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Brisbane Film Critics Select Argo As Best Of 2012

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For the second straight year, I’ve tried to put together a list of the best movies of 2012 according to Brisbane-based film critics. Drive topped last year's rankings and you can read that blog by clicking here.

I've spoken to critics who I regularly run into at film previews and asked them to submit their top 10 lists along with a few other details.

To come up with an overall top 10 list, I’m using a simple points system.  It is as follows:
   -
3 points – the top film on each list.
   -
2 points – the films ranked between 2nd and 5th on each list.
   -
1 point – the films ranked between 6th and 10th on each list.

If two films finished on the same score, the film that appeared on the most number of top 10 lists was ranked higher (as an indication of wider approval).

One film towered above the others - Argo. It featured on 7 of the 11 lists (more than any other movie) and was the number 1 selection by 5 different critics - Rob Hudson, Michael Dalton, Peter Gray, Jason Reed and Garry Williams. 

Sharing second place were the only two films that also appeared on more than 50% of the lists - Moonrise Kingdom (Wes Anderson's great comedy) and Looper (a creative sci-fi thriller from Rian Johnson).

As was the case last year, the list contains a wide range of genres including horror (The Cabin In The Woods), action (The Dark Knight Rises) and the downright strange (Holy Motors).

It was certainly a varied year for Australian cinema. When asked for the best local release of the year, 7 different films were mentioned. The only movies named more than once were Wish You Were Here, Lore and The Sapphires. Curiously, 3 different Australian films were named on lists as the year's worst - Kath & Kimderella, Mental and Housos Vs. Authority. 

On that note, here is the top 10 according to Brisbane critics for 2012…

Brisbane Film Critics - Top 10 Of 2012
 1.
Argo
2.
Looper
2.
Moonrise Kingdom
4.
The Cabin In The Woods
5.
Holy Motors
5.
Shame
7.
A Separation
7.
The Dark Knight Rises
9.
The Master
10.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

You can view a table of all the votes and final scores by clicking here.

A big thanks to all the critics who were able to contribute.  Hopefully we'll do it again next year!

You can check out information on all the Brisbane critics (along with their choices for the best and worst of 2012) below.


Matthew ToomeyMatthew Toomey

Born in Brisbane, Matt Toomey was introduced to the world of cinema when he landed a job at a video store fresh out of high school in 1995. A few years later, he started his own website and reviewed movies regularly on a community radio station. In 2005, he joined the team at 612ABC and can be heard reviewing the latest releases every Thursday on Brisbane’s highest rated breakfast program with Spencer Howson. He can also be heard nationally every second Sunday at 1:30pm on ABC Digital.

Website:  www.thefilmpie.com
Twitter:  @icestorm77


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Shame
2.A Separation
3.Margin Call
4.Searching For Sugar Man
5.The King Of Devil's Island
6.
Take This Waltz
7.
The Descendants
8.
The Avengers
9.
Jiro Dreams Of Sushi
10.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild 

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
Zero Dark Thirty
2.First Position
3.Undefeated
4.
Facing Mirrors
5.
West Of Memphis

Best Australian Film:
  A Few Best Men
Best Animated Film:
  Wreck-It-Ralph
Best Documentary:
  Searching For Sugar Man
Best Performance:
  Sarah Polley (Take This Waltz)
Worst Film:
  The Door
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
  Hit & Run
Shame

Tim MilfullTim Milfull

Tim was a long-time contributor to the now defunct Brisbane street press publications Rave Magazine and The Independent. He is now a freelance writer, and his thoughts about film can be found on his blog and on Twitter.

