MARK STEVENS TOP 10 LIST FOR 2012



1. ON THE ROAD - Visceral to its core. Fans of the book who understand movies are different from books can revel in this work of art like I did. Sam Riley and Garrett Hedlund are top notch as Sal and Dean, with an unbelievably powerful ending of friendship lost...time stopped for me.

2.  LINCOLN -- A fantastic, it's all-in-the-details type film about the inner workings of a great man at an all important time, forcing through probably the most important amendment in our nation's history.

3  SKYFALL -- A perfect Bond film, which dove more deeply into character than I was prepared for in its final act, a final act which should have won its many time nominated cinematographer a well deserved Oscar.

4. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES -- Christopher Nolan pulled off an amazing feat here. Despite some small flaws, he managed to shoot a gigantic picture, truly a silent picture with sound, with an ending that will get to you.

5. ZERO DARK THIRTY --  It is no Hurt Locker, but it is solid filmmaking, and a great microscopic look at what it took to take down Bin Laden. Jessica Chastain rules the film.

6. CHRONICLE  - A fun found footage film about high schoolers who gain special powers. The consequences of those powers are gripping to watch.

7. DRAGON aka WU XIA -- This Chinese detective noir/martial arts epic truly stands apart, with captivating dual leads, one a detective researching a crime with brilliance, the other a fighter hiding his past. Terrific...lightning strike aside.  

8. PROMETHEUS  -- Beautifully shot, thought out, and paced...Michael Fassbender as David was definitely overlooked for best supporting actor. Ridley Scott knows how to create environments and worlds that engage you, and make you think big.

9. LOOPER - Very creative and original. That is a rarity these days.    

T10. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK -- Nobody cues his actors up like director David Russell.  A great movie about damaged people turning  life around.

T10. LES MISERABLES - A flawed masterpiece (what of the Revolution?) of a musical that you have to respect. It went for it, and had true moments of greatness. 

HONORABLE MENTION:  THE HOBBIT, THE AVENGERS (most fun), LIFE OF PI (best 3Dever), ARGO, THE MASTER (captivating)

WORST MOVIE OF THIS OR ANY OTHER YEAR: THE HUNGER GAMES (horrid)