Part way through the past year I wrote an article on my blog that brought up the possibility of 2009 being the best year for movies in the last decade. It was in response to a few articles written in the oscar blog community that believed it might be a possibility, but at the time I wasn’t sure if I agreed. Now that 2009 has come to a close and I have seen most of the year’s best films (I still haven’t seen A Serious Man, A Single Man, The Road, Crazy Heart, and Nine), I can honestly say that 2009 isn’t quite the best year for movies this decade, but it WAS an awesome year for cinema. The year’s collection of films don’t touch the library of films that came out in 2007 and 2002, but there were a LOT of good movies. I’m aware that some people may insist that 2009 was a bad year for films, so let me dig deeper into the reasons why I feel differently.
When I look back at 2009, I think it was an important year for two reasons. Animated films and women directors. There has never been so many quality animated films released in a single year. This year we got Up, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Coraline, Ponyo, Princess and the Frog, 9, Mary & Max, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Secret of Kells, A Town Called Panic, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Ice Age. That doesn’t even include a number of films that didn’t get rave reviews, but still earned respect from the animation community. Most years we’re lucky to get two or three worthwhile animated films, so it was definitely a huge year for the medium.
It was also great seeing some significant films from women directors. This year brought brilliant films from Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), Jane Campion (Bright Star), Lone Scherfig (An Education), Nancy Meyers (It’s Complicated), Nora Ephron (Julie & Julia), Agnes Varda (Beaches of Agnes), Claire Denis (35 Shots of Rum,White Material), Christine Jeffs (Sunshine Cleaning), and Drew Barrymore (Whip It). Not only is it likely that Kathryn Bigelow could win an oscar for directing, but it’s also very possible that two women could be nominated in the category. Considering only three women have ever been nominated in the history of the Oscars, the significance is profound.
To sum things up, 2009 simply had a lot of movies that I really enjoyed. Time must pass before the history books look at 2009 as a highlight year for film, but right now I feel that it was. But enough discussion, on to my list!
Movies I enjoyed that at least deserve to be mentioned:
Adam, Away We Go, Bright Star, The Brothers Bloom, A Christmas Carol, District 9, Funny People, Goodbye Solo, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Julie & Julia, Moon, Ponyo, The Princess and the Frog, Public Enemies, State of Play, Sugar, Trick ‘R Treat, Up in the Air, Watchmen, Whatever Works, Zombieland
Runners Up:
An Education
A British period piece with great performances from a talented cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Peter Sarsgaard, Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic Cooper, and Olivia Williams.
Coraline
An inventive and painstakingly animated adaptation of the popular children’s book.
The Damned United
Arguably the best sports movie since Field of Dreams.
Drag Me to Hell
Sam Raimi’s thrilling return to comedy horror provided the most fun to be had at the movies all year.
Fish Tank
British Indie film-making at it’s best, with a star-in-the-making performance from Katie Jarvis.
In the Loop
A hilarious dark comedy that provides non-stop (and very vulgar) laughs. Think of it as Dr. Strangelove for modern times.
Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino’s World War 2 epic still frustrates me at certain moments, but there’s no denying that it’s an incredibly well made movie. Most of my problems lie with what I consider to be unbalanced writing and acting, but the occasional scenes of brilliant action and breakout performances by Christoph Waltz and Melanie Laurent ensure the film gets a spot on my runners up list.
The Secret of Kells
A beautiful Irish animated film that features voice work from Brendan Gleeson. Scenes in a forest are among the most spellbinding animation that I’ve ever seen. In what might be the busiest year ever for the animation medium, The Secret of Kells ranks as one of the best.
Sin Nombre
A shocking Mexican film that explores illegal immigration and gang violence. It’s similar to City of God and Slumdog Millionaire, but still manages to stand out on it’s own.
The White Ribbon
Michael Haneke’s disturbing drama dwells on the goings on in a small German village pre-World War 1. Much like Haneke’s 2005 film, Cache, The White Ribbon leaves you with a lot of questions and very few answers, but it is an experience that refuses to go away.
The top 10
10. The Messenger
Directed by Oren Moverman
Starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morten, Steve Buscemi
Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity
The first of two films in my top 10 that are about the American war against terror. The Messenger makes my list because it has an incredibly moving story involving two American soldiers who make house calls to inform widows that their loved ones have fallen in combat. The script is very smartly written, taking the story to surprising places, and the performances from Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morten rank as career bests.
