2012, the worst year ever for films?

The Pontiac

Is it just me, or has 2012 been the worst year ever..

The only film I'm excited about is Argo. So hopefully this is the start of a few good flicks running up to the oscars?

Anyway, TV is where it's all at now IMO.. Homeland, Breaking Bad, Forbrydelsen, Mad Men etc. Movies seems to be getting worse and worse every year. Check out this 2012 list. Not very inspiring. The action genre seems to be dominating. Sci-Fi/Fantasy is next up.

100 Greatest Movies of the 90's is packed with decent thrillers and dramas. The noughties for films has some good stuff, particularly Animation with the likes of Shrek, Up, The Lion King etc.. But at least the decade was the golden age for TV drama - The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under, The West Wing, Sex and the City (for the girls) etc.

We're only 1/5 into this decade, but what decent movies have we got? Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Could anyone actually follow that film? War Horse? Sarah Jessica Parker should have been honored for the performance of her life, that's all. Drive? Oh yes, a superbly made film that would put you to sleep. The Descendants? I liked it - most people I know thought it was boring. Moneyball? I must say I enjoyed that too. Midnight in Paris? Allen's comeback movie they said. I thought it was only ok. This is just another example of ground-breaking movies from this director, but from a different era in film - Hannah and Her Sisters, Manhattan, Annie Hall..

johnny_ultimate

Here we go again...

Been an absurdly good year for film - can say that about every year, but 2012 has seen some very speial films indeed. The last two months has seen the biggest avalanche of masterpieces and near masterpieces I can recall.

Lemonperv

True, the only film that really, really struck me was Winters Bone (2010).

The Pontiac

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Here we go again...

Been an absurdly good year for film - can say that about every year, but 2012 has seen some very speial films indeed. The last two months has seen the biggest avalanche of masterpieces and near masterpieces I can recall.

Can you name them please, as I would be interested in watching them.

Lemonperv wrote: »

True, the only film that really, really struck me was Winters Bone (2010).

I really like that too. Blue Valentine was also good from 2011, but not much else other than what I mentioned above.

e_e

Every year has been the worst year ever according to some guy on the internet.

johnny_ultimate

<Ollie> wrote: »

Can you name them please, as I would be interested in watching them.

From 2012 alone: Holy Motors, About Elly, What Richard Did, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Tabu, Margaret, Himizu, Keyhole, The Raid, Looper, Kotoko, A Simple Life, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Rust & Bone, Samsara, The Imposter, The Woodsman and the Rain, From Up On Poppy Hill, Alps etc... - films that range from genuinely brilliant to, at the very least, generally intriguing, distinctive or entertaining. Plus all those promising titles yet to come, including rabidly acclaimed new films from Michael Haneke and PT Anderson. And all those I never got around to, or I've unfairly neglected to remember.

If you watch ALL of them (not a random selection of one or two of them) and still claim 2012 was definitively 'the worst' anything, well I'll still vocally disagree

Fuzzy_Dunlop

People say this every single year. I think this year has been very good and some good stuff still yet to come out. Still Skyfall, Argo, Seven Psychopaths, Silver Linings Playbook to come out which are all getting good reviews.


Oh and btw the Lion King isn't from the noughties.

Scanlas The 2nd

I don't think 2012 has been bad at all.

What makes 2001 for example so much better than 2012?

Lamper.sffc

Even if you are just looking at the bigger cinema released movies. There has been plenty to look forward too this year. Not all lived up to the hype and others where great surprises. Cabin in the Woods, The Grey and Dredd where 3 movies I really enjoyed this year that I didnt fully expect too.

Iv been quite happy with what we have got so far and still more to come.

The Pontiac

e_e wrote: »

Every year has been the worst year ever according to some guy on the internet.

This just happens to be my year.

