We can do it in here, might as well keep dvd discussions to this thread for easy reference. I hardly see movies in theaters, so that is why I personally look at the lists for dvd releases of the year. This has been a slower year for watching new movies for me - probably got hooked on too many TV series and movies took a backseat. Anyway, here is my list:
1. Before Midnight - As much as it caught me off guard, I still really loved catching up with these characters 9 years later. Don't think another movie stuck with me so much.
2. Zero Dark Thiry - I thought Hurt Locker was silly and overrated, and this would evoke the opposite reaction from me. Thought it should have won best picture last year.
3. The Place Beyond the Pines - The 1/3 half fell off a little bit, mostly because of one character, but the 1st 2/3s were more than enough to make up for it.
4. The Way Way Back - Something just clicked with me and this movie. Nothing above and beyond, but had some great characters and unlike a lot of other comedies I saw this year, didn't just rely on the raunch and language.
5. Side Effects - Completely surprised me, and I am sure that adds to the ranking. Have not revisited it since I watched it, but it was not anything like I thought it was going to be. I was expecting Contagion for the drug companies.
The next 5 are more interchangable:
6. Disconnect - was what Crash was trying to be
7. Mud - didn't love the endinging, but a damn good movie
8. The Sessions - very real and frank look at sex and relationships. Hawkes was great.
9. The East - so far I love everything that Marling has been involved with
10. Ain't Them Bodies Saints - beautifully shot movie - hit that Malick spot for me that his own movie could not.
Just for the sake of disclosure, here are some movies that I didn't get to this year that could sqeeze into the list. I am going to try to catch up with a bunch during my slow January:
Intouchables
Rust & Bone
Lincoln
The Gatekeepers
Prisoners
A Hijacking
The Impossible
Imposter
Company You Keep
Don Jon