As I did last year on my old blog, I've decided to compile a list of what I thought were the top 20 films of 2009. This year I'm also including 3 slots for foreign language films and 3 slots for documentary films, bringing my best of list to a grand total of 26 films. Please note that these are simply my own opinions based on what I've seen in theaters over the course of the year, by no means is this list absolute or definitive. You'll probably agree with some of my choices, disagree with others, and some selections may even leave you scratching your head saying "what the heck is that?" If a film is left off the list, it either means I didn't see it yet (The Lovely Bones, The Messenger, or The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus being three award-nominated examples that I've so far been unable to see) or didn't deem it one of the 20 best I saw that year (a prime example here being Transformers 2: Revenge of Michael Bay's Ego, or whatever that waste of 2 hours was titled). So here we go, counting down...
20. Moon
Very few people got a chance to see this little film theatrically, I only caught it myself at an out-of-the-way theater in Burbank because I really wanted to. Poor marketing aside, it's a fascinating study in solitary confinement and a tremendous acting effort by Sam Rockwell, who literally is the only human on screen for over 90% of the film. The story of an astronaut sent into space to oversee a mining operation on the surface of the moon, our protagonist has only his thoughts to keep him company... that, and a talking robot voiced by Kevin Spacey. With references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris, and other films in the genre, this film succeeds in a very subtle way as it causes us to grow comfortable around our solitary spaceman and ponder his isolation with him. Too much language to consider it family viewing, but worth a watch for the discerning viewer, it's a "thinking man's sci-fi".
19. Zombieland
I usually hate horror films that dwell on gore and guts, and in particular steer clear of anything labeled "zombies" most of the time. What made this film work however was the brilliant screenplay and sharp sense of humor. It earns its R rating with language and comic violence, but watching Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson hunt zombies may have been my most guilty pleasure at the box office this past year. It certainly didn't hurt either that Bill Murray's cameo playing himself became one of the funniest segments of any film in recent memory. All in all, a campy fun time at the movies, and a briskly told screenplay.
18. A Serious Man
The Coen brothers have done it again with their most personal film to date. I've had more conversations regarding this film than almost any other movie this year, and it's sure to elicit a variety of emotions from viewers upon first screening. I for one loved it, and repeat viewings only unlock deeper levels and more complex layers to be in awe of. NOTHING is ever wasted in a Coen film, everything serves its purpose perfectly, and this dark comedy about a Jewish husband and father who only wants to be taken seriously is one of their best yet. A pitch-perfect cast of mostly unknowns headed up by Michael Stuhlbarg, plus a repetitive use of Jefferson Airplane's "Don't You Want Somebody To Love" make this one hard to forget.
17. In The Loop
I haven't laughed this hard at a screenplay since I can't remember when. Easily one of the mostly tightly and slyly crafted scripts in years, this indie film flew mostly under the radar, but there were enough who recognized it's greatness as it awoke on Oscar nomination morning to find itself scoring a nod for best original screenplay. Cautiously recommended due to language (which is rather unfortunate considering just how laugh-out-loud funny this film's dialogue is), In The Loop managed to take everything we know about talking heads, politics, cable news, and broadcast journalism and flip them all on their head for a rather irreverent and hilarious look at it all. Highly recommended for the member of the family with the most impressive vocabulary and wicked sense of wit.
16. Crazy Heart
Who knew Colin Farrell could sing country music so convincingly? Working with a bare bones screenplay that smacks of other films that came before it (Tender Mercies, The Wrestler, The Long Weekend), Scott Cooper's Crazy Heart comes alive in the capable hands of leading man Jeff Bridges. I thought earlier in the year when I heard Morgan Freeman was paying Nelson Mandela in Invictus that it would seal the deal on the best actor race, but I gotta hand it to 'ole Jeff: He nailed the oft-cliched role of a washed-up country singer and breathed life into it. A handful of tunes by music icon T-Bone Burnett only elevated this film to a whole new level, and essentially did for country music what O Brother, Where Art Thou? did for folk and bluegrass. I didn't really care much for Maggie Gyllenhaal truth be told, but Bridges, Farrell, and the always great Robert Duvall made up the difference nicely.
