The Best Albums of 2012

I love listening to music, and although this year, I limited my list to 85 albums, it doesn’t mean there weren’t more candidates for the list.  Any of them are really good, depending on what kind of music you like, and the fact that the same list is shared by a 77-year-old folk-rock icon and a Icelandic indie pop band releasing their first album speaks volumes about the world of music today.  I have  numbered and described the top 50 and listed the others as “Honorable Mention.”

My annual qualifier is that my tastes tend to run toward alternative rock, R&B/soul, indie rock, and inventive pop music, so if you are a fan of Classical, Country, Death Metal, or Rap, you will probably be disappointed with this list.  I also tend to like music that is up-front, rather than hidden by layers of production. 

The numbering is somewhat random, because on any given day, I might want to hear one album ahead of any other, and each of the “Honorable Mention” albums could easily have made the top 50.  With that said, here is my list in ascending order:

50.    Morning Parade, “Morning Parade”
This is the debut album of a a five-piece, English, alternative rock band with excellent modern rock sensibilities and highly enjoyable songs including “Headlights,” “Us & Ourselves,” and “Under the Stars.”

49.    Sun Kil Moon, “Among the Leaves”
The eighth album by this band, fronted by singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek, is an acoustic beauty featuring Kozelek’s outstanding lyrics and expressive singing.  Songs include the title song, “Sunshine In Chicago,” and the humorously named “The Moderately Talented Yet Attractive Young Woman vs. The Exceptionally Talented Yet Not So Attractive Middle Aged Man.”

48.    Best Coast, “The Only Place”
Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno are Best Coast, and their brand of modern surf pop is an enjoyable romp that harkens to the 60s beach bands—fuzzy production techniques and all.  The group’s second album includes “The Only Place,” “Up All Night,” and “Why I Cry.”  

47.    Sharon Van Etten, “Tramp”
This Brooklyn-based artist is her own breed of singer-songwriter, capable of quiet elegance in one song followed by a rock-infringed powerhouse on the next.  Add to that her lovely but raspy voice and the production of The National’s Aaron Desner, and the result is an outstanding set of songs including “Serpents,” “Leonard,” and “We Are Fine.”

46.    Graffiti6, “Colours”
Essentially the work of British artist Jamie Scott, this infectious set of pop/soul songs is the first full album by Graffiti6, and it definitely bears repeated listening.  Songs include “Stare Into the Sun,” “Free,” and “Over You.”

45.    Field Music, “Plumb”
If you’ve read my past reviews, you’ll know that Field Music usually winds up on this list.  If you’ve listened to them, you’ll understand why I love their inventive style of rock, which defies classification.  This, their fourth album, features “Start the Day Right,” “A New Town,” and the brief but beautiful a capella tune, “How Many More Times?”

44.    Alt-J, “An Awesome Wave”
The first full studio album by this English quartet is just wonderfully different from most of what you’re likely to hear on the radio.  What jumps out at you is the excellent musicianship combined with the offbeat vocals.  Songs include “Breezeblocks,” “Dissolve Me,” and “Fitzpleasure.”

43.    Esperanza Spalding, “Radio Music Society”
After winning the Grammy for best new artist, Spaulding followed it up with this beautiful vocal jazz album that demonstrates her many talents.  Songs include “Cinnamon Tree,” “Black Gold,” and “I Can’t Help It.”

42.    Paul Buchanan, “Mid Air”
I admit to playing the Blue Nile’s “Hats” many times in the late 80s and early 90s for its superb use of multi-layered, synthesized music and the haunting vocals of Paul Buchanan.  Although he was never able to duplicate the excellence of that sonic masterpiece, his music has continued to amaze me.  This is his first solo album and it reminds me why I liked the Blue Nile so much.  Songs include “Mid Air,” “Buy a Motor Car,” and “God Is Laughing.”

41.    Loudon Wainwright III, “Older Than My Old Man Now”
On his 22^nd album, the patriarch of the musical Wainwright clan explores what it’s like to get older.  In doing so, he’s created an immensely humorous and entertaining set of songs that include “The Here & the Now,” “My Meds,” and “I Remember Sex.”

40.    Silversun Pickups, “Neck of the Woods”
On their fourth studio album, the Los Angeles-based quartet shows why they are one of the most interesting alt-rock bands recording today.  Their songs have a driving beat and a lively grasp of what it takes to construct a good song, such as “Make Believe,” “Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings),” and “The Pit.”

39.    Walk the Moon, “Walk the Moon”
This is the second album (first on a major label) by a Cincinnati-based quartet that creates an exuberant sound that will have you up and dancing, or at least tapping your feet.  Songs include “Anna Sun,” “Tightrope,” and “Shiver Shiver.”

38.    Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band, “One of My Kind”
Conor Oberst has recorded under his own name and as Bright Eyes.  Here, he has assembled a 5-person backup band called The Mystic Valley Band, and the result is a slightly more rock-oriented effort than his previous albums.  As always, Oberst’s songs are intelligent and thoughtful, and his unique voice adds texture to original songs like “Gentleman’s Pact,” and “Normal,” as well as covers like “Corina, Corina” and “Kodachrome.”

37.    John Boutté, “All About Everything”
New Orleans-based John Boutté is an American original.  Here, on his tenth album, he uses his sweet, emotional voice to deliver what may be the best set of songs of his career, including “These Blue Days,” “The Grass Is Greener,” and a bluesy version of the Leonard Cohen classic, “Hallelujah.”

