These picks represent the consensus of the BuzzFeed Entertainment staff, who hereby officially certify the greatness of all films listed below.
2012 was a year of more doubles and triples than home runs — a lot of very solid films, few instant classics. But that leaves room on the list for some quirky oddballs that may not have made it in other years, giving us a very fun but interesting rundown of films.
10. "The Imposter" and "Jiro Dreams of Sushi"
The bottom spot goes to two fascinating documentaries about two extraordinary people who spend their lives developing unbelievable skills; one to convey joy and civilization, the other to prey upon the unsuspecting.
Jiro is a heartbreaking look at a tradition of craftsmanship all but lost to our world. The Imposter is one of the most unbelievable true crime stories you'll see on the screen, though to say one word more would risk giving something away. But the real-life contrast of powers used for good and evil makes both sides of the equation unforgettable. —R.R.
9. "The Queen of Versailles"
Ugh, these poor people. Specifically, I'm referring to Jackie Siegel, the many children, and the domestic help featured in Lauren Greenfield's sickening, this-is-why-the-terrorists-hate-us documentary, The Queen of Versailles. (David Siegel, the family patriarch, I have no sympathy for.) This movie put me in a depressed state about the economy, American values, and parenting for several days — and I mean that as a compliment! There were some shenanigans with how Greenfield laid out the business aspects of the story (the near-collapse of David Siegel's time-share company as he and his wife are trying to build the largest house in the country) that were entertainingly investigated in The New York Times: I loved that NYT story, but any trickery on Greenfield's part didn't turn me against the movie. Debt addicts like Jackie Siegel and most of the Real Housewives are regularly dismissed by high culture, but if we want to avoid another economic collapse, we must learn from and about them. —K.A.
