell of a thriller. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are magnificent as the two cops. The film lives or dies on their chemistry and honestly you won’t find a better on screen duo this year. Director David Ayers supports them with a great screenplay and even better directing. His film builds from minute one all the way to the frantically intense finale where the two cops find themselves marked men by the Mexican drug cartel. This is visceral filmmaking. (Blake)
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#12 The Raid: Redemption

The premise is simple: A SWAT team takes on an apartment complex run by a drug lord but soon have to fight their way out in order to survive. Gareth Evans, evoking the no-bullshit attitude of 70s exploitation films from the likes of John Carpenter, takes his straightforward concept and fills it with some of the most brutal and exciting action sequences from the last decade. Starting with guns and slowly moving his way towards hand-to-hand combat, Evans maintains a breathless pace while upping the brutality with each passing minute. When it comes to action filmmaking this is as close to perfect as it can get. (CJ)
The Raid: Redemption Review | Watch Trailer

#13 The Dark Knight Rises

To be clear, The Dark Knight Rises is not my favorite of Christopher Nolan’s three-film franchise. But is it one of the best of 2012? Absolutely! There is enough that works in this film to forgive its more obvious flaws, ahem pacing. Nolan maintains the dark tragic arc of the Batman introducing him to, if not his most tantalizing of villains, definitely his most dogged. Bain manages to invoke more damage than any other criminal introduced, on both Gotham and Batman. And there is the true connection Nolan presents: Batman is Gotham and his fate ties directly to the city. This emotional tie, and the barriers Bruce Wayne, who may now always be remembered with Christian Bale’s cool collected mannerisms, must overcome, grow our love for this favorite of the superhero universes. Nolan’s conclusion to what is clearly the best comic book film series ever made, gives us the best of the Batman and this leaves a satisfying sense of closure. (Ananda)
The Dark Knight Rises Review | Watch Trailer

#14 The Master

An alcoholic war veteran (played by Joaquin Phoenix) stumbles into a cult circle run by Philip Seymour Hoffman. From there The Master keeps the audience on edge with massive amounts of psychological realism resulting with more questions than answers. The Master is a hypnotic film that is challenging but ultimately rewarding if you are willing to read between the lines. Containing acting performances that are not only among the best of the year, but the best in recent memory. Paul Thomas Anderson is considered to be one of the best filmmakers of the last 20 years and it is easy to see why after watching this film. (Dustin)
The Master Review | Watch Trailer

#15 The Avengers

Though I may perhaps be one of few who would call this one, if not the, best film of the year, any film that perfectly executes its genre, should be given accolade. With comic book films starting to lose originality, Joss Whedon stays true to the character of each of The Avengers’ six superheroes by presenting them truer to their comic book form than trying to adapt them to film. Using his particular comedic wit (all that we loved about Dr. Horrible) and incredibly executed action (all the greatness of Firefly) and suddenly we’re watching a different sort of comic book movie. One which gratifies fanboys and moviegoers alike with its presentation. Combined with Whedon’s sly horror film Cabin in the Woods (also on our list of the Best of 2012), which manages to reinvent genres by cleverly laughing both with and at Horror, I’d say Whedon’s in the zone. (Ananda)
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#16 Headhunters

The best description I’ve heard about this brilliant thriller from Norway was, “a mix of Coen brothers and Wiley Coyote.” A corporate headhunter is way in debt. So much so that he resorts to stealing valuable art pieces from clients. His new client, whom he also suspects of sleeping with his wife, turns out to be an ex-Mercenary who specialized in tracking down humans. Once the chase starts there is no letting up. The film is brilliant at mixing brutal and bloody violence with ironic comedy and great human moments. (Blake)
Headhunters Review | Watch Trailer

#17 Ruby Sparks

I had very high hopes for Ruby Sparks, and I’m absolutely positive it was rooted from my love of Little Miss Sunshine. The makers did not disappoint. Ruby Sparks is funny, crazy and a little bit lovely. Calvin (Paul Dano – “Dwayne” from Little Miss Sunshine) has writers block when we are first introduced to him. He’s seeing a therapist (Elliot Gould) in order to help him overcome some personal issues; however his need to write overshadows dealing with those problems. A writing assignment given by his therapist turns into the narrative for this story. Calvin creates a woman “Ruby Sparks” (Zoe Kazan) from the words he writes on his typewriter and she comes to life; cue love story. Ruby isn’t an ordinary girl however, she’s everything Calvin wants and has ever dreamed of quite literally; until the day she isn’t. A self-destructive Calvin realises he is living out a dream and not a reality. A typical boy meets girl love story but with some serious edge. (Amy)
Ruby Sparks Review | Watch Trailer