36.    Imagine Dragons, “Night Visions”
A true modern rock band, this Las Vegas-based quartet combines excellent songwriting, outstanding musicianship, and wall-of-sound production techniques to construct songs that build from the beginning to the end.  This is their first studio album with songs that include “Radioactive,” “It’s Time,” and “On Top of the World.”

35.    Muse, “The 2nd Law”
While unlike anything Muse has done before, this, their sixth album, is a concept album about the residents of a planet who need to find somewhere else to live.  As usual, their totally enveloping sound is evident from start to finish on songs like “Madness,” “Survival,” and “Liquid State.”

34.    We Are Serenades, “Criminal Heaven”
This debut album from a Swedish duo uses modern production techniques to create a beautiful, almost symphonic sounding set of songs that includes “Birds,” “Daydreaming,” and “Walking Home.”

33.    Passion Pit, “Gossamer”
This Cambridge Mass-based band met at Berklee School of Music and debuted in 2009 with the excellent “Manners.”  This, their second effort, is even better and combines a variety of styles into a highly listenable album that includes “Take a Walk,” “Carried Away,” and “Hideaway.”

32.    The Lumineers, “The Lumineers”
If you haven’t heard the Lumineers’ “Ho Hey,” maybe you slept through this year, or you don’t listen to much new music.  Otherwise, you understand the infectiousness of their refrain, “I belong with you, you belong with me, in my sweet heart.”  The band’s debut album combines bluegrass with simple lyrics and Neyla Pekarek’s cello and includes “Flowers In Your Hair,” “Ho Hey,” and “Stubborn Love.”

31.    Laetitia Sadier, “Silencio”
The French lead singer of Stereolab released this, her second solo effort, which combines her rich, beautiful vocals with inventive musicianship that makes you take notice of each song, including “Silent Spot,” “Between Earth and Heaven,” and “Fragment pour le future de l’homme.”

30.    Joe Bonamassa, “Driving Towards the Daylight”
Joe Bonamassa is one of the best guitarists to ever record an album, and he’s a good vocalist too.  If you don’t believe me, you can ask people like Eric Clapton, Gregg Allman, and Rick Derringer, who have all played with him and marvel at his skills.  On this, his tenth studio album, the 35-year-old Bonamassa continues to wow anyone who listens to songs like “Dislocated Boy,” “A Place in My Heart,” and “Too Much Ain’t Enough Love.”

29.    The Magnetic Fields, “Love at the Bottom of the Sea”
Stephin Merritt, the creative force behind the Magnetic Fields, is a musical genius similar to David Byrne, and each of the band’s 11 albums demonstrates that genius.  This is no exception, as demonstrated by songs like “Andrew in Drag,” “Infatuation (With Your Gyration),” and “I Don’t Like Your Tone.”

28.    Alicia Keys “Girl on Fire”
It’s easy to take Alicia Keys for granted.  After all, her debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” was as breathtakingly beautiful as her face.  Now, with her fifth album, Keys (nee Alicia Cook) has released another group of listenable, well-written and well-produced songs including “Brand New Me,” “Girl on Fire,” and “Fire We Make.”

27.    Go Kart Mozart, “On the Hot Dog Streets”
If you’ve know Springsteen’s songs (specifically “Blided By the Light”), you’ll recognize this band’s name.  That’s particularly funny because this band is fronted by a British artist known simply as Lawrence.  This is their third album and it is a series of well-recorded, satirical, post-punk songs that include “Lawrence Takes Over,” “Mickie Made the Most ,” and “White Stilettos In the Sand.”

26.    Ingrid Michaelson, “Human Again”
On her fifth album, Ingrid Michaelson continues to establish herself as one of the best singer-songwriters recording today.  Her lyrics are thoughtful, her tunes are lovely, and her voice is expressive.  Songs include “Fire,” “I’m Through,” and “How We Love.”

25.    The xx, “Coexist”
This is a very talented English band operating at the top of its craft and deserving of the critical acclaim that both of its albums have received.  Their songs are steeped in mood and ambience that tend to transpose you to another place.  If you haven’t heard them, do yourself a favor and buy songs like “Angels,” “Chained,” and “Sunset.”

24.    Dr. John, “Locked Down”
At 73, Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. (aka Dr. John) may have released his best and most personal album ever, and one that is definitely worth listening to.  It’s great to hear this master, New Orleans bluesman perform songs as well-written as “Locked Down,” “Revolution,” and “My Children, My Angels.”

23.    Cat Power, “Sun”
Atlanta-based Chan Marshall (who performs as Cat Power) is well-known for the uniquely moody approach she has taken throughout her nine previous albums.  That’s what makes this album such a major and welcome departure.  I wouldn’t call these dance tunes, but you could certainly dance to them, and that’s very unusual with regard to her music.  Songs include “Cherokee,” “Manhattan,” and “Silent Machine.”

22.    Frank Ocean, “Channel ORANGE”
Some of the songs on this, Ocean’s second album are outstanding, while others seem to benefit too much from Auto-Tune technology.  It’s too early to say if this New Orleans-based soul singer-songwriter will reach his full potential or fade into the woodwork, but he shows considerable promise in a genre that cries out for new stars.  Songs include “Thinkin Bout You,” “Sweet Life,” and “Forrest Gump.”

