I've seen The Killing Fields (long time ago now but remember it was excellent), The Master (should have been on the Best Picture list and Anderson for Best Director as well but you know Kubrick never got much out of those guys either) and Argo from that list. The other two I'll have to look up and check them out.

I recommend The Master but go in with no expectations...the acting, photography, and direction are fantastic but this is a film I think that will take more than one viewing for most to really sink in. I would hate to think that the film was ignored for Best Picture and Director because of the swipes it takes at Scientology...but I guess that would not surprise me.

Argo is a great story and makes a great film. It's kind of funny but Ben Affleck was a guy that if he was involved that was reason for me not to see a picture but with The Town and Argo...he has turned that around in a big way. I will say though that I think Ben should stay behind the camera as the only thing I think that could have made the picture better is if he cast a more interesting actor as Tony Mendez. It's not that he is bad and does not ruin the picture but he is just sort of...well...limited. I thought he was perfect for his part in The Town (and felt that his way there was he watched The Friends of Eddie Coyle a few thousand times) but I think for him to be good as an actor he sort of needs a role that fits what he can do. Funny thing is, I think Mr. Affleck used his limited acting talents to his advantage as a director playing his low key manner off against much better acting by the supporting cast. The energy Arkin, Cranston, and Goodman bring to their parts becomes much more visible because Ben is sort of just doing straight man to their bits.

I also went to the cinema this year to see:

Silver Linings Playbook - Loved it.

Skyfall - Had not seen a Bond film in years and not in a cinema since I was a child and this was a film to go and see in a cinema. Roger Deakins photography was flat out stunning. Easily the most beautiful looking film of the year.

The Life of Pi - Enjoyed it but be prepared to get smashed with the message like it was being delivered by a Karl Rove run super pac. Also not a big fan of films that involve this much CGI...sort of takes me out of the picture. Saw this in 3-D as well and this is another process I'm not really a fan of.

Django Unchained - Well, Tarantino is Tarantino but I have to say I'm sort of stunned that he won an award for screenwriting for this. If this was the best writing of the year to anybody...well...I'd have to say Paddy Chayefsky should be thrilled to be dead. I don't much give a toss about the Academy Awards but seriously...they thought Django Unchained was the best writing of the year? I can see that it would be entertaining in a B-movie, exploitation, celebration of movie cliches kind of way...but outside of that...the truth is it is some fairly horrible, lazy, and half assed writing. Quentin Tarantino has proven himself to be the Navin R. Johnson of cinema. You can interpret that in any way you see fit.

Moonrise Kingdom - I like Wes Anderson pictures. I like Bill Murray in Wes Anderson pictures. Not my favorite from Wes or Bill but it was fun and funny for a summer night at the movies and worked just fine.

To Rome With Love - Ok Woody flick. Not as good as Midnight in Paris. Made for a good night out at the movies and enjoyed seeing Rome again after having visited recently and fallen madly in love with the place.

Arbitrage - Decent little thriller that reminded me a bit of the great Sidney Lumet...almost seemed a tribute to him. I was ok with that.

Prometheus - Yes, I'm a fan of Ridley's Alien and Blade Runner films. This film was the worst film I saw in 2012...total garbage. Ridley's next film is from a script by Cormac McCarthy so I'm willing to forget Prometheus ever happened.

Coriolanus - One seriously badass adaptation of Shakespeare. I have to say that when David said he was working on turning Triage into a screenplay/film the way I envisioned it was as Shakespearean tragedy told through current events. This film is Shakespeare colliding with current events sort of like two runaway trains.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi - And so do I.

Killer Joe - William Friedkin makes sure you never think of fried chicken the same way again. Very black comedy...which suits me just fine.

Lawless - It was ok.