Top 5 Discoveries of 2012: 2012 Movies

This is the fourth official list in my “Top 5 Discoveries of 2012” series. To see my music list, click here. To see my television list, click here. To see my books list, click here. To better appreciate my approach to making these lists, please read the brief introduction to this series (posted here).

I watch a lot of movies. But for all the movies I watch, fairly few of them are seen in the theater. I see about a dozen movies in the theater per calendar year, and yet I probably watch an average of 3 to 4 movies per week. That makes it hard for me to narrow down my top five selections for the year, even if I include movies that were released prior to 2012. To give myself just a little bit of leeway, I’ve decided to post two movie lists. My first list—this one—will be only of movies that were released in 2012. In a forthcoming list, I will present my top five movies watched in 2012 but that were released in a previous year.

I feel I should mention that I have not seen several popular and/or critically acclaimed 2012 films. I’m eager to see Django Unchained, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and Les Miserables, all of which are still in theaters. Because I see so few films in theaters, most of the 2012 films I’ve seen were released earlier in the year. Add to that the fact that I don’t have an overly convenient way of looking back at what movies I watched during 2012. Taking these things into account, my list of top five discoveries in 2012 movies should be taken as less than definitive.

5. The Amazing Spider-Man

I was a fan of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, but Marc Webb’s series reboot is already proving itself superior. (Of course, Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 was pretty crappy, so that won’t be hard to outshine.) Andrew Garfield is a much more appealing Peter Parker than was Tobey Maguire. Whereas Maguire played Parker as a full-on dork, Garfield transforms him into a socially awkward but otherwise normal guy. I also love the angst that Garfield brings to the role, which imbues the Spider-Man persona with a kind of emotionally-about-to-lose-it-ness that I greatly enjoyed. It nicely underscores the cathartic nature of Parker’s vigilantism once he discovers he has superpowers. And, of course, there’s Emma Stone, who’s great in everything she does (quite unlike Kirsten Dunst, whom I realize played a different character in Raimi’s triology). All in all, I found The Amazing Spider-Man to be my personal favorite superhero movie of the year. Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises was good but not great, and Joss Whedon’s The Avengers was egregiously overrated. I’m excited to see where Webb’s series will go from here.

4. Looper

I wasn’t as smitten by Looper as many people seemed to be, but I definitely thought it was one of the better flicks of 2012. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is quickly proving himself to be one of the best actors Hollywood has to offer, and I’ve always liked Bruce Willis. Time travel is a timelessly fascinating subject, and the prospect of running into yourself (and facing the moral quandary of how you should treat yourself when you regard yourself as “other”) is teeming with existential food for thought. It’s a bit more of a stretch for me to accept Jeff Daniels (i.e. Dumb & Dumber’s Harry Dunne) as the leader of an organized crime ring. I was also taken aback by the film’s horror-like elements, which nudged it ever so slightly from being a sci-fi action flick to being more of a supernatural thriller. That didn’t resonate with me quite as much as it could have, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film and would recommend it to most.

3. The Hunger Games

I know some people will think I should be embarrassed by this, but I’m not. Jennifer Lawrence is awesome, the books were great, and the film is about as perfect a film adaptation as one could reasonably expect. No doubt, you’re better served reading the book first, but the movie stands quite strongly on its own. I consider The Hunger Games one of my top movie discoveries of 2012 because, like almost everything else nowadays, it’s going to be a series. Thankfully, we’re off to a very promising start. The first half of the film is especially good, taut with tension despite its shortcomings. The excellence doesn’t persist all the way to the film’s final frame, but I wasn’t anything less than pleased with the film as a whole.

