Tag Archives: 2012 Films

The Broken Circle Breakdown-2012

The Broken Circle Breakdown-2012

Director Felix Van Groeningen

Starring Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh

Scott’s Review #91

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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 circumstances occur in their lives.

The film begins in 2006 but constantly goes back in 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 present times, which 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.

When the second half unfolds, the subjects of politics and religion are explored with the then (2002 time period) controversial topic of stem cell research discussed.

As dark as this film is to watch, it is also an important one as it steps outside of the box and tackles difficult subject matters.

I wish more films would do the same.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

The Guilt Trip-2012

The Guilt Trip-2012

Director Anne Fletcher

Starring Seth Rogan, Barbra Streisand

Scott’s Review #89

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Reviewed July 3, 2014

Grade: C+

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

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

Through circumstances from 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 loveable.

There is nice chemistry between Streisand and Rogan, though frankly, I wonder why Streisand has turned to mindless comedy over more highbrow film work.

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

The film screams predictable throughout as with similar road trip comedies, they encounter all of the United States’ geographical stereotypes (cowboys, steakhouses, bull-riding, etc.).

A dumb film made somewhat enjoyable by the two leads.

Kon-Tiki-2012

Kon-Tiki-2012

Director Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg

Starring Pal Sverre Valheim Hagen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen

Scott’s Review #78

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Reviewed June 28, 2014

Grade: C+

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

These days, a few of the nominated films squeaking through barely 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

The Waiting Room-2012

The Waiting Room-2012

Director Peter Nicks

Starring Cynthia Y. Johnson, Eric Morgan

Scott’s Review #59

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Reviewed June 23, 2014

Grade: B+

The Waiting Room (2012) is an interesting documentary that takes the viewer on a day in the life shift in a very busy public hospital in a poor section of Oakland, California.

Most of the patients are uninsured, low-paid, or unemployed workers, who are sick and in need of medications and treatment and in some cases are quite ill.

The documentary balances the perspectives of both the patients and the weary hospital staff, who strive to prioritize cases and treat everyone, which is not easy due to overcrowding and underfunding.

I found the documentary quite fascinating and felt like I was an actual observer during a chaotic, yet everyday experience in the busy and stressful Emergency Room.

The situations that arise are heartbreaking and the staff does their very best to accommodate each patient, but many times tragedy ensues or tempers flare due to frustration.

It speaks volumes of the shameless world of United States insurance company profits and selfishness at the cost of human lives and patient suffering.

Sadly, The Waiting Room (2012) was overlooked by the Oscar Academy but did receive an Independent Spirit nomination.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best Documentary Feature, Truer Than Fiction Award (won)

Passion-2012

Passion-2012

Director Brian De Palma

Starring Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace

Scott’s Review #58

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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 is mostly 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 DePalma, 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 DePalma trait is a dreamlike feel which I love in his films.

The ending is a direct homage to Dressed to Kill.

Frances Ha-2012

Frances Ha-2012

Director Noah Baumbach

Starring Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver

Scott’s Review #44

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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 is the heart of this film and has an intense rooting value to her. 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 that she gives to the character and the viewer falls in love with her as she travels through many trials and tribulations.

It’s a year-in-the-life type of film.

Frances Ha is reminiscent of a Woody Allen film as it contains many neurotic yet lovable characters.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Feature, Best Editing

The Hunt-2012

The Hunt-2012

Director Thomas Vinterberg

Starring Mads Mikkelsen

Scott’s Review #29

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: A-

Nominated for the 2013 Best Foreign Language Oscar, this controversial Danish film called The Hunt (2012) centering on the subject of pedophilia 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, would have used that instead, but overall an exceptional film.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best International Film

Bachelorette-2012

Bachelorette-2012

Director Leslye Headland

Starring Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher

Scott’s Review #22

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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.

Four-2012

Four-2012

Director Joshua Sanchez

Starring Wendell Pierce

Scott’s Review #20

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: A

Oh, how I wish there were more films like Four (2012) and they received 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 at all plot-driven with silly special effects or CGI.

It centers around four people on the 4th of July evening. There are two separate stories and the heart of the movie is the character’s loneliness, isolation, and need to reach out for human connections.

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