15. Avatar
Why so low on my list? You should be asking how did it get so high on my list. Here's the deal: Avatar sucked from a storytelling point of view. The characters were one dimensional at best, the pathos never hooked me, and the ethos I flat out found insulting at times. The good part about the film? The special effects. I will admit that watching Avatar in 3D was probably the most visually impressive thing I've seen ever projected on a big screen. It was like I've been watching films with one eye closed my whole life, and suddenly now both eyes were opened and a whole new layer of depth and dimension was opened to me, it was truly phenomenal. But unlike a well told story with good effects (think Lord of the Rings), a rather overused and crappy screenplay with all the special effects in the world can't elevate it to greatness. Story is everything, and Avatar badly needed to learn that lesson about 14 years ago when it started it's developmental stages. Pretty to look at though. =)
14. Public Enemies
I'm not a huge fan of Johnny Depp, probably because the characters he portrays are usually a bit too far-out and inaccessible for me. This film however, made me a fan. His tough-around-the-edges take on John Dillinger was spot on for Michael Mann's period ode to the early crime waves of 1930s America, and the supporting cast was brilliant as well: Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, and Billy Crudup just to name a few in a very deep roster. Crudup's J. Edgar Hoover was especially good, and the gritty use of digital filmmaking seen here actually in some ways made the film more accessible even if it lost some of "that magical film look" due to it. This one really pops out on BluRay because of it, and it's a shame that it's early release date made it more of a summer film for adults than a serious awards contender.
13. Star Trek
J.J. Abrams has an impressive resume: creating such TV hits as Alias, Lost, and Fringe, helping launch the success of Cloverfield, and now breathing new life into franchises such as Mission: Impossible and Star Trek. While some fans of the original may have felt his tampering with their universe was a bit too personal, I loved it. Easily one of the best summer films in recent memory, and the cast was well chosen to carve out new ground for themselves while still paying respects to their predecessors. Watching this film in IMAX only intensified the epic space opera that it was, and when the Enterprise jumped to warp speed for the first time, it was all the audience could do to hold on for dear life and enjoy the adventure every step of the way. This is blockbuster entertainment at it's best.
12. Sherlock Holmes
If Star Trek represented the best summer blockbuster, then (Avatar notwithstanding) Sherlock Holmes was easily the best holiday blockbuster. The chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law was nearly flawless, and Guy Ritchie's direction was equal parts as harshly gritty as it was delightfully witty. Scenes where the good detective would mentally think through each move of his fights before executing them made for some very creative adaptations of the classic Holmes character, and the production design, music, and screenplay all ushered the audience along on what became a very enjoyable thrill ride with some thought put into it. If there was ever a sequel waiting to be made, it's for this film right here.
11. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wes Anderson meets stop-motion animation. Sounds cool on paper, looked even better on film. Anderson was able to integrate his keen dialogue and sense of character into a whole new storytelling medium and make one of the best animated films of the year. Delightfully done with all the wit and charm one expects from an Anderson film, this one is also a purely visual feast for the eyes when one takes the time to consider the huge labor of love that stop-motion animation is. Everything in the frame is made by hand, and the animation itself is lovingly and patiently created one frame at a time by moving the puppets just a fraction of a degree between each photograph. The original Roald Dahl source material was respectfully blended with Anderson's vision, and the result was pure cinematic pleasure on the big screen.
10. The Soloist
A super early release date means that most have already forgotten about this film, but the latest directorial effort by Joe Wright made one of the better films to be inspired by a true story to meet cinemas this year. Lovingly acted with intensity and depth by both Jamie Foxx and Robet Downey Jr., the true story of street musician Nathaniel Ayers, his troubled past and his unique relationship with LA Times writer Steve Lopez was truly heartwarming. The message of friendship and of looking out for one's neighbor in need is one I certainly welcome, and the unique blend of the LA streets with the world of classical music made it one of the more colorful films of 2009. A potential tear-jerker, this one will move you to embrace the power of art and the bond of friendship.
9. Inglourious Basterds
I normally consider Quentin Tarantino to be the most overrated filmmaker of our times, but he made what may be his best film yet and even won me over with his intentionally revisionist take on WW2 history. From the opening scene involving a very cat-and-mouse dialogue between a farmer hiding Jews beneath the floorboards of his house and the evil Captain Hans Linda of the SS, I was hooked. It's not often you see a WW2 film where you honestly don't know the ending, and that alone made it exciting. Add in Tarantino's flair for sharp direction and crisp editing mixed with fully developed characters and an exciting score peppered with classic melodies and you end up with one strangely moving film that wins you over. Heck, even if Brad Pitt and the Basterds weren't in more than one third of the film, it was still pretty darn good and exciting.
