My Recap of 2012 (old releases)

I will just go ahead and make this an annual occurrence. For the second year in a row, I have decided to compile my year in review and look back on the films I saw in 2012 (a total of over 325) and handpick several films, performances, directors that made the biggest impact on me. Like last year, I will highlight films or performances that I saw for the first time, and these films are ones that were released prior to 2012. I am not able to keep up with all the new releases to do a best of 2012 films in a timely fashion, living in Kalamazoo, MI. Therefore no films from 2012 will be represented here. I will try to revisit new releases from 2012 in an upcoming post, perhaps around Academy Award timing to list my favorites from the recent year.

10 Best films prior to 2012 that I saw for the first time:

10. Seduced and Abandoned (1964) - Pietro Germi: This hilarious farce was probably the funniest film I saw all year.

9. Terminal Station (1953) - Vittorio De Sica: Achingly romantic and painful, this unique blending of Neorealism and Hollywood Melodrama was a wonderful surprise.

8. Thieves' Highway (1949) - Jules Dassin: A brilliant film noir, this gritty and gutsy film, made on location in San Francisco was passionate and had a script that kept me on my toes.

7. Fires on the Plain (1959) - Kon Ichikawa: Absolutely horrific. A war film that felt like the end of the world. 

6. Faces (1968) - John Cassavetes: My most difficult film watching experience of the year also yielded my most rewarding. Contains the best hour of American independent cinema ever made.

5. Dodsworth (1936) - William Wyler: Mature, knowing film is extremely well written and well acted and feels remarkably modern for a film from the 1930's.

4. Lonesome (1928) - Paul Fejos: This piece of exuberance and romantic longing was pure joy from the get-go. One of the great American silent films.

3. Orphans of the Storm (1921) - D.W. Griffith: Griffith's epic film was magnificently staged and plotted. And the teaming of Lillian and Dorothy Gish was electric.

2. Ivan's Childhood (1962) - Andrei Tarkovsky: My favorite Tarkovsky film. The most beautiful and haunting cinematography I saw this year.

1. The Last Laugh (1924) - F.W. Murnau: Maybe the greatest silent film ever made and it doesn't even need intertitles. Remarkable visual storytelling and Emil Jannings in his legendary performance.

Here are some acclaimed films that I did not connect with:

Dead Ringers (1988)

The Lives of Others (2006)

Eating Raoul (1982)

2046 (2004)

Here are the top 5 performances by an Actress (no particular order):

Jennifer Jones - Terminal Station (1953)

Lynn Carlin- Faces (1968)

Lillian Gish- The Scarlet Letter (1926)

Olivia de Havilland- The Heiress (1949)

Gena Rowlands- A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Here are the top 5 performances by an actor (no particular order):

Walter Huston - Dodsworth (1936)

Christopher Plummer- Hamlet at Elsinore (1964)

Saro Urzi- Seduced and Abandoned (1964)

Montgomery Clift- The Heiress (1949)

Emil Jannings- The Last Laugh (1924)

Director I spent the most time with in 2012:

John Ford- 7 films

The Iron Horse (1924) *** (out of 4)
The Informer (1935) - ** 1/2
How Green Was My Valley (1941) - *** 1/2
Fort Apache (1948) ** 1/2
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) *** 1/2
Wagon Master (1950) *** 1/2
Cheyenne Autumn (1964) ***

I decided to revisit John Ford this year and catch up on several films that I've never seen before for whatever reason. Some of these were some of his lesser discussed films, but some are highly acclaimed films that I have neglected. I was continually reminded of John Ford's ability to frame up the collective experience. Be it friends, lovers, or enemies, he is able to create a chemistry and camaraderie. There's also of course the melting pot experience... and the way he utilizes people from different cultural backgrounds together onscreen. Ford's way of framing up conflict is of course influential to everyone from Kurosawa to Spielberg. I think the most amazing film of his I saw was Wagon Master, which I believe I underrated at the time I saw it. It is unconventional even for Ford, as he adopts a semi-improvised feel, a lighter touch, and the complete absence of major stars like Wayne or Fonda, which gives the film an intimacy which is sometimes lacking in his BIG films. I think it's actually one of his greatest masterpieces, and if I watched it again, I would write an essay on it and rate it even higher than I did on my first viewing.


Further Exploration

Lillian Gish-

If I stated that for me this was the year of Lillian Gish I would not be exaggerating. I watched all of these films this year, 4 of them for the first time, and even watched Broken Blossoms twice.

Broken Blossoms (1919) - Griffith *** 1/2 (out of 4)
True Heart Susie (1919) - Griffith ***
Way Down East (1920) - Griffith ****
Orphans of the Storm (1921) - Griffith ****
La Boheme (1926) - Vidor ** 1/2
The Scarlet Letter (1926) - Sjostrom ****
The Wind (1928) - Sjostrom ****

I determined that not only was Lillian Gish the greatest silent film actress.....she might be the greatest film actress....period. I felt throughout the year that I was continuing to see her for the first time. I don't know if it was my slight apprehension and aversion to Griffith's histrionics in the past, but for some reason I had a hard time getting into his films in years prior. I finally found my liking for both Griffith and most importantly, really loved getting to know Gish. Her techniques of using slight facial expressions and emotions were balanced by an openness of spirit. Her graceful presence also belies a strong willed attitude in the face of obstacles. She is endlessly watchable.


So that was 2012! Thanks to all of you who read my blog and commented here this year. Here's wishing everyone a fabulous 2013.