#18 Arbitrage

After seeing Dustin’s review for a new Richard Gere film I had to check it out for myself. Arbitrage was an almost perfect film that grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t lose you at any point at all. Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is the CEO of Miller Capital with an intention to sell his business, the reasons why cause trauma and deceit throughout the entirety of the film. His family and friends can’t seem to understand why he wants to sell the firm but the need to preserve his dignity a financial standing pushes him to do so. Keeping concentration during Arbitrage is effortless. In Dustin’s review he said the film, “uses its runtime effectively, making it seemingly fly by” – and because the ending came as such a shock to me I’d have to agree. I hadn’t realised I’d been watching the film for 107 minutes and it seemed to jump out of the blue. Arbitrage leaves you with some unanswered questions and the film ends quite abruptly, however the journey is so exciting you don’t seem to mind all that much. (Amy)
Arbitrage Review | Watch Trailer

#19 Lincoln

I was skeptical before seeing this film; unsure Spielberg wasn’t out to extort one of America’s most beloved political heroes. As a timely film, during the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I worried the film would focus on the war, the most gruesome event of Lincoln’s presidency, but instead Lincoln is a well-crafted political drama. The film portrays Lincoln as a politician who could play the game as well as any of them and still bring a sense of dignity to it all. Daniel Day Lewis, a Brit who has my permission to play any American figure he pleases, portrays Lincoln’s affability but also shows the toll such empathy for people took on him. With an inspired ensemble (I literally spent the first 30 minutes gawking at how many great actors kept popping up), Lincoln’s greatest Presidential act, the abolishment of slavery, is acted to perfection. And at a time when our own politicians seem unable to reach compromises, this film offers greater encouragement and a timely reminder of what one man was able to accomplish. (Ananda)
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#20 Holy Motors

This French gem of a film is one that I can honestly say I haven’t quite figured out fully yet. But, I guarantee you won’t find a better film this year about the love (and loss) of cinema. A man rides in the back of a limo from one “appointment” to another. To describe what he does over the course of the film in one paragraph is simply impossible, but I would bet my life that as a cinema lover you’ll lose count of how many times you’ll be picking your jaw up from the floor. This is a film that drips with the blood, sweat and tears of all eras of cinema. Denis Levant’s lead performance is one for the ages. You owe yourself to see this film. (Blake)
Holy Motors Review | Watch Trailer

#21 This is Not a Film

Jafar Panahi’s film, while sitting closer to the bottom of this list, would certainly be at the top if we were going by the most impressive films of the year. Panahi, who is currently on house arrest with a 6 year prison sentence and 20 year ban on filmmaking, tries to work around his limitations by filming himself acting out a script he was working on before his arrest. It’s through this seed of an idea that This is Not a Film transforms into so much more: a portrait of a man who’s lost his livelihood, a defiant act of protest, a meditation on cinema itself and so much more. It’s one of the most daring and original works from this year with a final sequence that has to be seen to be believed. (CJ)
This is Not a Film Review | Watch Trailer

#22 Silver Linings Playbook

Granted, I’m a sucker for an untraditional romance any day, but throw in amazing performances and I have no problem calling Silver Linings Playbook one of the best of the year. David O. Russel makes a romance between two emotionally disturbed people both heartwarming and realistic. Bradley Cooper gives a career-defining performance as Pat, just out of a state institution after going ballistic when he found his wife in the shower with a co-worker, and now living back at home with his parents. Robert De Niro (only improved with age) is Pat’s borderline OCD father who loves his son the only way he knows how. But Jennifer Lawrence picked the perfect way to cast off any young-adult-leading-lady stigma by playing Tiffany, a manic recently widowed young woman who befriends Pat and proves that two crazies cancel each other out. Through their self-devised form of therapy they bring out the best in each other while accepting each other in fully flawed form. Both hilarious and heart-wrenching, Silver Linings Playbook proves that today’s romance no longer fits the rom-com mold, and I say out with the old and in with new. (Ananda)
Silver Linings Playbook Review | Watch Trailer

