Roper Review of the Year 2012

A very tough list to choose from this year, my top 10 changed several times and the ‘honorable mentions’ shows films that were close contenders. Outside of the 78 films I have witnessed at the cinema this year I know there are better and worse. So, to be taken with a pinch of salt, here are the Top 10 and Bottom 10 films of 2012. Happy New Year!

Top 10

10. Brave

Even when Pixar aren’t at their best, they still produce excellent work. This is a funny, thrilling and surprisingly moving entry into their fantastic cannon of work.

9. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley give very strong and effective performances as two people who strike up an untimely friendship as the apocalypse approaches. Amusing and tragic in turn it is a worthwhile watch.

8. The Dark Knight Rises

Overshadowed by the superior Dark Knight, this is still an excellent conclusion into Nolan’s trilogy. Whilst the antagonists lack the menace of the Joker, the personal story that tracks Bruce Wayne’s rise, fall and rise again is gripping and the set pieces fantastic.

7. Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson is a true auteur; one glance at a frame of this film and you’ll be under no doubt who the director is.  This is his second best film (behind the Royal Tenenbaums) and easily his funniest. A thoughtful and beautiful looking film with a killer soundtrack.

6. The Imposter

It is a good job this film is a documentary as it’s an unbelievably true account of a 20-something year old Frenchman who impersonated a missing teenage American boy, taking on his identity and living with the boys family. It only gets stranger from there. A gripping and well-structured film.

5. Sightseers

Last year Ben Wheatley’s ‘Kill List’ came second in my top ten, this following up is lighter, but still as twisted, tracking a couple from the midlands whose caravan tour of the north descends into a killing spree. Delightful stuff.

4.  Marvel Avengers Assemble

The most fun to be had in the cinema this year. Joss Whedon brings the sassy dialogue he is famous for to this film, and manages to pull off a film, which involves six superheroes. You’ll be gasping one minute and creasing the next.

3.  Life of Pi

Spectacle and substance rarely combine with such thrilling results. It is the simple story of a boy and his tiger adrift the pacific the poses some bold philosophical questions. Ang Lee also uses 3D in a way that enhances the film and the story. A must see at the cinema.

2. The Angel’s Share

Ken Loaches ‘feel good’ film still holds his trademark verite edge. A group of offenders attempt to steal some expensive whisky. The performances from the largely unknown actors are fantastic.

1.     The Grey 

Grossly misrepresented by it’s trailer, this survival drama staring Liam Neeson is a film you don’t just watch, you experience. A sad, frightening and gripping drama.

Honorable Mentions: Sky Fall, End of Watch, Looper, Ill Manors, Sinister, Untouchable, The Master, Prometheus, Magic Mike, The Descendants

 Bottom 10

10. The Vow - Boring

9. The Campaign - Unfunny

8.  Rise of the Guardians - Bland

7. Ted - Disappointing 

6. Total Recall - Pointless

5.  Project X - Horrible (but ace soundtrack)

4. House at the End of the Street -not scary

3. The Dictator - awfully unfunny 

2.  Battle Ship - Loud and..that's about it 

1. Paranormal Activity 4 - Deja Vue 

Project X (Nima Nourizadeh, 2012)

John Hughes defined Generation X through his iconic depictions of growing up in 1980s America. Project X, if attempting to depict the current generation of people about to enter the adult world, is as nihilistic as it gets. Abandon hope all ye who enter here at this house party.

Using the tired hand held camera gimmick, the film follows three unpopular high school students throwing a huge party in an attempt to gain popularity. The party goes out of control, literally destroying a neighborhood. Apparently it’s a comedy although there are no laughs whatsoever. Trying so hard to be edgy in its depiction of partying (and that really is all there is in the film), it fails in every respect.

The three leads are unconvincing and unlikable, unlike the protagonists in the superior Superbad, which this film shamelessly rips off. More unlikable are the party guests who drink and sleep with one another. 90 minutes later, and pretty much nothing else has happened.

