2012 Ranked Films
The ranked list of 2012 films that I have seen so far.
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- DirectorAng LeeStarsSuraj SharmaIrrfan KhanAdil HussainA young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.10/10
Simultaneously grounded and fantastical, Life of Pi is a visually wondrous tale of survival about a boy and his tiger. - DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsBradley CooperJennifer LawrenceRobert De NiroAfter a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.10/10
With a fantastic ensemble cast and a story that fires on all cylinders, Silver Linings Playbook scores with audiences easily despite sensitive themes thanks to writer-director David O. Russell - DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsJessica ChastainJoel EdgertonChris PrattA chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L.s Team 6 in May 2011.10/10
Able to take current geopolitical events and make them feel historic, Kathryn Bigelow delivers another terrifically tense off-kilter war thriller in Zero Dark Thirty. - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJamie FoxxChristoph WaltzLeonardo DiCaprioWith the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.10/10
Soaked in blood and idiosyncratic Tarantino flair, Django Unchained is a thoroughly engaging revisionist Western with a superb cast. - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsJack BlackShirley MacLaineMatthew McConaugheyIn small-town Texas, an affable mortician strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow, though when she starts to become controlling, he goes to great lengths to separate himself from her grasp.10/10
Featuring perhaps Jack Black’s career-best performance, Bernie deftly combines fictional and non-fictional narrations to tell a crime story that’s as charming as it is strange. - DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsJoaquin PhoenixPhilip Seymour HoffmanAmy AdamsA Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by the Cause and its charismatic leader.10/10
It’s Paul Thomas Anderson at his most elusive, but those committed to The Master will find it increasingly intriguing and atmospheric. - DirectorStephen ChboskyStarsLogan LermanEmma WatsonEzra MillerCharlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend's suicide and his tumultuous past.10/10
A reliably humorous teen movie that's also astoundingly mature, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is thoroughly affecting and a seamless adaptation from writer-director Stephen Chbosky. - DirectorRich MooreStarsJohn C. ReillyJack McBrayerJane LynchA video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.10/10
The pixelated and sugary Wreck-It Ralph will best present itself to a niche audience, but all others will still find a surprisingly clever and affecting Disney venture. - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.10/10
A paramount achievement for Marvel and cinema itself, The Avengers seamlessly integrates its lead characters until they create an excitingly cohesive whole. - DirectorStéphane AubierVincent PatarBenjamin RennerStarsLambert WilsonPauline BrunnerAnne-Marie LoopThe story of an unlikely friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a young mouse named Celestine.10/10
Superior to much more mainstream animated fare, Earnest & Celestine gets by on the easy character work between its titular duo. - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDaniel Day-LewisSally FieldDavid StrathairnAs the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.10/10
Lincoln may not pull any punches for those familiar with Spielberg, but thanks to an another enrapturing showing from Daniel Day-Lewis, it more than honors its subject. - DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckBryan CranstonJohn GoodmanActing under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.10/10
Tense to the end, Argo will have viewers at the edge of their seat as director-star Ben Affleck masterfully recreates a pivotal moment in sociopolitical relations. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.10/10
A near-perfect conclusion to a near-perfect superhero trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises thrives off the deft camerawork from Christopher Nolan and tells an emotionally satisfying Batman tale in the bargain. - DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisAnanda GeorgeRay SahetapyA S.W.A.T. team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.9/10
Boasting some of the best fight choreography ever put to film, The Raid: Redemption is a non-stop, brutal thrill ride that gets dynamic mileage out of its simplicity. - DirectorTim BurtonStarsWinona RyderCatherine O'HaraMartin ShortWhen a boy's beloved dog passes away suddenly, he attempts to bring the animal back to life through a powerful science experiment.9/10
