The First Annual Underrated Film Awards (2012)

What does it mean to be underrated? More often than not there are numerous films which people define as "underrated" meaning people often underestimate the value of the film.  A film often becomes under estimated because a studio may not pay enough for marketing causing a low box office, and while critics like the film the film gets no push.  While critics may bring up their names, these nominees are underrated in my book because there are not enough folks singing the praises of the films, performances etc.

Most of time this is the reason films end up within this bracket.  Every year there are a good amount of films, performances, and even the technical aspects of films, which fall into these brackets.  Here is my first annual Underrated Awards, for films released in 2012.

What films were the most under appreciated this year? There were certain names you heard all the time, Argo, Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln and so on.  While all of these are great films which films were not talked about enough?  Or which films should have had a wider release?  The Independent Spirit Awards and critics awards attention are not enough for most of these films.  This list may be defined as the best you have not seen, but this boils down to underrated in a general sense of things (before you all argue with me).

Most Underrated Films of 2012

21 Jump Street
The Cabin in the Woods

End of Watch 

Middle of Nowhere

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Safety Not Guaranteed 

Seven Psychopaths 

(Middle of Nowhere)

Most Underrated Performances of 2012

Emma Watson-The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Liam Nesson-The Grey

Edith Scob-Holy Motors

Michael Fassbender-Promethues

Seth Rogen-Take this Waltz

Rebel Wilson-Pitch Perfect

(Emma Watson-The Perks of Being a Wallflower)

Most Underrated Technical Aspects of Film (Writing, Direction, Editing etc)

Jacqueline West's Costume Design for Argo

Reinhold Heil, Johnny Kilmek, and Tom Tykwer's Original Score for Cloud Atlas
Terrence Davies Direction for The Deep Blue Sea

The Visual Effects Team for The Impossible
Arthur Max's Production Design for Prometheus

Martin McDonagh's Screenplay for Seven Psychopaths