The Cinematic Critique End of Year Awards 2012: Part 2

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

THE ARTIST

OTHER CONTENDERS
  • THE DICTATOR
  • LOOPER
  • THE MASTER
  • SHAME
  • TED
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BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

 SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

 OTHER CONTENDERS
  • ARGO
  • THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
  • LAWLESS
  • THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
  • SKYFALL
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BEST DIRECTOR

 SAM MENDES – SKYFALL

skyfall-sam-mendes-daniel-craig
 OTHER CONTENDERS
  • BEN AFFLECK – ARGO
  • MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS – THE ARTIST
  • CHRISTOPHER NOLAN – THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
  • DAVID O. RUSSELL – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
  • JOSS WHEDON – THE AVENGERS
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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

ANNE HATHAWAY (SELINA KYLE/CATWOMAN) – THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Film_Review_Dark_Knight_Rises-085d2-4549
 “As with Heath Ledger’s incredible portrayal of the Joker, Anne Hathaway silences the doubters by sinking her teeth into the role of Selina Kyle/Catwoman instantly by charming men one minute and then brutally kicking their back-side the next with her catish portrayal.”

OTHER CONTENDERS

  • AMY ADAMS – THE MASTER
  • EMILY BLUNT – LOOPER
  • SANDRA BULLOCK – EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE
  • JESSICA CHASTAIN – LAWLESS
  • JUDI DENCH – SKYFALL
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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

 JAVIER BARDEM (RAOUL SILVA) – SKYFALL

xavier-skyfall-read

“The main standout of the surprisingly stellar cast is Oscar-winner Javier Bardem as the slimy Silva whose entrance half-way in Skyfall is truly memorable (compared to other Bond villains) as he is able to give a creepy and sadistic performance which almost echoes his iconic role as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men.”

 

OTHER CONTENDERS 
  • ROBERT DE NIRO – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
  • TOM HARDY – THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
  • TOM HIDDLESTON – THE AVENGERS
  • PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – THE MASTER
  • GUY PEARCE – LAWLESS
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BEST ACTRESS

JENNIFER LAWRENCE (TIFFANY) – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

“Just as immense in Silver Linings Playbook is the talented Jennifer Lawrence who shows maturity and restraint as the quirky but complicated widow which allows her to avoid the ‘Everdeen Katniss’ tag and enable her to continue rising as one of Hollywood’s best young actresses.”

OTHER CONTENDERS

  • BERENICE BEJO – THE ARTIST
  • JENNIFER LAWRENCE – THE HUNGER GAMES
  • CAREY MULLIGAN – SHAME
  • MERYL STREEP – THE IRON LADY
  • QUVENZHANE WALLIS – BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
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 BEST ACTOR

JOAQUIN PHOENIX (FREDDIE QUELL) – THE MASTER

“The controversial but effortless Joaquin Phoenix delves into a character who shows no mercy even from his facial looks as he sneers and snarls throughout. He inhabits this flawed human being and portrays him as a man full of turmoil and rage and at a point of no return as he threatens to self-destruct. This becomes a reality in one of the most stunning single-take scenes in film as Freddie goes completely over the edge when he trashes his jail cell.”

OTHER CONTENDERS

  • CHRISTIAN BALE – THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
  • BRADLEY COOPER – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
  • DANIEL CRAIG – SKYFALL
  • JEAN DUJARDIN – THE ARTIST
  • MICHAEL FASSBENDER – SHAME

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FILM OF THE YEAR

#10. LAWLESS

My Top 10 of the year list kicks off with one of the more underrated films of 2012. John Hillcoat’s gritty western adapted from the novel of Matthew Bondurant focused on the tale of three bootlegger siblings who tried to handle their operations secretly while being confronted by a corrupted FBI enforcer. While the storyline was hardly original, the film relied on its immaculate production detail ranging from its authentic look of the 1920s era to the extremely visual violence depicted on screen (throat cutting anyone?). Tom ‘Bane’ Hardy and Shia LaBeouf led the impressive cast with both actors surprisingly believable as the onscreen brothers facing up to different responsibilities while Guy Pearce was truly menacing as the disturbed lawman determined to bring them down. But probably my favourite reason to love this film? The talented and irresistible Jessica Chastain going nude for her love scene with Hardy! For those of you who still don’t know who she is need to right now!