A marvelously creative venture from Tim Burton as he goes back to his aesthetic roots, Frankenweenie is a charming twist on the classic paradigm that pays proper reverence to horror movies of old. - DirectorRian JohnsonStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittBruce WillisEmily BluntIn 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent into the past, where a hired gun awaits - someone like Joe - who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by sending back Joe's future self for assassination.9/10
A time-travel picture that’s intellectually stimulating without distancing itself from the viewer, Looper proves another grounded, character-driven story from writer-director Rian Johnson. - DirectorColin TrevorrowStarsAubrey PlazaMark DuplassJake JohnsonThree magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified advertisement seeking a companion for time travel.9/10
An indie project that transcends normal limitations with nothing but ingenuity, Safety Not Guaranteed stimulates the human imagination and spirit alike. - DirectorDrew GoddardStarsKristen ConnollyChris HemsworthAnna HutchisonFive college friends head out to a remote cabin for a getaway, but things don't go as planned when they start getting killed. They soon discover that there is more to the cabin than it seems.9/10
Wholly subversive while also being wholly fun, The Cabin in the Woods manages to be equal parts scary and funny in what is sure to be the horror-comedy of the decade. - DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigJavier BardemNaomie HarrisJames Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.9/10
One of Bond’s darkest outings yet, Skyfall challenges the viewer’s understanding of the title character with determination and grit. - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsDenzel WashingtonNadine VelazquezDon CheadleTroubling questions arise after airline pilot Whip Whitaker makes a miracle landing after a mid-air catastrophe.9/10
Giving Denzel Washington full-range to command the screen, Flight cruises by with potent themes on integrity and the concept of heroism. - DirectorBenh ZeitlinStarsQuvenzhané WallisDwight HenryLevy EasterlyFaced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love.9/10
Led by a heart-wrenching performance from the young Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild blends the fantastical with the real with aplomb. - DirectorWes AndersonStarsJared GilmanKara HaywardBruce WillisTwo 12-year-olds, who live on an island, fall in love with each other and elope into the wilderness. While people set out on a search mission, a violent storm approaching them catches their attention.9/10
A typically quirky Wes Anderson joint, Moonrise Kingdom weaves a potent coming-of-age tale of young love with a wry ensemble cast rounding out the proceedings. - DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsNaomi WattsEwan McGregorTom HollandThe story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.9/10
The Impossible could be criticized for being Eurocentric, but aside from that is a harrowing tale of survival and hope in the wake of total disaster. - DirectorWayne BlairStarsChris O'DowdDeborah MailmanJessica MauboyIn 1968, four talented young Australian Aboriginal girls learn about love, friendship, and war when their all-girl group The Sapphires entertains the US troops in Vietnam.9/10
Lightly humorous but not with the sociopolitical nuance of its time, The Sapphires grooves right along to the sound of its beat thanks to a charismatic cast. - DirectorBen LewinStarsJohn HawkesHelen HuntWilliam H. MacyA man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.9/10
Featuring a nuanced and understated lead turn from John Hawkes, The Sessions might not be the most memorable biopic but it is certainly one of the most affecting. - DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellWoody HarrelsonSam RockwellA struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.8/10
Seven Psychopaths isn’t always the most focused of crime comedies, but a spitfire-hilarious script from Martin McDonagh and a vibrant cast make it a wholly unique experience. - DirectorLynn SheltonStarsMark DuplassEmily BluntRosemarie DeWittIris invites her friend Jack to stay at her family's island getaway after his brother's death. Jack's drunken encounter with Iris' sister Hannah at their remote cabin kicks off a revealing stretch of days.8/10
It’s low-key and humble, yet Your Sister’s Sister is a surprisingly progressive and resonant love triangle flick featuring a cast with perfect chemistry. - DirectorBen WheatleyStarsAlice LoweKenneth HadleySteve OramChris wants to show girlfriend Tina his world, but events soon conspire against the couple and their dream caravan holiday takes a very wrong turn.8/10
Not for those with a distaste toward errant bloodshed, Sightseers is nevertheless a darkly humorous outing for director Ben Wheatley. - DirectorJosh TrankStarsDane DeHaanAlex RussellMichael B. JordanThree high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery underground. Soon they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.8/10
