Well, we’ve reached the end of 2009. In fact, I’m writing this introduction on the first day of 2010 while lounging in deep contemplation, attempting to compile a list of my favorite movies of the year. The task of building a list is generally a daunting task. It requires you to sort through every movie you’ve seen from that year and find ten movies that mean something to you. Then, after narrowing down an already massive list so drastically, you’re faced with ranking them. Subsequently, after you’ve polished your thoughts you’re inevitably faced with the harshest of criticisms which call you out for not including this movie or over-praising that movie. All of these details are made even more harrowing once you realize how fantastic 2009 was in the grand scope of cinema.
So why do we put ourselves through this hell?
Because we fucking love movies.
Enough babbling. Here’s each of my lists chronicling the year 2009 in film:
Note- I haven’t seen the following 2009 releases:
- The White Ribbon
- The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
- Crazy Heart
- 35 Shots of Rum
- Import/Export
- Julia
- The Girlfriend Experience
Will’s Favorite Movies of 2009
10. Two Lovers
This is probably the most controversial pick on my list, as there is a large population of movie lovers out there who are quite vocal regarding their distaste from this film by James Gray. I think they’re wrong. I fully expected to hate this film when I saw its trailer earlier at the beginning of the year. It came off as a pompous character study that examines privileged and whiney people. Instead, Two Lovers is beautiful and highly emotional. This finely crafted melodrama surrounds the love triangle that Joaqin Pheonix’s character constructs when he falls for two beautiful women in quick succession. Don’t let this one pass you by, as I would argue that this will only grow in potency as time goes on.
9. Moon
Damn. What a great year for first time directors! This debut film from Duncan Jones stars Sam Rockwell as a peon for a mineral refining company whose operations are based on the moon. The character’s three year stint on the moon is nearly at it’s end, and of course, he undergoes a sort of psychological unraveling. This is easily the best science-fiction film of the year and it singlehandedly revived my faith in the genre. While most people will be going ga-ga over the latest $500 million visual masturbation indulgence from James Cameron, I’ll be enjoying a taughtly constructed intellectual film in the form of Moon.
8. Sin Nombre
Though this film was in theaters much earlier this year, I didn’t get the chance to see it until quite recently. Only a few weeks ago did I stumble across this tour de force directoral debut from filmmaker Cary Fukunaga. The movie surrounds two young adults, the first of which is an innocent young girl who is traveling north toward the United States. The other is a strikingly different young man, whose childhood was spent dispersing bullets into rival gang members and beating up other slumdogs. The biforcated relationship between the two acts as the central thesis to the film and the emotionally resounding finale is sure to keep Sin Nombre in your thoughts for weeks after the credits roll.
7. Summer Hours
Though half of the films on this list are foreign, Summer Hours strikes me as the most distinctly “non-American” picture. This sharp and impassioned family drama from French director Olivier Assayas tells the story of a family whose lives seem to become increasingly distant from their origins. The ensemble of characters consists of a mother and her three children, all of whom are fully grown and possess unambiguous personalities. A figurative wrench is thrown into their lives when their mother passes away and the family must decide the fate of her massive estate. The film speaks volumes about the cyclical nature of life and the value that we inevitably place on things, both material and emotional.
6. Hunger
I love walking out of the theater and simply knowing that the movie I just watched is so important to the history of cinema that it’s first home video release will be through Criterion. British filmmaker Steve McQueen has crafted something so hauntingly powerful that it will go down as a modern classic. Though McQueen’s vision is indispensable to the picture’s acute sense of emotional appeal, the film’s success would not have been possible to such a degree without the moving performance of Michael Fassbender as IRA leader Bobby Sands. It’s a true tragedy that so few people have seen this film, and if you’re one of those people, you owe it to yourself to do so.
5. Drag Me to Hell
In the interest of full disclosure, Evil Dead II is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love Sam Raimi, and his latest work was destined to have a spot on this list. His latest adventure into the horror genre ranks among his best work and is still sadly under-appreciated. Drag Me to Hell is a lock to be a cult classic, with fans clamoring for a rerelease even if to see that anvil drop one more time or catch a glimpse of that talkative goat.
