Top 5 Films of 2012

Well, it ended up being a record-breaking year for Hollywood in 2012. It was a little touch and go there for a while. Things started out great with blockbusters like The Hunger Games and The Avengers but cooled considerably over the course of the summer as seasonal grosses and attendance dropped to their lowest numbers in 20 years. Fortunately, the studios had aces like Lincoln, Skyfall and The Hobbit up their sleeves this fall to rescue the industry and ultimately deliver the kind of mind-boggling year everyone assumed was a forgone conclusion back in January.

2012 wasn't just a bank-bursting year for Hollywood grosses, it was tops for number of releases as well. A staggering 653 films filled the screens of multiplexes and art houses from January through Christmas. I did my part and caught roughly 30 of them. Below are five of my favorites.


1. Moonrise Kingdom: No other film put a smile on my face and kept it there like Wes Anderson's 1960s-set tale of two young, mismatched lovers who run away from home and send their small New England island into turmoil. Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Bruce Willis all give terrific, quirky performances and every shot offers some kind of wonderful little relic of nostalgia that engulfs you like a warm, snug blanket.

2. Bernie: Chances are you missed this comedic little gem from Richard Linklater about portly mortician Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) who befriends and then kills a wealthy Texas window (Shirley MacLaine). Black gives the performance of his career as the magnanimous, overtly effeminate Bernie, prancing through every scene with such infectious gusto you just can't help but root for him. Trust me, even with the subject matter, you won't stop laughing with this one.

3. The Dark Knight Rises: Christopher Nolan's thrilling, epic conclusion to his Batman trilogy just hit all the right notes for me. Even at 165 minutes, I walked out of the theater and instantly felt like seeing it again (I didn't, the wife wouldn't let me). And the ending just may be the best ever for a super-hero film. It still makes me smile just thinking about it.

4. Skyfall: Not just Daniel Craig's best turn as 007, the best Bond film in nearly 20 years. Just a slick, richly textured and highly satisfying piece of entertainment. Oh and Javier Bardem makes a pretty good villain, too.

5. Life of PI: Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's beloved novel is just a joy to behold on screen. Every shot penetrates the soul and reminds us just how powerful the art of cinema can be. This is definitely one to experience inside a theater.

If I Could Choose Five More: 6. Silver Linings Playbook 7. Robot & Frank 8. Lincoln 9. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 10. Django Unchained

Happy New Year!