5) Killer Joe
When drug dealer, Chris (Emile Hirsch) lands in a debt that puts his life in danger, he turns to Joe Cooper AKA Killer Joe (Matthew McConaughey) to kill his evil mother in order to collect the insurance policy that'll save his life.
William Friedkin's latest film since Bug is a grotesquely comical picture which gives new meaning to the dysfunctional family. Although it isn't perfect by any stretch, especially when we reach the third act which is all over the place, it's saved by its stellar cast & gorgeous cinematography by Zooey Deschanel's Papa, Caleb. Just a warning though, if you enjoy eating fried chicken and don't want it spoilt for you, maybe avoid this film...
4) The Raid
A SWAT team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.
FINALLY! A solid, adrenaline pumping action film that sits comfortably in the company of Hard Boiled & Die Hard. Gareth Evans, you are the man!
3) Martha Marcy May Marlene
Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged young woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.
Sean Durkin's psychological thriller/horror film is deeply disturbing & maybe too ambiguous for some, but for me, that's what made it so fantastic. Both Durkin & Elizabeth Olsen are real stars in the making, and I'll be following their careers with a fine-tooth comb. And for those of you who are wondering, I thought the ending was perfect.
2) Shame
In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister Sissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.
Steve McQueen & Michael Fassbender's second film together after 2008's Hunger, Shame is just as compelling & provocative as the former, with very naked (both emotionally and physically) performances from Fassbender & Carey Mulligan. The cinematography is beautiful, making full use of the longtakes, allowing the actors to do what they do best - act, and allowing us audience members to feel the claustrophobia, pain and turmoil of the characters. Why this film didn't get more recognition, I don't know (well, I do, because it's an 18/NC-17 rating, which is the kiss of the death for any prestigious award nominations), but Michael Fassbender was well and truly robbed of an Oscar nomination. But to be honest, the 2012 Academy Award nominations were just a mess across the board.
1) Moonrise Kingdom
A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them.
It probably comes as no surprise that, like most people, Wes Anderson's latest is my favourite film of 2012 so far. Charming, melancholic, angsty and hilarious, Moonrise Kingdom is everything you'd expect from camp Anderson, and is probably the best film he's made (IMHO) since The Royal Tenenbaums. The cast is stellar, but Edward Norton & Bruce Willis steal the show as Scout Master Randy Ward & Captain Sharp. The infamous tracking shots are back, with the quirky house interiors derivative of Tenenbaums, and the soundtrack is just as infectious as any other Anderson flick - in particular, Françoise Hardy's 'Le Temps de L'Amour' which is used not only in the trailer, but in the best scene of the movie. A truly excellent piece of cinema which'll definitely be hard to top as my favourite of the year.
Films that almost made the list: Prometheus (Who'd of thought a few months ago that this wouldn't have been in my top five, let alone not my number one!), The Avengers, The Cabin in the Woods.
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