There is an overhead shot our apparent hero sticking his finder up and a helicopter, ‘sticking it to the man.’ He has a middle class upbringing, he lives with his parents in a huge house, and a seamlessly ending supply of money. He has nothing to rebel against, but the party guests seem to riot anyway. When the police turn up to shut the party down, they fight back. The message appears to be teens have the right to drink, take Ecstasy, destroy property and have a damn good time doing it. The film is devoid on any other purpose than to show the audience a thousand teenagers having a good time. They characters are the only people having a good time in this experience.

A truly soulless and pointless film. If this is the currently generations American Pie, Animal House, Porkies or Breakfast club, this generation sucks.

The Woman in Black (+ February round up)

The Woman in Black (2012) James Watkins

A Post-Potter Daniel Radcliffe plays widower Arthur Kipps in this scary adaptation of Susan Hill’s novel.

Remember Ghost Train’s at funfairs? You pay your fee, you take the ride, you jump and scream at the various gimmicks that jump out and inevitably laugh about it all once you complete your journey, before immediately forgetting the whole experience when something else comes along. In case you hadn’t guessed, that is an analogy for this fright fest of a picture.

Despite looking too young for the role, Radcliffe is suitably cast as Kipps, a lawyer forced to prove himself by sorting paper work in a spooky old house. Things a

ppear strange from the minute Kipp steps off the train in a small Yorkshire town. The townsfolk are in a state of trauma due to the mysterious accidents and suicides that their children are involved in. Kipp becomes involved after an encounter with the woman in black, a spectral figure who is causing all this death and destruction.

Ignore the 12a certificate; regardless of age, you will be suitably frightened thanks to the films surprisingly intense atmosphere and frequently sustained suspense sequences. Watkins expertly manipulates our senses, using classic horror icons such as creepy dolls, creaky floors and sudden bangs. Radcliffe is the king of the ‘reaction shot’, having r

esponded to CGI in the Harry Potter series for the last ten years, and you’ll believe the fear he shows as he creeps around the house silently for large sections of the film.

When the film isn’t trying to scare you, it keeps its dark, brooding atmosphere but lacks surprises. The plot is a simple affair and only really serves a purpose to link a series of suspenseful set pieces. That is except the ending, which manages to be both sentimental and rather macabre.

See this at the cinema for maximum enjoyment, as without the atmosphere and scares there is little else to this film, but it succeeds in what it sets out to achieve, to spook us.

****

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2012, Stephen Daldry)

What seemed like a sure fire Oscar contender, Daldry’s exploration of 9/11 trauma through the eyes of a young autistic boy, has been met with great hostility amongst the critics. This is largely due its implausibility and over simplification of the most significant event for the Western World this century.

However, this isn’t really an attempt to provide the audience with post 9/11 catharsis, instead it is a fairy tale/fable about a young boy trying to understand and accept the loss of his father. Using autism to explore complex events isn’t new, and in fact the Bollywood film ‘My Name is Kahn’ also using an autistic protagonist to explore America’s response to 9/11. As in that film, the young boy’s attempt to find a lock for his father’s key in an attempt to hold onto his memory, allows the audience to take a detached and child-like view on 9/11. This has its problems but serves the plot well.

The film itself is interesting, but not believable, as a 9-year-old boy wit Asperger’s travels Manhattan trying to find a person to whom the key belongs. The most interesting part of the film is when Oskar, the boy in question, gains a silent travelling companion. Expertly played by Max Von Sydow, he is a character known only as ‘the lodger’ who has made a choice not to speak. We never find out, in detail, the reason behind his choices, which is one of the many unanswered questions found within the films narrative.

It is too small scale and personal to explore 9/11 trauma, but it’s themes of loss, trauma and hope will speak to most audience members. As Oskar replays his Father’s final voicemail messages from the World Trade Center, trying to make some sense out of the catastrophe, and ashamed at his own response and cowardice, it is impossible not to be moved and appreciate the allegory. A surprisingly effective picture, if not taken too literally.

