Category Archives: 2012 Films

2012 Films, Documentary, Israeli

The Gatekeepers-2012

July 10, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Gatekeepers-2012

Director Dror Moreh

Starring Ami Ayalon

Scott’s Review #103

Reviewed July 10, 2014

Grade: B-

I truly wanted to love The Gatekeepers, an Oscar-nominated documentary from 2012, but only mildly enjoyed it.

I find the nomination process and award decisions for documentaries baffling. In recent years, it is beginning to mirror the Foreign Language film selection process.

The one documentary of the five that is brilliant (How to Survive a Plague) did not win, and the documentary that did win (Searching for Sugar Man) was good, but not great.

The Gatekeepers explores an important, informative topic-the Israeli Secret Service.

The documentary consists of interviews with six former Secret Service members and is a tell-all of past situations and how the members handled them.

The documentary also uses real footage and computer animation to explain how the Secret Service becomes involved in military activity.

Important stuff, but it comes across as a bit dry and relatively dull.

After thirty minutes, I found myself watching the clock and tuning out.

I respect the documentary for its subject matter, but it could have used a bit more spice to keep things moving.

Oscar Nominations: Best Documentary Feature

2012 Films, Belgian, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama, International, International Drama, Romantic Drama

The Broken Circle Breakdown-2012

July 3, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Broken Circle Breakdown-2012

Director Felix Van Groeningen

Starring Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh

Scott’s Review #91

Reviewed July 3, 2014

Grade: B+

The Broken Circle Breakdown is a 2012 Belgian film nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar.

It tells a dark story of a couple with very different religious beliefs- one atheist, the other a devout catholic- whose six-year-old daughter is battling cancer.

Their differences escalate over time as life circumstances change.

The film begins in 2006 but constantly goes back and forth in time from when the couple meets and falls in love and begins performing in a bluegrass band together to their current dire situation in the present.

This is a clever aspect of the film.

It is far from a by-the-numbers happy-couple-with-sick-daughter type of film. It is much deeper than that and quite depressing and dreary overall.

The pain and hardships this family goes through are heart-wrenching, especially as the film focuses on the happy time in their lives to contrast the pain.

In the second half, the film explores politics and religion, including the then-controversial (2002) topic of stem cell research.

As dark as this film is to watch, it is also important because it steps outside the box and tackles difficult subject matter.

I wish more films would do the same.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

2012 Films, Comedy, Screwball Comedy

The Guilt Trip-2012

July 3, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Guilt Trip-2012

Director Anne Fletcher

Starring Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand

Scott’s Review #89

Reviewed July 3, 2014

Grade: C+

The Guilt Trip (2012) is a lightweight, fun piece of fluff.

It stars Seth Rogen as a thirty-something single guy from New Jersey with a Jewish (in every clichéd way) overbearing mother played by Barbra Streisand.

Through circumstances at his job, they are forced to take a road trip cross-country to California, where they are to meet a long-lost beau of hers.

If not for the talents and humor of Barbra Streisand, this movie would have been a dud. It’s a dumb movie, but Streisand plays her overbearing, annoying character to the hilt and makes her lovable.

There is nice chemistry between Streisand and Rogen, though frankly, I wonder why Streisand has turned to mindless comedy instead of more highbrow work.

Rogen plays a character he has played time and time again in these types of films.

The film screams predictable throughout; like similar road-trip comedies, it hits all the United States’ geographical stereotypes (cowboys, steakhouses, bull-riding, etc.).

A dumb film made somewhat enjoyable by the two leads.

2012 Films, Adventure, Drama, Historical Drama, International, International Adventure, International Drama, Norwegian

Kon-Tiki-2012

June 28, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Kon-Tiki-2012

Directors Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg

Starring Pål Sverre Hagen

Scott’s Review #78

Reviewed June 28, 2014

Grade: C+

I don’t know what’s happened to the nominating process for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar (it’s been controversial for years). Still, you used to be able to count on any of the five nominated films to be interesting, edgy, and even controversial.

These days, a few of the nominated films barely squeak through, rise above mediocrity, and are such mainstream stories.

Kon-Tiki (2012) is one such film.

It tells the tale of a Norwegian scientist determined to sail, via raft, from Peru to the Polynesian islands to prove a Sun God, centuries ago, made the same voyage.

He forms a team and off they go.

Supposedly based on a true story, the team faces the typical challenges in an oceanic adventure: bad weather, sharks, the raft in peril, and dissent among the ranks.

These high-sea clichés have gotten to me recently. The film is similar in context to Life of Pi, also made in 2012.

It’s not a bad film, but there is nothing special about it either, and it has glossy and safe written all over it- the score is Spielberg to the nines, who has nothing to do with this film.

The five adventurers are bronzed with buff bodies when nobody was buff in the 1940s when this film is set, and the scruffy beards, after months of sailing, look perfectly phony.

For the top-tier foreign language group, I expected something more cutting-edge and with more substance.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

2012 Films, Erotic, Thriller

Passion-2012

June 23, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Passion-2012

Director Brian De Palma

Starring Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace

Scott’s Review #58

Reviewed June 23, 2014

Grade: A

Passion (2012) is a must-see for all Brian De Palma fans, Carrie (1976), and Dressed to Kill (1980).

