Friday
01Jan2010
2009's Top Ten Films
Just in time for 2010, in no particular order, my top films of 2009:
The Brothers Bloom
Rian Johnson's sophomore film featured some of this year's most clever dialog, a fantastic score, and a wonderful, quirky style which made this con-man tale one of 2009's best.
Rian Johnson's sophomore film featured some of this year's most clever dialog, a fantastic score, and a wonderful, quirky style which made this con-man tale one of 2009's best.
Up
Pixar continued their streak of top-notch animated films this year with this "Up". The first 15 minutes or so this film moved me more than any drama this year. The rest of the film is an exciting adventure filled with memorable characters and thrilling set pieces. Who knew an old man with a walker and a boy scout could be so thrilling?
Star Trek
The film I returned to the most times in 2009, JJ Abrams' reinvention of the Trek franchise brought us a modern take on the USS Enterprise while staying true to its space-faring roots. Chris Pine's Captain Kirk has just the right balance of cockiness and charm and Abrams has made me excited to see the future adventures of the Enterprise crew.
In the Loop
The funniest film of 2009 - this laugh-out-loud satire brings foul-mouthed, rapid-fire British humor to inside-the-beltway wonkery. Clever and poignant, this is a smart comedy which deserves to be recognized as one of 2009's finest scripts.
500 Days of Summer
Marc Webb's film debut is a modern take on "Annie Hall". Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zoey Deschanel star in this year's most intelligent and original romantic comedy. (The film also gets high marks for including 2009's best dance sequence.)
Up in the Air
Perhaps the film of 2009 - not based on merit (though it has it in spades) but because it's a film completely of its time. Jason Reitman's third film has shown that he's one of today's most exciting talents and George Clooney gives one of the best performances of his career.
Avatar
Despite the hype and unavoidable backlash, Avatar gave us a visual spectacle that provides a glimpse at the future of cinema. A thrilling piece of cinema, despite its admittedly trite story, it proves yet again that James Cameron is a master at transporting audiences into fantastic worlds and heart-pounding action sequences.
I Love You, Man
Truly a "bro-mance", this charming film takes the conventions of a romantic comedy and turns it on its head. Jason Segel is quickly becoming one of the most interesting comedic actors working today.
The Cove
A documentary that plays like a thrilling "Oceans 11" style action film. Bringing together a team of Hollywood special effects masters, military special ops veterans, a pair of champion free divers and the former trainer of "Flipper", "The Cove" shines a light on the horrific abuse and slaughter of dolphins in a small Japanese village.
District 9
A $30 million that looks like it cost $300 million, Peter Jackson protege Neill Blomkamp brought us the most original sci-fi film of 2009. A mix of apartheid allegory and bloody action film, this story of stranded aliens in South Africa was this year's biggest surprise.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wes Anderson finds the perfect home for his quirky style in beautiful stop-motion animation. This adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel is one of the year's best family films while retaining all of the Wes Anderson hallmarks.
Friday, January 1, 2010 at 12:51AM
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