Year in film: The best movies of 2012

8. Beasts of the Southern Wild
"I see that I am a little piece of a big, big universe, and that makes it right." The same line 6-year-old Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) expresses can also be used to describe just how this indie fits into the grand scheme of cinema. Amongst the giants this year, this film by first-time director Benh Zeitlin can be overlooked. But without it, true fantasy is lost.

9. The Imposter and Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (tie)
With much respect for musician Sixto Rodríguez in Searching for Sugar Man, the most intriguing documentary subjects of the year were French serial imposter Frédéric Bourdin, whose detached personality is spine-chilling, and fearless Chinese artist/activist Ai Weiwei, whose invigorating spirit gives him the strength to stand up against an oppressive government.

10. Killing Them Softly
Criminals feel the effects of the 2008 financial crisis in this cynical and dialogue-heavy film by the director Andrew Dominik. Sure, it's a bit heavy-handed, but also viciously funny.

Honorable Mentions:
Argo, Bernie, Chicken with Plums, End of Watch, The Grey, The House I Live In, The Impossible, The Intouchables, A Royal Affair, Rust and Bone, Searching for Sugar Man, Silver Linings Playbook, Wreck-It Ralph