21.    Meiko, “The Bright Side”
In the pantheon of American singer-songwriters, Meiko is starting to carve out a niche with her sexily breathy vocals and use of a variety of instruments.  Hailing from Georgia and one quarter Japanese-American (hence the name), she combines styles and syncopations to fill her second album with songs like “Stuck On You,” “Leave the Lights On,” and “Good Looking Loser.”

20.    Bruce Springsteen, “Wrecking Ball”
On his 17^th studio album, the boss has conjured up a group of songs with rousing tunes but lyrics that reflect the trials of the working class.  This is one of the best albums of Springsteen’s recent years—one which combines his familiar, gravelly voice with a wide range of instruments including some Irish fiddle.   Songs include “We Take Care of Our Own,” “Death to My Hometown,” “Land of Hope and Dreams,” and “American Land.”

19.    Kat Edmonson, “Way Down Low”
This, her second album, was funded through a Kickstarter campaign, and it shows off the immense talent of this singer-songwriter.  Her clear, quirky voice works beautifully with the offbeat tunes, rhythms, and lyrics that she writes.  If you like acoustic music and haven’t heard Kat Edmonson, I suggest you give this album a listen.

18.    Ladyhawke, “Anxiety”
Phillipa "Pip" Brown is from New Zealand, suffers from Asperger syndrome, and has recorded under the name, Ladyhawke since leaving the band Two Lane Blacktop.  Her style is straight-ahead rock, seemingly descended from the likes of Pat Benatar and Joan Jett.  Like those musicians, Ladyhawke makes excellent music that deserves to be heard.  Songs include “Girl Like Me,” “Black White & Blue,” and “Cellophane.”

17.    Regina Spektor, “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats”
This sixth album by the Moscow-born, New York resident may not be so groundbreaking as her earlier work, but how many times can one person break new ground?  Personally, I love her witty, intelligent songs and these are no exception, including “Don't Leave Me (Ne me quitte pas),” “How,” “All the Rowboats,” and “The Party.”

16.    Green Day, “¡Uno!” “¡Dos!” and “¡Tré!”
This is actually three albums that Green Day released in 2012.  In doing so, they went away from the “rock opera” approach of the last few albums while still putting together a worthy set of songs that includes “Let Yourself Go,” “Stray Heart,” and “The Forgotten.”  Even if the songs weren’t as good as they are, the band deserves recognition for being so ambitious in this age of seemingly lazy musicians.

15.    Matt & Kim, “Lightning”
Matt Johnson (vocals/keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums) from Brooklyn have recorded four albums, but this is by far their best.  Their voices are clear, their harmonies are superb, and their songs have an infectiousness that is missing from most modern pop music.  Sings include “Let’s Go,” “It’s Alright,” and “Tonight.”

14.    P!nk, “The Truth About Love”
I just love listening to P!nk.  That’s the recording name of Alecia Beth Moore of Doylestown, PA.  Six albums into her career, she continues to combine great music with intelligent lyrics that challenge her listeners to be the best they can be.  She is consistently one of America’s best recording artists, and that consistency is reflected in songs like “Blow Me (One Last Kiss),” “Try,” and “Just Give Me a Reason.”

13.    Dirty Projectors, “Swing Lo Magellan”
It’s surprising to think that Dirty Projectors has already released seven albums, none more powerful than 2009’s “Bitte Orca,” but this is a worthy follow-up to that effort.  Their inventive music and harmonious vocals combine perfectly with their unique production techniques to create a style all their own.   Songs include “Gun Has No Trigger,” “Swing Lo Magellan,” and “The Socialites.”

12.    Jimmy Cliff, “Rebirth”
Seeing and hearing Jimmy Cliff in the 1972 film “The Harder They Come” was a revelation that introduced most of the world to Reggae music and catapulted Cliff into stardom.  40 years later, Cliff released this album, appropriately called “Rebirth,” and showed us that he’s still at the top of his game.  Songs include “One More,” “Reggae Music,” and the Clash classic, “Guns of Brixton.”

11.    Of Monsters and Men, “My Head Is An Animal”
This debut album from an Icelandic indie band is one of the year’s most infectious set of songs, combining pop tunes and vocals with music that draws you in and continues to build to its rollicking conclusion.  This is the kind of album that makes me remember while I like music so much.  Songs include “Mountain Sound,” “Love Love Love,” and the international sensation known as “Little Talks.”

10.    Rebecca Ferguson, “Heaven”
The runner-up in the 2010 season of the British “X Factor” competition, Ferguson’s first album demonstrates the clarity and elegance that occasionally distinguishes British soul music.  In doing so, the Liverpool native displays both power and subtlety in a way that shows what’s often missing from the overproduced music that passes for R&B these days.  Songs include “Fairytale (Let Me Live My Life This Way),” “Teach Me How to Be Loved,” and “Nothing’s Real But Love.”

9.      Jack White, “Blunderbuss”
Jack White continues to build on his already expansive career.  Through his work with the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather, as well as his many side projects, he has already established himself as the modern poet laureate of rock.  This is technically his first complete solo album and it shows an artist that continues to grow and experiment with new styles, usually with great success.  Songs include “Missing Pieces,” “I’m Shakin’,” “I Guess I Should Go to Sleep,” and “Love Interruption.”

8.      Fun, “Some Nights”
For years, I’ve been raving about a band called the Format.  So when Nate Ruess of that band broke off and founded Fun with with Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train, I had great hopes.  But I never expected the immense popularity and commercial success that Fun has achieved.  Of course, there are good reasons for that success, including “Some Nights,” “We Are Young,” and “Why Am I the One.”

