Since it’s still 2012 (just barely), there’s still time to sneak in my list of the year’s best films. But before the list, a few notes and random observations on the year that was:

• As I said on the current episode of The Big Screen podcast, 2012 wasn’t a great year for great films but it was a really good year for good films. The first two films on my list really resonate with me, but I could have lined up Nos. 3-10 plus the honorable mentions in just about any order. The way they are ordered today is just how I happened to feel about them today.
•  If I were handing out the acting Oscars this year, they’d go to Emmanuelle Riva (Amour) and Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) in the lead categories and Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) and Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) in the supporting categories.
• Like every other year, there were disappointments. But two rise (sink?) to the top: Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love and Judd Apatow’s This Is 40. Fingers crossed for a better 2013 for the past and current kings of comedy.
• Is it too early to look forward to next year? Everyone else is, so why not? Among the films that I’m excited to see are Gangster Squad (Jan. 11), Oz: The Great and Powerful (March 8), The Great Gatsby (May 10) and Anchorman: The Legend Continues (Dec. 20)
• And now, the list:

1. Moonrise Kingdom (on DVD)
2. Zero Dark Thirty (In theaters Jan. 4)
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (on DVD Feb. 12)
4. Argo (in theaters)
5. Skyfall (in theaters)
6. Les Miserables (in theaters)
7. The Master  (on DVD Feb. 26)
8. Flight (in theaters)
9. Bernie (on DVD)
10. The Pirates! Band of Misfits (on DVD)
Honorable mentions: Lincoln (in theaters), Amour (in theaters Jan. 18), Silver Linings Playbook (in theaters), The Sessions (in theaters), Ruby Sparks (on DVD Wednesday)