Best Documentaries of 2012

1.Room 237

Rodney Ascher’s documentary about the “hidden meanings” contained within Stanley Kubrick’s film “The Shining” is a fascinating journey through a variety of theories as to what the legendary director was really trying to say with his loose adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.  Sometimes what is true isn’t nearly as interesting as what might be true.

2.Indie Game: The Movie

James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot have created a film that examines what is to be an artist in the modern world where the difference between success and bankruptcy is a question of talent, dedication and a whole lot of luck. Worth seeing even if you have no interest in video games whatsoever.

3.The Imposter

In 1997 con-artist Frederic Bourdin posed as Nicholas Barclay, a 13-year-old boy who went missing in Texas in 1994. Claiming his abductors had taken him to Spain Bourdin was returned to the Barclay family who seemingly believed that he was their son. In the case of “The Imposter,” truth is much stranger than fiction.

  

4. The Invisible War

Kirby Dick’s documentary about sexual assault in the United States military and how the victims may have been further victimized by counter-effective policies is difficult to watch, but that makes it all the more important.

5. How to Survive a Plague

David France’s film chronicles the efforts of activist groups ACT UP and TAG in the early days of the AIDS epidemic as they fought for access to new drugs, experimental treatments and basic civil rights.

6. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

Alison Klayman profiles Chinese artist and outspoken human rights activist Ai Weiwei. It’s nice to be reminded that art, experimental or otherwise, can still be revolutionary and impossible to ignore. 

7. Jiro Dreams of Sushi

At the age of 85 Jiro Ono is considered to be one of the world’s greatest sushi masters. His endless search for perfection is as daunting as it is inspirational. David Gelb’s film examines Jiro’s passion and technique and how his legacy has and will continue to impact the lives of his two sons as they try to climb out of their father’s shadow. 

8. The Queen of Versailles

What started as a vanity piece for Jackie and David Siegel as they set out to build the largest single-family residence in America became something entirely different when the world’s economy tanked.

9. Chasing Ice

The story of photojournalist James Balog’s attempt to show the impact of climate change by using time-lapse photography to document the receding size of various glaciers around the world. 

10. Booker’s Place: A Mississippi Story

Booker Wright, an African American waiter, was beaten and his restaurant firebombed after making candid comments about racism for NBC’s 1965 documentary “Mississippi: A Self Portrait.” “Booker’s Place” looks back on the cultural impact of Wright’s statements as well as the price he paid for speaking his mind.

Also worth a look: The Central Park Five, The Gatekeepers, West of Memphis, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory and Searching for Sugarman.

Five Recently Released Blu-ray Titles That Will Boost Your Holiday Spirit

Looking for a Christmas themed film to help get you into the holiday spirit? Here are five titles that recently made their way to Blu-ray.

Arthur Christmas (DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo and 3D Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Produced by Aardman Animations (the people behind the Wallace & Gromit and “Chicken Run”) “Arthur Christmas” tells the story of Arthur, Santa’s youngest son who is tasked with answering all of his father’s mail. Steve, his older brother, runs the delivery aspects of Christmas with military precision from his super-sized sleigh the S-1. When it is discovered that one misplaced gift hasn’t been delivered Steve refuses to do anything about it forcing Arthur to set out on an adventure to make sure that no child is forgotten at Christmas.

 I love the Aardman films partly because I’m an anglophile, but also because they have a unique look and sense of humor.  “Arthur Christmas” is a charming, highly enjoyable film that will appeal to adults and children. I’d also recommend checking out their “Pirates! Band of Misfits” from earlier this year.

 Babes in Toyland (Blu-ray)

Disney’s “Babes in Toyland” from 1961 starring Roy Bolger, Tommy Sands and Annette Funicello arrives on Blu-ray with a gorgeous transfer that really shows off the film’s Technicolor origins. While not strictly a Christmas film, it’s more of an excuse to gather Mother Goose and her nursery rhyme friends together in one narrative, the movie’s final act does feature a toymaker is desperate need of some help to make his Christmas deadlines and an epic battle of miniature proportions involving an army of toy soldiers.