4. In the Loop
Video is really fucking unsafe for work.
Comedy can often be the most subjective of all genres. What one person finds funny doesn’t always translate to everyone else, and can come off as offensive or even just silly. Some things just work for one person, and In the Loop worked for me. Not only did it work, it left me laughing so hard that my abdominal muscles felt like they’d just been subject to Evander Holyfield’s fists for two hours. If that doesn’t convince you, Director Armondo Iannucci delivers some of the most striking satire since Kubrik’s Dr. Strangelove.
3. The Hurt Locker
Relevance can be a critical factor when watching any movie. Sometimes, it can be hard to relate to characters that face challenges that you will never experience. However, a film’s greatest triumph can often be surpassing this obstacle and still producing an engaging and significant piece of cinema. To call The Hurt Locker engaging doesn’t even begin to describe the tension in each scene and the investment the audience develops in each character. Describing Kathryn Bigelow’s work as relevant underscores the sheer importance of this film.
2. Inglourious Basterds
A masterwork of virtuoso filmmaking that intensely displays the power of cinema. It’s hard to believe that Quentin Tarantino could top some of his previous works like Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction. Not only did he top them, he “Bear Jew’d” the shit out of them. Each scene is meticulously crafted to the point of perfection and the impact of each character is exemplified by resoundingly brilliant performances from everyone involved. This is sure to go down as a classic in American filmmaking.
1. A Serious Man
It isn’t a secret that I believe the Coen Brothers are God’s gift to cinephiles everywhere. This modern day retelling of Job is as poignant as it is hilarious. The characteristic black comedy of Joel and Ethan is more present than ever during their tale of the worst week ever in the life of Larry Gopnik. This is by far the most personal and autobiographic film that the Coen Brothers have made, and it definitely pays off when it comes to engrossing the audience in its storytelling. While sitting in the theater, I couldn’t contain my laughter and once I left I found myself constantly thinking about its striking themes. This ranks among the best of the Coen’s filmography and a must see for all movie lovers.
Runners Up:
This year has been incredibly phenomenal for movies, as each of the following films could have ended up somewhere in my top 10 list. However, I had to make a choice and these ones barely missed the cut.
-I’d argue that you’d be hard pressed to find someone who strongly disliked Marc Webb’s film, (500) Days of Summer. It’s hilarious and surprisingly accurate when it comes to examining what it means to be in love.
-Another independent film that flew past most audiences has to be Brick director Rian Johnson’s film, The Brothers Bloom. This is one of the better con-man flicks out there that would be a shame to miss.
-The hardest film for me to cut from my top 10 had to be Big Fan, which is the directoral debut of Robert Siegel who previously wrote the Academy Award nominated script for Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. The film is a scathing critique of what our society deems normal which succeeds due to a fantastic script and a wonderful performance from Patton Oswalt.
-Precious, the small project which tells the story of a young girl’s traumatic life is an extremely important film that should make the Republicans in the audience cringe at their arguments for welfare cuts. Mo’nique delivers a surprisingly Oscar-worthy performance as the world’s worst mother.
-Finally, World’s Greatest Dad deserves some degree of recognition from this list. This is quite possibly one of the darkest and unrelentingly brutal film’s I’ve seen this year, and it maintains this depressing atmosphere while still managing to be astonishingly hilarious.
Most Overrated Movies:
With every year comes more movies that are completely undeserving of the praise they receive. More often than not, I actually enjoy these movies. But it’s the constant arguments that force me to continuously point out each film’s flaws that make my distaste more and more apparent.
-Star Trek: Wow. I kinda dug this movie when it came out. It had some great visuals and a fun origins story that gave a pretty fresh take on the Star Trek mythos. However, with its release came cries of praise that made it out to be the second coming of Christ. Of course it’s fun. But with my fun, I’d like a healthy dose of intellectual stimulation. Where are the moral dilemmas that made Gene Rodenberry’s original series so great? And why would you think that a lens flare every ten seconds could make up for them?
