The Best and Worst of 2012

The author’s considered best/worst in each category are listed in bold italics with an asterisk (*). The listed links will take you to more detailed reviews of each film.


The 10 Best Films

  1. Cosmopolis
  2. Holy Motors
  3. Hitchcock
  4. The Dark Knight Rises
  5. Beasts of the Southern Wild
  6. John Dies at the End
  7. Ernest and Celestine
  8. The Avengers
  9. Wreck-It Ralph
  10. Looper

Worst Films

  1. Vampire Dog
  2. 6 Degrees of Hell
  3. Bait
  4. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
  5. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Best Director

Leos Carax – Holy Motors
David Cronenberg – Cosmopolis
Jennifer Lynch – Chained
Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight Rises
Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild (*)


Best Original Screenplay

Antiviral
The Cabin in the Woods (*)
Looper
Red Lights
The Tall Man
Wreck-It Ralph


Best Adapted Screenplay

The Avengers
Cosmopolis (*)
The Dark Knight Rises
Hitchcock
John Dies at the End


Best Actor

Vincent D’Onofrio – Chained
Andrew Garfield – The Amazing Spider-Man
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master
Anthony Hopkins – Hitchcock (*)
Frank Langella – Robot & Frank
Denis Lavant – Holy Motors


Best Actress

Anne Hathaway – The Dark Knight Rises
Zoe Kazan – Ruby Sparks
Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games
Helen Mirren – Hitchcock (*)
Aubrey Plaza – Safety Not Guaranteed


Best Supporting Actor

Robert Downey Jr – The Avengers
Michael Fassbender – Prometheus
Matthew Fox – Alex Cross
Tom Hardy – The Dark Knight Rises (*)
Mark Ruffalo – The Avengers


Best Supporting Actress

Annette Bening – Ruby Sparks
Penelope Cruz – To Rome with Love (*)
Sarah Gadon – Cosmopolis
Traci Lords – Excision
Sigourney Weaver – Red Lights


Best Cinematography

Byzantium
The Ghastly Love of Johnny X
Maniac
Mirror Mirror
To Rome with Love (*)


Best Special Effects

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Iron Sky (*)
John Carter
Prometheus
Total Recall
Wrath of the Titans


Best Makeup Effects

The Bay
The Cabin in the Woods (*)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Piranha 3DD
Underworld: Awakening


Best Production Design

Cloud Atlas
Frankenweenie
Iron Sky
John Carter
Mirror Mirror
Total Recall (*)