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

From 2012 alone: Holy Motors, About Elly, What Richard Did, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Tabu, Margaret, Himizu, Keyhole, The Raid, Looper, Kotoko, A Simple Life, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Rust & Bone, Samsara, The Imposter, The Woodsman and the Rain, From Up On Poppy Hill, Alps etc... - films that range from genuinely brilliant to, at the very least, generally intriguing, distinctive or entertaining. Plus all those promising titles yet to come, including rabidly acclaimed new films from Michael Haneke and PT Anderson. And all those I never got around to, or I've unfairly neglected to remember.

If you watch ALL of them (not a random selection of one or two of them) and still claim 2012 was definitively 'the worst' anything, well I'll still vocally disagree

But a lot of them are foreign titles and most ordinary or casual viewers would have no interest in them. Nearly all of my comparisons (different decades) above are English-speaking films. You also put in a few documentaries to make up the list. It looked to me as you struggled with english speaking films?

So maybe you agree with me, that Hollywood or British films are not what they were? Why did they make Tinker Tailor so confusing? I was really looking forward to a good spy thriller.

Maybe they just don't make my type of movies anymore. The likes of L.A. Confidential, Se7en, Godfellas or a Short Cuts. Just a good release once or twice a year would do me. It all seems to be action/sci-fi blockbusters that look like computer games. This is probably where the money is.

Samsara and The Imposter were already on my list, and I will be seeking out more of your recommendations. Thanks a lot.

Fuzzy_Dunlop wrote: »

People say this every single year. I think this year has been very good and some good stuff still yet to come out. Still Skyfall, Argo, Seven Psychopaths, Silver Linings Playbook to come out which are all getting good reviews.


Oh and btw the Lion King isn't from the noughties.

I hope you're right. I will be checking out these too.

The Pontiac

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

I don't think 2012 has been bad at all.

What makes 2001 for example so much better than 2012?

Loads of great movies that year - Donnie Darko, Sexy Beast, Ocean's Eleven, Lantana, Skrek, Monster's Ball, A Beautiful Mind.

Can you honestly say 2012 is on par?

Lamper.sffc wrote: »

Even if you are just looking at the bigger cinema released movies. There has been plenty to look forward too this year. Not all lived up to the hype and others where great surprises. Cabin in the Woods, The Grey and Dredd where 3 movies I really enjoyed this year that I didnt fully expect too.

Iv been quite happy with what we have got so far and still more to come.

Not my kind of movies at all, so maybe it's just Hollywood doesn't care about me.

Kinski

<Ollie> wrote: »

Why did they make Tinker Tailor so confusing? I was really looking forward to a good spy thriller. .

Because they were following the book, which is all about the complexity and perpetual "fog of war" of international espionage - about its fathomlessness, and not about spies downing martinis and bedding supermodels.

e_e

<Ollie> wrote: »

Loads of great movies that year - Donnie Darko, Sexy Beast, Ocean's Eleven, Lantana, Skrek, Monster's Ball, A Beautiful Mind.

They are really bad examples for 2001 tbh. Shrek is the most overrated animated movie ever.

Ghost World, Amelie, Spirited Away, Waking Life, Mulholland Drive, All About Lily Chou-Chou and The Royal Tenenbaums. Now those were some damn good films, however I think there's quite a few this year that could challenge 'em.

e_e

<Ollie> wrote: »

But a lot of them are foreign titles and most ordinary or casual viewers would have no interest in them.

This attitude annoys me, great films are great films no matter where they are made. There shouldn't be any distinction between English language cinema and everything else.

johnny_ultimate

<Ollie&#62 wrote:

But a lot of them are foreign titles and most ordinary or casual viewers would have no interest in them. Nearly all of my comparisons (different decades) above are English-speaking films. You also put in a few documentaries to make up the list. It looked to me as you struggled with english speaking films?

So maybe you agree with me, that Hollywood or British films are not what they were? Why did they make Tinker Tailor so confusing? I was really looking forward to a good spy thriller.

