Best of 2012: The Year in Movies

Today I take a look at the best movies I saw in 2012. It was a good crop with some tough choices. Also, one caveat. Due to the fact it won't go into wide release until January 11, I have not seen "Zero Dark Thirty," though I suspect it's awesome.

The Best:
Honorable Mention: "The Cabin in the Woods"
Line: "It was the pioneer days; people had to make their own interrogation rooms. Out of cornmeal." —  Marty
Why: Joss Whedon is a genius, but he really only had one GREAT film in 2012, and it was "The Cabin in the Woods." This is a horror movie that truly helps redefine the genre. It's hilarious, well acted, and well done. It was a cinematic treat.

10. Skyfall
Line: "She sent you after me, knowing you're not ready, knowing you would likely die. Mommy was very bad." — Silva
Why: Daniel Craig has created something new with his take on James Bond. "Casino Royale" was fantastic, but this movie is a very strong effort. Great performances from Judi Dench, in her final Bond outing, and Javier Bardem was a dynamic villain. A taut, great film.

9. Django Unchained
Line: "Gentlemen, you had my curiousity. But now, you have my attention." — Calvin Candie
Why: Quentin Tarantino continues to deliver fascinating, well-crafted films. This isn't as good as his last film, but it's got some excellent performances. Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz are a great team, and Leonardo DiCaprio delivers as the villainous Calvin Candie. Samuel L. Jackson is also quite good in an unexpected role.

8. Pitch Perfect
Line: "You guys are gonna get pitch-slapped so hard, your man boobs are gonna concave." — Fat Amy
Why: This was one of the true surprise treasures of the year. The music is awesome, the comedy is continuous, and it's just a light, fun good time. Anna Kendrick is AWESOME in the lead role, and this is one of the most re-watchable films of the year. Whether you like a cappella singing or not, this is a good time.

7. Cloud Atlas
Line: "Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others. Past and present. And by each crime; and every kindness we birth our future." — Repeated Line
Why: There are some movies that just pull you in despite some obvious flaws. I could make a case for this movie being a disappointment, and I understand those that don't like it, but I was moved by it and it stuck with me for days. I loved the ideas, I was moved by the performances and I thought it had amazing visuals. Despite my expectations and, perhaps, my common sense, I loved this film.

6. The Dark Knight Rises
Line: "You are as precious to me as you were to your own mother and father. I swore to them that I would protect you, and I haven't." — Alfred
Why: This movie doesn't rise to the heights of "The Dark Knight." And, perhaps, that's its problem. It was compared to the previous installment, but this was a different film. Christopher Nolan always does a great job weaving together a compelling story, and this film was no exception. This was a fitting end to Nolan's Batman vision.

5. Life of Pi
Line: "Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing. After all, you cannot know the strength of your faith until it is tested." — Adult Pi Patel
Why: Another beautiful movie with plenty of food for thought. Ang Lee does a beautiful job putting this film together. The story is fascinating, the journey of faith is inspiring, and this is a beautifully told visual film.

4. The Hunger Games
Line: "Embrace the probability of your imminent death, and know in your heart that there's nothing I can do to save you." — Haymitch
Why: I LOVED this movie. It's been a little forgotten, I think, because it came out in March. It's also been dismissed a little, I think, because it is based on novels made popular by young adults. This has all the love triangle trappings of "Twilight," but it's so much more. This is dense material that provides a lot to think about. And Jennifer Lawrence is incredible.

3. Argo
Line: "Look, if you're going to do this, you're going to do this... You can't build cover stories around a movie that doesn't exist. You need a script, you need a producer." — John Chambers
Why: There have been a lot of bigger, flashier films, but few have been better made than "Argo." With his third film as a director, Ben Affleck showed his range and talent. This is an excellent film, based on an incredible true story, and it delivers in a dynamic way.

2. Silver Linings Playbook
Line: "The only way to beat my crazy was by doing something even crazier. Thank you. I love you. I knew it from the moment I saw you. I'm sorry it took me so long to catch up." — Pat
Why: Who knew that the year's best comedy would also be its most romantic? Who knew that a movie about two people dealing with emotional, social, and mental issues would be one of the sweetest, most beautiful of the year? David O. Russell deserves all the credit for putting this together and getting two brilliant performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Both should earn Academy Award nominations, and so should Russell and this masterpiece of a film.

1. Lincoln
Line: "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." — Abraham Lincoln
Why: There may be no better actor working today than Daniel Day Lewis. Together with director Steven Spielberg, he has helped create a masterpiece. No film was better, more engrossing, or more satisfying than "Lincoln." It was the best movie I saw this year, and I think it has a strong chance of earning a lot of gold statues in February.

Performances:
Actor:
1. Daniel Day Lewis, "Lincoln." He was simply amazing. The best performance of the year.
2. Denzel Washington, "Flight." He was also amazing in a difficult and complex role.
3. Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook." Just an incredible performance in a very moving film.

Actress:
1. Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook." She was incredible in two films this year, but this was her best performance.
2. Anna Kendrick, "Pitch Perfect." I loved what she brought to this role and film. She is a great up and coming actress.
3. Meryl Streep, "Hope Springs." Another great performance from our greatest actress.

Supporting Actor:
1. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master." I didn't love the film, but Hoffman was outstanding.
2. Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln." A great performance from Jones, too, in the best film of the year.
3. Christoph Waltz, "Django Unchained." Waltz was incredible in this Tarantino charmer.

Supporting Actress:
1. Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables." The best thing in the movie was Hathaway and her moving musical number.
2. Helen Hunt, "The Sessions." A beautiful performance in an under rated film.
3. Sally Field, "Lincoln." She more than holds her own against Day Lewis in this great film.

Director:
1. Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln." Our greatest living director delivers his finest film in 14 years.
2. David O. Russell, "Silver Linings Playbook." This is Russell's best work.
3. Ben Affleck, "Argo." Affleck turns in his finest work as a director in a moving third film.

The Worst:
5. Alex Cross: Terribly mis cast film. Tyler Perry is not Alex Cross.
4. John Carter. A visual disaster, a costly disaster, a narrative disaster. Just a disaster.
3. Lawless. This wanted to be a gritty crime drama. Instead, it was an ugly and gross crime drama.
2. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Stupid, violent, and vaguely racist. This was a terrible film.
1. Rock of Ages. This was the WORST film of the year. I found it's message appalling and they way it was put together pathetic.

A Second Opinion:
Here is Lindsay's thoughts on the best movies of the year.

5. Hope Springs
4. Pitch Perfect
3. Argo
2. Les Miserables
1. Lincoln