7.      Elizaveta, “Beatrix Runs”
Elizaveta Igorevna Khripounova was raised in New York and Moscow.  Her three, full-length, studio albums combine her operatic voice, outstanding songwriting skills, and avant-garde arrangements into a wonderfully unique sound.  This, her third album, includes “Meant,” “Armies of Your Heart,” and “Goodbye Song.”

6.      The Wombats, “The Wombats Proudly Present... This Modern Glitch”
This band is comprised of two Liverpudlians and one Norwegian, and together, they have recorded two albums of inventive, state-of-the-art music that combines interesting melodies, enjoyable lyrics, and hard-driving rock rhythms.  If I didn’t know better, I’d have trouble placing their sound in a particular decade, but the lyrics give them away in songs like “Our Perfect Disease,” “Jump Into the Fog,” and “1996.”

5.      Emeli Sandé, “Our Version of Events”
A songwriter from Scotland whose songs have been recorded by a number of well-known artists, the very talented, 25-year-old Emeli Sandé released her own album in 2012, and what a beauty it is.  It’s hard to classify her music, which draws on R&B, disco, pop, and rock, but whatever you call her, it’s clear from songs like “Heaven,” “Next to Me,” and “River” that she’s one of the most talented young artists on the scene today.

4.      Alex Clare, “The Lateness of the Hour”
With a voice that combines rock and blues and an edgy songwriting style, London-based Alex Clare shows on his first album why he is the real thing.  Each song on this collection demonstrates a style that is simultaneously timeless and immediate…almost like Adele in a man’s body.  Check out songs like “Treading Water,” “Too Close,” and “Caroline.”

3.      Two Door Cinema Club, “Beacon”
Hailing from Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club released its second album this year, and what a beauty it is.  An outstanding example of modern rock at its best, this album has it all—driving drums and bass, clear and emotive vocals, hummable tunes with great changes, and the great production of Jacknife Lee, who has also worked with U2, R.E.M., and Snow Patrol.  Songs include “Next Year,” “Sun,” “Sleep Alone,” and “The World Is Watching.”

2.      Alabama Shakes, “Boys and Girls”
This band’s debut album shows off the incredible talents of lead singer/guitarist Brittany Howard, who may be the best female blues-rock vocalist since Janis Joplin.  Her level of commitment to each song rivals that of Joplin and the rest of the band is better than Big Brother & the Holding Company ever were.  Every time I listen to songs like “Hold On,” “You Ain’t Alone,” or “Be Mine,” I find additional nuances in Howard’s remarkable voice.  Don’t miss this album.

1.      Leonard Cohen, “Old Ideas”
You might say that Leonard Cohen was a late bloomer; he was already 33 when his first album, the classic “Songs of Leonard Cohen,” was released.  And you can’t really call him prolific, having released only 11 studio albums in the 44 years since then.  But he has always been brilliant—testing the boundaries of songwriting in ways that few others have dared to try.  As his voice has aged, his singing has gained a depth that was not always apparent in his earlier work.  So it was not a complete surprise that at 77, he would release such a masterpiece, but these ten songs say more about life and love than most poets convey in a lifetime.  That’s why “Old Ideas” is 2012’s best album.

The following are all excellent albums that deserve Honorable Mention (alphabetically by artist):

• Andrew Bird, “Break It Yourself”
• Ani DiFranco, “Which Side Are You On?”
• B.o.B., “Strange Clouds”
• Ben Kweller, “Go Fly a Kite”
• Benjamin Gibbard, “Former Lives”
• Bloc Party, “Four”
• Bob Dylan, “Tempest”
• Brad, “United We Stand”
• The Cribs, “In the Belly of the Brazen Bull”
• Dar Williams, “In the Time of Gods”
• Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, “Here”
• Father John Misty, “Fear Fun”
• The Gaslight Anthem, “Handwritten”
• Gossip, “A Joyful Noise”
• Grimes, “Visions”
• Jason Mraz, “Love Is a Four Letter Word”
• Jesse Thomas, “War Dancer”
• John Mayer, “Born and Raised”
• Judith Owen, “Some Kind of Comfort”
• The Killers, “Battle Born”
• Lacuna Coil, “Dark Adrenaline”
• The Mars Volta, “Noctourniquet”
• Melanie Fiona, “The MF Life”
• Michael Kiwanuka, “Home Again”
• My Darkest Days, “Sick and Twisted Affair”
• Nneka, “Soul is Heavy”
• Norah Jones, “Little Broken Hearts”
• Scissor Sisters, “Magic Hour”
• Shinedown, “Amaryllis”
• Sleigh Bells, “Reign of Terror”
• Snow Patrol, “Fallen Empires”
• The Vaccines, “Come of Age”
• White Rabbits, “Milk Famous”

Ending the Sequester

I've been following the sequester issue and discussing it with some of my Republican friends.  I don't have access to the data that are available to Washington insiders, but here is my lay-person's assessment of the situation:

• The Sequester was originally agreed upon by both parties in 2011 as a way of forcing them to take action regarding the deficit by today.
• According to the Congressional Budget Office, here's how the whole thing nets out with regard to 2013 budget cuts:
• Defense cuts: $42.7 billion
• Medicare cuts: $9.9 billion
• Cuts to other domestic programs: $32.7 billion
• Other programs, such as Social Security, cannot be cut without additional legislation being enacted.
• If, for some reason, the sequester were to continue, it would mandate $109 billion in cuts per year for the next nine years.

