The Misunderstood and Overlooked

1. Elite Squad: The Enemy Within

City of God meets The Wire in this fast-paced political action-thriller set in Rio de Janeiro. An exciting and devastating look at corrupt systems of law enforcement, politics and media, this was the highest-grossing film of all time in Brazil (even out-grossing Avatar).

2. Sound of My Voice

This film had me reeling for days. Brit Marling is Fox Searchlight’s darling child and master of the low-budget, high-concept science-fiction subgenre.

3. Tomboy

Tomboy is a simple, honest and heartfelt coming-of-age story about a 10-year-old girl trying to fit into a new neighborhood. Solid dramatic performances from the preteen stars of the film strengthen the sparse script, perfectly capturing the uncertainty of childhood.

4. Love

This ambitious work of art is not without problems, but nevertheless comes across as one of the most beautiful films of the year. The sci-fi epic was filmed on a budget of only $500,000, yet it convincingly depicts everything from full-on Civil War battle to life on the space station.

5. Take this Waltz

Sarah Polley’s refreshingly intimate and painfully real love story is carried by the always-exceptional Michelle Williams and supported by pitch-perfect dramatic performances from comedians Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman.

6. End of Watch

Outstanding performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña are the heart of this episodic look at the daily life of a pair of LA cops as they become entangled with a Mexican drug cartel.

7. Chronicle

The 16-year-old in me loves this unexpectedly fun and thoughtful teen action flick that, despite positive reviews, never managed to connect with its target audience.

8. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Steve Carell and Keira Knightley have unlikely chemistry, as we are afforded a rare glimpse at average people living out their final days in the face of annihilation in this bittersweet black comedy that fell into that limbo-land between art house and mainstream cinema.

9. It’s Such a Beautiful Day

Don Hertzfeldt compiled his three most recent short projects into this feature-length, hand-animated drama photographed entirely on 35 mm film. It’s a weirdly profound and touching story about an awkward and often very relatable stick-figure man, stricken with some kind of terminal illness.

10. Kill List

Kill List is the most disturbing film I programmed in 2012, so it’s not surprising that more than a few audience members walked out. Writer-director Ben Wheatley pulls a bait-and-switch, letting you think you’re watching a genre film about a hit man with marital problems before throwing you headlong into a pit of unimaginably depraved horror.

Top 10 Movies of 2012 – Molly Templeton’s Top 10

Top 10 Movies of 2012 – Rick Levin’s Top 10

Top Documentaries

The Misunderstood and Overlooked

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!