Anna Karenina (2012)

Usually I'm a fan of Joe Wright's collaborations with Keira Knightley. Atonement and Pride & Prejudice were both beautifully directed and well thought out. This film, however, fell flat of high expectations. Adapted from Leo Tolstoy's novel of the same name, Anna Karenina was less of a theatrical feature as it was just plain theatrical.

Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina. Source: E Online

Hitchcock (2012)

Hitchcock is a quasi biopic of one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. More specifically, it follows his love life with his wife Alma during the filming the infamous Psycho. Throughout the film we see that the pressures of being a successful filmmaker is getting to Hitch (Anthony Hopkins), putting strains on his relationship. Although tensions rise, Alma (Helen Mirren) remains loyal to her husband and reminds him that she was once his boss, and thus his success is in part, heavily due to her.

Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins as Alma and Hitch. Source: Cinematoria

The Sessions (2012)

It's a rarity to see films center around a disabled person, let alone one in an iron lung. Some may be surprised to learn that The Sessions is actually based on the life of Mark O'Brien, a poet who was paralyzed from the neck down.

Helen Hunt and John Hawkes. Source: EW

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Quirky, odd, eccentric, witty, funny. All accurate words to describe Wes Anderson's latest film. Set in 1965, Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) and Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) are two pen pals who have a secret pact to run away with each other. They camp and hike in order to find a secluded cove, which they have named Moonrise Kingdom. Their efforts are in vain, as Suzy's parents find her and refuse to let her see Sam again.

Kara Hayward as Suzy Bishop. Source: Collider

Flight (2012)

Let's all welcome back director and writer Robert Zemeckis. Flight is his return to live-action filmmaking. And what a triumphant return it is.

Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is a respected pilot with a terrible alcohol and drug problem, although he never admits to it. Prior to take off, he uses cocaine to wake himself up and secretly mixes some vodka into his orange juice. The aircraft descends into a dive as a result of failure of the control systems. Whip has no other choice but to roll the plane upside down to stop the dive and the plane crashes into a field leaving him unconscious.

Denzel Washington as pilot Whip Whitaker. Source: Collider

Amour (2012)

Michael Haneke sheds light on the sad, bitter truth about love, life, and death, and does it in a way that is both endearing and chilling. Not unlike his other films, in Amour, the main characters are a couple named Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) and Georges Laurent (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who, in this film, are struggling with day to day living after Anne suffers from a stroke, leaving half her body paralyzed after undergoing surgery.

Emmanuelle Riva as Anne Laurent. Source: The Telegraph 

Safe Haven (2013)

Some might say Nicholas Sparks is running out of ideas. That's because he is. If you've read or seen any Sparks novel-turned-movie, then you've basically see this film as well.

Your typical Nicholas Sparks plot line, but with a CSI-esque thriller twist. Katie (Julianne Hough) is running away from her haunting past and finds refuge in the small tourist stopover town of Southport. Her sudden arrival catches the attention of the residents of the small town and raises suspicions about her true motives. Although she is closed off, she ultimately begins relationships with two other people: Alex (Josh Duhamel), the widowed owner of the local store, and her neighbour Jo (Colbie Smulders), who acts like a sister as well as a friend. Katie slowly, but surely, begins to fall in love with Alex and bonds with his two children. But her past still haunts her and prevents her from letting her guard down completely.

Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel. Source: Hollywood Reporter

Warm Bodies (2013)

It should come as no surprise that director Jonathan Levine's unique style is what makes this movie such a hit. Warm Bodies can only be described as a modern spin on Romeo and Juliet in zombie rom-com form. His directorial style seen previously in 50/50 carries over into this Isaac Marion adaptation where he cleverly weaves bits of comedy into the action based novel. 

Nicholas Hoult as "R". Source: Rolling Stones

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Benh Zeitlin's first feature is widely considered a cinematic work of art as he tackles this project with a sense of creativity and imagination that not many people have. In an tale of survival, hope, and innocence, Beasts of the Southern Wild takes you on a journey of enlightenment.

Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry. Source: Slate