***1/2

The Vow (2012, Michael Sucsy)

Poor Rachel McAdams, she is always forgetting the love of her life. In The Notebook she suffered from dementia, and in her latest offering she’s gone and got amnesia. Just like the former and better film, this plot device allowed the screenwriters to present a series of flashbacks showing how our young couple met and fell in love in sickly sweet fashion.

This film partially succeeds thanks to two great performances by McAdams and Channing Tatum. Tatum in particular is excellent, but let down by his unrealistic, impossibly patient and warm character. After a nasty car crash McAdams character, Paige awakens to find she cannot recall the last five years of her life. As far as she is concerned she is still engaged to her ex-fiancé, and cannot recall why her life has changed so drastically (she is a law school drop out turned bohemian artist.)

The film lacks comedy, and heartache. Tatum, playing Paige’s husband Leo, rarely loses his temper or gives up hope and instead sacrifices everything to get his remind his wife why she fell in love with him. Maybe I’m a pessimist, but his constant good nature is unrelenting, ruining any realism, and indeed any drama.

However, it turns out the film is based on true events, so people like that must exists. Good for them!

**

January Round Up

Roper Review – January Round-Up.

Nothing like a bit of healthy escapism to deny the winter blues. I missed a few big hitters this month but saw a decent array of flicks to warm the cockles. Here are my thoughts.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible 3 was a film that truly surprised me. More than just a solid action flick, it was a taut and intense affair that elevated Ethan Hunt to the likes of Bourne and Bond. Brad Bird’s (of Pixar fame) follow up lacks the bite of the previous entry into the series, largely thanks to a lackluster enemy, but still has some stand out action set pieces.

The nonsensical plot involving nuclear missiles is easily forgotten, but as you watch Cruise dangle off the tallest building in the world with only one hand, you’ll forget all about his personal life and simply route for Ethan’s survival. Simon Pegg provides some humor in a surprisingly meaty role as the ‘techy’ in Ethan Hunt’s team. You get the feeling the studio feared Cruise’s personal life affecting the box office takings as he gets less attention in this film, but still proves he is one of the most committed actors in Hollywood as he leaps, dives, shoots and fights his way around the world in a nicely entertaining affair.

***

The Artist

If a better film comes out this year, it will have to be an instant classic. What seemed like a ‘darling’ little film at last year Cannes film festival has become a huge hit; rightly so, but rather surprising considering it is essentially a black and white, silent film.

Funny, tragic and romantic thanks to stellar performances by the films leads, it tells the story of a silent movie star who cannot cut in in the world of ‘talking pictures.’ A magical score and perfect pacing elevate this film from art-house experiment to top-notch entertainment. Fight against any reservations you may have and go and see this gem.

*****

Goon

A foul-mouthed Canadian comedy sees American Pie’s Stifler (Seann William Scott) playing a simple small town bouncer who is drafted to a major league Hockey team when his talent for fighting is recognized. A simple sports comedy, you know if you’ll like it from the trailer. Some successful slapstick (and surprisingly brutal) moments provide the laughs but it’s a very forgettable flick.

**

War Horse

Spielberg’s predictably epic adaptation of Morpurgo novel fails as much as it succeeds. It is beautifully shot, stirringly scored and well acted all round; however, it is also overlong and jarringly episodic.

The sanitized war scenes display the horrors of war in family friendly fashion, and there are some stand out moments that show that the master director knows how to tug the heartstrings and quicken the pulse. Joey’s (the horse) flight through no mans land, and a tragic tale of two German siblings who want to escape the fighting will linger with you long after the film finished. However, so will a sickly sweet after taste of a overtly sentimental film that has long dull stretches, and a structure that doesn’t allow you to get attached to any character before they are either killed or left behind as Joey continues his journey. Not a complete failure, but far from Spielberg’s best.

