A look at 2012's best: Let's Argo to the movies: This has been a banner year for political drama, quirky romance and spectacular epics. Dazzling visuals abounded, including a stop-motion black-and-white story of a boy and his dog, a stunning bayou fable made on a shoestring and the rendering of an oceangoing, crouching tiger in electrifying 3-D. The list of the top films of 2012, in alphabetical order.
'Argo'
Director Ben Affleck's real-life thriller - six American Embassy workers in Tehran escape being taken hostage in 1979 and masquerade as a B-movie crew to leave Iran is so crazy it could have been fiction. Performances ring astoundingly true, from well-known actors such as Alan Arkin and John Goodman to the unfamiliar faces of the Embassy workers and Iranian guards. Brilliantly fusing suspense and dark comedy, Argo should be at the top of everyone's must-see list.
Beasts of the Southern Wild'
Shot in Louisiana with non-professional actors, the year's best art house film is tender and resplendent. This vivid look at a little girl coping with an ailing father and a life-threatening storm is a gorgeous blend of imaginative fable and aching realism, with a stand-out performance by then-5-year-old Quvenzhan Wallis.
'Django Unchained'
One of director Quentin Tarantino's best films, this sprawling and stunningly photographed tale of antebellum empowerment is wildly entertaining, with stand-out performances by Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kerry Washington.
'Life of Pi'
Director Ang Lee exquisitely translates Yann Martell's novel about a boy stranded in a lifeboat on the Pacific Ocean with a menacing tiger. A visual feast that leaves a lasting impression, it makes superb use of 3-D technology and features a notable debut by then-17-year-old Suraj Sharma.'Lincoln'
A magnificently compelling historical thriller fashioned by director Steven Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner. The film focuses on the last months of the 16th president's life and his dogged efforts to outlaw slavery. Daniel Day-Lewis is masterful as Abraham Lincoln and the supporting cast shines.
Moonrise Kingdom'
This beguiling, lyrical and drolly eccentric comedy about a pair of 12-year-olds in love is director Wes Anderson's best film since 1998's Rushmore. Performances by Frances McDormand, Bill Murray and Ed Norton are topnotch and Bruce Willis has never been better.
'Safety Not Guaranteed'
A delightful low-tech time-travel thriller that features a sweetly funny romance between two likable oddballs (Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass). It has more wit and charm than a pack of Hollywood blockbusters.Searching for Sugar Man'
A marvel of storytelling, this enthralling documentary is a quasi-thriller that focuses on an obscure Detroit singer-songwriter who unknowingly struck a chord across the globe in apartheid-era South Africa.