Yesterday I posted drafts....

of some top ten movie lists for 2012.  Let me take a moment to talk about some of the films that were close, but didn't make those lists.  And some performances that haven't been properly recognized by those award nominations that have been announced thus far.  I have reviewed many of these films and performances for www.TailSlate.net if you want more detailed information.

"Return" is a little indie film that was in theaters for just a few weeks at most.  It stars Linda Cardellini of "ER" fame as a National Guard soldier returning from a one year tour of a war zone.  She has major problems trying to readjust to civilian life.  The film is very good and she was excellent in it.  It may garner no more recognition other than her well-deserved nomination for an Independent Spirit acting award, but it's a quality film.

Most critics did not like "Butter" another tiny indie film that came and went quickly from theaters.  Its script was worthy of an Academy screenwriting fellowship so there were industry people who thought the written version was pretty darn good.  It may have lost a little in translation to the screen in some people's eyes but I loved it.  Brilliant satire.

The fact that "Middle of Nowhere" didn't get nominated for Best Picture by the NAACP for their Image Awards is an utter travesty.  It is better than four of the five films that were nominated, by far.  But it is on my ten best indie film list and it has a good chance to make the final list of ten best films of the year overall when I re-evaluate the draft list.

"The Dark Knight Rises" was a terrific film but it just missed my list of the year's ten best films.  Anne Hathaway was great in a supporting role but she will be recognized in 2012 not for this performance but for her turn in "Les Miserables".

"Jeff, Who Lives at Home" is a very good indie film but not quite as good as others released this year.  But Jason Segel was outstanding as the lead in this quirky movie that was a lot of fun to watch.

"Argo" will do well during the awards season, but due to Alan Arkin's work in the film, a great supporting performance by John Goodman is being overlooked.  So is his excellent work in "Flight".

Matthew McConaughey gave three great performances this year, in two great and one mediocre film.  He was terrific in "Killer Joe" and "Bernie", playing very different roles.  And as a supporting player he was outstanding in "Magic Mike".

Speaking of "Bernie", this may be the best thing Jack Black has ever done.

Viola Davis, in my eyes, deserved a Best Actress Oscar last year for her work in "The Help".  This year she was in a lousy film, "Won't Back Down" but her work in it was excellent.  There was also a very nice performance by Henry Winkler in that movie.

If Dwight Henry's work in "Beasts of the Southern Wild" isn't the best supporting performance by a former baker, someone has some baking history in their past I'm unaware of.  Joking aside, he was amazing in that film and is worthy of more consideration/mention.

"Compliance" is another of those indies that almost no one saw.  It's gritty but not great.  However, Ann Dowd was very strong in her role as the restaurant manager being 'pranked' by a caller pretending to be a cop.

Parker Posey won't be nominated for her work in the fine film "Price Check" but she's great in it.  She has definitely reclaimed her throne as "Queen of the Indie film".

"Take This Waltz" is a good, not great film.  Seth Rogen is great in it though in a stirring turn as the husband being shunted aside in favor of a neighbor.

Frank Langella is magnificent in "Robot and Frank" a very good indie that has garnered little if any attention for his fine work.

And finally, he's been one of the best supporting actors in Hollywood for a very long time and William H. Macy delivers another brilliant piece of work in "The Sessions".

This is by no means a complete list of those overlooked, just some that were on my mind.