While the found-footage gimmick has certainly been played out, Chronicle nevertheless cleverly incorporates it into its grounded and realistic superhero origin story. - DirectorJill SprecherStarsGreg KinnearBilly CrudupAlan ArkinA dishonest insurance salesman's life quickly disintegrates during a Wisconsin winter when he teams up with a psychopath to steal a rare violin at the home of a reclusive farmer.8/10
It owes a lot to certain crime comedies of old, especially aesthetically speaking, yet Thin Ice still manages to find a unique voice and sense of humor. - DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsJonah HillChanning TatumIce CubeA pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.8/10
Taking a forgotten property and invigorating it with new life, 21 Jump Street gets loads of comedic mileage from the apt pairing of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. - DirectorPeter LordJeff NewittStarsHugh GrantSalma HayekJeremy PivenPirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the year Award. The quest takes Captain and his crew from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.8/10
The Pirates! Band of Misfits is hardly the most refined of Aardman offerings, though it has plenty of swashbuckling zeal to charm even the most cynical of viewers. - DirectorJohn MaddenStarsJudi DenchBill NighyMaggie SmithBritish retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.8/10
With a sprightly veteran cast such as this, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel manages to be both lightly humorous and characteristically authentic without it being jarring. - DirectorEric DarnellTom McGrathConrad VernonStarsBen StillerJada Pinkett SmithChris RockThe Madagascar animals join a struggling European circus to get back to New York, but find themselves being pursued by a psychotic animal-control officer.8/10
Like a fine wine, the series only continues to improve, as Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is a colorful, vivacious trilogy capper. - DirectorTravis FineStarsAlan CummingGarret DillahuntIsaac LeyvaIn the 1970s, a gay couple fights a biased legal system to keep custody of the abandoned mentally handicapped teenager that comes to live under their roof.8/10
Featuring a tour de force cinematic turn from the likes of Alan Cumming, Any Day Now packs on the heart and stakes with ease, and most importantly not being even a little saccharine. - DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsChanning TatumAlex PettyferOlivia MunnA male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.8/10
Sexy to be sure but with Steven Soderberg’s unmistakable aesthetic grounding to go along with it, Magic Mike is a surprisingly down-to-earth human drama that reveals Channing Tatum’s abilities as an actor. - DirectorCraig ZobelStarsAnn DowdDreama WalkerPat HealyA normal Friday service at a fast food restaurant becomes interrupted by a police officer who claims an employee stole from a customer, but something more sinister is going on.8/10
Compliance’s denouement may underwhelm some viewers while adding a new layer to its disturbingly thought-provoking thematics, but it remains an absorbing escalation of tension through and through. - DirectorJonathan DaytonValerie FarisStarsPaul DanoZoe KazanAnnette BeningA novelist struggling with writer's block finds romance in a most unusual way: by creating a female character he thinks will love him, then willing her into existence.8/10
Founded on an inspired screenplay and performance from Zoe Kazan, Ruby Sparks takes a quirky route to explore the problematic nature of ownership in a relationship. - DirectorJoachim RønningEspen SandbergStarsPål Sverre HagenAnders BaasmoGustaf SkarsgårdLegendary explorer Thor Heyerdahl's epic 4,300-mile crossing of the Pacific on a balsawood raft in 1947, in an effort to prove that it was possible for South Americans to settle in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times.8/10
Though histrionic at times, Kon-Tiki and its breathtaking cinematography do manage to harness the kind of thrills and exploratory sense of mysticism it needs to enchant. - DirectorDavid AyerStarsJake GyllenhaalMichael PeñaAnna KendrickShot documentary-style, this film follows the daily grind of two young police officers in LA who are partners and friends and what happens when they meet criminal forces greater than themselves.8/10
One could argue against End of Watch’s street-level filmmaking approach as being paramount to the story, but one can’t argue against David Ayer’s ability to wring all the pathos and tension out of the film’s mise-en-scène. - DirectorYaron ZilbermanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanChristopher WalkenCatherine KeenerMembers of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos, and insuppressible lust.8/10
A Late Quartet could use a jolt or two, but a quintet of impressive performances helps sell the machinations at play. - DirectorJake SchreierStarsPeter SarsgaardFrank LangellaSusan SarandonIn the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team.8/10
