Best movies of 2012 so far

[Chris Knipp]

BEST MOVIES OF 2012 SO FAR

Wes Anderson's newest [MOONRISE KINGDOM[ is the best film I've seen so far this year.
It's a lock for a Best Picture nomination. Even now in July.
It's an amazing movie, alright.
A match struck in a dark cave.
My faith in cinema is always tested, but movies like this one bring it all back home.
--Johann.

I agree with this assessment (July 4, 2012): best American film so far.

BEST AMERICAN MOVIES SO FAR:
MOONRISE KINGDOM (Wes Anderson)
THE MASTER (Paul Thomas Anderson)
COSMOPOLIS (David Cronenberg)
LOOPER (Rian Johnsonj)
_______


BEST FOREIGN FILMS SO FAR (Including non-US-release)
AMOUR (Michael Haneke 2012)
HOLY MOTORS (Leos Caras 2012)
*SISTER (Ursula Meier)
*RUST AND BONE (Jacques Audiard)
BREATHING (Karl Markovics 2011)
DAY HE ARRIVES, THE (Hong Sang-soo 2011)
DEEP BLUE SEA, THE (Terence Davies 2012)
ELENA (Andrei Zvigentsev)
I WISH (Hirakazu Koreeda)
MISS BALA (Geraldo Naranjo)
NEIGHBORING SOUNDS (Kleber Mendoça Filho 2011)
OSLO, AUGUST 31 (Joachim Trier 2011)
RAID, THE: REDEMPTION (Gareth Evans 2012)

_____________
*No US theatrical release yet (August 31, 2012)

I was disappointed by DAMSELS IN DISTRESS (Whit Stillman) , but I will give it some kind of mention due to my admiration for Whit.

GOOD PROSPECTS? NOT YET OUT

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (Benh Zeitlin) - OUT - SHORTLIST, NOT TOP LIST
COSMOPOLIS (Cronenberg) - OUT Aug. -- very much liked.
DARK KNIGHT RISES (Christopher Nolan) -
GRANDMASTERS (Wong Kar-wai)
GRAVITY (Alfonso Cuaron)
GREAT GATSBY (Baz Luhrman)
ROAD, THE (John Hilcoat) -
SAVAGES (Oliver Stone) - NOW OUT - FORGET IT
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (David O. Russell)
TAKE THIS WALZ (Sarah Polley) -- NOW OUT -- A TURNOFF
CLOUD ATLAS (Wathowskys, Tom Tykwer) -- interesting, not top ten

Polley's, Stone's, Nolan's, Hillcoat's and Zeitlin's are coming this summer, but LOOPER is scheduled for Sept,. 28.