Maybe they just don't make my type of movies anymore. The likes of L.A. Confidential, Se7en, Godfellas or a Short Cuts. Just a good release once or twice a year would do me. It all seems to be action/sci-fi blockbusters that look like computer games. This is probably where the money is.

Samsara and The Imposter were already on my list, and I will be seeking out more of your recommendations. Thanks a lot.

A great film is a great film, couldn't care less where it's from. Im an 'ordinary' viewer too who just makes an effort to track down what's getting attention. Looking at Hollywood is like just looking at a bestsellers list in a bookshop - some gems, but a hugely restrictive view. Been plenty of great US and British films I neglected to mention - from Cabin in the Woods to Killer Joe to Berbarian Sound Studio.

Tinker Tailor was 2011, by the way, and I thoroughly appreciated it as a smart, finely paced thriller.

As for documentaries? I mentioned one or two. I was going to mention more, but I decided to stick with the two that blurred the lines between docu and narrative cinema.

I think you may have identified the issue yourself - its your very specific tastes that are leading to disapointment rather than the films themselves.

crazygeryy

i don't agree or disagree with anything that has been said but one thing is for sure Hollywood is running or has run out of ideas. just look at the amount of remakes they intend to do and all of them bloody awful so far.
it had been a bad year for the block Buster movie i would say.

krudler

Blockbusters are getting worse definitely, endless sequels, remakes, reboots etc. So its hard not to be cynical about stuff that makes it to multiplexes, but there are plenty of damn good movies being made, you just have to look elsewhere for them. the top 10 music chart is nothing but sh1te, doesnt mean there arent good bands around.

Fysh

"blockbusters are getting worse" tends to mean "they aren't as good as they were when I was a kid", which is more about the difference in experience between watching a film as a kid and doing so as an adult.

I'm reasonably sure that if we go and check the full list of releases for any year or decade viewed as being "golden" for blockbusters, we'll also find a load of crap that's since been forgotten. In 20 years time 2012 will be the year of The Avengers and Dark Knight Rises, and far fewer people will remember it also being the year where John Carter Of Mars bored the pants off a lot of folks. The same is true of years gone by

krudler

I thought John Carter was ok, certainly didnt deserve the slating it got, far worse films out this year.

kitakyushu

Fysh wrote: »

"blockbusters are getting worse" tends to mean "they aren't as good as they were when I was a kid", which is more about the difference in experience between watching a film as a kid and doing so as an adult.

That's a fair point, but I do think since the advent of CGI that on the whole they are getting worse because of favouring effects over story and/or character. Everyone is raving about the Avengers this year for whatever reason but if you asked me to give you a synopsis of the movie from start to finish or to even quote you a funny or memorable line of dialogue I'd genuinely struggle.

CGI is god!

The Pontiac

e_e wrote: »

They are really bad examples for 2001 tbh. Shrek is the most overrated animated movie ever.

Ghost World, Amelie, Spirited Away, Waking Life, Mulholland Drive, All About Lily Chou-Chou and The Royal Tenenbaums. Now those were some damn good films, however I think there's quite a few this year that could challenge 'em.

Well it's all subjective.

What exactly is a bad example of A Beautiful Mind? Shrek is arguably the most popular animation of all time, but to you it's the most overrated, so you're going with Waking Life. Like we all missed something. Or it is to just go against the trend?

Did you not like Lantana? Sexy Beast too? Maybe All About Lily Chou-Chou was a much deeper and challenging for your superior intellectual capabilities?

This attitude annoys me, great films are great films no matter where they are made. There shouldn't be any distinction between English language cinema and everything else.

Did you not even read what I said? I even asked that very question - is it just english speaking/Hollywood films?

The vast majority of cinema goers are not interested in foreign films. Of course there can be a distinction made. Why not? French cinema is not exactly Hollywood, now is it?

e_e

<Ollie> wrote: »

What exactly is a bad example of A Beautiful Mind? Shrek is arguably the most popular animation of all time, but to you it's the most overrated, so you're going with Waking Life. Like we all missed something. Or it is to just go against the trend?

