Anyway, I know the suspense is killing you. So let's get started, and feel free to disagree and exchange your own opinions as well.
10. Life of Pi - I saw this on New Year's Eve as part of a two film evening with my wife. Having low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. We chose to see it in 3D based on the reviews, and I must say I wasn't dissapointed. I will admit I am not an Ang Lee fan, nor was I a huge fan of the book (my wife literally made me read it when we first started dating); however, the film was beautiful. My biggest complaint was that the actor in the role of the journalist was mundane, so much so that it almost detracted from each scene he was in. If you missed this on the big screen in 3D I am afraid you will not be as impressed. For some reason I believe the small screen will not due this film the justice it deserves.
9. The Master - I actually saw this on opening day at Opry Mills. There was only one other person in the theatre ... my wife. Yes, we literally sat through this film alone. While she hated it, I found it quite mesmerizing. I am a fan of Anderson's work, but at times this movie seemed to lack something. It did not lack strong performances from the actors. In fact it contained possibly the finest acting of any film this year. Hoffman (who I love) and Phoenix (who I am ambivalent about) are mesmerizing in their roles, and Amy Adams shines as well. I wanted to like this more, but nonetheless, it made the list. Props go for the score as well ... very interesting work by Johny Greenwood of Radiohead fame. (Beware - This film contains one of the oddest group nude scenes possibly in cinematic history.)
8. Lincoln - I imagine at this point some of you are wondering why I would rank such a film this low. It's not that it is bad, or that it is flawed in any way. In fact, it is pretty perfect. Impeccable subject matter. The world's greatest/most famous director. An actor who can play any role. But when I look back on it, I don't recall it "sticking" with me long after the credits rolled. In fact, the one takeaway I have is that the film should have ended when Lincoln was walking down the hallway. I didn't need to see the assassanation and death. If I ever view this film again, it will be for one reason. Mr. Tommy Lee Jones.
7. Bernie - This film really was top five worthy, and it would have been in my top five in any other year. It truly was a blast. I laughed out loud more in this film than in any film in recent memory. In fact, I laughed so hard I cried. Jack Black, who has never truly impressed me as a true actor, will never be better in a film. He IS Bernie, and if you don't know who Bernie is, all I can say is that you are missing out on one of last year's most memorable characters (actually, there is probably only one other character who is more interesting from last year). If you haven't seen this movie, you owe it to yourself to at least watch the trailer to see if it is your cup of tea or not. Hopefully it is.
6. Zero Dark Thirty - I expected this to be in my top three, or at least my top five. However, as you can see, I couldn't rate it higher than number six. I am afraid I hold something against this film, mainly The Hurt Locker, Bigelow's previous war film set in the Middle east. That film was beyond excellent. This film is good, and just a shade shy of great. Chastain is brilliant in her role, and Kyle Chandler always makes me smile, even when playing someone other than Coach Taylor from FNL. In any other year, I would have ranked this the best political thriller of the year.
5. Silver Linings Playbook - This film was not what I expected, but I really liked it. My wife will say it is simply because she thinks I have a crush on Jennifer Lawrence (I don't, otherwise The Hunger Games would have made my top ten). I will admit I think I just have a crush on this movie. There isn't much in it I don't like ... it has DeNiro (in his best role in over a decade) and football - it even had dancing in it which I enjoyed (and laughed at as well). Overall, the movie is fun, and it is a film I will watch again. (It should also be noted it does an excellent job of showing how mental illness can impact a family.)
4. Django Unchained - I admit that I love Tarantino films. The dialogue. The cinematic references. The violence. I like everything about them. While Django is enjoyable, and clearly embodies Tarantino's original style, it isn't his best work. I would proabably rank it as his fourth best film as a director. Regardless, it is one of the best film's of the year. I agree it is too long, and at times it truly needs tighter editing (clearly he missed his long time editing partner Sally Menke), but I can't exclude the film from my top five. I probably was also influenced to rank this higher than other films due to my love of westerns (both traditional and spaghetti). If you haven't seen this and choose to watch it, be warned that the language, violence, and the performances may offend you at times. It's worth it to see Foxx (in his best role since Collateral), Waltz, and even Dicaprio (who has started to get on my nerves as of late) chew up the screen with their riveting performances. (For those keeping track, this was the second part of my New Year's Eve double feature.)
3. Beasts of the Southern Wild - This was a film I was hoping not to like. I wanted to think some of the Oscar nominations were not deserved. I was wrong, and I am glad I was wrong. This is a remarkable film. It truly is poetic in many ways. From the dialogue, to the imagery, to the sheer cadence of the film itself, this film is a wonder to behold., and it has stuck with me probably more than any other film I saw this year. For that reason alone, it will be worth a repeat viewing ... well that and the performance by Quvenzhane Wallis.
2. Moonrise Kingdom - Seeing this film at Nashville's historic Belcourt Theater was the epitome of a true cinematic experience. The film was made to play there. The theatre was packed (hipsters galore) and from the opening sequence until the roll of the credits you felt as if you had been transported. Many may not care for Wes Anderson's brand of humor, but I do. This joins Rushmore and The Royal Tenebaums as the trinity of Anderson's greatness (I rank it just shy of Rushmore as his greatest work). While Willis shines in an understated role (Norton on the other hand didn't quite impress me here), this film clearly belongs to the two young stars of the film. Much like Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild, this film is carried on the backs of child actors who seem to have been created to live in a Wes Anderson world which I would be happy to visit just once in person.
1. Argo - No, I didn't jump on the Argo bandwagon as a result of its award season success. I loved this film from the day I saw it. I have never been an admirer of Affleck the actor, but he definitely gets my appreciation as a director as I have liked all three of his films immensely. In regards to Argo, the film had just about everything I love about the movies. Yes it had suspense, humor, tight editing, and a smorgasboard of great acting (Arkin, Goodman, Cranston, Garber, Chandler, etc.). But most importantly, it had the "feel" of a 1970s political film, and I am a sucker for that genre (see All the President's Men, Three Days of the Condor, The Conversation, The Parallax View, Chinatown).
So there you have it. Let the debate begin!
Honorable Mentions: Prometheus, Skyfall, and How to Survive a Plague
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