My Top 13 Films of the Mid-Year: January-August (Film List)

Questions and Answers:

Question: Why release a mid-year top ten in August instead of June?

Answer: For the past several years the “Oscar Season” has gotten worse and worse.  Last year some of the best films of 2012 were released just days before New Years (some didn't even get a wide release till January).  As such both my mid-year and end of the year "best of film" lists looked vastly different from each other.  The major problem came with films being released during July and August, such as The Dark Knight Rises and Ruby Sparks.  Both films would have been good enough to make my mid-year list in June, but not good enough to compete with the massive slew of Oscar season films being released during the winter; and as a result got left out of both lists.  I'm expecting similar results to happen this year and as such decided to release my mid-year an extra two months later to add any films worthy of mention/recommending but perhaps not good enough to make the end list.

The Spectacular Now (Film Review)

There comes times where a film trailer can fool you into believing it’s about one thing when in fact it’s about another.  This could be done for two reasons: 1) the trailer is trying to attract audiences that normally wouldn't be interested in seeing that kind of film; or 2) the trailer is trying to hide plot twist spoilers that make it an effective film.  A good example is David Fincher’s Fight Club, which was so good at hiding the film’s true colors that it backfired and made low box-office profits. 

Lee Daniels' The Butler (Film Review)

Lee Daniels' The Butler gives off the feel of a really good three act play; its long, yet emotionally striking and satisfying.  The Butler tells the life story of Cecil Gaines (played by Forest Whitaker); a man who has committed his life to becoming the best server an African American can be during a very racially biased America.  Cecil ends up becoming a butler for none other than the White House itself, serving there for the majority of the film.  The Butler is told through three perspectives of Cecil, his wife (Oprah Winfrey), and his son (David Oyelowo) as they live, struggle, and adapt to the changing times of America and its many presidents.