***This list does not include Amour, the film from Michael Haneke. While I enjoyed his films Cache and The White Ribbon (which I liked a great deal), I imagine that this film would probably rank between #8 and #7 on this list. Again, this is just speculation without having seen the film. But I wanted to go ahead and publish this list.
While the best of the 2012 Best Picture nominees isn't enough to crack my Top 3 of 2011 (Midnight in Paris, The Descendants, and Hugo), I would say that the 2012 bunch is a stronger group overall.
So, without further ado, I present my ranking of the Best Picture nominees for the 85th Academy Awards. Feel free to leave your own ranking in the comments!
(I've included trailers so I can omit synopses.)
(I've included trailers so I can omit synopses.)
#8 Lincoln
Easily the worst of the eight films I'm ranking, Lincoln stumbles around as an intermediate history class. It's unfocused, lifeless, and rather boring at times. For once in my life, I am in total agreement with my movie critic nemesis, Rex Reed of the New York Observer. You should read his review to understand both our complaints. Frankly, I also thought Daniel Day-Lewis' performance ranks #4 out of the 5 Best Actor nominees (behind Denzel Washington, Hugh Jackman, and Joaquin Phoenix, in order).
For now, I'll use a line from Mr. Reed's review to sum up my feelings: "An endurance test with guest stars."
My rating: 1.5 stars
#7 Django Unchained
Don't get me wrong: "the worst" of Quentin Tarantino is better than the best of most. And Django is definitely not the worst of Quentin Tarantino, if such a thing exists. (Don't start with Death Proof, as I love that movie if for no other reason than Kurt Russell's performance.)
This movie featured some of Tarantino's best dialogue and highest tension. However, this film is unlike any of this other films in that the third act feels like a different movie entirely. It works at first, but then the comfort level that usually accompanies Tarantino films feels like a formality--almost like, "Here goes Quentin Tarantino again!" It just took me too far out of the movie to really work.
My rating: 3 stars
#6 Beasts of the Southern Wild
I call this movie a Southern fairy tale. I'm not even sure what that means or if it applies, but you will not have seen another movie like this once you finish it.
Most plot synopses have failed to capture the film, so if you find the trailer to be unhelpful in that regard, just trust this recommendation and watch it.
I will admit that going into the film I thought all the praise for Quvenzhane Wallis was probably hyperbole given her age, but I will be the first to say that she deserved every nomination she received. Without her work, the film would probably fall flat.
I also really like the score, which was robbed of an Oscar nomination.
I also really like the score, which was robbed of an Oscar nomination.
My rating: 3.5 stars
#5 Les Miserables
I'm not gonna sit here and apologize for this film's ranking. I know many people who either didn't like it or were underwhelmed. I've already written many of my thoughts on the film; they remain true for the most part. If you want me to say that the film wears its heart on it sleeve (to its detriment, as no one can deny the claim in general), that Russell Crowe's performance is laughable, etc., then I'm sorry: I just don't believe them.
I am a huge fan of the source material (the musical, not the book) so maybe I am biased. But everyone carries their biases into the theatre. I'm not the first, and I certainly won't be the last.
My rating: 3.5 stars
#4 Zero Dark Thirty
Look, I'm a glutton for controversy. This film is easily the most controversial on the list for a multitude of reasons: its ethical positioning, its status as a good film,---you get the drift.
For the longest time, Jessica Chastain was my personal choice for Best Actress. Of course, that changed when I saw Silver Linings Playbook, but Chastain is brilliant here nonetheless.
If you don't already know, this film is about the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden. So don't be fooled by the trailers thinking it's just about the compound raid. Because that would be a mistake.
I won't entertain the ethical complaints here because I find them preposterous. As for the complaints about the film as a film, then I probably can't convince you that your claims of the film being too long and/or boring are way off the mark. So I won't.
All I know is that I saw one of the smartest, most captivating "intelligence" movies (government, not personal) I've seen. It also happens to be one of the best of 2012.
