Lists may be generic and laborious to churn out, but it's also the most digestable way to get people to give a shit about what you're writing. Rather than assuming people read through my full reviews, this serves the nice purpose of cleanly reflecting on what came out in the past year, as well as how much I enjoyed a film relative to other films (I'm assuming something seems valuable if I rank it higher than, say, The Avengers, which everyone saw and can essentially agree was a kick-ass movie). So, filtering through the excess of mediocrity and overhyped popcorn movies, here were 5 awesome movies that I walked away loving for the summer.
5.) Moonrise Kingdom: This was the sleeper hit of 2012, establishing Wes Anderson as not only a cult darling but a critical and box-office success as well. This was easily his best film to date, retaining his distinctly dry pallet lived out through an all-star cast; an unlikely hit, but a crowd-pleasing one. It was slightly more accessible than its predecessors but didn't abandon that Andersonian flavor; in fact, it honed it in and made it feel, breaking the cold, evasive atmosphere of the previous films. His next will determine just how bankable his indie street cred has become, but I'm starting to see a little Woody Allen budding in Wes Anderson.
4.) The Avengers: Marvel's experimental phase one is complete, successfully platforming an ensemble piece rife with scene-stealers and iconic heroes into one of the best bubblegum action movies in years. Hilarious, relentlessly paced, cartoonish but still grounded, The Avengers was a weighty gamble that probably wouldn't have worked without the direction of Joss Wheadon and the foundational films to preceed it; the result is arguably the new standard for comic book adaptations.
3.) Safety Not Guaranteed: I got a bit of flack for my overwhelming enthusiasm of this one, but I'm firmly set in my stance on this unique coming-of-age/romantic comedy as the should've-been quirky hit of the summer. Aubrey Plaza finally is able to shake April Ludgate and demonstrate her strength and relatability as a leading lady. A fairly cookie-cutter romantic subplot doesn't derail the overall value of the film's message because it's so deftly conveyed with wit and youthful optomism.
4.) Celeste & Jesse Forever: Apparently it was the summer for Parks and Recreation supporting cast-members to get their due with this brilliantly penned anti-romance from Rashida Jones, which overflows with heartbreak, sentiment, and vividly realized relationships. Not to mention the Apatow-style humor hits a sincere rhythm here, particularly within the goofy yet tangible chemistry between Jones and Samberg. C&J is undoubtably this summer's (500) Days of Summer with the emotional vivacity of Garden State, a true contender to make the top of my end-of-year lists. The film was gutsy and had punch while remaining easily engaging, a true hidden gem.
1.) The Dark Knight Rises: As if I couldn't sing Christopher Nolan's praises enough, here's yet another piece where I admire the brilliance of his Dark Knight Trilogy. The conclusion was a fitting end to the greatest trilogy of my generation, a demonstration of the ability to create something that functions as art, homage, and crowd-pleaser. Despite not being universally acclaimed after following up The Dark Knight, TDKR is a calculated swan song that truly was the best that it could've been...which was ground-shakingly phenomenal.
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