I haven’t watched this version of “Babes in Toyland” since I was a child and I was surprised by how well the film holds up. The special effects don’t feel nearly as dated as you’d expect, the songs are brimming with nostalgia and the performance, while stylized, are wholly effective in a vaudevillian sort of way. Sands’ performance of the song “Floretta” is an all-time classic.    

 The Muppet Christmas Carol (DVD and Blu-ray)

There are a handful of films that I try to watch every Christmas season including “Christmas Eve on Sesame Street” from 1978, Rankin-Bass’ 1964 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Christmas Story,” “Elf” and at the top of the list “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” It’s my favorite adaptation of the Charles Dickens story and Disney’s recent Blu-ray release looks and sounds wonderful (even if it is the theatrical cut that is missing the “When Love Is Gone” segment). Michael Caine is perfect as Ebenezer Scrooge and the film was the perfect tribute to Jim Henson, who died two years earlier.

Prep & Landing: Totally Tinsel Collection (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

The “Totally Tinsel Collection” features the original “Prep & Landing” along with “Naughty vs. Nice” and the two animated shorts “Operation: Secret Santa” and “Tiny’s BIG Adventure.” The stories focus mainly on a pair of Elves, Wayne and Lanny, who are members of the prep and landing unit, who are tasked with preparing the various homes around the world for Santa’s arrival. You can watch all four stories in an hour, which makes this collection perfect for those with a limited amount of time between celebrations.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (DVD and Blu-ray)

In 1964 director Nicholas Webster unleashed this bizarre story about how Earth television programs have had an adverse influence on Martian children. Turning to their 800-year-old sage, Chochem, the Martian leaders are told that the influence cannot be undone and kidnapping Santa Claus and bringing him to Mars is their best course of action because Santa is the only man who can properly teach the children the meaning of freedom and fun.

“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is a goofy film with silly special effects, corny dialogue and scenery-chewing performances from the entire cast. It’s a terrible and wonderful film that has been featured on “MST3K,” “Cinematic Titanic” and ran as part of “Elivra’s Movie Macabre.” But those programs used prints that were faded and made the Martians appear to be copper in color rather than green. Kino’s new Blu-ray release presents this monstrosity as it was meant to be seen and while it doesn’t improve the narrative it does give the film the nostalgic (and somewhat naïve) sheen it deserves. I could try to tell you that the film is also a wonderful exploration of Cold War tension between the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., but I think that would be giving the film more credit than it is due.  

Zero Dark Thirty Takes Top Honors

         

Zero Dark Thirty won two awards at the annual meeting of the Utah Film Critics Association, including best picture of 2012. Zero Dark Thirty also was recognized for Jessica Chastain’s female lead performance, which was shared with Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in Silver Linings Playbook. Wes Anderson won best achievement in directing for the film Moonrise Kingdom, while Skyfall took honors for Roger Deakins’ cinematography.

In other performance categories, Joaquin Phoenix won male lead performance for The Master. Anne Hathaway received the award for female supporting performance for Les Misérables, while Dwight Henry won male supporting performance for Beasts of the Southern Wild. Rian Johnson’s original screenplay for Looper also was recognized, with Stephen Chbosky receiving adapted screenplay honors for The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

ParaNorman took honors for best animated feature. In the documentary feature category, Indie Game: The Movie was recognized, while best non-English language feature went to Headhunters.

The Utah Film Critics Association is made up of film journalists from print, online and broadcast media based in Utah. Members include: Rich Bonaduce, TheReelPlace.com; Cody Clark, Daily Herald; Luke Hickman, TheReelPlace.com/KEGA-FM; Jimmy Martin, Big Movie Mouth-Off/ SLUG Magazine; Sean P. Means, Salt Lake Tribune; Dan Metcalf, KTVX ABC-4; Andy Morgan, KNVU-AM; Ryan Michael Painter, KUTV 2; Aaron Peck, Logan Herald-Journal; Scott Renshaw, Salt Lake City Weekly; Steve Salles, Standard-Examiner (Ogden); Mike Thiriot, KTHB 94.9 FM; Tony Toscano, Talking Pictures; Jeff Michael Vice, KXRK-FM/Big Movie Mouth-Off; and Doug Wright, KSL Movie Show.