I won't entertain the ethical complaints here because I find them preposterous. As for the complaints about the film as a film, then I probably can't convince you that your claims of the film being too long and/or boring are way off the mark. So I won't.
All I know is that I saw one of the smartest, most captivating "intelligence" movies (government, not personal) I've seen. It also happens to be one of the best of 2012.
My rating: 4 stars
#3 Argo
I know how ridiculous it looks to have this film #3 after I lobbied for it throughout Oscar season. At the time, I had not seen #2 or #1 on this list. I am glad that whatever momentum Lincoln had wasn't enough, as I could not fathom Lincoln beating Argo.
Argo is based on the true story of one man's undercover rescue mission of 6 U.S. diplomats in Iran. You would think that a film based on true events may seem predictable. But it's a tremendous credit to the work of screenwriter Chris Terrio and editor William Goldenberg that Argo is one electrifying and hilarious ride. The balance in tone that the film maintains is masterful.
A few other quick thoughts:
A few other quick thoughts:
- I'm tempted to say this may be Ben Affleck's best acting of his career.
- This film shares Goldenberg and actor Kyle Chandler with ZD30, and both are set in the Middle East. Conspiracy theory, anyone?
- The film also has Victor Garber, one of three actors responsible for one of my favorite movie scenes of all-time.
My rating: 4 stars
#1 Silver Linings Playbook / Life of Pi
In keeping with the recent rare occurrence of Oscar ties, I've got these two films tied for my favorite of the 2012 Best Picture nominees. I won't say they couldn't be any different, but they are each unique. I've gone back and forth for weeks contemplating which is my #1, and I'd go back and forth over that time.
SLP features a career best performance from Jennifer Lawrence, whose performance reminds me of early Ingrid Bergman. (If you know me, this is one of the highest compliments I can accord.) Also, if you look at his four fellow Best Leading Actor nominees, you might think Bradley Cooper is a throwaway nominee here; this is not so. David O. Russell is an actor's director in the same way Woody Allen is; it's no coincidence then that SLP became the first film since Reds (1981) to feature nominations in all four acting categories. (Chris Tucker steals almost every scene he is in, which is something considering who accompanies him in the scenes.)
If great story comes from characters, then that's why SLP works. You'll laugh and cry, perhaps at the same time. You may find yourself laughing at scenes you think you shouldn't be or when no one else is: this is how life works sometimes, and the film's tone has caught some off-guard.
But I'd stake my credibility to recommending this film.
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LoP was once considered unfilmable. I had never even read the book, and I was claiming that to be one of the big question marks I had about the film.
LoP was once considered unfilmable. I had never even read the book, and I was claiming that to be one of the big question marks I had about the film.
So surprise, surprise when I watched it. Spectacular, mesmerizing, transcendent in every regard. It's part allegory, part philosophy, part fantasy, part drama, part adventure. This movie has it all.
In addition to a beautiful story, the movie is a technical marvel. I know everybody and there mother wanted Skyfall to take the Oscars for cinematography and original score,--yes, I agree Roger Deakins is long overdue--but I can say unreservedly that LoP deserved them both.
It's one of the few films that has left me speechless and floored.
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My ratings: 4 stars / 4 stars
Well, there you have it.
I would love to read your thoughts, comments, questions, rankings in the comments below. Surely I'm missing something with Lincoln, right? Maybe Life of Pi is in fact just another in a long line of bloated book adaptations.
I'll never know unless you say!
- Jordan
I would love to read your thoughts, comments, questions, rankings in the comments below. Surely I'm missing something with Lincoln, right? Maybe Life of Pi is in fact just another in a long line of bloated book adaptations.
I'll never know unless you say!
- Jordan
P.S. Look for another "list post" soon. The theme will probably be along the lines of "The Most Enigmatic Movies," where we examine some of cinema's most perplexing and mysterious films. To no surprise of anyone who has seen the film, the following film will be featured...
I'm looking forward to it!
