Recently on social media, people have been taking part in the ten-year photo challenge. This got me on a nostalgia kick and made me think of great movies that were released a decade ago. As I dove into the list of movies from 2012, I found a lot of hits. Now, of course there were blockbusters, but I focused on the movies that may have snuck past you while distracted – the ones you may have missed.
Here are my top picks to re-watch from 2012.
“Robot & Frank”
A former jewel thief with dementia, Frank receives a gift from his son: a robot programmed to take care of his every need. Frank’s son Hunter, an attorney with a family of his own, does not want to put his father into full-time care, so he buys a robot companion programmed to provide him with therapeutic care and help him carry out a fixed daily routine while engaging in cognition-enhancing activities like gardening. At first, Frank doesn’t like the robot’s presence in his life, but as he grows fond of Robot, he realizes that Robot is not programmed to distinguish between legal recreational activities and criminal ones, and can assist him with a not-so-legal adventure.
“Safety Not Guaranteed”
“WANTED: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA 99393. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED.”
Three magazine employees take on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified advertisement seeking a companion for time travel. A young intern, Darius, jumps at the chance to investigate. Along with fellow employees, Jeff and Arnau, she takes a road trip to a coastal town. While Jeff and Arnau waste time with personal pursuits, Darius spends time with Kenneth, a man who believes that he has built a time machine. The closer they become and the more they understand about each other, the less clear it becomes whether Kenneth is just crazy or if he actually will successfully travel back in time.
“Silver Linings Playbook”
Always look for the good in everything.
Pat, after losing his job and wife and spending time in a mental institution, winds up living with his parents again. And, all he wants is to rebuild his life and reunite with his wife, but a restraining order does not allow him to communicate with her. Meanwhile, his parents would be happy if he just shared their obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles and their bookkeeping operation. As Pat looks for a way to connect with his ex, including visiting their old mutual friends for dinner, he meets Tiffany, who offers to help him send messages to his ex-wife; that is, if he will do something very important for her in exchange.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
Socially awkward teen, Charlie, is a wallflower – always watching life from the sidelines. That all changes when he starts high school and Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, two charismatic senior students, become his guides for the freshman year. With them, Charlie discovers the joys of friendship, first love, second love, music, drugs and more. Charlie’s English teacher guides him toward his goal of becoming a writer and his new friends support his dream. However, we often make mistakes in life, and sometimes those mistakes can haunt us for a long time causing other complications. So, as his new friends prepare to leave for college, Charlie’s inner sadness from his past threatens to shatter his newfound confidence.
The Best of the Rest from 2012
“Best Man Down”
“Chronicle”
“Darling Companion”
“Mud”
“Ruby Sparks”
“Wanderlust”
“Wolf Children”
