My Top 5 Movies of 2012

5. The Cabin In The Woods

The theme of this movie: WTF.  Really.

No points for noticing that the cabin kids slightly resemble the Scooby-Doo gang.

4. Looper

I’m tired of time-travel tropes. Somehow this film took the well-worn bits and created something refreshing.

The time travel mechanics don’t hold up to geek-level scrutiny but it’s almost unnoticeable in this imaginative sci-fi thriller.  What’s very noticeable though is Emily Blunt’s very convincing American accent.

3. Jiro Dreams Of Sushi

It’s a food porn documentary driven by an elegant soundtrack and by a legendary  obsessive compulsive (by western standards) sushi chef.  As with good food, this film is better experienced than described.

2. The Raid: Redemption

The recipe is simple: Elite SWAT Team vs. a ruthless drug lord in a high-rise apartment.  This simplicity is the movie’s greatest strength and provides the perfect foil for the non-stop and visceral violence.

This is the churrascaria of action films… without the salad bar … without utensils… and serviced by angry knife-wielding waiters.

1. Argo

I was invested from the start to finish. While not completely true to the events of the Iranian hostage crisis, the deviations were in crafting the year’s most nail-biting non-action climax.