Sorry, what? Don't assume I'm just being elitist for having preferences, for what it's worth I consider the Toy Story trilogy to be one of the best ever made, and if you exclude the Cars movies Pixar do generally fantastic work. I just find Shrek to be really obnoxious and less deserving of praise than so many other movies of the time.

<Ollie> wrote: »

Did you not like Lantana? Sexy Beast too

I like Sexy Beast a lot, never seen Lantana.

<Ollie> wrote: »

Maybe All About Lily Chou-Chou was a much deeper and challenging for your superior intellectual capabilities?

Could you stop using straw men please? I didn't once try to argue intellectual superiority over anyone. This just makes you look insecure in your need to defend yourself against something that I didn't even say.

<Ollie> wrote: »

The vast majority of cinema goers are not interested in foreign films. Of course there can be a distinction made. Why not? French cinema is not exactly Hollywood, now is it?

Don't try and speak for every other cinema goer. This kind of attitude is the reason why subtitled films are often only pushed into the smaller cinemas. Why shouldn't people have non-American films on their best of the year list if they happen to be genuinely great? That was the only point I was making, no need to separate films in this way.

The Pontiac

e_e wrote: »

Could you stop using straw men please? I didn't once try to argue intellectual superiority over anyone. This just makes you look insecure in your need to defend yourself against something that I didn't even say.

You said of my list "They are really bad examples for 2001". Well they're not, as they are my personal favorites for that year. Just because you have a different list doesn't make mine "bad" or yours good.

I was recommended a few 2012 movies by Lamper.sffc earlier in this thread. I didn't say they were poor movies, just not my type.

You completely dismissed my list as if I didn't know what I was taking about. Read the post again.

Don't try and speak for every other cinema goer. This kind of attitude is the reason why subtitled films are often only pushed into the smaller cinemas. Why shouldn't people have non-American films on their best of the year list if they happen to be genuinely great? That was the only point I was making, no need to separate films in this way.

Why do you keep going on about "attitude"? It's simply a fact that foreign film is not as popular here. Ring Cineworld and ask them.

I am not drawing comparisons between the two. If anything foreign is better IMO

Mickeroo

kitakyushu wrote: »

That's a fair point, but I do think since the advent of CGI that on the whole they are getting worse because of favouring effects over story and/or character. Everyone is raving about the Avengers this year for whatever reason but if you asked me to give you a synopsis of the movie from start to finish or to even quote you a funny or memorable line of dialogue I'd genuinely struggle.

So what? I could give you a detailed synopsis and quote several lines or memorable/funny moments *shrug*

Some bloody brilliant films came out this year and some crap ones, same as every other year.

krudler

kitakyushu wrote: »

That's a fair point, but I do think since the advent of CGI that on the whole they are getting worse because of favouring effects over story and/or character. Everyone is raving about the Avengers this year for whatever reason but if you asked me to give you a synopsis of the movie from start to finish or to even quote you a funny or memorable line of dialogue I'd genuinely struggle.

CGI is god!

"That man is playing Galaga!" is probably my favourite line of the year :pac:

Fysh

kitakyushu wrote: »

That's a fair point, but I do think since the advent of CGI that on the whole they are getting worse because of favouring effects over story and/or character. Everyone is raving about the Avengers this year for whatever reason but if you asked me to give you a synopsis of the movie from start to finish or to even quote you a funny or memorable line of dialogue I'd genuinely struggle.

CGI is god!

I wasnt hugely impressed by Avengers myself (preferred The Raid as a balls-out action flick) but it did gangbusters at the box office and was generally well received.

