2012 was a peculiar year for films, wasn’t it?
I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time watching films. Some were truly excellent. A lot were good. But oh baby, a really big number of films should have been left on the cutting room floor. Or inside someone’s head.
So after a lot of experimental thought, I’ve decided to boil down all of the films I’ve seen this year in to the traditional two categories.
Worst film of 2012:
In the face of some very stiff competition from the uber-disappointing Taken 2 (in fact, any film that had Liam Neeson in it, he has had a terrible year), the dire beyond description John Carter, the disappointingly naff The Hunger Games (go and see the Japanese original ‘Battle Royale’, it’s amazing!), and the laugh-a-minute-a-thon of Twilight: Breaking Dawn part 2 (which is only saved from being the winner of this category by the stunning performance of Michael Sheen, I’m pleased to announce that the jury (me) has unanimously decided that the worst film of 2012 is…
The Bourne Legacy.
The big problem (of many medium-sized problems) with The Bourne Legacy is that (wait for it)… It. Wasn’t. A. Bourne. Film. It wasn’t. It was just a loosely held-together action story which was never going to cut it on its own, so the people in charge cynically edited in no more than a tenuous reference to the Bourne dynasty and called it a ‘Bourne’ film, to stop it from dismally failing at the box office. That, my friends, is shameless ticket sales manipulation, and everyone involved should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. And it is for this cynical manipulation alone that this at best mediocre film wins the worst film of 2012 award.
Meanwhile, over on the other stage we have the award for the…
Best film of 2012:
Again, there were a number of contenders for this title. Notable on the list was the visually spectacular Life of Pi, the breathtakingly brilliant The Watch, the highly polished Skyfall, and the underrated, but very slick Chernobyl Diaries. But, after much tea and cake, the jury (me again) has unanimously decided that the best film I have seen in 2012 is…
drumroll…
Argo.
This stunningly recaptured look at a true story is an intelligently told, thoughtfully-acted, beautifully filmed and produced spectacle that is well worth the money paid at the box office. Not flashy, not showy, not too gritty; it deals with the political and human stresses and strains of the time, and draws the viewer along as the story unfolds.
So there you are, there will be quite a few good films coming out on DVD next year. And some absolute rubbish ones.
Choose carefully and enjoy.
Yes, I was very disappointed with Taken 2 – not a patch on the first one. The Hunger Games left me with a distinct feeling of “meh”. And I haven’t seen any of the Twilight films… because I’m not a thirteen-year old girl. But, I disagree with you about The Bourne Legacy being the worst film of the year. I certainly didn’t enjoy it as much as the ‘proper’ Bourne films, but I thought it held its own pretty well and it may have actually been better as a stand alone film and not part of the Bourne, erm, legacy.
My worst film of 2012 is Battleship. Terrible, terrible film (starring Liam Neeson). Or, maybe Expendables 2.
I never got round to seeing Argo, so, again, basing it on films that I did actually get to the pictures to see, my favourite film of the year has to be Looper: a Bruce Willis sci-fi action thriller that is clever, thought-provoking and humorous.
IMHO, of course.
Oh yes, IYHO of course. Just as my piece was also IMHO. But I gave Bourne Legacy the turkey because of the cynical marketing ploy, not because of the value of the film on its own.
And yeah, Battleship. What a stinker. Liam Neeson had a really bad year.