Unfortunately, the film received little fanfare and has largely been forgotten, but it deserves a viewing.

The film is set in the world of advertising, where backstabbing and scheming are commonplace.

Rachel McAdams stars as an executive who steals her assistant’s (Noomi Rapace) ideas regularly.

Fed up, the assistant plots revenge.

McAdams is delicious as the callous, calculating, little girl over her head in the corporate world.

The praise goes to De Palma, though, for creating yet another stylistic gem similar in tone to many of his other successful films.

The plot is almost secondary to the direction- twists and turns, and cool camera angles make the film an enjoyable experience.

A common De Palma trait is a dreamlike feel, which I love in his films.

The ending is a direct homage to Dressed to Kill.

2012 Films, Black & White, Comedy, Drama, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama, New York City

Frances Ha-2012

June 18, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Frances Ha-2012

Director Noah Baumbach

Starring Greta Gerwig

Scott’s Review #44

Reviewed June 18, 2014

Grade: B+

Frances Ha (2012) is an intelligent, quirky comedy-drama made ever so appealing by its star, Greta Gerwig, an up-and-coming indie star (Greenberg-2010, The House of the Devil-2009).

She later achieved massive success directing Barbie (2023).

Gerwig is the heart of this film and has an intense rooting value. You want to be her friend.

Made in black and white, which is unique and highly effective in an indie way, it tells the tale of a moderately talented dancer struggling to make it in New York City.

“Frances”, along with her best friend, hops from situation to situation in an attempt to establish normalcy.

Gerwig shines with the perfect blend of awkwardness, sarcasm, and wit she gives the character, and the viewer falls in love with her as she endures trials and tribulations.

It’s a year-in-the-life type of film.

Frances Ha (2012) is reminiscent of a Woody Allen film, with many neurotic yet lovable characters.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Feature, Best Editing

2012 Films, Danish, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama, International, International Drama, Psychological Drama

The Hunt-2012

June 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Hunt-2012

Director Thomas Vinterberg

Starring Mads Mikkelsen

Scott’s Review #29

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: A-

Nominated for the 2013 Best Foreign Language Oscar, this controversial Danish film, The Hunt (2012), centers on pedophilia and is powerful and gripping.

Mads Mikkelsen stars as a kindergarten teacher falsely accused of inappropriate behavior with a five-year-old female student.

This sets off a small-town witch hunt that stirred up emotions in me, mostly disdain for the fellow teachers and principal who so easily “gang up” on the teacher, seemingly unable to believe he may be innocent.

The principal blurts out “children never lie”.

Um, yes they do!

I love how the film goes deeper than the obvious content. The accused son is featured. The student is the accused best friend’s daughter.

When one supporter of the accused rips into the five-year-old, it is intense to watch.

The Hunt (2012) is a layered, multi-faceted film worth seeing.

The ending is great, but the alternate ending is even better, and I wish the director, Thomas Vinterberg, had used that instead; overall, it’s an exceptional film.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best International Film

2012 Films, Comedy, Independent, Independent Comedy

Bachelorette-2012

June 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Bachelorette-2012

Director Leslye Headland

Starring Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher

Scott’s Review #22

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: D

I’m not sure how to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with Bachelorette (2012) except for just about everything.

It tries to be a Bridesmaids (2011) meets Hangover (2009) copycat but fails miserably. What made those films entertaining was that they were funny.

This film attempts many jokes and falls flat almost every time. The set-ups are there, but there is no follow-through.

Almost every character is unlikable and hateful to everyone else, and there is nobody to root for.

Worse yet, the film is bland. Dumb comedies are not my favorite genre, but this was lackluster.

I adore Kirsten Dunst, but sadly she picked a dud she’s likely soon to forget. Isla Fisher seems to always be in films like this, and the male actors (James Marsden, Adam Scott) have little to do.

The talented cast is wasted, and Bachelorette (2012) is not worth seeing.

2012 Films, Independent, Independent Drama, LGBTQ+ Drama, LGBTQ+ Films, Romantic Drama

Four-2012

June 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Four-2012

Director Joshua Sanchez

Starring Wendell Pierce

Scott’s Review #20

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: A

Oh, how I wish more films like Four (2012) got mainstream support.

Movies like this are why I love and support independent films. Much better than much of the drivel at the local multiplex.

Four is a purely character-driven movie, not plot-driven, with silly special effects or CGI.

It centers around four people on the 4th of July evening.

The movie has two separate stories, and its heart is the characters’ loneliness, isolation, and need to reach out for human connection.

The stories interrelate at times throughout the film.

Exceptional acting is involved.

Four (2012) is an excellent little film.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Male Lead-Wendell Pierce

Welcome to my blog!1,555 reviews posted so far! I'm Scott Segrell and I reside in Stamford, CT. My site features hundreds of film reviews I have written since I launched the site in 2014. I hope you enjoy reading my latest reviews or searching for your own favorites to see if we agree. Please see my Recent Posts section, and don't forget to utilize the tags and category links.