Every year, there are those works you wish had been recognized—movies that were snubbed, performers that worked their butts off and gave great showings, or songs that deserve more recognition. The king of all award shows, the Oscars, is notorious for leaving out some of the films most loved by audiences and critics alike. We all know the big-name, well-marketed films that received nominations and awards this year: Lincoln, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, and so on. But, a lot of fantastic movies slipped under the Academy’s radar and probably yours, too. Here’s your unofficial guide to the best unrecognized movies of 2012.
1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, dir. Stephen Chbosky, starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson.
Definitely my absolute favorite film of the year, this independent gem is based off the bestselling novel of the same name. Set in the early 90s, Lerman plays high school freshman Charlie, who starts the new year with no friends and just as little self-confidence. But, a new friendship with seniors Patrick (brilliantly played by Ezra Miller), Sam (Watson) and their group of friends totally changes his life and opens his eyes to not only his present and his future, but also his darker past. You’ll laugh, cry and smile as Charlie goes to his first party, performs in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and celebrates holidays; his journey is super-relatable and real. It’s the perfect movie to watch with your friends on a night in.
2. Ruby Sparks, dir. Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, starring Paul Dano and Zoë Kazan.
I went to see this with my parents over the summer and walked out wishing I’d gone with a date—it’s the absolute perfect movie to see with your special someone! Dano plays a struggling young writer with one hit novel who somehow brings the girl of his dreams (Kazan) off the pages of his typewriter and into the real world. It’s a funny, sweet indie movie about love, family and how success isn’t necessarily all it’s cracked up to be. Plus, some great actors make cameos including Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas!
3. Cabin in the Woods, dir. Joss Whedon, starring Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Connolly.
Horror movies these days are usually pretty cliché, but not this one. A group of five teenagers goes to stay for a weekend at a deserted cabin in the middle of a forest, and creepy things begin to happen all around them. Plot twist: little do they know, there’s a company controlling all of those creepy things and watching their every move, trying to scare them and kill them one by one. It’s definitely not your typical gore-fest, and the main character, Dana (Connolly), isn’t your average damsel in distress. If you’re looking for a break from the latest Saw flick (how many more of those do we really need, anyway?), this movie is sure to satisfy your thirst for a good scare.
4. Liberal Arts, dir. Josh Radnor, starring Josh Radnor and Elizabeth Olsen.
Fans of How I Met Your Mother, listen up! Josh Radnor, or Ted on HIMYM, wrote, directed and stars in this indie romantic comedy about a college admissions officer who falls for Zibby (Olsen), a college student at his alma mater in Ohio. With small roles played by Zac Efron and Allison Janney (The West Wing), this is one movie sure to have you adoring Radnor’s character, Jesse Fisher, through the screen, even as he makes one mistake after another. And Elizabeth Olsen, as always, lights up the screen. Recognize her name? She’s Mary-Kate and Ashley’s baby sis!
5. Jeff Who Lives at Home, dir. Jay and Mark Duplass, starring Jason Segel and Ed Helms.
Straying from their usual ways of over-the-top raunchy comedy, Segel and Helms hit a more muted, sweeter note with this sleeper dramedy about two brothers who both struggle with their lives. Jeff (Segel) still lives with their mother, watching sci-fi movies and doing far too many drugs, while Pat (Helms) discovers that his wife is cheating on him. Together, they bond over looking for meaning in their lives, stumbling along the way. Susan Sarandon is fantastic as their mother, confused and intrigued by recent notes from a secret admirer. If you’re looking for something to watch with the fam over spring break, this is the flick for you!
6. Safety Not Guaranteed, dir. Colin Trevorrow, starring Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass.
This movie takes the award for most under-the-radar indie film of the year; it went from Sundance almost immediately to Netflix Instant Streaming. Plaza (from Parks and Recreation) plays a recent college grad interning at a magazine in Seattle, who’s assigned with two other writers to investigate a personal ad for time travel companions. Sounds too sci-fi for you? Surprisingly, it’s not sci-fi at all, but a laugh-out-loud dark comedy about love and finding your way through life post-grad (which we can all relate to, right?).
7. Wuthering Heights, dir. Andrea Arnold, starring Kaya Scodelario and James Howson. For those girls that love a classic tale of romance and a choice, this adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel is for you. Scodelario, of Skins UK fame, plays the renowned role of Catherine Earnshaw, forced to choose between her two loves—Heathcliff and Linton. You’ll have a hard time choosing, too; both men are gorgeous! It’s been on a number of “best films of 2012” lists, so why should you miss out? Definitely a good choice for a girls’ night with a bottle of wine!