Something You Said’s Top 10 Films of 2012

Our big round up of 2012 is in full swing. Today it’s time to have a look at the best movies that have hit our cinema screens this year. Here is our top ten, as voted for by our contributors and readers:

SOMETHING YOU SAID’S FILM OF THE YEAR 2012: BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Devastatingly beautiful and imaginative, Beasts of the Southern Wild is a sight to behold. A first-time features director if you can believe, and a cast of virtually unknown actors, set in a remote bayou in New Orleans, leading up to Hurricane Katrina. Part dream/part nightmare and completely awe-inspiring. Golden Lady

2. ARGO
The most action-filled movie that really pushed me to the edge of my seat. A movie based upon real events regarding the clever escape of six US officials from Iran during a particularly tense political time between the two countries. It is surprisingly brilliant, not to mention delightfully witty and I totally endorse its references to the 1970s science-fiction movement. Liana Gow-Killingbeck

3. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES 
With the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy offering quality support to Christian Bale, the final instalment of a suitably gothic trilogy ended strongly. In an era when CGI effects lead to action scenes generally looking flimsy and fake, the set-pieces in The Dark Knight Rises had real physicality to them. And the ending was pleasingly ambiguous too. Bobby Townsend

4. MOONRISE KINGDOM
I watched Moonrise Kingdom in a pretty delirious state on the plane. I hadn’t slept for around 20 hours and the girl next to me had just given me a valium, so Moonrise Kingdom really went down a treat. It centres around young love, though with a lot of twists and turns to it. Set on a remote Island, a cub scout escapes to unite with his pen pal, as she in turn escapes from her fairly dysfunctional family. The scouts, police, and parents go looking for them, and all the while a torrential storm is coming in. It’s an incredible quirky, funny and cute film while maintaining all its cinematic integrity and appeal to nearly everyone. File next to: Boy and Little Miss Sunshine. Marcus Thaine

5. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
Though all three main characters have some massive demons to contend with, they still inhabit a delicious world of classic literature, great music and close friendship. It seems there are no troubles that they can’t escape simply through the joy of speeding down the highway with their windows down while Heroes blares from the car stereo. And it’s that essence of youthful infinity that resounds and makes The Perks of Being a Wallflower such a charm. Bobby Townsend

6. THE INTOUCHABLES
A gentle French comedy based on the true story of an unlikely coming-together of a quadriplegic millionaire, Phillipe, and a lower class immigrant, Driss, who (initially quite begrudgingly) takes paid responsibly for his care and wellbeing. The men’s relationship is bound by their own sense of pride, honour and friendship. Carol Bowditch

7. THE SAPPHIRES
This inspirational tale about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote Aboriginal mission in the late ‘60s captured hearts around the world, and it’s easy to see why. With a killer soundtrack, some strong issues and a fine comedy turn from Chris O’Dowd, there was something for everyone. Bobby Townsend

8. MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE 
The film slips between present day reality, dream and flashback without ever really signifying when this is happening. This creates a disorientating dreamlike state and really places the viewer in the situation of Martha. Or is that Marcy May or Marlene? Neil Martin

9. THE HUNGER GAMES
This was a thought-provoking and gritty teen action film in which the ever-excellent Jennifer Lawrence proved that she was more than ready for the step-up to blockbuster leading lady. Bobby Townsend

10 HOLY MOTORS
This French fantasy film was absolutely batshit crazy. It follows a man riding a car through the city and getting dropped off at various appointments which find him acting as different characters. There is a passionate embrace with a woman in a latex motion sensor suit, the man as a troll type character, and as a loving, protective father, among others. It’s a mind-mess but, if you are drawn to provocative, interesting cinema, this is something to check out. Carol Bowditch

And here are the other films that didn’t receive the popular vote but that our contributors reckon you should hunt down and check out:

BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW
Panos Cosmatos’ Beyond The Black Rainbow is a psychedelic masterpiece that, on first viewing, I was confused as to whether I liked or hated but it kept nagging away at me until many of its images are now burned into my brain along with the incredible soundtrack by Jeremy Schmidt. The film left me dazed and confused and thinking about it for days, weeks and months after. Neil Martin

SOUND IT OUT
A truly amazing documentary from Jeanie Finlay about an independent record shop in Stockton-on-Tees in England. It celebrates all the different characters that dwell & consume their music through the store and touches on the demise of the independent record shop. This film will charm the pants off you. Gary Page

MAGIC MIKE
Sure, Magic Mike is a bit of a cringer but to be honest it’s a bunch of hot guys, including Matthew McConaughey, Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer and Mr. Sexy Werewolf from True Blood, shaking their money makers, and that’s fine by me. Plus that Alex kid is a pretty good actor, snaps to Alex. Kaya Strehler

ENTRANCE
Dallas Hallam & Patrick Horvath’s Entrance is a bleak as all hell low budget horror movie that is the ultimate slow build with possibly the most devastatingly hopeless ending I have ever seen. Neil Martin

WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
In the same way that the wonderful Life Is Beautiful did with the Holocaust, this film gives heart to an impossible subject-matter through laughter and levity. This certainly doesn’t make it any less relevant than more heavyweight movies. Rather, Where Do We Go Now? is a compelling and touching tale of motherhood, family, religion, tolerance and community. Bobby Townsend

SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN
With any luck, through this film alone, the music of Sixto Rodriguez will be resurrected and go on to inspire and enlighten an entire new generation of music lovers, this time, outside of South Africa. Golden Lady

What do you reckon? Agree? Disagree with all of the above? Let us know in the comments section below…