8. The Master
I'm thinking this might be the most controversial pick on my list. Firstly, it's one of my favourite films of the year. Secondly, it's on pretty much every critics end of year list. Now, I'm going to struggle to justify the lack of respect... It didn't get nominated for any Oscars (outside of acting nominations). This doesn't mean anything since the Oscars are becoming more and more of a joke with each passing year, however it deserved more. Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Cinematography perhaps? Most people I spoke to about the film felt it was long, boring and lacking a coherent story. Let me say this, I'm a fan of director Paul Thomas Anderson. I think he's one of the very best, and quite possibly the best working director at the moment. He has a voice, he doesn't follow trends or patterns in pop-culture. He makes the movies he wants to make, and he hasn't made a bad movie yet. The Master starts Joaquin Phoenix as a discharged navy man, who is suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder, which he masks by making his own alcohol (and consuming a lot of it). Life outside of the military doesn't go so well, until he stumbles across a brilliant, seemingly wealthy man (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). He seems to be creating his own religion, and Phoenix's character stumbles deeper and deeper into the cult-like setting of the family. The Master is a movie that will stick with you long after the credits roll. It's not easy viewing, it's not light, but it's crafted meticulously by a man who knows exactly what he is doing. I'll have to make a special note about the score, by Johnny Greenwood, which is excellent. I think the regard for this movie will grow massively as the years go by, until it's recognized as a masterpiece. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ1O1vb9AUU