#09. THE EXPENDABLES 2

I now pronounce this film, number nine on my Top 10! One of the pure delights of this year was seeing Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis AND Arnold Schwarzenegger team up together to unleash hell on various henchmen led by a playing-against-type Jean Claude Van-damme in the explosive blockbuster sequel The Expendables 2, an iconic and long-awaited moment for action film fans! That and the decision to have Con-Air director Simon West behind the camera proved a bold move as the bigger, brasser approach to this follow-up allowed it to be just as entertaining if not better with its witty one-liners and the usual over-the-top violence. Oh, and Chuck Norris’s inspired cameo only added to the awesome entertainment that audiences could want from a bunch of old kick-ass heroes. Better still, the unlikely action franchise looks set to rumble on with more thrills coming up not only in a planned third installment with Jackie Chan but also a female version!

 

#08. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

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For the first time in the franchise, a Lord of the Rings film did NOT reach number one on my annual list as Peter Jackson’s fascinating prequel to the classic trilogy lent a nostalgic feel for its loyal fans who were given the opportunity to revisit Middle-Earth. The story now focused on a young Bilbo Baggins (played by Martin Freeman) as he and an army of dwarves, led by the loyal Gandalf, journeyed through distant lands to confront the dragon Smaug which led to the riveting cliffhanger ending. Though it lacked the emotional depth and action of Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit certainly wasn’t a critical disaster like Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and instead placed in enough detail and former characters to leave you satisfied and wanting more from this fantasy world. Next year’s follow-up The Desolation of Smaug should be an interesting one though the absence of Gollum and the continuous use of 48 fps may put a few people off….

#07. ARGO


Ben Affleck’s Argo certainly didn’t f**k itself as the thrilling real-life drama produced a pulsating story of courage and unity. Affleck took on the difficult role of both director AND leading star in his portrayal of the CIA specialist Tony Mendez who worked with the Canadian government to try and rescue several US Embassy workers left stranded in Iran following the revolution with some extra help coming from Hollywood. Though its plot may have sounded gimmicky, that was the whole point of this extraordinary narrative as the ridiculed actor-turned-director also relied on a witty script with cracking one-liners and three underrated actors in Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman to keep the humour flowing. The film’s suspenseful climax at the airport was truly nerve-wracking for those who hadn’t read about the real-life event. Though its Oscar chances seem to be faltering, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Affleck has redefined himself as one of Hollywood’s best young film-makers.

 

#06. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

As with his previous effort The Fighter, director David O. Russell continued to rely on his roots as a setting for his conventional rom-com which just fell short of the Top 5. While that particular genre wasn’t usually the type of films I would go for, it left me pleasantly surprised by how refreshing it was in terms of its sublime script and impeccable character performances. Bradley Cooper put aside his Hangover rep with an effective portrayal of a mentally unstable man desperate to turn his life around. But by doing so, he developed an unlikely relationship with an equally dysfunctional young woman wonderfully played by an Oscar-bound Jennifer Lawrence. Both actors proved convincing as an on-screen couple while Robert De Niro shouldn’t have been forgotten either with his terrific comeback role as Cooper’s dad (the family element always successful in O.Russell’s films). Despite being a tad predictable at the end, Silver Linings became a satisfying watch and showed that even the most erratic people could find love in unlikely places.

 

#05. THE MUPPETS

Life was indeed a happy song for our number five on the list as our favourite ‘puppets’ made a dream comeback to the big-screen following some average turnouts in the late 90s/early 00s. The story saw newcomer Walter and his human brother Gary (Jason Segal) track down the Muppets including Kermit, Miss Piggy and Fozzie as they joined forces to stop their beloved theatre from getting closed down by deceitful businessman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper ‘rapping’ it up with his Let’s Talk About Me number). While the film contained delightful turns from the mesmerising Amy Adams and a host of impressive cameos including Emily Blunt, Jack Black and Jim Parsons, it was all about the much-loved Muppets and their nostalgic return to form with some of the old magic still there. But the icing on the cake was the phenomenal (Do doo do do doo!) soundtrack which mixed poignancy and a feel-good factor to the whole experience and ensured that fans young and old could walk out of the screen and be pleased with this return to form. One can only hope that the sequel lives up to the same standard….

 

#04. THE AVENGERS

After several solo films stretching back to 2008, Marvel Studio’s dream comic-book blockbuster finally came to life as Joss Whedon’s blockbuster juggernaut The Avengers pitted the likes of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the Incredible Hulk (a welcoming debut performance by Mark Ruffalo) together as they tried to stop mythical villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston) from destroying the world. This epic box-office smash proved why the superhero genre was in such productive form as it gave many audiences their ultimate big-screen orgy. Buffy creator Whedon gained valuable credit for his work on the film especially with getting the talented ensemble of actors to work alongside each other and deliver something remarkable in terms of character development and a surprisingly witty script. Action was aplenty here too as the visual spectacle in the explosive final act became a ‘marvelous’ experience for all who had the pleasure of seeing it. Many loyal fans of the Marvel franchise will be hoping for bigger and better things when the sequel eventually heads towards production though in the meantime, we shall have to make do with Iron Man 3, Thor 2 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier….