**

Haywire

A direct to DVD plot, staring a professional female kick-boxer is an usual choice for Oscar winning director Steven Soderbergh, but thanks to his undeniably stylish talents this is an thrilling and classy action thriller. The story is a simple revenge thriller of a government agency that turned on its star assassin. Newcomer Gina Carano plays the assassin, and she is tough as nails!

She fights her way through a star-studded ensemble cast in a series of realistic looking bare bones conflicts. It is pure style over substance, but it is done so well you won’t really care.

****

Coriolanus

Ralph Fiennes adaptation of a lesser known Shakespeare play is a good attempt to modernize the story, but unfortunately the story is so poor it drags the film down. Set in a war torn Rome, it revolves around a soldier who is declared a war hero, yet despises the very people that idealize him. Gerard Butler plays the soldier’s arch nemesis. He is someone who can’t act his way out of a paper bag, and remains as wooden as ever. It starts promisingly, but just like the original play, as an awful ending that ruins the exciting build up. Avoid.

*

The Descendants

George Clooney’s greatest performance is the only reason to see this depressing and slow melodrama from the usually excellent Alexander Payne. Set in Hawaii, the plot concerns a Clooney’s character trying to rekindle his relationship with his daughters as they cope with the loss of their mother.

Beautifully shot and performed, but the plot revolves around one emotional conversation to the next. There are moments of comedy, but the whole film is too downbeat, and too emotionally restrained to engage.

**

The Gray

Liam Neeson continues his acting renaissance as Hollywood’s new hard man in this thrilling and moving adventure. When a plane carrying manual workers crashes in the mountains of Alaska, the survivors must face the harsh conditions with no hope of rescue. To make matters worse, they are also been pursued by a pack of wolves.

Liam Neeson has fought the dark side, batman, highlander, the Nazi’s and now a pack of canines. Somehow his natural gravitas, and superb direction from Joe Carnahan makes this a gripping and at times insightful journey. Highly recommended.

Chronicle

This film has come out of nowhere, just like the powers the films stars encounter. A superhero movie, filmed through a video camera a la Cloverfield, paranormal activity etc, Chronicle is fantastic. Arguable the home movie gimmick isn’t needed as the concept is interesting enough.

Choosing to ignore Peter Parker’s motto ‘with great power comes great responsibility,’ the boys initially use their newly found telekinesis for Jackass style pranks. Eventually they learn to harness their power and fly, but unfortunately, not all of the boys choose to use their powers for harmless pranks. A morality tale, a study of friendship and a thrilling action film, Chronicle is a marvel.

****

Roper Review Review of the Year 2012

It’s a time to reflect on the year that has passed. As we approach what, according to the Mayan calendar, is the year the world will end, we can go safe in the knowledge that 2011 was a good year for film. Slightly reducing the number from last year, I saw 65 films at the cinema. This is a list of the best at worst of those, from 10 (being the 10^th best/worst and 1 being, in my opinion, the definitive worst or best film of the year).

Best 10 films of the year

10. Submarine: Richard Ayoade’s (The I.T Crowd) debut film is a rarity as it displays real cinematic flair from someone whose previous background was purely television. A moody and comic exploration into teen angst and first love, the excellent direction and a spot on performance by the unknown Noah Taylor captures the heartache of a teenager’s first love.

9. 50/50: The description of this plot is enough to turn many away, ‘a comedy about cancer staring Seth Rogan and the kid from third rock from the sun.’ However this is fantastic film, equally tragic and comic and demonstrates in an honest and candid fashion the impact cancer can have on someone’s life. Mercifully the film is in no way exploitative and in instead, in every way, enjoyable and moving.

8. Red State: Kevin Smith’s (silent bob) return to the indie scene, this is a brave film about religious terrorism and post 9/11 America. In turns a stoner comedy, a torture horror, a melodrama, a thriller and a nihilistic political statement, somehow Smith pulls it all together. The most unpredictable film I’ve seen in years.

