WRITTEN FOR AND FIRST PUBLISHED BY WWW.LITNET.CO.ZA

I compiled my list of 12 best films for 2012 in about five minutes. Yes, there were that many brilliant films this year. Once it was compiled I realised that almost all of them transcended their genre – an action film surpassed the action, a drama moved into science fiction and a comedy commented on society.

1. Doccies

Project NIM

Teaching cute little chimpanzees to use sign language very effectively is absolutely awesome! (It also helps that there was an archive of great photographs and video clips available.) The way these cute little chimpanzees are mistreated by humans in the process is, however, more riveting.

Best performance – NIM.

Standout scene – Almost every scene with NIM in it.

Buck

What Buck, horse-whisperer of note, manages to coax out of an injured/scared/wild horse boggles the mind. What is even more commendable is the way Buck survived childhood abuse and the fact that he transformed himself from an injured/scared/wild little boy into the man he is today.

Best performance – Buck Brannaman.

Standout scene – The whole sequence surrounding the bad-tempered horse, from the horse biting Buck’s assistant to Buck getting stuck into its owner.

Dear Zachary: a letter to a son about his father

How a known psychopath murders two people and “gets away with it” because the Canadian government, of all governments, is useless, is upsetting viewing, but nonetheless gripping. One is humbled and inspired, though, by the unlikely heroes of the film, the grandparents of young Zachary, and what they gave up to be close to their grandson.

Best performance – the absent Dr Andrew Bagby whom you get to meet through short clips and photographs.

Standout scene – the end which you kinda know is coming, but don’t want to accept as the truth.

2. Comedies

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

It is funny when a group of stereotypical stiff upper-lipped English pensioners spend their pension on a fairly run-down hotel in India run by the stereotypical free-spirited, ever so slightly bullshitting young Indian entrepreneur. I did not, however, expect the humanity, the chaos and the tragedy of lives spent to be portrayed with such respect.

Best performance – It has to be Maggie Smith.

Standout scene – The bus ride to the hotel. Maggie Smith’s bigotry is hugely entertaining.

God Bless America

Well, Bobcat Goldthwait certainly mixed up some out-there humour with incredibly funny, but gory scenes of violence. And what is the purpose of it all?

To reflect on the fact that we have lost all ability to be kind to one another.

Best performance – You will not recognise the name Joel Murray, but you will recognise him as one of those actors that you’ve seen in supporting roles many times before. He pulls off this lead role with little effort.

Standout scene – It involves feathers from a pillow and a baby.

The Troll Hunter

You would expect a mockumentary about trolls and a mysterious gravel-voiced troll hunter to be poop-in-your-pants-scary and hilarious. But would you expect it to comment on how society is regulated? About how governments cover things up and how gullible we are to believe them?

Best performance – Otto Jespersen as Hans the troll hunter. He has one facial expression!

Standout scene – it involves a few sheep herded together on a bridge.

3. Action films

Skyfall

A lot of the dialogue in Skyfall deals with accountability/loyalty to your country / loyalty to yourself. You cannot fault Silva for being angry with M. She did stab him in the back. For the greater good? Perhaps, yes, but he was still tortured and almost killed. The scene where he removes his “prosthetic” is tragic.

Best performance – Javier Bardem.

Standout scene – Javier taking out his “prosthetic”.

Dark Knight Rises

Blane, the mask-wearing “simpleton” in Dark Knight Rises,turns out to be the most caring, loyal protector one could have. You feel empathy for him, even for the murderer who orders him to kill indiscriminately.

Best performance – Anne Hathaway!!!!

Standout scene – The football field imploding.

The Hunger Games

The “reality show”-crazed future as depicted in The Hunger Games is unsettlingly close to where we are already. I am scared.

Best performance – Jennifer Lawrence, of course.

Standout scene – Hmm, I cannot pick one.

4. Dramas

Skoonheid

Do not attempt to watch this film unless you have a strong constitution. Yes, it is by far the best South African film yet to be released, but it contains one of the most traumatising scenes I have ever witnessed. (And I’ve seen my fair share.)

Best performance – You feel a good measure of sympathy, understanding and hate for Deon Lotz.

Standout scene – The beer can discussion in the kitchen. Almost a Pulp Fiction moment!

Kyss Mig

A lesbian film that does not deal solely with being gay?! Yippee! Yes, Kyss Mig is a simple love story that deals with the heartache caused by breaking up with someone. (The sex of the person you are leaving them for is irrelevant.)

Best performance – Ruth Vega Fernandez puts in an exceptional performance as someone torn up about the consequences of her actions.

Standout scene – The sex scene.

Take Shelter

In May I declared Take Shelter as my movie of 2012. As we reach the end of 2012 I can safely say that declaration was spot on. A psychological thriller verging on the edge of turning into a sci-fi flick, but ending up being a most powerful love story, just clinched the deal for me.

Best performance – Hmm. Michael Shannon or Jessica Chastain? Michael Shannon or Jessica Chastain? Okay, Michael Shannon.

Standout scene – The end!!! It is the cinematic highlight of my year!