#23 Beyond the Black Rainbow

Beyond The Black Rainbow is more of an experience than anything else. This sci-fi thriller is a highly stylized head trip; weather it is an enjoyable one will come down to your tolerance of slow-paced atmospheric films that replace a traditional narrative for abstract visuals. The film is set in a futuristic 1983 facility where an experimental doctor holds his patient captive to perform tests on her. The film appears heavily influenced from the masterminds of Stanley Kubrick and Dario Argento. If you can overlook the dreadful ending, you may just find the most bizarre film of 2012. (Dustin)
Beyond the Black Rainbow Review | Watch Trailer

#24 Life of Pi

Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, Life of Pi, dubbed “unfilmable” by some, is at once both true to it’s source as well as a stand alone masterful film. The story of a young man who loses everything when shipwrecked and winds up lost at sea with a Bengal tiger, is fantastical and yet at all times believable, because Pi’s spiritual journey is so in tune with that of the struggle within many of us. Ang Lee has told every manor of story in his many films, covering both history and the globe with his settings. With Life of Pi, he proves there is no story he can’t get to the heart of, and no visual element he can’t master. Turns out a film can combine the visual elements of a major blockbuster with the artistic emotion of an independent film, where one element need not trump the other. (Ananda)
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#25 Killer Joe

William Friedkin and Tracy Letts’ pitch black comedy isn’t afraid to revel in the vile world it creates. The hick family, who hire an assassin to kill their mother and use their mentally impaired daughter as a retainer, are either dumb as a doornail or reprehensible on every level. People only communicate through shouting matches, and everyone is just trying to make money without any care for who might get hurt along the way. Friedkin and Letts slowly let the story develop along the way, letting things play out as a sort of warped take on a Coen Brothers film while slowly building up the tension until everything goes wrong. What elevates Killer Joe into something truly great is the final act, where all the tension explodes in a horrifying conclusion that’ll have viewers mortified or cackling with glee. William Friedkin might not be churning out classics like The Exorcist or The French Connection nowadays, but there’s no denying the man hasn’t lost his edge. (CJ)
Killer Joe Review | Watch Trailer

Honorable Mentions

Sleepwalk With Me
Alps
Prometheus
Barbara
The Color Wheel

Let’s face it, compared to 2011, this year was a relatively boring year for movies. While the year started out great with some fantastic films getting released after June the quantity of quality films dropped significantly. That’s not to say that there are not any great movies to be seen, but compared to 2011 where it was one great film released after another, this year has been very disappointing. Granted I have not seen a few films yet such as Zero Dark Thirty, Cloud Atlas, Lincoln, Skyfall, Django Unchained and The Hobbit. But even if all those movies were great I still don’t think it would’ve come close to last year.

I found that it was much easier this year to make a top ten list then last year. Where last year it took me maybe a week to decide what goes where, this year I probably spent a day overall on my list. Without further ado, here is my list of ten films which I felt were far and away the best of the year. Following my top ten list is my selection of honorable mentions; films I felt were oh so close to making my top ten but ultimately were not as good.

Blake Ginithan’s Top 10 Films of 2012

Honorable Mentions

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
Killer Joe
Cabin in the Woods
The Amazing Spider-Man
Cosmopolis

Now that we are half way through the year, the staff here at Way Too Indie has decided to come up with the Best Films of 2012…so far. There is a good chance our list could see some major changes when we do our Top 10 of the Year article. But it is also likely that some of the stronger films we listed here will end up on our article at the end of the year.

Dustin Jansick’s Picks
Obviously, it is tough to do a Best Films of the year post half way through the year as some of highly anticipated titles have not been released yet. In fact, we are just starting to get releases from films that showed at Toronto International Film Festival last year. I also want to give a shout out at a few films that may have made my list had I seen them in time, Beats of the Southern Wild, Alps, Sound of My Voice, and Safety Not Guaranteed.

#1 Jeff, Who Lives At Home

Jeff, Who Lives At Home may not quite rank up there with the Duplass brother’s first feature The Puffy Chair but it would be tough to argue that it is not their most polished work to date. The film delivers a powerful message about believing that things in life happen for a reason but does so blurring the line between genuine and whimsical. It also balances a good amount of emotional scenes with comical ones making it a fun watch for just about anyone. For these reasons I list it as my favorite film of 2012 so far.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home Review | Watch Trailer

#2 Your Sister’s Sister

If my admiration for Mark Duplass is not apparent enough, I have mentioned it several times, including two films he is involved in on my list surely makes it clear. In Your Sister’s Sister he steps in front of the camera as the lead instead of behind as the director. The film takes an incredibly simple premise and makes it into an engrossing story thanks to the wonderful dialog and cast members. The most shocking part is the film was made in just 12 days.

