I did not want to see The Grey. When I reluctantly made my way into the theatre, I thought, “Oh good, here’s another plane-crash-stuck-on-top-of-a-mountain-survivor-movie.” Boy, was I wrong. It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen “The Grey,” but it has stuck with me so profoundly, it feels like it was just yesterday. Essentially it is a survivor story, but done differently involving surviving a pack of hungry wolves. The deaths are vicious. I loved this movie but I never want to see it again. Hold on to your hats, boys and girls. This one is brutal.
#2 Prometheus
Sci Fi at its finest. At one point a severed talking robot
head is about to fly a spaceship and you don’t even think twice about it. While
the actual story line has a few holes and loose ends, it doesn’t take away from
this great movie of science, faith and trying to find the answers to humanities
biggest questions.
#3 Django Unchained
By now, we should know what to expect when Quentin Tarantino
makes a period piece. He writes a story that didn’t and probably couldn’t have
happened. But that’s what makes it so great. He somehow takes a dark time in
human history and makes a movie about it bearable because you know at the end
what should have happened, will happen. Leonardo Dicaprio is chilling as a
blood thirsty, dirty rich slave owner. He can act his ass off and portray angry
better than anyone else in the game. The violence is definitely there but for a
Tarantino film, it could have been much worse. It is funny yet frightening.
“Django Unchained” is a revenge history film like only Mr. Tarantino can make.
#4 Moonrise Kingdom
Wes Anderson’s take on pre pubescent love. Not his best film
but “Moonrise Kingdom” still has everything that makes Mr. Anderson’s films so
unique and better than most.
#5 A Tall Man
Nevermind that Jessica Biel is the lead role; this movie
will surprise you. (So will Jessica Biel for that matter.) Just take my word
for it and watch it to the end. There is a twist you will never see coming.
(And afterwards, jump into the ethical conversation this movie will force you
to have.)
#6 The Dark Knight Rises
I’ll give him one thing: Christopher Nolan knows how to make
a villain. Bane, with his permanent metal mask, oversized cargo pants, that
dreadful leather coat and just the sheer girth of Tom Hardy all aid in making a
villain only Mr. Nolan could create. Sure I was cheering for Batman but I
caught myself almost liking Bane. I found him so damn intriguing I enjoyed when
he was on the screen. I was skeptical of Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman and while I
wasn’t necessarily disappointed, I wasn’t blown away either. I was, however,
impressed that they were able to make her look like Cat Woman without dressing
her like she was going to an Alpha Delta Sigma’s Halloween party. The way her
glasses looked like cat ears when placed on top of her head was subtle yet
effective. “The Dark Knight Rises” is ultimately a serious comic book movie
that carries a very real and heavy issue in its plot. Cue Cat Woman to Bruce Wayne at an extravagant and wealthy
party: “You think this can last? There's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne…when it
hits, you're all going to wonder how you ever thought you could live so large
and leave so little for the rest of us.”
Intriguing, no? I found The Dark Knight Rises to be an appropriate
ending to an outstanding trilogy.
#7 The Hobbit
I just flat out disagreed with the negative press this movie
received. I have sat through movies that felt way longer and way more boring
than this. “The Hobbit” is fantastical, well paced and easy to follow. A great
re-start for the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and a new generation.
#8 Argo
I was nervous wreck the last half of this film. “Argo” is a
true story that produces excruciating tension and suspense (understandably)
until the end. Let’s just agree to stay BEHIND the camera, Ben.
#9 The Imposter
What? This is real life? A true story documentary about a
23-year-old French citizen who pretends to be a kidnapped 13-year-old boy and
returns home and fools the boys’ family. Or does he?