7. 127 Hours: Behind Blue Valentine, this is the most moving film of the year. Causing a friend of mine to faint, and many more to break down into tears, Danny Boyle’s seminal film manages to transcend the screen and put its audience between a rock and a hard place, helped along with a career making performance from James Franco.

6. The Tree of Life: This film has caused more walkouts than the Human Centipede 2, with audiences baffled with its non-linear narrative and meandering ventures into the birth of humanity when they were expecting a Brad Pitt star vehicle. In turns thrilling, tedious and profoundly introspective, it invites the audience to reflect on their life a rare feat for a medium associated with escapism.

5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes: James Franco’s second appearance in this list, only he keeps his arm and hangs out with a CGI monkey (sorry, a Damn Dirty Ape). Restarting a franchise destroyed by sub-par sequels and an awful Tim Burton reboot this was the summer’s most thrilling and constantly engaging film.

4. We need to talk about Kevin: A mother trying to atone for an atrocity committed by her offspring, this film is an intense exploration of grief and shock. Lynne Ramsay brings her art house background to create a hypnotic film and Tilda Swinton’s performance as Kevin’s mother, is the best acting work this year.

3. Blue Valentine: An incredible bleak representation of a broken marriage, this film is almost as deflating as the very act of being dumped. Ryan Gosling and Michele Williams give brave, intimate and very physical performances as the unhappy couple who slowly realise that are in a unworkable relationship. Not one to watch twice, but to experience once.

2. Kill List: The scariest and most surprising film of the year, Kill List is the best British film of the decade, although certainly not for everyone. Two hit men descend into the dark heart of the Sheffield countryside as they try to complete a simple task, kill some people on a list. Incredible unnerving throughout with jet black humor and an ending that provokes eons of analysis and debate it is a must see.

1. Drive: Ryan Gosling speaks with actions not words in this spellbinding film by Danish director Nicholas Refn. A visually stirring amalgamation of violence and emotion it warrants multiple viewings to take everything in. A simple revenge plot leaves room for stellar direction and the best soundtrack in recent memory. On paper, it sounds like a direct to DVD thriller, when it fact it is the best film of the year! See it.

Honorable Mentions:

The Guard, Hanna, Midnight in Paris, Black Swan, True Grit, Insidious, Super, Super 8, The inbetweeners.

Worst 10 of the year

10. Tinker, Tailor, Solder Spy: Despite universal critical acclaim, I found the film well directed, superbly acted but all together rather dull. Sorry.

9. In Time: An interesting concept, set in the future where time is used as currency. However it quickly decends into incredible dull action sequences and Bonnie and Clyde style bank heists. Unacceptably lazy direction

8. Final Destination 5: Déjà vu for the fourth time as the horror franchise recycles the plot and even the set ups. Considering the fourth film was called, ‘The final Destination’, it appears 3D is breathing new life into this increasingly stale series

7. The Adjustment Bureau: Plot holes aplenty in this bizarre romantic sci-fi, lacking any chemistry between its stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, and the most boring chase sequences ever filmed.

6. New York I Love You: Along with Valentines Day and New Years Eve, this is a series of dull stories, when even those lasting five minutes feel stretch beyond their running time.

5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Michael Bay continues his assault on cinema. Somehow, the third installment is longer, louder and more stupid than the first two, and this time it was in migraine inducing 3D! Enough already.

4. Your Highness: A medieval stoner comedy completely devoid of laughs. Even James Franco and Natalie Portman cannot save this.

3. Cowboys and Aliens: This film has Cowboys…and Aliens….and they fight. Whoever wins between the two the audience loose.

2. Battle Los Angeles: Oooo look more aliens, this time fighting US Marines. Noisy and ugly, the camera doesn’t stop shaking throughout but cannot mask the lack of plot or excitement.

1. The Hangover Part 2: The first one was ok, the second one recycles the same spirit and mixes them with shots of xenophobia and homophobia making a cinematic cocktail that could induce vomiting. Rubbish!

Let me know if you agree or disagree and happy film watching!