Your Sister’s Sister Review | Watch Trailer

#3 Beyond the Black Rainbow

Beyond the Black Rainbow should come with a warning sticker that says, “Caution: This film is not for everyone.” Aside from the opening and ending 10 minutes this film does not contain much a plot. In fact, the parts where they focus on the plot are actually the least pleasing as it is then when you noticed reality settling back in from the hypnotic trip in the alternate reality that you were on for the majority of the film. This is an experience that you are unlikely to be a part of for a few years’ to come.

Beyond the Black Rainbow Review | Watch Trailer

#4 Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom would be my number one on a Best Ensemble Cast list of 2012 but is my fourth favorite overall film of the year thus far. The amazing cast includes more high profile actors than you can count on one hand; Billy Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton. They all shine in Wes Anderson’s fantasy kingdom in which style trumps story. His characters and artful presentation have always been his strong points and Moonrise Kingdom does not deviate from that.

Moonrise Kingdom Review | Watch Trailer

#5 Indie Game: The Movie

Roger Ebert has stated on several occasions that he does not believe video games to be an art medium which he has received a lot of backslash from people that disagree. While Indie Game: The Movie never mentions Ebert’s name, it does make it’s case that video games are an art medium from the very beginning. This well shot and edited documentary will likely inspire you even if you are not a hardcore gamer.

Indie Game Review | Watch Trailer

So far it looks like the quality of 2011’s films are still resonating throughout 2012. While I’m going by North American release dates for my list, everything on my list originally came out last year. That isn’t to say that 2012 films are stinkers though, so far there’s been a few impressive movies that didn’t make the list including The Raid: Redemption, The Cabin in the Woods and Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory. I’ll let these 5 movies speak for themselves, the main purpose of this space to list the films I didn’t get to see before making this list. These include Take This Waltz, Beyond the Black Rainbow, Moonrise Kingdom, Cosmopolis, Damsels in Distress, Your Sister’s Sister, Bonsai, Sound of My Voice, Whores’ Glory, Goodbye First Love, Post Mortem, Jeff Who Lives At Home, Footnote and many more that don’t come to mind at the moment. With that out of the way, here are my five favorite films from this year.

#1 The Turin Horse

Before watching The Turin Horse, Bela Tarr’s final film before going into retirement, I was disappointed that there would be no more movies by the director. After watching it, I felt like there wasn’t any need for Tarr to make another film since The Turin Horse covered everything. It goes to show how powerful Bela Tarr and cinematographer Fred Kelemen’s images and sounds are that people have described this film as the end of cinema. Following six days in the life of two farmers as their horse suddenly refuses to eat or move, Tarr presents their lives as a living hell of banality. We see the farmers go about their daily business repeatedly while the wind howls outside their home and the same music cue is used over and over again. As the movie slowly moves forward towards its apocalyptic ending, it begins to feel like everything in the film is slowly giving up and dying off, as if it can’t bear the crushing weight of despair that’s in every frame. By no means is The Turin Horse an easy watch, but it’s impossible to deny how powerful Bela Tarr’s vision is. Few films are able to make their audience feel like they’ve become a part of its world as well as The Turin Horse does, even if that world is the last place you would ever want to be. It’s a powerful ordeal if you’re up for the challenge, but if you’re able to make it through you’ll come out feeling stronger for it.

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#2 This Must Be the Place

Paolo Sorrentino’s baffling road trip movie, about a retired rocker (Sean Penn) travelling across America to hunt down the Nazi who tortured his father, defies any expectations one would have about the film before actually seeing it. Sean Penn, looking like Robert Smith and talking like a little boy, manages to nail a role that could have easily become too annoying or too campy. Paolo Sorrentino visually matches Penn’s bizarre, gaudy role by throwing out stunning landscapes, beautifully composed framing and operatic crane shots like they’re candy. The combination of both elements might make people run screaming from the film (and judging by its reception at Cannes last year it already has) but if you ignore everything and just go with the movie it’s pure aesthetic bliss.