I don't think CGI is the culprit - there have always been dreadfully written films, which try to cover their flaws with whatever tricks are available. As with 3D or sound or colour, CGI is just a tool for filmmakers to use or misuse.

e_e

<Ollie> wrote: »

You said of my list "They are really bad examples for 2001". Well they're not, as they are my personal favorites for that year. Just because you have a different list doesn't make mine "bad" or yours good.

I was recommended a few 2012 movies by Lamper.sffc earlier in this thread. I didn't say they were poor movies, just not my type.

You completely dismissed my list as if I didn't know what I was taking about. Read the post again.

You gave your favorite films of 2001, and in my opinion they didn't represent the best of that year. Why are you taking issue with this again?

<Ollie> wrote: »

Why do you keep going on about "attitude"? It's simply a fact that foreign film is not as popular here. Ring Cineworld and ask them.

You automatically discounted Johnny's recommendations because they weren't in English and made a sweeping generalization that international cinema is not for "ordinary" people when in fact the opposite is true. In short you're arbitrarily putting films (including documentaries) on different pedestals just to suit your own arguments.

...and I have no reason to go to Cineworld. I get great deals with my IFI card (usually for half the price it'd cost for a single ticket in Cineworld) thank you very much.

Do some people really think that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was too confusing? It really is a film that rewards the viewer for paying attention and as long as you're not checking your email or playing with your phone while watching there's no way you can be confused about it.

e_e

Deleted User wrote: »

Do some people really think that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was too confusing? It really is a film that rewards the viewer for paying attention and as long as you're not checking your email or playing with your phone while watching there's no way you can be confused about it.

Yeah I found absolutely nothing to care about or latch onto in the film. I actually thought it would have been vastly improved by a longer run time and slower pace to really consider the story and themes instead of being bombarded with information. Great cinematography though, I'll give it that.

krudler

I didnt find it confusing at all, I did find it a bit on the dull side though, wouldn't be in a rush to watch it a second time. Its well made, well acted, good movie, just something I'd really need to be in the mood to watch again.

kitakyushu

Mickeroo wrote: »

So what? I could give you a detailed synopsis and quote several lines or memorable/funny moments *shrug*

Fair play to you if you can.

I wasn't suggesting it was an achievement to follow/remember the events of that particular movie. I was implying they weren't worth following and/or remembering.

pixelburp

<Ollie> wrote: »

But a lot of them are foreign titles and most ordinary or casual viewers would have no interest in them. Nearly all of my comparisons (different decades) above are English-speaking films. You also put in a few documentaries to make up the list. It looked to me as you struggled with english speaking films?

Well that doesn't really make any sense and just makes your argument seem more than a little bit selective: you can't start a thread dismissing the entire cinematic output of a year, then conveniently attach caveats and limitations on your list because it doesn't tally with your stance. "Oh well, Johnny Casual wouldn't be interested in that" you say - so basically a bit like Argo then, yeh?

If anything, I thought multiplex, mainstream cinema was pretty good this year - cos lets face it, that's what you're really having a go at here - Dark Knight Rises, Avengers, Dredd, Paranorman, Cabin in the Woods (even if I personally didn't make much of it), just off the top of my head and there are doubtless others but I know how much we don't like list threads around here haha. Skyfall's been getting good early reviews & other multiplex fodder like The Hobbit & Django Unchained could add to that bounty.

And frankly, quoting some random IMDB users list is not really a way to argue a point - that site is famously mis-representative and easy to manipulate on a mass scale.

Oh and I have to chime in & simply add a :rolleyes: for complaining about Tinker Tailor being complex and not some Bondalike. Better avoid the Alec Guinness version from the 1970s then if you found the 2011 film too bewildering!

e_e

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU8Rfx2KVHA

1890 was the worst year for film!

The Pontiac

e_e wrote: »

You gave your favorite films of 2001, and in my opinion they didn't represent the best of that year. Why are you taking issue with this again?

At last "in my opinion".

