It’s astonishing to me how no one has yet realized how completely stacked 2012 was with movies. Now it’s still too early to be able to compare 2012 to all the history of cinema. Yet, while I recall all the movies that were truly great this year, I keep getting reminded of another and another. There are almost too many phenomenal movies to count and as the Oscar’s approach it’s good to discuss those films lucky enough to be nominated for this significant honor. At the same time I should put a spotlight on some more unknown but nonetheless noteworthy films that can be rewarding to viewers who look a little further.
Starting with the big Oscar films- Lincoln is going to win best film. Scratch that, it’s going to sweep everything. It’s a safe historical piece for the Oscar voters who have been known to give the prestigious Movie of the Year award to a period film. It makes sense; Lincoln was well made by one of the prestigious Steven Spielberg and featured a jaw-dropping, perfect performance by the unfairly amazing Daniel Day-Lewis. Others claim Zero Dark Thirty will win. This makes sense as well. Tightly directed, a great performance by Jessica Chastain, and making a great political point all justify Zero Dark Thirty’s nominations. But it just didn’t have the unknown, independent stature of The Hurt Locker to allow it to win it this year.
Other big films at the Oscar’s include: Argo (well directed but a cliché), Beasts of the Southern Wild (see this and give it a chance), Django Unchained (the most fun you can possibly have in a theater), Les Miserables (long, yes, but c’mon you cried admit it), Life of Pi (rich with special effects and providing a beautiful philosophical point), and Silver Linings Playbook (which was well acted all around but the plot was too “meh”). I also want to give a shout out to my favorite movie of the year, Moonrise Kingdom, which deserves everything and was snubbed.
While many films made in the past 100 years haven’t been nominated for Oscar’s and are still classics (every Stanley Kubrick film ever), the extra name boost by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is what keeps movies afloat. Filmmaking is a competitive business not just production-wise but in being remembered. Hollywood is a very fickle place, and it can be hoped that students at St. Ignatius will be able to keep such artistic visions in our hearts to withstand the test of time.