Website: www.milfull.com
Twitter: @milfull


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
The Raid
2.This Must Be The Place
3.The Artist
4.Cafe de Flore
5.Holy Motors
6.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
7.
Shame
8.
A Separation
9.
Searching For Sugar Man
10.
Monsieur Lazhar

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
Pieta
2.Postcard (Ichimai no hagaki)
3.Alps (Alpeis)
4.
Rampart
5.
Berberian Sound Studio

Best Australian Film:
   The King Is Dead
Best Animated Film:
   Wreck-It-Ralph
Best Documentary:
   Searching For Sugar Man
Best Performance:
   Denis Lavant (Holy Motors)
Worst Film:
   The Words
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   Pitch Perfect
The Raid

Sarah WardSarah Ward

Sarah Ward is a freelance film critic, writer and festival devotee. Her written contributions can be found across a range of cinema, culture and festival websites including Arts Hub, Trespass Magazine, At The Cinema, KOFFIA, the Spanish Film Festival, SBS Film’s Social Review and her own site, Play/Pause. In addition, she has worked for a number of entertainment and arts organisations, including her current role at the Brisbane International Film Festival.

Websites: www.artshub.com.au
               www.trespassmag.com
               www.atthecinema.net
               www.playslashpause.com
Twitter: @swardplay


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Shame
2.Margaret
3.The Master
4.Holy Motors
5.Hugo
6.
The Artist
7.
Argo
8.
Killing Them Softly
9.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
10.
Looper

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
Zero Dark Thirty
2.Amour
3.No
4.
The Hunt
5.
Sister

Best Australian Film:
   Lore
Best Animated Film:
   The Secret World Of Arrietty
Best Documentary:
   Searching For Sugar Man
Best Performance:
   Joaquin Phoenix (The Master)
Worst Film:
   Kath & Kimderella
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   Dredd
Shame

Baz McAlisterBaz McAlister

Baz has been a freelance film writer for much of the past decade, and obsessed with film for much of four decades. He’s a sucker for cheesy action. The first film he went to see without parental accompaniment was Ghostbusters. In the early ‘80s he saw Jaws on TV and wouldn’t go near the sea, or even walk on blue carpets, for a year. He’s dropped serious coin on Star Wars memorabilia. He thinks Tony Scott had more talent than Ridley Scott, and likes Paul WS Anderson more than Paul Thomas Anderson.

Website: bazmcalister.wordpress.com
Twitter: @bazmcalister


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
The Grey
2.The Cabin In The Woods
3.Killing Them Softly
4.Safety Not Guaranteed
5.Ted
6.
The Avengers
7.
Ruby Sparks
8.
The Raid
9.
Moonrise Kingdom
10.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Best Australian Film:
   Any Questions For Ben?
Best Animated Film:
   Wreck-It-Ralph
Best Documentary:
   Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Best Performance:
   Liam Neeson (The Grey)
Worst Film:
   On The Road
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
The Grey

Garry WilliamsGarry Williams

Garry Williams is a reviewer for the 4ZZZ-FM Film Club broadcast each Thursdays from 6-7pm on 102.1FM.

Website: n/a
Twitter: n/a


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Argo
2.Samsara
3.The Dark Knight Rises
4.Bernie
5.Marley
6.
Moonrise Kingdom
7.
The Avengers
8.
Looper
9.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
10.
Margaret

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
West Of Memphis
2.Pink Ribbons Inc.
3.The Art Of Rap
4.
Hara Kiri: Death Of A Samurai
5.
Side By Side

Best Australian Film:
   Wish You Were Here
Best Animated Film:
   Wolf Children
Best Documentary:
   Marley
Best Performance:
   Denis Lavant (Holy Motors)
Worst Film:
   Hope Springs
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   Katy Perry: Part Of Me
Argo

Laurence BarberLaurence Barber

Laurence Barber is a film and television student, writer and Twitter maven with too much time on his hands and yet too little time to watch everything he wants to. His reviews can be found at The 500 Club, on his blog, The Film Fix, and often in abbreviated form on Twitter.

Website: thefilmfix.wordpress.com
Twitter: @bortlb


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Holy Motors (tie)
1.A Separation (tie)
3.Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
4.The Master
5.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
6.
Lore
7.
Weekend
8.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
9.
Searching For Sugar Man
10.
Samsara

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
No
2.The Hunt
3.Yossi
4.
The Impostor
5.
Sound Of My Voice

Best Australian Film:
   Lore
Best Animated Film:
   From Up On Poppy Hill
Best Documentary:
   Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
Best Performance:
   Denis Lavant (Holy Motors)
Worst Film:
   Mental
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Holy Motors

Rob HudsonRob Hudson

Rob Hudson is a movie and music reviewer for modmove.com.