You automatically discounted Johnny's recommendations because they weren't in English and made a sweeping generalization that international cinema is not for "ordinary" people when in fact the opposite is true. In short you're arbitrarily putting films (including documentaries) on different pedestals just to suit your own arguments.

...and I have no reason to go to Cineworld. I get great deals with my IFI card (usually for half the price it'd cost for a single ticket in Cineworld) thank you very much.

[/QUOTE]

I didn't discount the recommendations. The list was made up of so many foreign films and a few documentaries, that I thought maybe Johnny thought the same re. English speaking films.

Film awards like the oscars would also categorise these separately i.e. Best Film, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Documentary etc..

I love a good documentary. See post #29 here.

The Pontiac

pixelburp wrote: »

Well that doesn't really make any sense and just makes your argument seem more than a little bit selective: you can't start a thread dismissing the entire cinematic output of a year, then conveniently attach caveats and limitations on your list because it doesn't tally with your stance. "Oh well, Johnny Casual wouldn't be interested in that" you say - so basically a bit like Argo then, yeh?

How am I dismissing it? I genuinely want to know why the list includes so many foreign films, yet so few English speaking films.

Maybe Johnny just prefers a foreign film, or is it that english-speaking films weren't good enough (this year) to make the list?

dark crystal

I know exactly where the OP is coming from here. I think he is lamenting the lack of good, original, semi-intelligent films made for mainstream audiences.

If you aren't a fan of franchises, never-ending comic-book fodder, sequels, prequels or remakes, there really isn't a huge amount out there for you to watch in the cinema. It's very rare I would ever go to the cinema anymore as I find Hollywood output so geared towards a certain demographic, there just isn't much left outside that demographic to interest me.

I miss courtroom dramas, thrillers, biopics and original drama, genres you could still go to the cinema and see during the 90's and early noughties. Of course there are still good films being made, but you really have to look towards the independent studios to find them and they aren't given anywhere near the same budget or promotion as the many myriad of blockbusters that litter up the main cinemas these days.

Still, coming up towards Oscar season, you will find better films starting to appear in the cinemas. Films such as Cloud Atlas, Argo, Seven Psychopaths, Gangster Squad, Lincoln and Django Unchained will all be released during the next couple of months. Not a superhero in sight there

e_e

<Ollie> wrote: »

At last "in my opinion".

I thought it was very much implied? It'd get incredibly tedious around here if everybody were to finish every second sentence with "in my opinion", in my opinion.

<Ollie> wrote: »

Film awards like the oscars would also categorise these separately i.e. Best Film, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Documentary etc..

This is the exact type of thing I'm talking about though. "Oh give 'em their own category, they aren't worthy of films like Avatar!!" :pac:

e_e

A Separation was more deserving of best picture than any of the other main Oscar nominees, but that's a rant for another day I guess.

The Pontiac

dark crystal wrote: »

I know exactly where the OP is coming from here. I think he is lamenting the lack of good, original, semi-intelligent films made for mainstream audiences.

If you aren't a fan of franchises, never-ending comic-book fodder, sequels, prequels or remakes, there really isn't a huge amount out there for you to watch in the cinema. It's very rare I would ever go to the cinema anymore as I find Hollywood output so geared towards a certain demographic, there just isn't much left outside that demographic to interest me.

I miss courtroom dramas, thrillers, biopics and original drama, genres you could still go to the cinema and see during the 90's and early noughties. Of course there are still good films being made, but you really have to look towards the independent studios to find them and they aren't given anywhere near the same budget or promotion as the many myriad of blockbusters that litter up the main cinemas these days.

Still, coming up towards Oscar season, you will find better films starting to appear in the cinemas. Films such as Cloud Atlas, Argo, Seven Psychopaths, Gangster Squad, Lincoln and Django Unchained will all be released during the next couple of months. Not a superhero in sight there

You hit the nail on the head there. Thanks.

