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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 2012
48fps 3D was intermittently distracting, as was the strange lighting it seems to require. But a solid adventure tale that is still about 30 minutes too long. Blanchett and McKellen shine, and Freeman is sturdy as required.
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The Master 2012
Needs a rewatch or two, but I found it a compellingly strange love story. Freddie Quell is the best film character I've seen on the screen in a long time. Great performances all around. Dodd/Quell are mirror images, brothers, lovers, father and son. So many facets.
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Lincoln 2012
Speechifying hagiography. When I wasn't yawning, I was rolling my eyes. A shame because the actors all do good work. I especially liked Tommy Lee Jones, but the script felt like it was the Cliffs' Notes version of Doris Kearns Goodwin's book Team of Rivals, on which it's based. Lots of awkward exposition and not enough real conversation. I liked the big blowup between Lincoln and his wife toward the end, and I thought JGL was great as his eldest…
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Beasts of the Southern Wild 2012
Flawed but powerful first film from the director of short film Glory at Sea. An amazing central performance from 6-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis.
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21 Jump Street 2012
Watched on an airplane with crappy headphones so missed many of the jokes, but still kept me laughing.
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Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 2011
Dumb fun, but I reinforce dumb. Tom Cruise is more lizardlike than ever, and the ending is just puppydogs and rainbows.
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Safety Not Guaranteed 2012
Slighter than expected, but still managed some emotional connection by the (unexpected) end.
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The Imposter 2012
Out-tabloids TABLOID. And reminiscent of MAN ON WIRE, in all kinds of literal and symbolic ways.