When I listen to many Republicans, they ask, "Why is it so hard to cut 3% waste from the national budget this year?  If Obama viewed his job like the CEO of a company, he should be able to do that."  This argument contains massive issues, such as:

• The national budget has very little in common with that of a corporation, in that many programs (such as Social Security) cannot be cut at all without legislation, which may take months or years to enact.  If you eliminate the items that cannot be cut, it means you are asking the president to cut 6-7% of expenditures, primarily to defense and domestic programs.
• Republicans reject most defense cuts, so the majority of the cuts they are asking the president to make are to domestic programs such as education, immigration reform (on which the Republicans insist), housing, health, and public safety (including airport security).
• "Waste" is often synonymous with "employees," meaning that the Republicans would suggest putting hundreds of thousands of people out of their jobs in the fields I listed above.  This would not only hurt the economy, but affect the well-being of many in our society who need the most help.

The president has already said he is willing to cut 1-2% from many of these programs, but he is asking for additional tax revenue as well.  The Republicans view this as "raising taxes," to which they are staunchly (and somewhat understandably) opposed.  However, most of the president's revenue requests are not about "raising taxes."  Rather, they only eliminate the tax cuts for the very wealthy that were enacted during the Bush administration.  Elimination of these tax breaks, and other loopholes that enable wealthy citizens to skirt their tax obligations, would account for most of the additional revenue the president is requesting.

Republicans claim that such moves would hurt the economy, but from what I understand, dropping the Bush-era tax cuts would merely return the country to the tax levels that existed during the Clinton administration.  I don't remember too many people complaining about the economy during that time, and let's not forget that Clinton left office with a balanced budget (in fact, there was a budget surplus).

I just watched President Obama's news conference in which he asked for compromise on this issue; he is willing to cut some money from social programs and even open the dialogue around Social Security reform, if the Republicans are willing to reduce or eliminate the Bush-era tax cuts and eliminate some loopholes that benefit the wealthy.   THIS IS NOT RAISING TAXES.

I, as one small voice, ask congressional leaders to put the needs of the country, and of the people it serves, ahead of the interests of their wealthy donors.  Why?  I know this sounds corny (all hail Frank Capra) but they should do it because it's the right thing to do.

Ted's Oscar Rant

I've been something of a fan of Seth MacFarlane's show, "Family Guy" for years, so I was hopeful when he was picked to host the Oscars.  However, that hope turned to grim shock the other night when I heard MacFarlane's movie character, "Ted," use what should have been a light, comic moment to rale against the perceived power of Jews in Hollywood.

Perhaps MacFarlane has been slighted by Jewish producers over the years, but this was neither the time nor the place to vent those feelings.  Aside from the fact that the bit wasn't funny (no one in the audience laughed), it was potentially damaging to Jews worldwide.  The Oscars telecast is watched in every part of the world, and that five-minute bit only helped to reinforce negative stereotypes of Jews while providing fodder for anti-Semitic thought.

I have always watched the Academy Awards, but if MacFarlane hosts again, I will likely pass.

Reid's Oscar Preview

Every year, the Boston Globe critics preview the Academy Awards, using 4 categories:  “Will Win,” “Should Win,” “Shouldn’t Be Here,” and “Was Robbed.”  They follow each with a paragraph about the races.

While I often disagree with their selections, I like the format, so I will use it this year to preview eight categories of the 2013 Academy Awards (movies from 2012).

Best Picture

Will Win: “Lincoln”
Should Win: “Lincoln”
Shouldn’t Be Here: “Django Unchained”
Was Robbed:  “Moonrise Kingdom”

Everyone keeps saying that “Argo” will win, but that was a predictable, Hollywood movie.  It was a good movie, but it didn’t move me the way “Lincoln” did, so I’m hoping that enough Academy voters were also moved to vote for “Lincoln.”  As far as “Django Unchained” is concerned, the first hour was brilliant, but then it dissolved into stupid, needless violence without any redeeming value, so I’m surprised the Academy has loved it so much.  Moonrise Kingdom is a gem that was hurt by being released so early in the year.

 

Best Actor

Will Win: Daniel Day Lewis
Should Win: Daniel Day Lewis
Shouldn’t Be Here: none
Was Robbed:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “Looper” and John Hawkes in “The Sessions”

Daniel Day Lewis is one of the best living screen actors.  The craft he brings to each role is flawless and inspirational, and “Lincoln” was no exception.  One example is that all historical reports of Abraham Lincoln say that he had a higher voice, despite most movie portrayals of him.  As we all know from “There Will Be Blood,” Lewis’s voice tends to be lower, but for “Lincoln,” he actually raised it an octave just to be genuine.  That level of commitment is rare in modern acting, and it’s just one example of what makes this performance so compelling.  While all five actors deserve to be in the category, I wish there was room for more nominees, so the Academy could recognize Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s outstanding performance in “Looper” and John Hawkes’s excellent work in “The Sessions.”

 

Best Actress

Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence
Should Win: Jennifer Lawrence
Shouldn’t Be Here: none
Was Robbed:  none

The five actresses selected were the right five, and Jennifer Lawrence, at 22 years of age, delivered a tour de force as a young woman battling a myriad of psychological issues in what was the year’s most surprising movie—“Silver Linings Playbook.”