2. Bernie

The most obscure movie on my list, Bernie is the true-life story of Bernie Tiede, an effeminate mortician in Carthage, Texas who befriended and ultimately murdered Marjorie Nugent, a well-to-do widow over forty years his senior. What may surprise you is that Bernie is a comedy, with none other than Jack Black playing the title role. It is also, sort of, a documentary. The film is supplemented with interview footage of actual Carthage residents who knew Bernie and Marjorie. These interviews provide some of the movie’s greatest comedic moments, with the townsfolk all but stealing the show from an impeccable Black. As Marjorie, Shirley MacLaine is pitch-perfect. The movie also stars Matthew McConaughey as Danny Buck, the district attorney whose prosecution of Bernie made history when Buck requested a change of venue—because Bernie was too well-liked by the Carthage community. This was the first time a change of venue had been requested in a criminal case due to a defendant’s likeability. As unique as the story that inspired it, Bernie is unlike any other film I’ve seen.

1. Argo

Argo is a masterpiece. I discussed the film a bit in a previous entry, wherein I concluded that God would indeed watch R-rated movies of this caliber. I mention this again here because it speaks to how good of a film Argo really is. It says something when a film leaves you wanting to discuss not so much the technical aspects of filmmaking, but the nature of humanity. Argo couldn’t have done this nearly so effectively if it were not technically brilliant, and yet that is overshadowed by the story itself. As a reminder, Argo is based on actual events surrounding the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-81. The best films achieve this—they are so excellently crafted that the inherently fabricated nature of the medium that is film becomes completely transparent, and all that we are left to see and remember and ponder are the people whose stories get told. This is true even when those stories are fictional, but of course, when the movie is based on actual events, it is all the more poignant. If I had one 2012 film that I could force everyone to watch, it would be Argo.

Top 5 Discoveries of 2012: Books

This is the third official list in my “Top 5 Discoveries of 2012” series. To see my music list, click here. To see my television list, click here. To better appreciate my approach to making these lists, please read the brief introduction to this series (posted here).

A wise woman once said, “Buying a book is buying a promise that you will find all the answers you’re looking for within its covers.” That woman is my mother. I grew up in a family that appreciated books. My dad had a large library of books, and family outings often consisted of trips to Barnes & Noble, where my father would allow each of us to choose a book to take home. My penchant for purchasing books stemmed into adulthood. When I still lived at home but had a job—and therefore had ample disposable income—I splurged on purchasing whatever books caught my attention. In a twist on my mother’s quotation, I felt that buying a book was a promise to become the kind of person who reads that type of book. Regrettably, I read surprisingly few of the books I purchased.  Even so, I find that books have retained their air of sophistication in my eyes, especially now that I’m an academic. I regard my personal library as a status symbol, as a kind of abstract self-portrait. Looking at the tomes that line my bookshelf, I proudly think, “That’s who I am.”

I read—or, more accurately, finished reading—only 16 books in 2012. That sounds like a ridiculously low number, probably because within the same year I added ten times that many books to my insurmountable “to-read” list. With several mediocre titles among my 2012 readings, it wasn’t hard to pick out the top third. Still, I’m hopeful that next year’s selections will be even more exciting to me than this year’s. That being said, here are my top five—from not-as-best to absolute bestest—books that I discovered in 2012:


5. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

If The Sisters Brothers were a movie, it would fall somewhere between True Grit, No Country for Old Men, and Pulp Fiction. I greatly enjoyed this prosaic western, which tells the story of contract killers Eli and Charlie Sisters as they attempt to track down accused thief Hermann Kermit Warm. Eli Sisters serves as the narrator of the book, a large and largely indifferent fellow who fulfills his job with all the enthusiasm of an unquestioning data entry clerk. It’s his job, not his passion. Bored, reflective, and alternately sympathetic and psychotic, Eli has always been a loyal partner to his cocksure brother. But, as time passes, Eli’s self-reflection slowly drives a wedge between Eli’s and Charlie’s professional ambitions.







4. God, If You’re Not Up There, I’m F*cked by Darrell Hammond

I wrote a review of this book and posted it here. It sums up my thoughts.

















3. Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard L. Bushman

Mormons are divided on how they receive Richard Bushman’s authoritative biography of the 19th-century founder of the religious movement now known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I personally found the book extremely interesting, insightful, and balanced. Bushman doesn’t shy away from Smith’s frailties. While many faithful members of the LDS Church might be disturbed to learn of Smith’s all-too-human nature, I am of the opinion that embracing these imperfections in someone regarded as a prophet allows the believer to be more patient with and forgiving of himself. But the merits of Rough Stone Rolling are not limited to those of a particular religious ilk. The biography is masterfully researched and written, informatively dense and yet highly approachable. For those who wish to continue the research on their own, the footnotes and bibliographical information provided in Rough Stone Rolling are their own treasure.



2. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

I wrote a review for this must-read 1985 novel here. Definitely among the best works of fiction I’ve read, its inclusion on this list serves a dual purpose. Not only is the book phenomenal, but I anticipate looking into more of Süskind’s work in the future. Count this one as a double discovery.













1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Written in 1962, I had not heard of We Have Always Lived in the Castle until shortly before I read it. I now consider it one of my favorite books of all time. The castle in question is the Blackwood family home, wherein narrator Mary Katherine “Merricat” Blackwood, her older sister Constance, and their wheelchair-bound uncle Julian now reside. Merricat’s parents and younger brother, along with Julian’s wife, have all perished—poisoned with arsenic. Constance, the primary suspect in the relatives’ deaths, was acquitted of murder, but the townsfolk don’t buy her innocence. The entire extant Blackwood family is now reviled and taunted by the surrounding community, which explains why they rarely venture into public.

A central plot point involves the appearance of Charles, an estranged cousin who may or may not be seeking to cash in on Constance and Merricat’s material inheritance. Forget that, though. So much of Shirley Jackson’s book is rooted in the psychology of the Blackwood family (especially Merricat) that going into further plot details is almost meaningless. This book is all about character, and Merricat provides plenty of it. If you’ve ever wondered what subtext is, here’s your answer. The novel is ridiculously good, and I wish I could force everyone I know to read it. Is that enough praise?

Top 5 Discoveries of 2012: Television

This is the second official list in my “Top 5 Discoveries of 2012” series. To see my music list, click here. To better appreciate my approach to making these lists, please read the brief introduction to this series (posted here).

While we rarely watch television over the air, Melanie and I are fans of watching TV shows on DVD and via streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video. We both love movies, but television shows offer greater flexibility. You can watch a full episode in as little as 22 minutes, and you can catch up on an entire series in a matter of two or three days if you’re so inclined. Because television commercials drive us absolutely batty and we prefer not to wait a week between episodes of any TV show we might be inclined to watch, Melanie and I generally wait until a series is on DVD before we bother checking it out. This means there are always plenty of popular shows that Melanie and I have yet to see. Over the course of a year, we might check out a dozen or two of them. We did so in 2012, and we happened upon several recommendable titles. I now present to you (in no particular order) what I consider to be my top five television discoveries of 2012:

1. The Mindy Project
Most people know Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor, the high-energy, high-maintenance, not-so-high-intelligence customer service rep at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company on NBC’s The Office. What you may not know is that Kaling was also an executive producer, co-writer, and occasional director of the show. After eight seasons on The Office, Kaling took her talent to FOX, where she now stars in (and co-writes) The Mindy Project. Compared to Kelly Kapoor, Kaling’s latest character, an OB/GYN named Mindy Lahiri, is smarter, slightly less energetic, equally high-maintenance, and a pinch more neurotic. The show centers on Mindy’s life as a single professional woman in her early 30’s, employing all the usual fodder. There’s nothing revolutionary about the show, but it’s consistently funny. With The Office having gone drastically downhill over the last few seasons, The Mindy Project now trumps Kaling’s former project in the number of laughs it provides.