The complete list of winners with runner-ups follows:

2012 Utah Film Critics Association Awards

Best Picture

Winner: Zero Dark Thirty

(runner-up: Looper)

Best Achievement in Directing

Winner: Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom

(runner-up: Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty)

Best Lead Performance by an Actor

Winner: Joaquin Phoenix, The Master

(runner-ups: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln, & John Hawkes, The Sessions)

Best Lead Performance by an Actress

Winners: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook & Jessica Chastain, 
Zero Dark Thirty (Tie)

Best Supporting Performance by an Actor

Winner: Dwight Henry, Beasts of the Southern Wild

(runner-up: Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master)

Best Supporting Performance by an Actress

Winner: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables

(runner-up: Ann Dowd, Compliance)

Best Original Screenplay

Winner: Rian Johnson, Looper

(runner-up: Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner: Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

(runner-up: David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook)

Best Cinematography

Winner: Roger Deakins, Skyfall

(runner-up: Claudio Miranda, Life of Pi)

Best Documentary Feature

Winner: Indie Game: The Movie

(runner-up: The Invisible War)

Best Non-English Language Feature

Winner: Headhunters

(runner-up: Amour)

Best Animated Feature

Winner: ParaNorman

(runner-ups: Frankenweenie & Wreck-It Ralph)

Utah Film Critics Association Nominees

PICTURE 


1. LINCOLN


2. ZERO DARK THIRTY

3. LOOPER

4. ARGO

5. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER


DIRECTOR

1. Steven Spielberg, LINCOLN


2. Ben Affleck, ARGO


3. Kathryn Bigelow, ZERO DARK THIRTY

4. Leos Caraz, HOLY MOTORS

5. David O. Russell, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK



LEAD PERFORMACE, MALE 


1. Daniel Day-Lewis, LINCOLN


2. Hugh Jackman, LES MISERABLES

3. Denis Levant, HOLY MOTORS

4. Bradley Cooper, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

5. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, LOOPER

LEAD PERFORMANCE, FEMALE 


1. Naomi Watts, THE IMPOSSIBLE


2. Jessica Chastain, ZERO DARK THIRTY


3. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, SMASHED

4. Jennifer Lawrence, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

5. Marion Cotillard, RUST AND BONE

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE 


1. Jason Clarke, ZERO DARK THIRTY

2. Pierce Gagnon, LOOPER


3. Ezra Miller, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

4. Christoph Waltz, DJANGO UNCHAINED

5. Dwight Henry, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD 


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS  


1. Anne Hathaway, LES MISERABLES


2. Sally Field, LINCOLN

3. Emily Blunt, LOOPER

4. Emma Watson, PEARKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

5. Samantha Barks, LES MISERABLES

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

1. Rian Johnson, LOOPER


2. Mark Boal, ZERO DARK THIRTY


3. Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

4. Leos Caraz, HOLY MOTORS

5. Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, MOONRISE KINGDOM

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

1. Tony Kushner, LINCOLN


2. Chris Terrio, ARGO


3. Stephen Chbosky, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

4. David O. Russell, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK


5. Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan & David S. Goyer, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. Claudio Miranda, LIFE OF PI

2. Wally Pfister, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

3. Roger Deakins, SKYFALL

4. Benoit Delhomme, LAWLESS

5. Janucz Kaminski, LINCOLN

DOCUMENTARY

1. ROOM 237


2. INDIE GAMER: THE MOVIE


3. THE IMPOSTER


4.
THE INVISIBLE WAR

5.
SEARCHING FOR SILVERMAN

NON-ENGLISH

1. RUST AND BONE

2. HOLY MOTORS

3. HEADHUNTERS

4. THE RAID: REDEMPTION

5. A ROYAL AFFAIR

ANIMATED

1. FRANKENWEENIE

2. BRAVE


3. PARANORMAN

4. THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS

5. WRECK-IT RALPH