Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids.
After covering a few film festivals over the last month or so, some noteworthy independent features have found their way into the 2012 rankings. Meanwhile, the theatrical releases prove to be mostly duds save for the surprising comedy, Think Like a Man.
The new releases for the respective week will have a capsule review at the end of the column. An updated list comes out every Monday. Here’s how things are shaking up so far in 2012:
1. Chronicle
2. The Cabin in the Woods
3. Red Tails
4. The Grey
5. Game Change
6. The Secret World of Arrietty
7. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
8. Friends with Kids
9. The Raid: Redemption
10. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
11. Big Miracle
12. Think Like a Man
13. 21 Jump Street
14. Brake
15. Mirror Mirror
16. This Means War
17. The Three Stooges
18. Gone
19. Blue Like Jazz
20. American Reunion
21. Jeff, Who Lives at Home
22. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
23. Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best
24. Searching for Sonny
25. The Hunger Games
26. John Carter
27. Wrath of the Titans
28. Dead Dad
29. Underworld: Awakening
30. The Devil Inside
31. Downtown Express
32. Project X
33. Silent House
34. Bully
35. Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding
36. Lockout
37. The Woman in Black
38. The Vow
39. Man on a Ledge
40. The Lucky One
41. Contraband
42. Act of Valor
43. 4:44 Last Day on Earth
44. Safe House
45. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
46. Kill List
47. Haywire
48. A Thousand Words
49. Joyful Noise
50. Wanderlust
Not Screened: One for the Money, Casa De Mi Padre, Chimpanzee.
Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best
Writer, director, and star, Ryan O’Nan creates a genuine film that can make you laugh, reflect, and become emotionally involved in. Laced with creative musical tunes and delivered in a unique manner via the lens and screenplay; this is a solid effort that will enter in theaters later this fall.
Blue Like Jazz
The flick gives a unique, and hilarious, perspective regarding how a small-town Baptist kid, who heads off to college, struggles with his religious belief system after having his eyes more-or-less opened by his audacious peers. For the cinema-buffs, this flick kind of feels like a blend of Better Off Dead meets P.C.U. with a touch of Kevin Smith’s Dogma themes.
Downtown Express
It has a subtle spirit to it despite a predictable story that is delivered in a conservative manner. The acting and the engaging musical sequences carries this to a decent watch all the way through.
Dead Dad
Though subtle, and at-times awkward, in its telling, the flick has the ability to drum-up an array of emotions via its three stars…for which I must say, weren’t half bad actually.
Searching for Sonny
While you’ve seen this type of story before, the flick has a charismatic and relate-able vibe to it that intrigues all the way through. Chemistry within the cast and the edginess of the dialogue enables this comedic mystery tale to thoroughly entertain to the extent one can overlook a few minor technical flaws in the storytelling.
Think Like a Man
Read the review. A hilarious run-of-the-mill comedy that has a stellar ensemble cast.
The Lucky One
It’s Nicholas Sparks romance tales on the big screen. Except the filmmaking derails this to the point that one just won’t care what is happening on an emotional level.
Releasing this Friday: The Raven, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, The Five-Year Engagement, Safe
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