2. The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
Melanie and I stumbled upon this relatively unheard of sitcom on Netflix, where its first (and only) two seasons—each a pithy six episodes—are available for instant viewing. Like The Mindy Project, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is the follow-up television project created and written by a former cast member of another much acclaimed show—in this case, David Cross, who played Tobias Fünke on FOX’s Arrested Development. But if you thought Arrested Development was raunchy and politically incorrect, it is mere child’s play in comparison to Todd Margaret. Appearing on cable, Todd Margaret is chock full of expletives that would make your grandmother (and perhaps even the construction worker down the street) blush. Most of the profanity comes courtesy of another Arrested Development alum, Will Arnett, who stars as Todd’s boss, Brent Wilts. Mistaking Todd for a no-nonsense go-getter, Brent spontaneously enlists Todd to spearhead the promotion of Thunder Muscle, a new energy drink being unveiled in the United Kingdom. Todd—a perpetual loser, liar, and pushover—moves to England, where his affections for café owner Alice (played by Sharon Hogan) distract him from promoting the questionable beverage.

Todd Margaret is not for everybody. Even I am sometimes bothered by what seems to be rampant profanity for the sake of profanity. All the same, I have laughed harder at Todd Margaret than just about anything else I’ve seen in the past year (and then some). I’m talking the kind of laughing where you cannot physically laugh as hard as your body is trying to and you nearly pass out from the lack of oxygen that reaches your brain. (The season one finale of Todd Margaret is a testament to this.) If you’re not easily offended, this show is a must-see.

3. The Killing
Over the last few years, cable channel AMC has become synonymous with great television. Among the outstanding series original to AMC are Mad Men and Breaking Bad, the latter of which is the best television series I have ever seen, period. Adding to AMC’s repertoire of excellence is The Killing, a drama that follows Seattle detectives Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Billy Campbell) as they investigate the murder of high school student Rosie Larsen (Katie Findlay). Less sensationalistic that your standard crime drama fare, The Killing is persistently somber, relentlessly gripping, and never quite as disturbing as you’d expect given its darker tone. It is a pensive series, reveling less in forensics and more in the psychology of its characters, from the morose Linden and sketchy Holder to the grieving Larsen family—father Stan (Brent Sexton), mother Mitch (Michelle Forbes), and brothers Tom (Evan Bird) and Denny (Seth Isaac Johnson). But this is only the beginning of the intricate cast of characters, almost all of whom are portrayed by exceptional actors. If you have Netflix, season one is available for instant viewing and may just hook you enough that you’ll be willing to shell out some money to watch season two via Amazon Instant Video. While The Killing was originally cancelled after two seasons, a third season is now expected to premier on AMC this May. Now is the time to start watching!

4. Portlandia
What is Portlandia? It’s Saturday Night Live, only more intellectual and more random. How fitting that Fred Armisen stars in both? Contrary to what you’ll find on SNL, however, Armisen is joined here by only one other main star, Carrie Brownstein. Because this is a sketch comedy show—I can’t say for certain, but I strongly suspect the show contains a heavy dose of improvisation—it’s hard to say much about it in the way of description. Armisen and Brownstein both play an arsenal of characters, only a few of whom are recurring (most notably, the dual feminist owners of Women & Women First Bookstore). Almost everything that happens on Portlandia is satirical in nature, probably even the totally random bits that make virtually no sense to me whatsoever. All in all, there’s just a lot of awkwardness and weirdness, much of it incredibly hilarious. With the first two seasons available on Netflix and the first episode of season three (which debuted in December) available for free on Hulu, I encourage all who are able to give this show a try. To give you a small sampling of what to expect, I’m including a video of the recurring Women & Women First Bookstore skit below. This is the first video I found, so I’m not even trying to give you the best sketch. Still, it should serve as a good comedic barometer; how you react to this sketch is probably exactly how you’ll react to everything else you see on Portlandia.