 

Best Director

Will Win: Steven Spielberg for “Lincoln”
Should Win: Steven Spielberg for “Lincoln”
Shouldn’t Be Here: Ang Lee for “Life of Pi”
Was Robbed:  Andy and Lana Wachowski for “Cloud Atlas”

Movies don’t direct themselves, so I find it very surprising when the Best Picture winner does not also win Best Director, but it happens often.  I believe that the Academy will do the right thing and award Spielberg his third Oscar in this category.  Ang Lee’s film, “Life of Pi,” should win a number of technical awards, but he should not be in this category.   Finally, the Wachowskis deserve credit for financing, producing, writing, and directing the year’s most ambitious movie, “Cloud Atlas.”

 

Best Supporting Actor

Will Win: Christoph Waltz
Should Win: Tommy Lee Jones
Shouldn’t Be Here: none
Was Robbed:  William H. Macy for "The Sessions"

Once again, the Academy nominated five very good performances, and this is the toughest category to pick, because all of the performances were, in some way, Oscar-worthy.  Most people are predicting that DeNiro will win for his outstanding performance in “Silver Linings Playbook,”  but I believe that Christoph Waltz will win for being the best thing about “Django Unchained.”  And while Tommy Lee Jones’s performance in “Lincoln” was flawless, his well-documented snarling at the Golden Globes probably cost him any chance at the Oscar.  However, I would not be upset if any of those men took home this award.  This is another category in which I wish there were six nominees, because I loved the performance of William H. Macy as the priest in "The Sessions."

 

Best Supporting Actress

Will Win: Anne Hathaway
Should Win: Anne Hathaway
Shouldn’t Be Here: Jacki Weaver
Was Robbed:  Xun Zhou

If you saw “Les Miserables” and you were not moved by Anne Hathaway’s performance, you should stop going to the movies.  Hathaway has been on the cusp of greatness for the past few years, and achieved it with this role.  And while Jacki Weaver is an outstanding actress (I loved her in “Animal Kingdom”), she did not do enough in Silver Linings Playbook to warrant this nomination.  A better choice would have been China’s best young actress, Xun Zhou, who was outstanding as Yoona-939 in a futuristic sequence in “Cloud Atlas.”

 

Best Adapted Screenplay

Will Win: Tony Kushner for “Lincoln”
Should Win: Tony Kushner for “Lincoln”
Shouldn’t Be Here: David Magee for “Life of Pi”
Was Robbed:  Ben Lewin for "The Sessions" and Simon Beaufoy for “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”

One of the great, modern American playwrights, Tony Kushner developed an amazingly inspirational script for “Lincoln,” and he deserves to be recognized for it.  Not so for David Magee and “Life of Pi.” However, Simon Beaufoy deserves a nod for his delightful adaptation of “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” based on the book by Paul Torday, as does Ben Lewin for his brilliant screenplay for "The Sessions," based on an article by Mark O'Brien.

 

Best Original Screenplay

Will Win: Quentin Tarantino for “Django Unchained”
Should Win: Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola for “Moonrise Kingdom”
Shouldn’t Be Here: John Gaines for “Flight”
Was Robbed:  Joss Weedon and Drew Goddard for “Cabin in the Woods”

If the award were for Most Words or Most Use of the “N” Word, then Tarantino would be the clear-cut winner, but although his screenplay was at times delightful, it did not match the quirky brilliance of “Moonrise Kingdom.”  Overall, I believe that Gaines (“Flight”) doesn’t belong in this category, but Weedon and Goddard do for creating one of the most inventive and original horror films of all time—“Cabin in the Woods.”

Best Movies of 2012

As I watched the Golden Globes this year, I realize how much I disagree with the choices of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, but their agenda is to award people they know and like, while mine is to list movies that in some way entertained me this year.  At this point, I have seen most of the Oscar contenders, and there were a few that I intentionally left off this list (including "Amour," "Django Unchained," and "Life of Pi").  Also, I also don’t include documentaries, because comparing them to scripted and acted films is like the proverbial “apples to oranges.”  

 

Maybe it’s because I’m a guy, or maybe it’s because there were so few good dramas this year, but a number of films on my list were action-oriented, or at least contained action scenes.  So, here it is—my list of the Best Movies of 2012, in inverse order.

 

21.    Prometheus
This was Ridley Scott’s prequel to “Alien,” and while it at times lacks energy and/or strains disbelief (hey, it is at the bottom of the list), it is nevertheless entertaining.  Also, the story is constructed in a way that explains many of the plot concepts of the “Alien” movies, and it features good performances by Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, and Charlize Theron.

 

20.    Battleship
This is a movie I was surprised to like—I rented it thinking it was a stupid action film based on an old board game.  Fortunately, I was wrong; it is much better than that, in part because of Peter Berg’s deft direction and decent acting by Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgård, and Taylor Kitsch.  Granted, it’s not the best alien invasion movie ever made, but it is definitely an entertaining 2+ hours.

 

19.    The Hunger Games
Just because something is popular with teenage girls doesn’t mean it’s not good…OK, well most of the time it means that (the “Twilight” series), but this time, there is enough real story and talent involved that the movie is actually worth watching.  That talent includes director/co-writer Gary Ross and a cast including Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Woody Harrelson, and of course Jennifer Lawrence, who seems to shine in every role she accepts.