 

#03. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES171

Entering the Top Three was one of this year’s most eagerly anticipated blockbusters as the exceptional Dark Knight trilogy came to a fitting conclusion through its epic finale The Dark Knight Rises. Following on from its stunning 2008 predecessor was always going to be a tough thing for Rises especially with the absence of a certain Joker but director Christopher Nolan ensured that his enthralling franchise would come to a compelling end as Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) donned the black cape one for last time while battling the equally maniacal terrorist Bane (Tom Hardy). The IMAX experience was the only way to see it in all its glory beginning with the scintillating opening hijack scene involving Bane being rescued and ending memorably with our hero passing on the mask and cape to a prospective replacement in Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s honest cop John ‘Robin’ Blake. Nolan went full-throttle in-between all that as we saw Batman’s brutal showdown with his masked opponent as well as the amazing destruction of the Gotham football pitch. Nothing boring about any of that eh? Throw in a trilogy-best performance from Bale and the sharp contributions from Hardy’s physically intimidating Bane and Anne Hathway’s slinky Catwoman and you have an awe-inspiring finale of huge proportions. While it may have been flawed by certain plot-holes and a predictable twist involving a certain female character, the concluding installment was never going to fail and ultimately brought the curtain down on Batman’s big-screen adventures….for now!

 

#02. THE ARTIST

The_Artist_2011
Just short of the number one spot was this year’s major Oscar-winner The Artist which secured four awards including Best Picture back in February. Little-known French director Michel Hazanavicius delighted audiences (including myself) with his beautifully-made homage to Hollywood set in the 1920s and filmed it gloriously in black and white. Its story focused on a well-renowned silent film star named George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) whose successful career began to falter when the arrival of talking pictures threatened to derail his persona as one of the biggest names in the business. While things went downhill for him, it was the complete opposite for street girl-turned-rising star Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) whose new-found fame left Valentin in the scrapheap as he contemplated the end of his life. Fortunately Hazanavicius ensured that we would get the uplifting ending we craved for as the film melted our hearts with its charming throwback to the classic age of Hollywood and reflecting on how dangerous fame could be on both sides of the coin. The boldest move though, was making the film mostly silent which did lead to some walkouts from a few silly people (*cough* Liverpool One Odeon crowd *cough*). Carrying it throughout in the acting department were the terrific lead stars in Dujardin who deservedly won Best Actor for his energetic portrayal and Bejo (the wife of the director) just as refreshing with her subtle support. Best of all though was their canine co-star Uggy who stole the show as Valentin’s dedicated and loyal dog putting a smile on the face of everyone in the process. I’ve said it once and I will say it again, this film will leave you….speechless!

 

#01. SKYFALL

skyfall-dec21
2012 became a landmark occasion for the James Bond franchise as the eagerly-anticipated Skyfall was unleashed on audiences in October and ended up going full-throttle in cinemas as it recently broke the $1 billion mark at the box-office AND became the highest grossing film of all time in the UK! The latest outing for 007 (stirringly played once again by Daniel Craig) saw him return to MI6 to try and stop manipulative terrorist Silva (a superbly cast Javier Bardem) as he plotted revenge on his former boss M (Judi Dench in her swansong performance of the series) leading to an explosive showdown at Bond’s former home. Following the disappointment of 2008’s Quantum of Solace, it was clear that something special had to be done by Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson especially for such an iconic year. It led to them making the innovative decision of recruiting Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes who gained valuable help from his solid production team as they worked hard to make an exhilarating and heritage-filled blockbuster that would give Bond fans the satisfying experience they could want from such a well-established series. The inspiring new additions for the new-look Bond paid off well ranging from the surprisingly enjoyable rendition of ‘Skyfall’ by the usually-overrated Adele to the exquisite cinematography from Roger Deakins and of course, the terrific new cast members including Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris. Throw in some blistering action sequences set in Turkey, Shanghai and Scotland and you have the most jaw-dropping action film of 2012. Yet again, Bond was back with an even bigger bang and by doing so had left his titanic audiences shaken and stirred in what was the perfect way to celebrate 50 years on the big-screen!

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Phew! Glad that’s all over with, thank you all so much for your continuous reading of my website. It is always greatly appreciate by me and here’s hoping next year will finally bring me some luck at long last! Have a Happy New Year and good luck in 2013!

1 Comment on "The Cinematic Critique End of Year Awards 2012: Part 2"

  1. The only thing I would take issue with is the absence of Dredd in any of the categories.

    Three very good performances from the leads, brilliant use of slow motion and 3D (possibly the best use of it so far) and a script that remains faithful to the source material.

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