5. Suburgatory
Suburgatory is currently in its second season on ABC. I’m not sure how I heard about it, but I was under the impression it was one of the more critically acclaimed sitcoms of recent years. So, Melanie and I tried it. While there are definitely things that are unbalanced about the show, I find that I frequently quite enjoy it. It’s especially refreshing that the show’s main character, a teenage girl named Tessa (Jane Levy), is intelligent and decidedly non-skanky. Like any sitcom, Suburgatory panders to sexual humor more often than I wish it did (mostly because it’s so clichéd and unfunny), but in comparison to almost everything else on TV, the show displays a high level of moral integrity. Of course, you have to get past the pilot episode to realize this. As the series begins, Tessa is being moved from downtown New York City to the suburbs, in part because her divorced father, George (Jeremy Sisto), caught her with her boyfriend and now wants to protect what’s left of her moral character. Naturally, George and Tessa find themselves at odds with the superficial and largely dimwitted populous that surrounds them in the ‘burbs. Hilarity ensues … at least sometimes.

Top 5 Discoveries of 2012: Music

This is the first official list in my “Top 5 Discoveries of 2012” series. To better appreciate my approach to making these lists, please read the brief introduction to this series (posted here).

2012 was a big year, musically. It seems that everyone under the sun was putting out a new album, including several artists who hadn’t produced new material in years. Among the active 2012 artists putting out their first albums in several years: Alanis Morissette, Ben Folds Five, Counting Crows, the Cranberries, Everclear, Fiona Apple, Garbage, No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins, and Soundgarden. It was a good year for music fans.

Not every artist that I discovered in 2012 is new on the scene. But there were a handful of tremendously good albums I heard for the first time this year, turning me on to a new group of contemporary artists that I hope to hear more from in the near future. In a semi-particular order, here are my top five musical discoveries of 2012:

5. Young the Giant
Young the Giant’s eponymous debut album officially hit the scenes in 2010. Having heard their name being bandied about, I decided to give them a listen in April of 2012. I was immediately sold. The band’s mellow, straightforward brand of radio-friendly, indie alternative rock is the stuff that intelligent but hip movie soundtracks are made of. That may not sound as complimentary as it should, but you get my point. Though nothing on Young the Giant’s album screamed familiar to me, I was certain I’d heard a couple of their songs somewhere before. One such song is “My Body,” which can be heard via the embedded video below. This is Young the Giant at their most raucous, not to mention infectious.


Like that? Check out “Cough Syrup” by clicking here.

4. Dia Frampton
Dia Frampton was the (warning: irrelevant fact ahead) Mormon runner-up on the first season of NBC’s The Voice, a show that Melanie and I have loved since its spring 2011 debut. Dia was a quick favorite of ours, with a voice at once sultry and meek, raspy and delicate. Her debut album, Red, hit stores in December 2011. I purchased the mp3 version from Amazon in January 2012 when it was offered for a cheap $5. I’ve listened to the album numerous times since, and it’s catchy as hell. It’s pure pop, but without the flightiness and immaturity that so often pervades Top 40 radio. Listeners should note that Dia is a sophisticated songwriter who tackles weighty subjects in her lyrics. In other words, this ain’t Ke$ha (thank your lucky stars). Check out the video below for “Don’t Kick the Chair,” the first song on Dia’s album (and my personal favorite, rap interlude notwithstanding).




3. Foster the People
Apparently, Foster the People’s iconic debut single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” hit airwaves in late 2010. For whatever reason, I didn’t hear the song until early 2012, when I fell in love with it on my first listen. The song’s haunting retro vibe nearly convinces you it’s at least 20 years older than it is—in a good way. Countering the faux nostalgia are the song’s somber and all-too-modernly-informed lyrics. “Robert’s got a quick hand. He’ll look around the room, he won’t tell you his plan.” So the song begins. It then proceeds to paint, with deceptively simple brushstrokes, a traumatizing picture of teenage angst come to murderous fruition. The tale is almost too harrowing to handle—quite the feat, given that so much is left to the imagination. It’s enough to make you feel guilty for ever singing along with the bouncy chorus, told from Robert’s perspective: “All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, outrun my gun. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.” (Note: the phrase “pumped up kicks” is a reference to sneakers that trendy kids might wear.)