9. The Informant!
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Starring Matt Damon, Melanie Lynskie, Scott Bakula
Rated R for language
The Informant! stands out as one of the funniest films of 2009. The cheeky tone of the film is sometimes off-putting, but it works mainly due to Matt Damon’s brilliant performance and the hilarious dialogue and score. I haven’t had a chance to revisit the film since it first came out in theatres, but as of now it sticks in my mind as a highly entertaining comedy/thriller that is more than worthy of a spot in my top 10.
8. (500) Days of Summer
Directed by Marc Webb
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
Rated PG13 for sexual material and language
2009 was a terrible year for Romantic Comedies. Before (500) Days of Summer’s release in the summer, we were treated to critical failures such as Bride Wars, New in Town, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Then along came (500) Days of Summer, with it’s realistic take on relationships, smart writing, and inspired dance numbers and split screen sequences. Not since my first viewing of Annie Hall have I seen such a different take on romance in the movies.
7. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Directed by Wes Anderson
Voice Talent by George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe
Rated PG for action, smoking and slang humor
After Wes Anderson’s slightly disappointing 2007 endeavor, The Darjeeling Limited, I kept expections for his first animated film fairly low. The Fantastic Mr. Fox proved that I shouldn’t have lost faith in one of the most talented auteurs in Hollywood. It is a smart, family friendly film that retains Anderson’s quirky style. Making for an entirely new animated experience.
6. Star Trek
Directed by JJ Abrams
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg
Rated PG13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content
I’ve never been a huge fan of Star Trek, although I enjoyed a few of the past films. JJ Abrams series reboot finally gave me a reason to give the series a chance, stripping the series down to it’s bare essentials and making it a more exciting and faster paced blockbuster. Some devoted fans might not be happy with the results, but I for one am happy with the new direction that JJ Abrams has taken the series.
5. Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Directed by Lee Daniels
Starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz
Rated R for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language
Watching Precious can be a demanding experience, as Lee Daniel’s film shows graphic domestic violence. Yet there is a small sprinkling of humour and a sense of hope that makes the film watchable. But it’s the acting that makes the movie one of the best of the year. Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique give the two best performances of 2009, matching each other’s intensity and emotional depth throughout the film and leaving you speechless by time the climax comes knocking.
4. Avatar
Directed by James Cameron
Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez
Rated PG13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking
After years of hype, James Cameron finally brought Avatar to theatres worldwide and against all odds, it met expectations. The visual effects, CGI and 3D technology is unlike anything ever seen before, but it’s Cameron’s ability to craft a thrilling adventure filled with action that impressed me the most. Avatar joins Aliens, Terminator 2 and The Abyss as spellbinding entertainment (and admittedly cheesy dialogue). Nobody makes action movies like James Cameron.
3. The Cove
Directed by Louie Psyhoyos
Rated PG13 for disturbing content
While The Cove isn’t the easiest film to sit through (dolphin slaughter isn’t pretty), it is so well crafted and such an important topic that it needs to be seen by as many people as possible. It is shot like a documentary version of The Bourne Identity making the disturbing topic slightly easier to watch. The team of film-makers involved in The Cove put themselves at great risk to get this story out there, and seeing them succeed made for one of the most moving film experiences of 2009.
2. Up
Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson
Voice Talent by Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG for some peril and action
The opening marriage montage alone is enough reason for Up’s high placement. That scene is one of Pixar’s greatest achievements, expertly showing life’s ups and downs in the first 5 minutes of the movie. The following 90 minutes are nearly as good, providing laughs, adventure, and a lesson that is important for people of all ages: that it’s the small joys that make up the best moments of one’s life.
1. The Hurt Locker
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes
Rated R for war violence and language
The first time I saw The Hurt Locker I sat in my seat completely stunned by what I had just seen. The Hurt Locker isn’t just a well made war film, it’s also an intricate action movie that is intense, emotional, and relevant. Kathryn Bigelow’s talented direction, Jeremy Renner’s bravado filled performance, and the perfectly orchestrated action scenes make The Hurt Locker an instant classic, and arguably the greatest war film of the 2000s.