Lightly humorous and featuring a seldom seen Frank Langella in a starring role, Robot & Frank is one of the more human dramedies in recent memory. - DirectorMichael DowseStarsSeann William ScottJay BaruchelAlison PillLabeled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of under performing misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.8/10
Hard-hitting In more ways than one and reinstating Seann William Scott as a comedian to reckon with, Goon is rough, vulgar and bloody, and rightly so. - DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsMatthew McConaugheyEmile HirschJuno TempleWhen a debt puts a young man's life in danger, he turns to putting a hit out on his evil mother in order to collect the insurance.8/10
With certain scenes that are difficult to watch in the best way possible, Killer Joe is one deep-fried crime drama that eschews predictability and convention. - DirectorJoe CarnahanStarsLiam NeesonDermot MulroneyFrank GrilloAfter their plane crashes in Alaska, six oil workers are led by a skilled huntsman to survival, but a pack of merciless wolves haunts their every step.8/10
Some viewers may feel underwhelmed with The Grey’s ostensibly truncated conclusion, but outside of that expectation the film is a visceral, haunting exploration of human survival. - DirectorIgnacio FerrerasStarsTacho GonzálezÁlvaro GuevaraMabel RiveraAn astonishing cocktail of friendship, resistance and life set among the unexpected landscape of an elderly care facility.8/10
Charming by way of its animation style and geriatric characters, Wrinkles is a lightly poignant look at the interrelationship of old age and youthful dispositions. - DirectorTom HooperStarsHugh JackmanRussell CroweAnne HathawayIn 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory worker's daughter. The decision changes their lives forever.8/10
Les Misérables has trouble translating the musical’s bombastic nature to cinematic standards, but the level of commitment and visual flair on display cannot be ignored. - DirectorRebecca ThomasStarsJulia GarnerLiam AikenBilly ZaneRachel, a teenager born and raised in her Mormon community, believes that she has been inpregnated by listening to music and must get to Vegas to find the "father" of her miracle baby.8/10
Finding a niche way to look at the world, the low-budget Electrick Children will entrance and engage viewers with psychedelic visuals and palpable themes. - DirectorRidley ScottStarsNoomi RapaceLogan Marshall-GreenMichael FassbenderFollowing clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone.7/10
More storytelling is packed into Prometheus than it can handle, but as visually splendid and intellectually involving prequels go, Ridley Scott’s long-awaited return to the franchise delivers. - DirectorJosh RadnorStarsJosh RadnorElizabeth OlsenZac EfronWhen 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between them.7/10
Its wistful themes and narrative may elicit a certain amount of contempt from those looking for more, but as it stands Liberal Arts is an honest offering from writer-director-star Josh Radnor. - DirectorDavid KoeppStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittMichael ShannonDania RamirezIn Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.7/10
There’s not a whole lot going on behind the delivery, but Premium Rush makes good on its title by providing rapid speed, entertaining bicycle thrills. - DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsWill SmithTommy Lee JonesJosh BrolinAgent J travels in time to M.I.B.'s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.7/10
Finding fresh narrative territory to justify a third installment, Men in Black 3 is as witty and visually resplendent as the franchise ever was. - DirectorSeth MacFarlaneStarsMark WahlbergMila KunisSeth MacFarlaneJohn Bennett, a man whose childhood wish of bringing his teddy bear to life came true, now must decide between keeping the relationship with the bear, Ted or his girlfriend, Lori.7/10
Seth McFarlane’s foray into live-action features isn’t seamless structurally speaking, however there are some hearty laughs to be had with Ted in this perversion of the buddy comedy. - DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsGina CaranoEwan McGregorMichael FassbenderA black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission.7/10
Haywire’s narrative is generic and doesn’t always flow, however a Steven Soderberg at the top of his game and a action star-making turn from Gina Carano keep it buzzing. - DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsMary Elizabeth WinsteadAaron PaulNick OffermanA married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober.7/10
Not as dramatic as it necessarily should be, Smashed does indeed have a tour-de-force-level Mary Elizabeth Winstead going for it. - DirectorMark AndrewsBrenda ChapmanSteve PurcellStarsKelly MacdonaldBilly ConnollyEmma ThompsonDetermined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.7/10
One of Pixar’s more pedestrian offerings, Brave still has a lot of heart and female empowerment to make it worthwhile viewing all the same. - DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneRhys IfansAfter Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.7/10