 

18.    Magic Mike
This is actually the second of two, very good movies that Steven Soderbergh released in 2012, and it tells the sometimes shady story of a male stripper, played by Channing Tatum in a somewhat autobiographical role, who is performing in an act run by a character played by Matthew McConaughey.  Unlike other movies about similar themes, the various characters in this film are multi-dimensional, rather than just being blatantly sleazy, and the lead character shows significant growth from the beginning until the film’s ending.

 

17.    Men in Black 3
If you enjoyed the previous “Men in Black” movies, you’ll really like this one, if for no other reason than the fun of seeing (and hearing) Josh Brolin as a young version of the Tommy Lee Jones character.  Of course, Jones himself is also in the movie, as are Will Smith, Emma Thompson, and a variety of entertaining, computer-generated aliens.  Barry Sonnenfeld seems to have as much fun making these movies as I do watching them.

 

16.    The Avengers
I grew up reading the Avengers comic books and reveling in the adventures of Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, Iron Man, and the other characters who comprised the Avengers.  So when I heard that Joss Whedon would direct the film, I was very excited.  And while the results were somewhat mixed, I still totally enjoyed watching my childhood superheroes come to life.  This is a good action movie with enough human interaction to make it very watchable.

 

15.    Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Yeah, it sounds stupid, which is what makes this film so appealing, not to mention terrific acting by Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, and Kristin Scott Thomas.  But it’s the thoughtful and honestly heartfelt direction of Lasse Hallström, who seems to bring a high level of quality to every film he directs, that makes this film special.

 

14.    Haywire
This Steven Soderbergh film was officially released in 2011, but did not appear in theaters until late January of 2012.  It stars Gina Carano and Ewan McGregor, with supporting roles by Michael Douglas and Channing Tatum, and it is a taut, well-acted spy-action movie that keeps you interested and involved from start to finish.

 

13.    The Dark Knight Rises
While this is the weakest movie of the new Batman series, it is still very good.  Christopher Nolan’s direction is sharp and insightful, and the addition of characters played by Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Matthew Modine to a cast that already included Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine makes this film a must-see.

 

12.    Skyfall
I’m not a huge James Bond fan, considering most of the movies to be action fluff.  But this one has a major difference from the others in that it’s directed by Sam Mendes, whose films are rarely vapid or light.  The other difference is Daniel Craig, who has brought a new depth to the Bond franchise.  And despite Javier Bardem’s hammy overacting, the supporting cast that includes Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes is very strong.  This Bond is worth seeing.

 

11.    Zero Dark Thirty
I was somewhat disappointed by this film, which was all plot and very little character development, but director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal told a very interesting and at times riveting tale.  Jessica Chastain did a good job as the woman behind the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, but most of the other characters were seriously underdeveloped.  Despite those shortcomings, the movie is worth seeing for the way it builds as you watch the clues unfold and the plans being developed and carried out.

 

10.    The Sessions
Starting with a great script by director Ben Lewin based on the writings of Mark O'Brien (the actual person about whom the movie is based), this is a wonderfully touching film about a 38-year-old polio victim, who can only control the movements of his head and who is mostly confined to an iron lung, and his efforts to lose his virginity and find requited love.  John Hawkes and Helen Hunt are outstanding in the lead roles, as are the supporting performances by William H. Macy and Moon Bloodgood.  This could have been depressing, but instead was remarkably humorous and uplifting.

9.      Argo
Ben Affleck directs and stars in this film about a CIA operative who hatches an inventive scheme to rescue a group of Americans from revolutionary Iran.  The story is interestingly told, and my favorite aspect involves the characters played by Alan Arkin and John Goodman as the “producers” of the phony movie that forms the basis of the rescue plans.  With this film, Affleck has established himself as an A-list director, and although the ending is a bit Hollywood-ized, it is still very involving.

 

8.      Beasts of the Southern Wild
Wow, where did this come from?  It was actually the product of two Wesleyan graduates—producer Michael Gottwald (whom I actually saw perform in a play with Alex) and director/co-writer Benh Zeitlin.  This was a fascinating movie about a group of characters barely surviving in “the Bathtub”—a southern Delta community at the edge of the world.  But the revelation is the performance of 6-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, who stars as the film’s central character, known as Hushpuppy.  This is an outstanding and beautiful film that demonstrates the triumph of the spirit over seemingly invincible odds.

 

7.      Looper
This was a very intelligent film about a futuristic society where when the mob wants someone killed, they send that person 30 years into the past where someone else is waiting to gun them down…that way, there is no body to dispose of.  The plot turns when the person being sent back is an older version of the person expected to kill him. Director/writer Rian Johnson was the mastermind behind this very complex movie, which features Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and an outstanding performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Some people may be turned off by the violence, but it is central to the plot (unlike “Django Unchained”), and this film’s ending is haunting and thought-provoking.

 

6.      Cabin in the Woods
This may be the smartest horror film I’ve ever seen.  Director Drew Goddard shares writing credits with Joss Whedon for a script full of dark humor an unforeseen plot twists.  I can’t say any more without giving away those twists.  All I will say is that what you’re seeing may not actually be what is occurring.  If you like horror films, you should definitely see this one.

 

5.      Moonrise Kingdom
I’ve never been a fan of Wes Anderson’s movies, usually considering them to be smarmy and unlikeable, but this one is completely different.  It’s a delightful fable about young love and the adults who are preventing it, and it’s told in a quirky style that made me smile throughout.  It also features actors including Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton.  But the real stars are the brave children, played by Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, as well as the peculiar script by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola.

