The year 2012 saw the release of several great features. Memorable films include Ridley Scott’sAlienprequelPrometheus, Daniel Day-Lewis' Oscar-winning role as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents inLincoln, Katheryn Bigelow’s intense action dramaZero Dark Thirty, and the film adaptation of the Broadway musicalLes Misérables. However, plenty of other films also achieved critical acclaim and/or box office success.
Actors like Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt continued to star in memorable performances. Meanwhile, directors such as Christopher Nolan and Rian Johnson elevated their status as ambitious filmmakers. The following films of 2012 contain a variety of genres such as action, western, superhero, sci-fi, drama, and a dose of humor.
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Lawless
Director John Hillcoat’ssubtle, brutal gangster filmmay be one of the most underrated films of 2012 because of its slow pacing and predictable story. The film takes place during the Great Depression and focuses on the Bondurant brothers and their bootlegging business. Meanwhile, a corrupt cop tries to take down the brothers and wreak havoc on their lives.
Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, and Jason Clarke are charismatic and powerful as the Bondurants. They may be conflicted brothers and outlaws, but they have major plans for success. Guy Pearce’s special deputy is a snarly villain with an unpleasant persona who hates everyone. Jessica Chastain’s damsel has a slightly comical and romantic relationship with Hardy that perfectly compliments his serious demeanor. The sets, production, wardrobe, and old vehicles are part of the appealing visuals based on the Prohibition era, along with some bloody fights and shootouts.
Looper
Rian Johnson’s exciting sci-fi pictureis a blend of organized crime and time travel. Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Joe, a contract killer called a “looper” who eliminates targets from the future that are sent into the past. When he discovers that he is ordered to kill his older self (Bruce Willis), he is shocked, and old Joe escapes. While young Joe tries to find the older version of himself, he also has to fight off the mob (who’s after him for failing to do his job) and encounters a protective mother and her young son with powerful abilities.
Gordon-Levitt doesn’t look like Willis, but he is able to emulate his mannerisms and toughness (along with some neat prosthetics). Both actors are effective in their roles, because each version of Joe has something to fight for. Young Joe initially cares about getting his targets and earning gold, but he grows a conscience for Sara (a mom trying to help her troubled son, Cid, who is destined to become a major crime lord called the Rainmaker). Old Joe mourns the death of his wife and seeks to reverse it by going after the mob syndicate and killing Cid due to his dangerous power.
Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino’sdark, brutal westernis extremely violent and controversial due to the subject matter involving slavery. However, it’s also a well-made picture that manages to be brutal and darkly funny at the same time. Jamie Foxx portrays Django, a slave who is given his freedom when a dentist turned bounty hunter named Dr. Schultz (Christoph Waltz) requests his help in finding a couple of slave owners. In return, Schultz agrees to help Django find his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) and free her from a large slave plantation.
Django and Schultz have an intriguing bond as friends and partners. They learn a lot from each other, including their personal relationships. When Schultz recognizes that Django is a good marksman, he teaches him about the bounty hunting business, including improvisation and getting into character (skills that Django will use to survive in the future). Slave owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson) are two of the most despicable villains in recent memory due to their cruelty and methods of torture. The shootouts are also bloody and over-the-top, along with a fitting western soundtrack.
Skyfall
This is arguablythe most exciting James Bond film(the 50th) starring Daniel Craig as the charismatic secret agent. In this feature, 007 battles a powerful enemy named Silva (the expertly villainous Javier Bardem), a former agent turned rogue who intends to cause chaos and terror in several parts of the world by eliminating other top agents. Silva also intends to kill M (Judi Dench), who he blames for abandoning him when he was captured and tortured by enemy forces. Silva also views Bond as his competition (similar to 006’s battle with James inGoldeneye). He uses guns, technology, and explosions to try and kill 007.
Craig and Bardem are perfect enemies who have intense battles and shootouts in a cat-and-mouse game. Craig’s Bond is at his best. He knows when to be a man of action, while also displaying moments of subtle humor that the character is always known for. Judi Dench’s portrayal of M is also at her best here. She’s more central to the story and has powerfully dramatic moments with both Bond and Silva. The locations in London (MI6 Headquarters), Scotland (Bond’s childhood home), and Macau, China (a luxurious casino) are also appealing.
The Avengers
There have been many great features in the MCU, butThe Avengersremains the best simply because this isone of the first superhero films to bring several heroes together. In doing so, it set the stage forAge of Ultron,Infinity War, andEndgame. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Nick Fury lead an ensemble filled with characters of various personas and powerful abilities. All these Marvel superheroes struggle to work as a team while attempting to locate Loki, who has villainous plans to wage war on Earth by using the Tesseract to invite evil armies through a portal.
All the heroes have backstories after being introduced in previous MCU films and solo franchises, making the dramatic heft of this feature more impactful. The collaboration between certain heroes is also funny. Audiences laugh over the feud between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers over their significance, or Hulk and Thor battling each other to see who is stronger. Loki is an ideal villain for this story because he desperately tries to be a powerful ruler but in a bad way, and manages to hold his own against each hero until they all get the better of him.
The Dark Knight Rises
Christopher Nolan’s final chapter in his successfulDark Knighttrilogy is not only an epic superhero picture, but a powerful story of redemption. It also tackles themes such as economic turmoil and war. Bruce Wayne/Batman is scarred and wounded after Harvey ‘Two-Face’ Dent’s death in the previous film, and is uncertain about his future until an evil mercenary named Bane plans to destroy Gotham. Selina Kyle/Catwoman is a burglar who plans to erase her criminal record, but her interactions with Batman force her to question her morality. Bruce’s closest allies (Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, and Lucius Fox), along with a young cop named Blake, each have their own struggles. Together, they try to help Batman wage war against Bane and his army.
Nolan’s superhero picture is a terrific culmination of the first two films in the series and provides closure for Batman and several primary characters.Christian Bale once again proves that he is arguably the best Bruce Wayne/Batmanthanks to the character’s vulnerability, toughness, and willingness to never give up the fight. Tom Hardy’s menacing Bane (with a cool mask and deep voice) is a worthy opponent. He challenges Batman both physically and emotionally due to their connection with Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Shadows. Along with great fight scenes and battle sequences,The Dark Knight Risesis a human superhero film with heart and emotion.
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