The 2012 FMR MAJOR Awards: The Best Picture Winner

Here we go folks, we’ve reached the end of the line. The last MAJOR Award of 2012 is the biggest. The best movie of the year.

The Nominees are: “Argo”, “The Avengers”, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, “Django Unchained”, “The Impossible”, “Life of Pi”, “Lincoln”, “Looper”, “Skyfall”, and “Zero Dark Thirty”.

Click through to see which of these fantastic films won the title of Best Picture of the year!

“Skyfall”

In a year full of spectacular blockbusters, no other movie impressed me as much as “Skyfall”.

In every year, you’re guaranteed to get a certain number of funny comedies, and a handful of moving dramas… but truly great action films can skip years entirely, and its rare when we get more than one (although that’s certainly not the case this year). “Skyfall” is truly great. It’s the rare breed of actioner that engages your brain when it’s not taking your breath away. It features great acting and fantastic cinematography, attributes which most action movies certainly aren’t known for. But action is first and foremost, and the action in “Skyfall” is incredible. From the intense pre-title sequence, to the incredible courtroom shootout, to the atmospheric final assault on Bond’s boyhood home, “Skyfall” is brimming with adrenaline charged sequences, each with a distinct tone and flavor.

In the midst of all the fantastic action are the great characters. Daniel Craig is being hailed as one of the best (if not the best) Bonds in the franchise’s 50 year history. Judy Dench returns as M, the character that she’s elevated far beyond what she inherited (apologies to Bernard Lee and Robert Brown). New versions of old characters are introduced with Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw. Ralph Fiennes shows up in a key role. But perhaps no one contributes as much as Javier Bardem, who creates one of the greatest villains in the history of the franchise with his flamboyant, menacing Raoul Silva. It’s a phenomenal cast, and together they prove more than capable of delivering the dramatic elements of the film.

It all comes together expertly under the direction of Sam Mendes, who creates the most visually striking Bond film ever. From the neon of Shanghai, to the casino lights of Macau, to the orange glow of the burning house on the moors in the finale, “Skyfall” frequently delivers gorgeous images. Cinematographer Roger Deakins has deservedly been nominated for an Academy Award here.

Coinciding with the franchise’s 50th anniversary, “Skyfall” is easily one of the best Bond films ever. For 2012, it’s also the best film of the year.

The others, were great, too. “Argo” recreated a harrowing true story in the tensest way possible. “The Avengers” was the very epitome of Superhero Team movie… it’ll will be difficult for any future team ups that follow to top it. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” was a beautiful, thought-provoking film that is all the more miraculous considering it was a first time effort for nearly everyone involved. “Django Unchained” was Tarantino doing what he does best. Offering us a bloody, violent, controversial revenge flick. “The Impossible” puts you right in the middle of the horrifying natural disaster that was the Indian Ocean tsunami, and let’s you feel every moment of it. “Life of Pi” was inspirational and gorgeous, and will leave you pondering your own faith after you leave, while “Lincoln” was historical drama at its finest, and included a legendary performance from Daniel Day-Lewis. “Looper” provided top-notch Sci Fi entertainment featuring two A List stars, and “Zero Dark Thirty” kept you on the edge of your seat, telling the story of the search for Osama Bin Laden.

But none of them could match the power of “Skyfall”, which mixed action and drama expertly to create the year’s most entertaining, exceptional, action-packed film.

“Skyfall”, the FMR Major Award winner for Best Picture for 2012.

Daniel Fogarty