Turtyturd

kitakyushu wrote: »

That's a fair point, but I do think since the advent of CGI that on the whole they are getting worse because of favouring effects over story and/or character. Everyone is raving about the Avengers this year for whatever reason but if you asked me to give you a synopsis of the movie from start to finish or to even quote you a funny or memorable line of dialogue I'd genuinely struggle.

CGI is god!

Puny Poster.:pac:

johnny_ultimate

<Ollie> wrote: »

How am I dismissing it? I genuinely want to know why the list includes so many foreign films, yet so few English speaking films.

Maybe Johnny just prefers a foreign film, or is it that english-speaking films weren't good enough (this year) to make the list?

I have increasingly little patience for mediocre blockbusters, and have always had a particular interest in Asian cinema, but I just generally like great films, full stop. I thought my list was a fairly balanced split between international and English-language cinema, TBH. I try to see as many of the noteworthy films as released as I can - from The Artist (the emperor's new clothes, frankly) to Holy Motors (the real deal: a genuine original and instant personal favourite) - and have been to the cinema probably over a hundred times this year, and the films I listed are ones that I have found particularly memorable or worthy.

Great cinema is great cinema, regardless of its language or country of origin. I have very little time for self-proclaimed film fans who almost entirely dismiss world cinema. Keep an eye on festival reactions, word of mouth and critical discourse, which to me tend to flag genuinely great films far more regularly than the Oscars do (I have little to no faith in that particular award show anymore). Yes, world cinema can sometimes be 'challenging' (on that note, forget to mention The Turin Horse and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia ), but people don't like About Elly or A Separation (which are the two recent Asghar Farhadi films I'd instantly recommend to anyone losing faith in cinema) just because of that. It's because great cinema can provoke, entertain, enlighten or elicit any number of other emotional responses in the viewer. I really couldn't care less if a film is from California or Tehran as long as it resonates with me in some way.

Honest question now: how many of the films recommended or cited in this thread have you actually seen? Doesn't matter what language they're in or genre they are - we've provided an eclectic mix of recommendations so far. If it's anything less than half, then do you not think it significantly negates your ability to declare 2012 the worst year for film? Even with radical deviations in personal taste factored in, surely there's four or five films mentioned that would appeal to any random viewer?

Sad Professor

It's been a fantastic year so far IMO and the best may be yet to come. I already have about 20 films that will be vying for a place on my Best of 2012 list, not to mention the films yet to be released or all the ones I missed that I hope to catch on DVD before the year is out.

I do take the point about the crap filling up the mainstream multiplexes, but what's new? While it has managed to push out some great and some very entertaining films over the years, big studio Hollywood cinema has by and large been in decline since the '70s. The '80s and '90s may look great now but that's only because we can't remember all the rubbish. Get used to subtitles and art-house aesthetics because independent and world cinema is where it's at now.

Having said that, the rise of so-called "high concept" blockbusters like Inception, TDK and Looper does make me hopeful that the big studios haven't totally abandoned originality.

The Pontiac

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I have increasingly little patience for mediocre blockbusters, and have always had a particular interest in Asian cinema, but I just generally like great films, full stop. I thought my list was a fairly balanced split between international and English-language cinema, TBH. I try to see as many of the noteworthy films as released as I can - from The Artist (the emperor's new clothes, frankly) to Holy Motors (the real deal: a genuine original and instant personal favourite) - and have been to the cinema probably over a hundred times this year, and the films I listed are ones that I have found particularly memorable or worthy.

Dark Crystal put it brilliantly above - they seem to have neglected the audience for "courtroom dramas, thrillers, biopics and original drama". There's more money to be made with the likes of The Dark Night, Harry Potter etc.