-District 9: I actually think that this movie had the most photoreal effects this year, and I do believe that the effects weren’t an excuse to sideline the plot…until the last 30 minutes. Neil Blomkamp had something there. That first hour was so perfect. It delivered a fresh social commentary while being fun and entertaining, a feat not often achieved. However, it’s that last act which keeps District 9 from being great. It devolves into a generic action flick and once its satire is expended, becomes one gigantic level in a sci-fi video game. Sad, but true.
-Avatar: I wanted to like this movie. I wanted to love it like everyone else. People I know and respect immediately began praising the film’s achievements. About half way through the film’s two and a half hour runtime, I found myself grasping at things to like. More often than not, I was audibly laughing at some of the clunky dialogue. “I see you,” and “Unobtanium,” have become hilarious staples in my vernacular. This movie is an embarrassing stain on Cameron’s otherwise impressive resume.
Most Underrated Movies:
For every movie, such as the aforementioned ones, that receive a gluttony of undeserved praise and hype there is another film which goes unnoticed despite it’s originality and…well… greatness. The following movies are some that I feel got passed by or hated on even though I loved them. I feel a flame war coming, but that’s what lists are for right?
-Duplicity: I really adore Tony Gilroy. His last film, Michael Clayton, was easily one of 2008′s best films. His followup was this year’s film starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Maybe I’m just a sucker for a fun spy movie. Perhaps Clive Own can just audibly seduce me with that sexy as hell accent. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s a fucking great movie. The film’s finale undoubtedly put off a few people, but it really stuck a chord with me. For whatever reason, I was completely engaged with the on screen antics and fell in love with the plot’s twists and turns.
-Public Enemies: Again, some genres work for me. Generally, a good gangster movie has an easier time hitting all the right notes for me. Even if this weren’t true, I still would have loved Michael Mann’s latest film. Public Enemies tells the story of John Dillinger, the legendary bank robber whose exploits garnered him public fame. Johnny Depp delivers a spot on performance as Dillinger, and though Christian Bale is a little disappointing as FBI agent Melvin Purvis, he is far from terrible. Some great period work combined with some fantastic action sequences make this a movie that really impressed me.
Best Performances of 2009:
Every movie’s success, from small character studies to epic blockbusters, hinges on its performances. Every great movie this year is replete with fantastic performances. Not only was this a great year to see some of our favorite stars return to the big screen, but we were also treated to some memorable breakout performances. Check out some of my favorite actors and actresses this year:
Best Actors:
-Michael Fassbender, Hunger: This guy has had a great year. Both Hunger and Inglorious Basterds featured this phenomenal actor, whose performance in each made the respective film immensely better. His role as Bobby Sands is one of those perfect performances, much like Mickey Rourke in last year’s The Wrestler. His commitment to the role makes Christian Bale’s weight loss in The Machinist look like Sandra Bullock in All About Steve. It’s a travesty that he’ll get passed up for an Oscar nomination, but this performance will live on in the hearts and minds of those who’ve witnessed his sheer power on screen.
-Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds: Very few people can personify real evil while smoking a comically large pipe. Bravo, sir. Bravo.
-Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker: This is probably the best breakout performance of the year, as his role as Staff Sergent William James is so pitch perfect that it actually contributes to the realism of the picture. His ability to convey pure tension and bravura while disarming a lethal bomb is absolutely astonishing. Renner personified the role so fully, that he has cemented himself as a star in the making.
Best Actresses:
-Carey Mulligan, An Education: Do you ever lose heart when you think of the greatest actors that are nearing their life’s third act? Do you get sad when you realize that some of the greats like Merryl Streep or Robert DeNiro won’t be making movies forever? Well, every so often there is a performance that reaffirms my faith in the younger generation of cinema. Carey Mulligan delivers one of these performances. Her portrayal of a maturing young girl who is infatuated with luxury and life is incredibly memorable and one of the best debut performances in years.
-Mo’Nique, Precious: Talk about a surprise. Wow. If you had told me that the obnoxious talk show host and wannabe comedian, Mo’Nique, would make my list of the best actresses of the year I’d have scarcely believed a word you said. However, I’m stunned. It’s been a good year for bad guys, with Mo’Nique’s performance equaling that of Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds.
