CriticWire's best of the first six months of 2012

IndieWire has their annual half-way point roundup. Here are a few of the categories:

Top Theatrical Releases of 2012:

1. Sleepless Night (Film Page), directed by Frederic Jardin (2011 TIFF - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (10.125 out of 12.0, 16 reviews)

2. This is Not a Film (Film Page), directed by Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmas (2011 Cannes - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.75 out of 12.0, 28 reviews)

3. The Turin Horse (Film Page), directed by Bela Tarr (2011 Berlin - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.714 out of 12.0, 20 reviews)

4. The Island President (Film Page), directed by Jon Shenk (2011 TIFF - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.5 out of 12.0, 10 reviews)

5. Under African Skies (Film Page), directed by Joe Berlinger (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.375 out of 12.0, 8 reviews)

6. The Raid: Redemption (Film Page), directed by Gareth Evans (2011 TIFF - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.349 out of 12.0, 43 reviews)

T7. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Film Page), directed by David Gelb (2011 TIFF - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.25 out of 12.0, 11 reviews)

T7. I Wish (Film Page), directed by Hirozaku Kore-Eda (2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.25 out of 12.0, 16 reviews)

9. The Kid with a Bike (Film Page), directed by Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne (2011 Cannes - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.2 out of 12.0, 54 reviews)

10. 5 Broken Cameras (Film Page), directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.143 out of 12.0, 14 reviews)

Runners-up: "The Secret World of Arrietty," "Oslo, August 31st," "Attenberg"

I want to see Sleepless Night (thriller), The Raid (kick-ass awesomeness), and The Kid with the Bike (critically acclaimed). Also the Secret World of Arrietty.

Top Festival Premieres of 2012:

1. Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story (Film Page), directed by Raymond De Felitta (2012 Festival Premiere - Tribeca)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (10.286 out of 12.0, 7 reviews)

2. High Tech, Low Life (Film Page), directed by Stephen T. Maing (2012 Festival Premiere - Tribeca)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (10.125 out of 12.0, 8 reviews)

3. Journey to Planet X (Film Page), directed by Myles Kane and Josh Koury (2012 Festival Premiere - Tribeca)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (10.0 out of 12.0, 7 reviews)

4. Holy Motors (Film Page), directed by Leos Carax (2012 Festival Premiere - Cannes)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.92 out of 12.0, 25 reviews)

5. The Invisible War (Film Page), directed by Kirby Dick (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.9 out of 12.0, 10 reviews)

6. Tchoupitoulas (Film Page), directed by Bill Ross and Turner Ross (2012 Festival Premiere - SXSW)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.833 out of 12.0, 6 reviews)

7. Amour (Film Page), directed by Michael Haneke (2012 Festival Premiere - Cannes)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.8 out of 12.0, 30 reviews)

8. No (Film Page), directed by Pablo Larrain (2012 Festival Premiere - Cannes)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.786 out of 12.0, 14 reviews)

9. Side by Side (Film Page), directed by Chris Kenneally (2012 Festival Premiere - Berlin)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.583 out of 12.0, 12 reviews)

10. West of Memphis (Film Page), directed by Amy Berg (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: A- (9.5 out of 12.0, 10 reviews)

Runners-up: "Under African Skies," "Searching for Sugar Man," "Sleepwalk with Me"

Want to see: Side by Side (filmmakers on film) and Holy Motors (crazy pants).

Top English-Language Features of 2012:

1. Sleepwalk with Me (Film Page), directed by Mike Birbiglia and Seth Barrish (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.364 out of 12.0, 11 reviews)

2. Sightseers (Film Page), directed by Ben Wheatley (2012 Festival Premiere - Cannes)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.083 out of 12.0, 12 reviews)

3. Compliance (Film Page), directed by Craig Zobel (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (9.0 out of 12.0, 27 reviews)

4. Beasts of the Southern Wild (Film Page), directed by Benh Zeitlin (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (8.962 out of 12.0, 53 reviews)

5. Sound of My Voice (Film Page), directed by Zal Batmanglij (2011 Sundance - 2012 Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (8.875 out of 12.0, 16 reviews)

6. The Surrogate (Film Page), directed by Ben Lewin (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (8.857 out of 12.0, 21 reviews)

7. Moonrise Kingdom (Film Page), directed by Wes Anderson (2012 Festival Premiere - Cannes, Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (8.842 out of 12.0, 57 reviews)

8. The Cabin in the Woods (Film Page), directed by Drew Goddard (2012 Festival Premiere - SXSW, Theatrical Release)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (8.821 out of 12.0, 5 reviews)

9. Liberal Arts (Film Page), directed by Josh Radnor (2012 Festival Premiere - Sundance)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (8.818 out of 12.0, 11 reviews)

10. Somebody Up There Likes Me (Film Page), directed by Bob Byington (2012 Festival Premiere - SXSW)
Average Criticwire rating: B+ (8.8 out of 12.0, 11 reviews)

Runners-up: "You Are Here," "Your Sister's Sister," "Bernie"

I've already raved about Liberal Arts and Cabin in the Woods (hmm - maybe I didn't get around to writing up a review. Suffice to say, it is AWESOME. I love it SO MUCH. SO MUCH. I cannot WAIT for the DVD. I am gonna freeze frame the hell outta that sucker.). Beasts of the Southern Wild, Sightseers and the Surrogate aren't out in SF yet. Need to see Moonrise Kingdom. Missed Sound of my Voice, but can't WAIT for DVD. I really like Brit Marling.

Over on the site are the best foreign language and best documentary features as well.