Website: modmove.com
Twitter: @modmove


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Argo
2.Moonrise Kingdom
3.Hugo
4.The Dark Knight Rises
5.Looper
6.
Marley
7.
Skyfall
8.
The Cabin In The Woods
9.
Lawless
10.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
Life Of Pi

Best Australian Film:
   Iron Sky
Best Animated Film:
   Frankenweenie
Best Documentary:
   Marley
Best Performance:
   Joaquin Phoenix (The Master)
Worst Film:
   Paranormal Activity 4
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Argo

David EdwardsDavid Edwards

David Edwards is the editor and film critic for The Blurb, a website that provides the latest news and reviews for arts entertainment in Australia.

Website: www.theblurb.com.au
Twitter: n/a


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Moonrise Kingdom
2.The Dark Knight Rises
3.Your Sister's Sister
4.The Master
5.Looper
6.
The Descendants
7.
Argo
8.
Frankenweenie
9.
Young Adult
10.
Bernie

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
ParaNorman
2.Barbara
3.Red Lights

Best Australian Film:
   No pick
Best Animated Film:
   Frankenweenie
Best Performance:
   John Hawkes (The Sessions)
Worst Film:
   Housos Vs. Authority
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   Your Sister's Sister
Moonrise Kingdom

Michael DaltonMichael Dalton

Michael Dalton is the editor and film critic for the "Screen" section of M/C Reviews.

Website: reviews.media-culture.org.au
Twitter: n/a


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Argo
2.Bernie
3.Le Havre
4.The Cabin In The Woods
5.Holy Motors
6.
A Separation
7.
The Raid
8.
Moonrise Kingdom
9.
The Words
10.
Frankenweenie

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
Sleep Tight
2.The Hunt
3.Maniac
4.
Wrinkles
5.
The Impostor

Best Australian Film:
   Wish You Were Here
Best Animated Film:
   The Secret World Of Arrietty
Best Documentary:
   Searching For Sugar Man
Best Performance:
   John Hakwes (The Sessions)
Worst Film:
   To Rome With Love
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   Safe House
Argo

Peter GrayPeter Gray

Peter Gray is a Brisbane based freelance entertainment writer specialising in film. Currently the entertainment reporter/film reviewer for QNews, Queensland’s largest LGBT publication, and regular contributor to M/C Reviews and Hush Hush Biz.

Website: reviews.media-culture.org.au
Twitter: @ratedpdg


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Argo
2.Shame
3.The Avengers
4.The Cabin In The Woods
5.Skyfall
6.
Looper
7.
The Dark Knight Rises
8.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
9.
The Intouchables
10.
The Muppets

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
Compliance
2.Killer Joe
3.ParaNorman
4.
Smashed
5.
Excision

Best Australian Film:
   The Sapphires
Best Animated Film:
   Brave
Best Documentary:
   Searching For Sugar Man
Best Performance:
   Matthew McConaughey (Killer Joe)
Worst Film:
   Kath & Kimderella
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   Hit & Run
Argo

Jason ReedJason Reed

Jason Reed is a screenwriter who spent over a decade working in the Brisbane cinema industry and worked as a projectionist for the Brisbane International Film Festival. He has been interviewed on ABC Radio, written for Filmink, local street press such as Rave Magazine and Scene and online publication The 500 Club.

Website: 500.the400club.org
Twitter: @jprfilm


Top 10 Released Films:
1.
Argo
2.Looper
3.Martha Marcy May Marlene
4.The Cabin In The Woods
5.Liberal Arts
6.
The Artist
7.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
8.
Safety Not Guaranteed
9.
The Muppets
10.
Moonrise Kingdom

Top Unreleased Films:
1.
The Sound Of My Voice
2.Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
3.Compliance
4.
Despite The Gods

Best Australian Film:
   The Sapphires
Best Animated Film:
   Wreck-It-Ralph
Best Documentary:
   Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
Best Performance:
   Ben Affleck (Argo)
Worst Film:
   Bachelorette
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
   Magic Mike
Argo