Top Films of 2012 [Annual Roundup by Haus]

Amid building Oscar heat and Golden Globes somewhat-above-ambient-warmth, I present the list you’ve really been waiting for: Haus’s no-BS assessment of the past year in film.

12 BEST FILMS OF 2012

Skyfall / The Dark Knight Rises (tie)
- Yes. I saw these over ten times in the theatre. Each.
21 Jump Street
- A strong contender for best film of the year. Brilliant, an instant comedy classic. Total surprise.
End of Watch
- A generally modest but altogether terrific picture. The two leads really make this picture. See it.
Magic Mike
- Soderbergh takes his pants off. Loved this film. And nothing beats watching a roomful of crestfallen bachelorettes filing out totally puzzled at how strippers could get so depressing.
The Avengers
- Big, glossy, and fun. You don’t hit $1.5 billion being boring.
Django Unchained
- Ultraviolence notwithstanding, this is a more nuanced comment on race relations than The Help, and I mean that.
Silver Linings Playbook
- A pleasant surprise. Conventional heartwarmer wrapped in faux-indie quirk, but still a great time at the movies.
Zero Dark Thirty
- Extremely interesting and nicely shot as a documentary-style education piece. Not that engaging as a story, but who cares?
Moonrise Kingdom
- Easily one of the best Wes Andersons yet. Cute and quirky and fun.
Cloud Atlas
- Engaging storyline(s), if a bit overdone; see it for the costume and make-up changes if nothing else.
Ted
- Ultra-crass and occasionally slow but delivers some grade-A choice lines from a CGI bear.

SIX FILMS WORTH SEEING BECAUSE THEY DID SOMETHING INTERESTING

The Raid: Redemption
- Foreign action film set in a single apartment building. Fight after fight after fight. But everyone loves it.
Prometheus
- Has almost nothing to with the Alien movies, but decent film with really good special effects (and really, when’s the last time you heard that?)
The Hunger Games
- Surprisingly watchable adaptation of the latest tweeny-book sensation. Cultural staple, so see it. And it’s not half bad.
Chronicle
- Essentially a realist/surrealist superhero movie. Surprisingly good and a lot of fun.
Act of Valor
- Crappy action film, but one that uses real special forces soldiers as actors. They can’t act (unsurprising), but it’s an interesting concept.
Flight
- Methinks folks will talk about Denzel’s performance here for some time.

MOST OVERRATED FILMS OF 2012

These films aren’t necessarily bad — some, like Argo and Lincoln, are actually quite good — but they’re just not as good as everyone seems to think they are. I’ve organized them best to worst, so while the ones near the top are fair game and even recommended, I strongly advise avoiding those at the bottom.

MOST UNDERRATED FILMS OF 2012

WORST FILMS OF 2012

1 thought on “Top Films of 2012 [Annual Roundup by Haus]”