This Must Be the Place Review | Watch Trailer

#3 Oslo, 31st August

Joachim Trier’s devastating masterpiece may seem nihilistic at first glance, but its opening and closing shots show that this is only one person’s story out of millions in Oslo. Where Oslo, August 31 excels is how well it explains the state of its central character. A recovering addict at 34 years old, Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie in one of the best performances of the year) feels that starting over from scratch isn’t even worth the effort since it won’t benefit him in any substantial way. As he makes his way across town bumping into old friends, we can understand his pain as he feels incapable of having anything resembling the seemingly normal lives of the people around him. By the time we arrive at his family home (shown to be in as much disarray as his mental state), it’s obvious that the film’s conclusion is more inevitable than surprising. The fact that Trier is able to convey all of this while making it look effortless only shows how skilled of a director he is.

Oslo, 31st August Review | Watch Trailer

#4 This Is Not A Film

An act of protest, a dangerous risk, a dissection of filmmaking itself, portrait of a man who’s about to lose everything. This is Not a Film is all of these things and more, an effort by Jafar Panahi to keep making films even while under house arrest awaiting a 6 year prison sentence. Running at a scant 75 minutes, This is Not a Film is one of the most engrossing things to come out in 2012. Anyone who calls themselves a fan of cinema should consider this required viewing.

This Is Not A Film Review | Watch Trailer

#5 The Deep Blue Sea

Terence Davies shows the destructive side of love in The Deep Blue Sea, one of the most beautiful movies of the year. The core cast of Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston and Simon Russell Beale do a great job with Davies’ screenplay (an adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s play of the same name) but it’s Davies’ movie through and through. Every shot is bursting with a romantic, warm look that feels like Davies is unleashing everything he’s been holding back over his 12 year hiatus from narrative filmmaking. The Deep Blue Sea is a welcome comeback and hopefully Davies will keep making films sooner rather than later.

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Picking my top five was not a hard task. I had a fairly good idea of what was ultimately going to end up on my list. The Grey for the longest time was on my list and in the end, it barely missed. I saw a lot of other films that really could’ve made it if it wasn’t for a last minute influx of great movies (I actually had a great day a couple weeks ago where I saw three terrific films in one day). That doesn’t happen often. My fifth spot was where The Grey was actually going to end up, but ultimately my heart picked a film I enjoyed over one that was probably better all around. That happens sometimes.

#1 Oslo, 31st August

Joachim Trier’s powerful film about a recovering drug addict on a 24 hour outing through a beautiful but lonely Oslo, Norway is by far the year’s best film. The man walks the city with friends as he ponders what his life is worth. The film is gut wrenching in moments with scenes of unbelievable power. Trier’s direction is perfect and the acting by lead Anders Danielsen Lie is sublime. Lie is able to show more emotions through body language than with actual dialogue and at times it is scary how real his performance is. This film will knock your socks off.

Oslo, 31st August Review | Watch Trailer

#2 This Must Be the Place

There are a ton of road trip movies out there. But none of them are like Paolo Sorrentino’s film, which has us following a retired rock star played by Sean Penn who journeys across America to find the ex-Nazi who humiliated his father during World War II. Funny, quirky and at times sad, This Must Be the Place is an odd journey into the identity of a man. The film is superbly directed by Sorrentino and Sean Penn nails the part of Cheyenne, the Goth rock star out for revenge. A film as unique as this is not to be missed.

This Must Be the Place Review | Watch Trailer

#3 Headhunters

I’ve been singing the praises of Scandinavian filmmaking for a few months now and to me Headhunters by Morton Tyldum is one of the best. A corporate headhunter spends his free time as an art thief, often stealing from clients he is trying to hire! One such client happens to be a former mercenary who used to specialize in human tracking. What follows is an intense and brutal chase across Norway. The film masquerades as a black comedy at times but never crosses the line completely. You will get lost in how fun this film is.

Headhunters Review | Watch Trailer

#4 Once Upon a Time in Anatolia

I’ve seen a lot of slow burners in my day, but Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s film about men on a stubborn search for a dead body takes the cake. The film is painfully slow at times, but in the end is immensely rewarding. If you were to pause the film at practically any moment and took a snapshot you would have yourself one hell of a shot. Ceylan’s background is in photography and every single second of this film shows it. Few audiences will be able to stay with the film’s staggering 155 minute runtime, but those who do will likely find a cop procedural that turns out to be a whole lot more than just a search for a body.