 

4.      Cloud Atlas
If nothing else, this is the year’s most ambitious film, spanning centuries, and placing several actors in multiple roles in varying time periods, only to eventually tie together their stories.  I totally enjoyed most of those stories, while understanding that some segments worked better than others.  Based on the novel by David Mitchell and co-directed by Tom Twyker, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski (the Wachowskis also directed “The Matrix” trilogy), this movie’s cast includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Xun Zhou, and Jim Sturgess.  Overall, it worked far more often than it stumbled.

 

3.      Les Miserables
As with most movies, it all begins with the source material—in this case, the spectacular musical version of Victor Hugo’s most famous novel.  I’ve read several movie reviewers who clearly don’t like the musical itself…so they naturally dislike the movie of it.  Personally, I’ve seen the musical performed on stage four times, and I enjoyed each production…so here’s my review of the movie version.  (1) I loved the idea of singing it live while filming it, unlike most movie musicals which record the score separately in a studio.  Given that the entire musical is sung (they spoke a few lines in the movie), it would have been silly to re-record the entire soundtrack.  (2) I liked a lot of director Tom Hooper’s close-ups…I just think he used them a little too much.  (3) The cast was generally very good, with Hugh Jackman starting slow but  improving as the film went along, and Anne Hathaway, Samantha Barks, Eddie Redmayne, and Aaron Tveit submitting the best performances.  (4) The casting of Russell Crowe as Javert was a disaster, and having him sing “Stars,” which is among the best songs ever written for the stage, is equivalent to casting Roseanne Barr to play Grizabella (who sings “Memory”) in “Cats.”  Crowe’s voice has no quality or nuance, and his acting wasn’t much better.  I still enjoyed the movie, but it should have been the year’s best film, and in a stronger year, it might not have even made my top five.

 

2.      Silver Linings Playbook
A dramedy about mental illness should not be this enjoyable, but in the hands of a director as talented as David O. Russell, it is.  Jennifer Lawrence submits an Oscar-worthy performance as the female lead, playing opposite Bradley Cooper, who showed more talent in this movie than in all of his previous roles combined.  Set in Philadelphia, the movie explores the relationship between the two leads, who have each been ostracized by friends and family due to their bouts with different mental issues.  Add in excellent supporting roles by Jacki Weaver and Robert DeNiro, whose character’s own mental issues are displayed with increasing frequency, and you have a movie that is alternatively difficult and enjoyable.  Although the plot becomes slightly predictable, the strength of the characters carries this movie and makes it one of the year’s very best films.

 

1.      Lincoln
If you’re expecting a major biopic about the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, you will be disappointed.  This is not a big movie.  Rather, the outstanding script by Tony Kushner, based in part on a book by Doris Kearns Goodwin, tells the story of a short period at the beginning of Lincoln’s second term when he does everything in his power to pass the 13^th Amendment, abolishing slavery.  This is a beautiful and elegant film, directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Daniel Day Lewis, and featuring supporting performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and a wealth of other excellent actors.  It presents a picture of a president who is tortured by his own personal situation and seemingly aware that he is running out of time to accomplish the crowning glory of his legacy.  It also shows Lincoln to be the conniving politician that he was, who used homespun humor and stories to disarm his adversaries while promoting a humanist agenda that was far ahead of its time.  Unlike other Spielberg movies, the beauty of this film lies in its small and personal nature, in a world where great strides can be accomplished with a handshake, a promise, or in some cases, a deceit.  It is a complex story of a complex man, told eloquently and succinctly, and it is the year’s best film.

Save Us, Mr. Kraft

Last year, when the NFL underwent a lockout that threatened to close down the season, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, even while dealing with his wife's terminal illness, stepped in and engineered an agreement.  So, here we have the NFL in 2012, and the referees cannot come to an agreement with the league, which has gone out and hired the worst group of replacement referees imaginable, from Division 2 and 3 college programs.

They don't know the rules, they are heavily influenced by the coaches and the crowds, and they blow about 50% of the calls--that is no exaggeration.  Either that or they make no calls, allowing the games to more resemble hockey than football, with repeated fights breaking out.

We're three weeks into the season, and I've watched too many of these games.  It is painful...I'd rather they stopped playing altogether than continue with this farce.  I'm begging you, Mr. Kraft, to work your magic again and get the NFL refs back to work.  Otherwise, I will stop watching, as will millions of other viewers who feel ripped off by a sport which the league is allowing to fall apart.

Message for a Post-9/11 World

For the past 10 years, I've included a message in our Passover seders about 9/11, and I figured that today is a good day to post a version of it on my blog, so here it is:

September 11th.  The image of large planes crashing into giant buildings leaps into our collective visual memory.

That a few lost lunatics could have such a dour impact on the world is almost unfathomable.  It sickens us, it scares us, and it makes us wonder what kind of hold a belief can have on people’s minds to cause them to have so little regard for the lives of themselves and others.

We have no answers.  We don’t even know what question to ask.  Because by asking the question, we admit that it’s possi­ble for humankind to be so wrong.  Maybe we thought it ended with the Ice Age or the Dark Ages.  Perhaps we assumed it had been killed with Hitler in the bunker.  But the dominant feature is its resiliency.  Evil waits for its moment.

That’s why it's important to remember where we came from and understand each other.  The true message of any religion is the impor­tance of spirituality in our lives.  Without it, we are little more than soulless mammals on the cool wet surface of a massive ball of molten lava.  With it, we can all be angels, basking in the glow of tolerance and peace.