A reboot of the title character was hardly warranted, but as it stands The Amazing Spider-Man is grittier and reasonably constructed to reap the benefits anyway. - DirectorNicholas JareckiStarsRichard GereSusan SarandonBrit MarlingA troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his trading empire makes an error that forces him to turn to an unlikely person for help.7/10
Arbitrage never lives up to the tension provided by its plot, however it will keep viewers on the edge of their seats even during its more quiet moments. - DirectorLasse HallströmStarsEwan McGregorEmily BluntAmr WakedA fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible.7/10
As a romance film Salmon Fishing in the Yemen doesn’t hit super hard in the feels, but Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt are a magnetic enough team to make this a spiritually affecting offering. - DirectorGary RossStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.7/10
Its guerrilla approach robs The Hunger Games of some thrilling action sequences, however this particular YA dystopian adaptation is smarter and more nuanced than most. - DirectorJason MooreStarsAnna KendrickBrittany SnowRebel WilsonBeca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.7/10
Some gross-out humor aside, Pitch Perfect assembles quite the comedic troupe to harmonize with one another and relate to the viewer. - DirectorJay DuplassMark DuplassStarsJason SegelEd HelmsJudy GreerDispatched from his basement room on an errand for his widowed mother, slacker Jeff might discover his destiny (finally) when he spends the day with his unhappily married brother as he tracks his possibly adulterous wife.7/10
A tad narratively slight to really explore the themes it wants to, Jeff, Who Lives at Home is a largely amiable viewing experience thanks to a charismatic ensemble cast. - DirectorZal BatmanglijStarsChristopher DenhamNicole ViciusBrit MarlingTwo documentary filmmakers attempt to penetrate a cult who worships a woman who claims to be from the future.7/10
Intellectually stimulating and understated, Sound of My Voice is another quiet, engaging offering from Brit Marling. - DirectorAndrew DominikStarsBrad PittRay LiottaRichard JenkinsJackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.7/10
Killing Them Softly is going to be too languid for most viewers, but all others will find a slow-burn of a crime flick that has a great handle on atmosphere. - DirectorChris ButlerSam FellStarsKodi Smit-McPheeAnna KendrickChristopher Mintz-PlasseA misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.7/10
Though ParaNorman has a bit of a penchant for simplistic humor, this Laika production is thoroughly inspired and visually marvelous. - DirectorWhit StillmanStarsGreta GerwigAdam BrodyLio TiptonA trio of girls set out to change the male-dominated environment of the Seven Oaks college campus, and to rescue their fellow students from depression, grunge and low standards of every kind.7/10
There’s nary a narrative throughline to carry Damsels in Distress to its conclusion, however a consistent comedic tone and quirky personality are enough to save the day. - DirectorSally PotterStarsElle FanningAlice EnglertAnnette BeningA look at the lives of two teenage girls - inseparable friends Ginger and Rosa -- growing up in 1960s London as the Cuban Missile Crisis looms, and the pivotal event that comes to redefine their relationship.7/10
The film sometimes feels dwarfed by its larger-than-life happenings, however Ginger & Rosa is mostly a well rendered, well acted solemn coming-of-age story anyway. - DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsWill RogersKristen ConnollyKether DonohueChaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs.7/10
There are more engaging found-footage horror movies out there to be sure, yet The Bay does offer its own brand of ecological unrest to fuel the proceedings. - DirectorDavid ChaseStarsJohn MagaroJack HustonWill BrillSet in suburban New Jersey in the 1960s, a group of friends form a rock band and try to make it big.7/10
Not too eager to define itself or present its themes in any digestible manner, some fine performances and cinematography keep Not Fade Away from doing just that. - DirectorPeter StricklandStarsToby JonesAntonio MancinoGuido AdorniA sound engineer's work for an Italian horror studio becomes a terrifying case of life imitating art.7/10
Berberian Sound Studio doesn’t have much to offer the layman, but some clever theatrics and a firm hold on atmosphere should be enough to unnerve others. - DirectorPete TravisStarsKarl UrbanOlivia ThirlbyLena HeadeyIn a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.6/10
Bloodier and more apt to satisfy fans of the comic book character of the same name, this new-look Dredd won’t bring the house down but it’ll certainly look pretty and entertain while trying. - DirectorSalim AkilStarsJordin SparksCarmen EjogoWhitney HoustonIn the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.6/10
