Anna Karenina

I'm glad I watched this (at this point in time I'll watch any Joe Wright film), but this one didn't particularly work for me. Just way too much theatricality imposed on the medium of film, and what ultimately happens is that the film just distances itself from the audience. Keira is excellent as the doomed title character and Joe Wright breaks out every directing trick he has (and he's got a lot), but all those tricks just get in the way of the story instead of helping it along. See it for the costumes, the Steadicam shots, and Keira's expressive face.

Ten Favorite Films of 2012

Just speculation, of course. I don't have a time machine.

Or do I?

10. Haywire

Steven Soderbergh makes the second best action film of the year.

9. Seven Psychopaths

Colin Farrell should only make films with Martin McDonagh. Performance of the year.

8. Skyfall

 

A little too serious for its own good but another excellent Daniel Craig entry in the series.

7. The Cabin in the Woods

The best of the three Joss Whedon productions this year. Who knew that a twisty log-cabin horror story would be better than Shakespeare and better than The Avengers?

6. Anna Karenina

Old-fashioned film-making at its best. Dario Marinelli produces the best score of the year, by far.

5. Moonrise Kingdom

Surprisingly moving film from Wes Anderson. Best line of the year. You know what I'm talking about.

4. Gravity

Not as moving, or chilling, as Children of Men, but the most technically complex and spellbinding movie of the year. Cuaron is now the indisputable master of the single-take shot. Sorry, Joe Wright.

3. Damsels in Distress

I  know a lot of people hated this movie, and I know that Whit Stillman always makes the same film, but I don't care. I hope he keeps making them.

2. Looper

Rian Johnson is three for three. Best sci-fi thriller in a long time.

1. Django Unchained

Not my favorite Tarantino but, still, the boldest, grisliest, most subversive film of the year. Sam Jackson should clear space on the mantle for his Oscar.