Since I haven’t watched all the “it” movies that 2012 has to offer yet, this list is once again tentative and will be subject to updates. Movies that I have yet to see include but are not restricted to Django Unchained, The Master, Les Miserables and Zero Dark Thirty.
I can’t say 2012 has been a brilliant year for movies but there were some releases that stood above others for me. So without further ado, this is the preliminary list of the movies that I enjoyed the most over the past 12 months.
When a review is available, it will be linked through the title.
13 – Beasts of the Southern Wild
This odd, peculiar and strange movie is bolstered by an absolutely stunning performance by six year old newcomer Quvenzhane Wallis as a little girl who’s fighting for her father and her forgotten community.
This take on Tolstoy’s most famous novel turned out to be very polarizing. But I was one to enjoy it. Despite a few hiccups in the storytelling, this adaptation turned out to be quite interesting.
11 – Wreck-It-Ralph
The best animated feature oscar is not going for this movie. But make no mistake, Wreck-It-Ralph is where animation magic and heart lie.
10 – Moonrise Kingdom
Wes Anderson’s new offering is a refreshing take on a boy’s first love. It is a charming movie with a great musical score to accompany it. You can’t but feel happy as you finish watching Moonrise Kingdom.
Ang Lee’s tale of an Indian boy lost in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengali Tiger is a marvel to look at. But that’s not what the movie is all about. This story about survival despite all odds cannot but take you in.
It’s no wonder this French movie quickly became one of the biggest movies in the history of French cinema. The real story of two men who become friends despite their drastically different backgrounds and their entirely different cultural and social classes is a joy to see.
This post-apocalyptic movie captured the book’s essence: the portrayal of the characters’ anguish, their fight for their own lives and their ordeal under a ruthless tyranny.
The best James Bond movie in years. Skyfall gives 007 a much needed aspect of humanity and helps make our favorite spy much more relatable.
Ben Affleck’s new movie of a stranger-than-fiction real story is absolutely mesmerizing. It did a great job at showcasing the morbid atmosphere that the American hostages were in and managed to turn their ordeal into top-rate drama that will keep you at the edge of your seat.
4 – The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This coming of age movie is enchanting and absolutely heartfelt. It is about the joy of acceptance and the fear of rejection – all in the mind of a fifteen year old struggling with his freshman year of high school.
This take on the last few months of the United States’ 16th president is absolutely brilliant. Be it from the top-rate acting performances to the highly engaging story, Lincoln is an absolute must-see.
Jennifer Lawrence gives the year’s best acting performance opposite a highly surprising Bradley Cooper in a movie about mental illness that goes beyond that and eventually becomes a movie about our inherent human need for others who can understand us.
Michael Haneke’s movie of old age is riveting. It is breath-taking, captivating and absolutely chilling.
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
Great list! My favorite movie of the year has to be Moonrise Kingdom although I haven’t seen some of your top 5.
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It is a good movie but I think my top 5 picks are definitely better.
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Happy New Year Elie!
I stumbled on ur blog googling “hot lebanese babes” or some shit, lol, n found a window into the life of a young guy (my peer from the other side of the world!) with a great future ahead of him. U shown us ur personality, n ur determination to always tell ur honest thoughts earns our respect for u–a really great dude.
Here’s hoping 2013 will be even better than 2012!!! 😀
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I have a sneaky suspicion you were slightly drunk writing this 😛
Happy new year Joey! And thank you for reading – regardless of how you came across this blog 😛
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Me drunk? Never! 😛 hehe
Nice pick of movies too. I agree with you on Jennifer Lawrence too. And you weren’t missing anything on Les Miserables–it was way overrated. I have a feeling Zero Dark Thirty will top most of these tho.
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Will watch Les Miserables tonight. Victor Hugo is always a good idea. Hollywood on the other hand, not so much.
Zero Dark Thirty will be released on the January 24th. I personally hated The Hurt Locker so I’m not entirely excited about this one. And there’s still Django Unchained. After all, Quentin Tarantino rarely fails to impress.
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How could you forget The Hobbit?! I was almost certain that it would be #1 on your list!
In case you haven’t seen it yet, you should definitely add it to your watch list…
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I didn’t forget The Hobbit. I have already watched it and reviewed it and it’s nowhere near my favorite movie of the year.
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the hunger games?!
http://rwithw.blogspot.com/2012/03/hunger-games-bad-games.html
this will sum what i think of it!
DUDE HOW COULD YOU!!!!
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I have read all the books and I liked them. I have a crush on Jennifer Lawrence which I don’t hide and I thought she did well in a movie that stayed true to the essence of the books.
It’s not philosophy, it’s just an opinion :p
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did you read the link i sent you ?
and was the napppy time scene in the book too ?
where Katniss is on a tree and they all go nappy time?
and did you ever read / watch Battle Royal?
Battle Royal is the original story , Hunger games is a knock off…
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I read the link. Biggest load of bullshit. I know The Hunger Games is inspired by Battle Royal which I haven’t read. But once you’re gonna start nitpicking at every single character’s actions, why not address every single book character’s actions in every single book written?
Some things are just the way they are for plot purposes.
And yes, they sleep in the book as well.
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The Hunger Games should be in Top 1 🙂
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Of course not. Where I’ve placed it is more than enough 🙂
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Nappy time is okay by you I suppose …
So it’s completely natural to sleep while you are stuck on a tree with people underneath you waiting to kill you ….
well if that is good story telling for you , then fine.
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Great Selection, i havent watched Amour, but Silver Linings Playbook was by far my favourite movie this year.
the funny thing is that many people walked out of the theatre ! i guess that’s what makes it even more special.
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Really? I thought most people enjoyed that movie.
You should watch Amour – it is such a good movie.
The list has a few updates coming up. Just waiting to watch all the movies listed at the beginning before the overhaul.
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