Sparkle is by and large a music drama that’s been done several times before, yet it’s staunchly convincing and a decent showcase for the acting talents of Jordan Sparks. - DirectorAlex KurtzmanStarsChris PineElizabeth BanksMichelle PfeifferWhile settling his recently deceased father's estate, a salesman discovers he has a sister whom he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examine their perceptions about family and life choices.6/10
Melodramatic and highly sentimental, People Like Us does a seamless job at garnering audience identification thanks to personable performances from its leads. - DirectorLee Toland KriegerStarsRashida JonesAndy SambergElijah WoodA divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people.6/10
Never totally exploring its friendship-loveship dynamic as it should, Celeste & Jesse Forever does display some magnetic comedic chemistry between Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg. - DirectorJamie TravisStarsAri GraynorLauren Miller RogenJustin LongFormer college frenemies Lauren and Katie move into a fabulous Gramercy Park apartment, and in order to make ends meet, the unlikely pair start a phone sex line together.6/10
For a Good Time Call... could have used some more tender love and care in the development process, as a superb leading duo make good on the titular promise. - DirectorScott DerricksonStarsEthan HawkeJuliet RylanceJames RansoneA controversial true-crime writer finds a box of Super 8 home movies in his new home, revealing that the murder case he is currently researching could be the work of an unknown serial killer whose legacy dates back to the 1960s.6/10
The storytelling to Sinister is nothing novel, however some spooky atmospherics and general intensity will have it crawling underneath your skin before long. - DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenPenélope CruzJesse EisenbergThe lives of some visitors and residents of Rome and the romances, adventures and predicaments they get into.6/10
Segmented and thus narratively hit-and-miss, To Rome with Love is hardly Woody Allen’s strongest writing effort, but an appealing cast will keep this effort as breezy as it needs to be. - DirectorJulie DelpyMarie PilletStarsJulie DelpyChris RockAlbert DelpyManhattan couple Marion and Mingus, who each have children from prior relationships, find their comfortable family dynamic jostled by a visit from Marion's relatives.6/10
A sequel to a film that didn’t necessarily ask for it, 2 Days in New York offers diminishing returns but does manage to come at it with a new angle for Julie Delpy and company. - DirectorJohn HillcoatStarsTom HardyShia LaBeoufGuy PearceSet in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits.6/10
Never quite as gripping as it wants to be, Lawless nevertheless presents itself with a palpable conviction that’s worthy of its sobering subject matter. - DirectorJennifer WestfeldtStarsJennifer WestfeldtAdam ScottMaya RudolphTwo best friends decide to have a child together while keeping their relationship platonic, so they can avoid the toll kids can take on romantic relationships.6/10
Perhaps better conceptually than it is in execution, Friends with Kids regardless has too likable of a cast to resist. - DirectorBrandon CronenbergStarsCaleb Landry JonesLisa BerrySarah GadonIn a blackly satirical near future, a thriving industry sells celebrity illnesses to their obsessed fans. Employee Syd March's attempts to exploit the system backfire when they involve him in a potentially deadly mystery.6/10
Narratively inaccessible and stretched to the limits of its runtime, Antiviral is still an aesthetically inspired and wicked little picture. - DirectorGus Van SantStarsMatt DamonFrances McDormandJohn KrasinskiA salesman for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.6/10
Smart but not exactly ecologically profound, Promised Land manages to be personable all the same thanks to some reliable direction from Gus Van Sant. - DirectorDavid FrankelStarsMeryl StreepTommy Lee JonesSteve CarellAfter thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense, week-long counseling session to work on their relationship.6/10
For all the talent assembled, Hope Springs ought to be more poignant than milquetoast, yet its key emotionality does shine through thanks to its veteran leads. - DirectorDaniel EspinosaStarsDenzel WashingtonRyan ReynoldsRobert PatrickA young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.6/10
Simplistic in story but managing to be exciting all the same, Safe House is hardly memorable but it’ll entertain through and through. - DirectorMike NewellStarsToby IrvineRalph FiennesJason FlemyngA series of events change the orphaned Pip's life forever as he eagerly abandons his humble origins to begin a new life as a gentleman.6/10
Great Expectations doesn’t blow the doors off its oft retold story, but it is dressed and executed satisfactorily enough to convey the economic themes inherent. - DirectorSacha GervasiStarsAnthony HopkinsHelen MirrenScarlett JohanssonThe relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho (1960) in 1959 is explored.6/10