Great cinema is great cinema, regardless of its language or country of origin. I have very little time for self-proclaimed film fans who almost entirely dismiss world cinema. Keep an eye on festival reactions, word of mouth and critical discourse, which to me tend to flag genuinely great films far more regularly than the Oscars do (I have little to no faith in that particular award show anymore). Yes, world cinema can sometimes be 'challenging' (on that note, forget to mention The Turin Horse and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia ), but people don't like About Elly or A Separation (which are the two recent Asghar Farhadi films I'd instantly recommend to anyone losing faith in cinema) just because of that. It's because great cinema can provoke, entertain, enlighten or elicit any number of other emotional responses in the viewer. I really couldn't care less if a film is from California or Tehran as long as it resonates with me in some way

I really liked A Seperation and even recommended it to a few people. I'd usually seek out the oscar nominations stuff like The Secret in their Eyes, A Prophet etc. and they usually live up to the hype. There's obviously thousands of great foreign films out that are less well known. I might have to start seeking them out now as Hollywood has deserted me. I'll start with a few of your recommendations on this thread.

Honest question now: how many of the films recommended or cited in this thread have you actually seen? Doesn't matter what language they're in or genre they are - we've provided an eclectic mix of recommendations so far. If it's anything less than half, then do you not think it significantly negates your ability to declare 2012 the worst year for film? Even with radical deviations in personal taste factored in, surely there's four or five films mentioned that would appeal to any random viewer?

See that's problem. I seek out what is on/out, go to review it and I just know I won't like it. Hence why I'm so looking forward to Argo. The Avengers would be my worst nightmare. The Imposter I know I will like, but that's a docu. I really liked Marley too.

Maybe I was wrong. 2012 just didn't produce my type of movies, so maybe not necessarily the worst year ever for movies. Off now to source some good foreign stuff.

The Pontiac

Sad Professor wrote: »

Get used to subtitles and art-house aesthetics because independent and world cinema is where it's at now.

Exactly what I'm planning on doing. Starting tonight!

kitakyushu

e_e wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU8Rfx2KVHA

1890 was the worst year for film!

Yeah, it wasn't a great movie, but the DVD commentary is amazing.

e_e

It was no bullsh!t, straight to the point too. That's what I like to hear.

WoollyRedHat

1878 was a pretty weak year for movies. There was only one made, and it was pretty repititive and laborioius after a while
(Hope I don't get sued for redistributing it): http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Muybridge_race_horse_animated.gif

don ramo

every single year this thread pops up, i think 2012 has been well above average compared to the previous 2 or 3 years, i dunno whether its just ive gotten better at selecting the films i watch or what, but i seem to have avoided seeing a lot of bad films this year, and i have managed to see a lot of good ones,

and with some of the films yet to come out being on my radar for a while now i think 2012 could potentially become a great year,

TBH for me myself i put a lot of it down to this forum for the recommendations from all the other posters about certain films that would otherwise have escaped my attention, i also tend to go against some peoples opinions simply cause i have my own personal taste also,

i put it all down to educating yourself on what your gonna see, if you put in the effort to seek out your type of film then you wont be disappointed as much in the future,

crazygeryy

don ramo wrote: »

i put it all down to educating yourself on what your gonna see, if you put in the effort to seek out your type of film then you wont be disappointed as much in the future,

i agree so off i went to see the trailer of holy Motors as j ultimate mentioned earlier. now a trailer is supposed to entice you to draw you into the movie to wet your appetite and to get you to go see the movie. holy Motors trailer? I'd rather watch paint dry. it looks boring absolutely boring. maybe the movie itself is brilliant but Jesus the trailer made me want to fall asleep


MOVIES: each to their own!

ps i won't be going to see holy Motors

Antar Bolaeisk

I like to think of this as the Inverse Temporal Doppler Effect where things appear to get closer together the further in time you are away from them and vice versa. In this case it's film releases.

crazygeryy

Antar Bolaeisk wrote: »

I like to think of this as the Inverse Temporal Doppler Effect where things appear to get closer together the further in time you are away from them and vice versa. In this case it's film releases.

what he said.