International Online Film Critics’ Poll 2012 Results

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This year, I was asked to join the International Online Film Critics Poll. Founded in 2007, this poll includes critics from the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States and other countries. The poll gives awards to recognize excellence of film every two years. This year, I was asked to consider movies released between November of 2010 and  November of 2012, which ranged from things like Black Swan and True Grit to Lincoln and Skyfall. (I had to look up the release dates for most of my picks.)
The results were... interesting. Most of them were the usual fodder chosen by the Academy, including the likes of The King's Speech, even though the hype machine stopped grinding on that movie long ago. Did the international critics really dig through the past two years, or did they simply look at the Oscar results? But surprisingly, the big winner with the most votes in every category, was Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a film I loved, but which many of my American colleagues -- to say nothing of regular moviegoers -- found dull and difficult. What did my international colleagues see in the movie that many Americans did not? Hmm.
I admired The Master without really liking it, but I'm not sure why anyone would praise its screenplay, of all things, with its weird collection of half-formed characters. Likewise, Amy Adams was far better -- and had much more to do -- in Trouble with the Curve, which was oddly released the same day. And then there's The Artist with best original score, even though it blatantly stole Bernard Herrmann's music from Vertigo. But overall, out of the poll's top ten films, I would enthusiastically recommend six of them -- and I would conditionally recommend three others -- so that's not too bad. All in all, like most other polls, it doesn't mean a whole lot, but it is interesting, and  if people are looking for recommendations, it's a good place to start.
International Online Film Critics’ Poll 2012 Results
Best Film – Motion PictureTinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Top Ten Films (Alphabetical Order)ArgoThe ArtistBeasts of the Southern WildBlack SwanLincolnThe King's SpeechThe MasterSkyfallThe Tree of Life  Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best Director  Tomas Alfredson – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best Actor in a Leading Role Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 
Best Actress in a Leading RoleNatalie Portman – Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master
Best Supporting ActressAmy Adams – The Master
Best CastTinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best Original ScreenplayPaul Thomas Anderson – The Master
Best Adapted ScreenplayBridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 
Best CinematographyJanusz Kaminski – Lincoln
Best Production Design  Maria Djurkovic – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy              Best Film Editing Tariq Anwar – The King’s Speech 
Best Original Score Ludovic Bource – The Artist
Best Visual EffectsThe Dark Knight Rises