It’s hard to compete with “Pumped Up Kicks,” but Foster the People’s debut album, Torches, is excellent from start to finish. The electronically infused album features steady, danceable rhythms, entrancing synths, and the idiosyncratic vocal stylings of Mark Foster. (For quite some time, I was certain that the opening track, “Helena Beat,” featured a female co-vocalist. It does not. That’s all Mark.) Still, it would be misleading to call the album quirky. It’s much too serious—and hypnotic—in tone to be ascribed any label that might imply it is only frivolously entertaining. Torches is a powerfully good album. (Check out the video for “Pumped Up Kicks” below.)


Like that? Check out “Helena Beat” by clicking here.

2. Imperial Teen
Of all the groups on this list, Imperial Teen is my most recent discovery. While the band has five studio albums to their credit, dating back to 1996, I have heard only their most recent release, 2012’s Feel the Sound. It has quickly become one of my favorite albums of the last few years. One likely reason is the band’s striking similarity to Foster the People. As the opening track of Feel the Sound, “Runaway” could easily fit on Foster the People’s Torches. But that is not to say that the two bands are wholly indistinguishable. On the whole, Imperial Teen ventures into poppier territory than does Foster the People. Imperial Teen is also comprised of numerous vocalists who trade off lead singing responsibilities. The result is decidedly more eclectic. While I hate to describe the band purely in terms of comparison, I can’t help but feel that Imperial Teen is a crossbreed of Foster the People and The New Pornographers, one of my favorite bands of all time. In my mind, that is high praise. Check out the video for “Runaway” here:



1. fun.
Like many of you, I discovered fun. by way of their 2012 chart-topping radio hit, “We Are Young.” Since that time, I have had the privilege of acquiring fun.’s two studio albums, 2009’s Aim and Ignite and 2012’s Some Nights. Both albums are amazingly good, comprised of flamboyant, eccentric pop songs complemented by Nate Ruess’ enthusiastic tenor. Ruess is one of the most impressive vocalists of the last 20 or 30 years. Comparisons to Freddie Mercury—easily my favorite vocalist of all time—are not without merit. While Ruess is less edgy and less versatile than Mercury, he may very well have the superior voice in terms of clarity. Both singers can belt a note with enough power to crack your ribs, but there isn’t so much as a speck of gravel in Ruess’ voice. It’s so pristine, you’ll wonder if Ruess has ever had occasion to clear his throat in his entire life.

Although “We Are Young,” fun.’s hallmark song, appears on Some Nights, I strongly recommend newcomers begin with Aim and Ignite. It’s a less ambitious album, but therein lies its charm. I’ve decided to put up a few videos so you can get a taste of both albums. I’ll start with “We Are Young,” of course. Next is “All the Pretty Girls” from Aim and Ignite. (Anyone hear a little Electric Light Orchestra in there?) And finally is “Light a Roman Candle with Me,” also from Aim and Ignite. It’s a favorite of mine and showcases the softer side of fun.

Top 5 Discoveries of 2012: Introduction

In celebration of the new year, I’ve decided to present a “greatest hits” of personal discoveries from 2012. Over the next week or so, I will post several brief lists of noteworthy discoveries I made in 2012 pertaining to a variety of categories: music, movies, books, etc. In a charmingly and lovably anal-retentive way, I have refrained from using terms such as “best of” and “favorite” to describe these things. There are several reasons for this. One, my exposure to certain mediums is limited. I rarely get to the movie theater, for example. Thus, it would hardly make sense for me to compile a list of the five “best” films of 2012. Also, I want the lists to reflect things that are new to me in as many ways as possible. My favorite albums of 2012 might be from artists that I already know and love. Those albums won’t make the list, however. I want to share only bands that I personally discovered in 2012. Which brings up another good point. Not everything included on my lists will be from 2012. These lists are more about me in 2012 than about 2012 itself. So, quite possibly, one of my favorite book discoveries of 2012 will be a book that is half a century old.

Check in tomorrow for my first official list!