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia Review | Watch Trailer

#5 The Raid

Now THIS is an action movie. The Raid begins with a young man training in the early morning before saying goodbye to his pregnant wife before he is thrust into the fight of his life. He is a part of a SWAT team that invades a building in the projects in the massive city of Jakarta. Their goal is to take down a sadistic drug lord who controls the building. While things go smoothly at first, the film soon turns into a tale of survival as the SWAT team is forced to fight their way out of the building after the drug lord puts a huge bounty on their heads. Be forewarned. The Raid is extremely violent. But the film is highly efficient, inventive and never boring. Most action films are throwaways, full of clichés and boring action scenes. The Raid is one hell of a film.

The Raid Review | Watch Trailer

Out of all the places in the world, one would not think of Scandinavia to be the prime export of thrillers in the world at the moment. But they are. Over the past 3-4 years high class films and television series has been churned out from the friendly people of Northern Europe. From Sweden’s Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, to Norway’s Trollhunter, Sweden’s (in cooperation with Denmark) TV series The Bridge, Rare Exports (the best Santa Clause movie released in years) from Finland, the Wallander TV series too, Scandinavia is on fire. Hell, even AMC’s The Killing is based off of a show originally out of Denmark. I’ll even remind you of the superb Norwegian film Insomnia that was released some years ago.

I don’t know what has prompted this recent output of top flight material and I honestly don’t care, most of it is searing entertainment that is sure to please most people willing to follow along. Now comes the most recent export from Norway, Headhunters, probably my favorite out of the bunch.

Headhunters is a film that is fanatically exciting. Its opening scenes suck you in with its playfulness. At times it’s very funny. Even while the film is gruesomely violent, the film is just plain fun. The director, Morten Tyldum, is very good at welcoming the audience into the story. Opening with a narration by the main character, Roger Brown, the story is set up within minutes. Roger Brown is played by Askel Hennie, an actor/director from Norway who seems quite popular in his native country.

Brown is a corporate headhunter. Seeking out candidates for big businesses is his day job. What he does on the side you wouldn’t exactly call legal. Brown moonlights as an art thief. What makes this interesting is that he often steals paintings from the candidates he interviews for the job. He does this he says because he needs to support his wife who lives for luxurious things, clothes, jewelry etc. He is in horrible debt and is barely surviving as it is  His wife is about to open an art gallery which puts more pressure on him. Brown also has a woman on the side because he is convinced his wife loves him for his money and nothing more. I found it kind of ironic that a headhunter with loads of confidence in a board room has almost none with his own wife.

All of these opening scenes are inviting, they move along at a nice pace and almost feel like a 20 minute montage priming the audience for what lies ahead. The movie really kicks off at Brown’s wife’s art gallery opening where he runs into the film’s villain. Clas Greve, who is cheerfully diabolical in his ways, is played by the great Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. You’ll recognize him from the HBO series Game of Thrones. A good thriller is only as good as its villain and Headhunters has one hell of a villain. Waldau is fantastic as Greve, a man who is more than meets the eye. He arrives with an aura of mystery when he meets Brown.

We discover that Greve used to work for a major military corporation in the Netherlands and just recently stepped down. Greve also used to be a black ops mercenary who was a specialist at tracking down people. Brown wants to sign him to a rival military firm in Norway. Once Brown finds out that Greve has an extremely rare painting worth tens of millions of dollars he immediately hatches a plan to steal it. But does Clas know more than he is letting on?

Brown goes to Greve’s apartment to steal the painting only to find his wife’s cellphone lying next to the bed. Headhunters then throws down the gamut. Not knowing who to trust, Brown is thrown into complete paranoia and the film reveals its ugly head, thrusting itself into a frenetic chase across Norway. Twisting and turning at every moment, Brown is in completely over his head.

The cat and mouse game that gets played between Brown and his tormentor Greve gets quite brutal at times. Brown is forced to kill a dog in one scene and in another has to hide in the worst part of an outhouse. Greve is relentless in his chase. One of the best scenes involves a police car and a semi rig in the high mountains. Let’s just say it doesn’t end well for a few people.

Headhunters is almost unbelievable at times. In one scene Brown is forced to play dead and Greve pretty much looks at him and decides he is dead. You’d think a man of his past would know to check for a pulse or put one last bullet in his head, but he doesn’t. But honestly who really cares when the film is this much fun? The cast has fun with the material, the plot is twisty and a lot of fun to watch unfold and Tyldum’s direction is flashy enough to keep you guessing. Headhunters is almost never boring and when you’re watching a thriller isn’t that the point?