Hitchcock never lives up to the legacy of its eponymous filmmaker, however the magnetic Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren make this rendering worthwhile. - DirectorNicholas StollerStarsJason SegelEmily BluntChris PrattOne year after meeting, Tom proposes to his girlfriend, Violet, but unexpected events keep tripping them up as they look to walk down the aisle together.6/10
Long in the tooth and not as heartwarming as it wants to be, The Five-Year Engagement is amiable enough regardless and will eke out a good chuckle or two along the way. - DirectorQuentin DupieuxStarsJack PlotnickTodd GiebenhainEric JudorDolph Springer wakes up one morning to realize he has lost the love of his life, his dog, Paul. During his quest to get Paul (and his life) back, Dolph radically changes the lives of others -- risking his sanity all the while.6/10
Never feeling compelled to establish a method to the madness, Wrong is another enjoyably bizarre feature from the mind of Quentin Dupieux. - DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseRosamund PikeRichard JenkinsA homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper responsible for a mass shooting.6/10
Jack Reacher isn’t as hard-hitting as some more notable Tom Cruise vehicles, but an engaging narrative and committed lead will give viewers what they’re looking for. - DirectorRobert RedfordStarsRobert RedfordBrit MarlingStanley TucciAfter a journalist discovers his identity, a former Weather Underground activist goes on the run.6/10
The message The Company You Keep wants to convey never entirely forms, though attentive direction from Robert Redford and an engaged cast should retain the level of intrigue it’s striving for. - DirectorJay RoachStarsWill FerrellZach GalifianakisJason SudeikisAn incumbent Representative embroiled in personal scandal faces a no-holds-barred challenge from a naive newcomer funded by two unscrupulous billionaire lobbyist brothers.6/10
The pairing of Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis doesn’t elicit the kind of laughs one would hope for, but The Campaign gets enough subversive political satire in there to work on its own. - DirectorPeter RamseyStarsHugh JackmanAlec BaldwinIsla FisherWhen the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.6/10
Rise of the Guardians doesn’t measure up to the stature of its featured mythical figures, but some kinetic animation and plenty of enthusiasm will do the trick anyway. - DirectorPeter JacksonStarsMartin FreemanIan McKellenRichard ArmitageA reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.6/10
Peter Jackson’s introduction to the original Middle Earth adventure isn’t as spectacular as previous entries, though fantasy buffs should find plenty to marvel at visually with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. - DirectorLarry CharlesStarsSacha Baron CohenAnna FarisJohn C. ReillyThe heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.6/10
The Dictator doesn’t take its setup as far as other Sacha Baron Cohen caricature vehicles, though it does get more than a few hearty chuckles out of its geopolitical funny bone. - DirectorMatthias HoeneStarsRasmus HardikerHarry TreadawayMichelle RyanA gang of bank robbers fight their way out of a zombie-infested London.6/10
While not as zippy as it perhaps wants to be, Cockneys vs. Zombies still gets in some good jabs in within the zom-com subgenre. - DirectorLance DalyStarsOrlando BloomRiley KeoughTaraji P. HensonA young doctor goes to unconscionable extremes in order to remain in the service of a female patient with a kidney disorder.6/10
Feeling smaller than the tangled web of deceit the story weaves, The Good Doctor engages anyway with rising tensions and shady morals. - DirectorKieran Darcy-SmithStarsJoel EdgertonTeresa PalmerFelicity PriceTwo Australian couples, two sisters, are on vacation in Southern Cambodia. Jeremy goes missing. What happened? Were drugs involved? Secrets are slowly revealed after the 3 return to Sydney.6/10
Feeling less than the sum of its parts, Wish You Were Here nevertheless presents itself with a palpable atmosphere and intriguing mystery. - DirectorJamie LindenStarsChanning TatumRosario DawsonChris PrattThe night of their high school reunion, a group of friends realize they still haven't quite grown up in some ways.5/10
It assembles quite the collection of funny actors, but 10 Years is essentially a mishmash of disparate story arcs with varying degrees of success. - DirectorBoaz YakinStarsJason StathamCatherine ChanChris SarandonMei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail.5/10
Smarter and faster than your typical Jason Statham joint, Safe still plays it perhaps too safe as by its conclusion it’s already been forgotten. - DirectorTi WestStarsSara PaxtonPat HealyKelly McGillisDuring the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay.5/10
The Innkeepers boasts a Ti West at the peak of his directorial prowess, however a flimsy plot and questionable denouement leaves the solid scares in limbo.