2012 has seen box office records Hulk-smashed, Bond turn 50 as suavely as Jon Bon Jovi, and the Dark Knight’s Rise. So, to reflect on the year, we present THN’s Top 5 of 2012 – voted by the geniuses behind the best film site around. So for the next five days, you can sit back, grab your favourite tipple and join us for the best, and worst, of what 2012 had to offer.
Making the title of this countdown redundant are two titles tied for number five:
SHAME – dir. Steve McQueen starring Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan
Released 13th January here in the UK, Steve McQueen’s second feature houses two of the year’s finest performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan.
Brandon’s (Fassbender) New York lifestyle – and sex addiction – is thrown into disarray when sister Sissy (Mulligan) arrives unexpectedly.
With magnificent performances and perfectly defined characters, SHAME was inexplicably ignored by the Academy – the subject matter perhaps a little deviant for some – and missed out at the BAFTAs.
Chris Wharfe, feature writer and reviewer, praised McQueen’s honest approach:
Rather than making light of the subject, Shame deals with the darker side to sex addiction; its superb central performance from man-of-the-hour Mickey F delicately exposing an unfamiliar world.
While News Editor Dan Bullock couldn’t hide his admiration:
Intense, heart breaking, visceral and revealing… Brandon is deeply flawed and destructive as he plays out on screen an investigation into sex addiction. The addition of Carey Mulligan’s Sissy is a revelation, a sprawling mess seeking help from the only person who couldn’t help, her equally disconnected brother; creating unique tension, to incredible effect SHAME also includes one of the best tracking shots ever, across New York. A disturbing , yet compelling, portrayal of the absence of self-control.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24cjqfVv1fs]
Changing subject, and pace, wildly is our second number five:
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER – dir. Stephen Chbosky starring Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Logan Lerman
Coming of age drama THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER bounded into theatres with a total disregard for conformity as author Stephen Chbosky brilliantly adapted his own novel:
An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.
News contributor and reviewer Sam Gilbert applauded:
Another fantastic book adaptation; capturing every great moment with finesse, precision and humility
Lucy Cave was eager for this big screen outing – even if others hadn’t been:
Young Adult books are the biggest cash puller in the film industry, but nobody wanted Perks. So when it finally got a release this year, I was the first in line. Ezra Miller gives my personal favourite performance of the year.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5rh7O4IDc0]
Never a team to avoid a rant we’ve also compiled our worst of 2012. We’ll be running through a selection this week, so here’s a few to whet your appetite:
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING – dir. Kirk Jones starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks
Reviewer and features guy Matt Dennis wasn’t impressed by:
A boring, disconnected, schmaltzy rom-com with a terrible script that tries to connect everything up in a messy, predictable, and embarrassing manner. Yet, at the same time completely forgetting to put in any actual jokes.
THE RAVEN – dir. James McTeigue starring John Cusack. Alice Eve, Luke Evans
Sam Gilbert again, maddened to the point of profanity by the preposterous premise of THE RAVEN:
Edgar Allen Poe is not a fucking action hero, and he’d be turning over in his grave at this turd.
Our countdown continues up to New Year’s Eve so be sure to keep it THN, and let us know your thoughts on our selection.
