Here Are Indiewire’s Top 20 Articles of 2012
2012 has been a big year for Indiewire. We went through a redesign. We won the 2012 Webby Award for Best Film Site. We started covering television extensively. We launched the Criticwire blog on our network. And we welcomed new staffers Jay A. Fernandez (Senior Writer & News Editor), Alison Willmore (Television Editor) and Matt Singer (Criticwire Blog Editor).
In celebration, we decided we’d take a look back at your favorite articles of 2012, measured by how many visits each received.
We should note that this list does not include our wildly popular, constantly evolving Oscar prediction columns for both 2012 and 2013, which would have taken up much of this list.
1. The Best Indie Movies of 2012 So Far, According to Criticwire
Our mid-year list of the year’s best films (according to Criticwire) was a big hit with our readers, and it was a precursor to our shiny new year-end Criticwire survey.
Harmony Korine’s bizarro ode to every co-ed’s favorite time of the year was acquired for release by Hollywood producer Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures and this article’s traffic soared. The unsavory comments below suggest its popularity had something to do with the film still used.
3. The Best Indie Movies of 2011 So Far: ‘Sound of My Voice’ and ‘The Interrupters’ Top criticWIRE
Last year’s mid-year best-of also performed high, with people eager to relive the best indie films of 2012.
4. Summer 2012 Movie Preview: The 20 Indies You Must See
Before the dog days hit, we gave you our list of the twenty indies that you couldn’t miss. Apparently, it was just what you needed.
One of our favorite funny guys debuted his sitcom character’s much-talked-about ex-wife, and you wanted to know more.
The James Franco and Travis Mathews re-imagining of the lost scenes from William Friedkin’s “Cruising” clearly piqued the interest of Indiewire readers. The film, now titled “Interior. Leather Bar.,” will debut this January at the Sundance Film Festival.
7. The Six Things You Must Know to Make It in the Film Industry
An excerpt from Barbara Freedman Doyle’s book Make Your Movie: What You Need to Know About the Business and Politics of Filmmaking, was essential reading for the filmmakers among you.
8. Why ‘Adventure Time,’ Now In Its Fifth Season, Is More Groundbreaking Than You May Realize
Eric Kohn’s critical essay of the adult-oriented sophisticated Cartoon Network series was just what many of you needed.
With allusion after allusion, some might need a cheat sheet to understand what makes “Django Unchained” so complicated. Eric Kohn came to the rescue.
10. Watch: The Onion Takes on Reality TV in Web Series ‘Sex House’
The prospect of The Onion doing a spoof of reality television was interesting to many of you, placing our write-up of the series debut in the top ten articles of the year.
The incredibly talented, often under-appreciated “Twilight” actress talked to our own Jay A. Fernandez frankly about her role in the recent adaptation of Kerouac’s “On the Road.”
12. REVIEW: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Brings Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy to a Thundering, Mostly Satisfying ConclusionThe most anticipated film of the year, Christopher Nolan’s third film in his recent Batman trilogy had readers waiting with bated breath for the first words about it.
13. TIFF List 2012: An Updated List of All Films at the Toronto International Film Festival
Festivalgoers and film fans were eager to see what films would be included in the mega festival.
14. Where to Watch the First Episode of ‘Girls’ Free Online
Lena Dunham’s series, which is back in January, debuted online to get people hooked. And get hooked they did; the love-it-or-hate-it show was one of 2012’s breakout hits.
15. Kevin Clash Says Goodbye to Elmo in Wake of Sex Abuse Allegation
The star of Constance Marks’ 2011 documentary “Being Elmo,” puppeteer Kevin Clash, faced a number of accusations relating to statutory rape, and ended up resigning from “Sesame Street” amidst the scandal.
16. Decide Who Gets to Talk to the Tribeca Film Institute! Vote for July’s Project of the Month!
A very robust voting turnout for the film “Dear White People” helped the voting page for July’s Project of the Month enter the top twenty articles of the year. The team later met with Tribeca Film Institute’s Tamir Muhammed for an exclusive consultation.
17. Happy Pride Month: Here’s 43 Great LGBT Films to Help You Celebrate
Our prideful readers checked out our list of 43 great LGBT films to check out this year’s Pride Month.
18. For Your Consideration: 10 Things That Are Already Crystal Clear About the Oscar Race
Oscar prognosticating is one of the things you come to us for time and time again, and our Oscar expert Peter Knegt had these ten surefire observations ready for you all.
19. Decide Who Talks to the Sundance Institute: Vote for Indiewire’s Project of the Month for May!
A tight race for May’s Project of the Month led to a slew of visits to this page. Ultimately, “Growing Cities” won the consultation with the Sundance Institute.
20. We’re About to Lose 1,000 Small Theaters That Can’t Convert to Digital. Does It Matter?
As more and more arthouses must transfer to digital projection, the question arose: can they all do it? Indiewire’s investigation of the issue rounds out the year’s top articles.
See you in 2013!