8. District 9
Regardless of the comparative lack of special effects and box office dollars, this film succeeded where Avatar failed. District 9 took a familiar story and historical incident (apartheid in South Africa) and turned it into a sci-fi analogy for tolerance and understanding. Whereas Avatar had simply characters with little depth, District 9 made us feel real emotions for it's alien characters AND human antagonizers at the same time. It's unique style of using mostly doctored news footage and documentary hand-held camera shots to tell it's fast-paced story made up for the lack of 3D wizardry that gave Avatar it's huge edge, and in the end, I actually think this film was the far more deserving of it's best picture nod than Avatar was. Look at the whole puzzle and when you see how well the pieces all fit together, I think you'll agree it's the better crafted and strongly centered of the two.
7. The Princess and the Frog
Disney's return to traditional "2D" hand drawn animation was a very triumphant one in my opinion, it was a nostalgic throw-back to the Disney films of the early 90s that I grew up on, films like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. These films all had whimsical and colorful characters filled with life and told their stories over the course of numerous musical numbers all meant to explore the unique blending of cultures from a certain part of the world (this one really capitalizing on the Jazz, Zydeco, and Soulful scene of New Orleans and the delta bayous of Louisiana.) The music is catchy, the story is touching, and the magic is back just like you'd expect from the house that Walt built.
6. Up In The Air
A lot of people considered this to be Clooney's best work in a long, long time, and I have to agree. In many ways Hollywood's favorite bachelor is perfectly suited to play a suave older businessman who refuses to be tied down with the weight of any real relationships. The subtle touches and humorous moments that director Jason Reitman give this somewhat serious drama about the downsizing in today's economic climate really made this film stand out and well rounded and tightly crafted. Watching Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick walk away with equally good supporting turns didn't hurt either, and in the end the film ends up being a uniquely quirky examination of the need for real relationships. Life's better with people, and this film shows that in a darkly humorous and real way.
5. Invictus
When I heard that Clint Eastwood was going to direct Morgan Freeman in a Nelson Mandela biopic I was already a fan. I happen to love virtually anything these two put out separately, and on the rare occasion where they team forces (Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby), the result is usually pitch perfect. This time Clint works behind the camera exclusively, letting Freeman completely run the show and giving him a young Matt Damon to play against for extra depth. The result, in my opinion, was an understated portrait of a staggering man, something that only Clint Eastwood could and would pull off in such a manner. Everything about this film is simple and stripped clean of most dramatic urges and flourishes that many directors overlay them with, and it's that simplicity that make the film click. Eastwood has never wasted any time getting to the heart of his stories, and where he was also extra smart here was to not tackle the entire life of Mandela, but give us a special snapshot into his presidency when the hopes and fears of a nation played out symbolically through a rugby team in the 1995 world cup. Through such a narrow window we get a clear picture of what's really important here, and the message of forgiveness and reconciliation has never been more desperately needed than today.
4. The Blind Side
Some called it sappy, some called it racist (which I laughed at, how could this film possibly be racist?), some thought it was pretty cheesy. America thought it was the best movie to come along in some time, and it truly became this year's feel-good film. I'll readily admit, when I hear friends from church talk about how good a film is, I usually groan a little inwardly, expecting the film to have honest and good intentions but more often than not violate good artistic principles and common sense methods of storytelling (show, don't tell). So consider it ironic that I never saw a film titled The Blind Side coming at me, and it hit me full on with it's message and story, which is as true and touching as any I've heard in some time. And to those critics who say it's too inspirational or too "feel-good", I simply ask, is that a bad thing? In a time of economic hardships and during a thanksgiving season where many families came closer than ever to truly experiencing the humility and desperation exhibited by the pilgrims in their first thanksgiving, this film stuck a chord with audiences. The story of a poor child on the streets taken in by a kind family and given opportunities to succeed gave a whole new definition to "loving thy neighbor" and what it means to truly adopt someone into your family and care for them as if they were your own.
3. The Young Victoria
I love this movie. I love everything about it. The costumes, the acting, the screenplay, the sets, the PG rating, the romance... when's the last time you saw a love story that was more passionate than any you've seen in some time, and it was that way without showing any skin or conjuring up any fake scenarios? In a day and age when people are more cynical about love and marriage than ever before, the true story about the love between Prince Albert and Queen Victoria is such a bright beacon of hope to gather around. This isn't some sexed-up Hollywood romance, this is history told in all of it's grand sweeping emotion, and Emily Blunt has never exhibited such grace and range in any of her previous work, make no mistake about it, she'll go far. I took my 77 year old grandmother to see this film and she adored it, do you know how rarely that happens these days? And this isn't a boring film for old folks either, it has all the intensity and color one would expect from any period piece worth it's salt, and I can't recommend it enough on all accounts. We need more love stories like this, that celebrate marriage and treat their characters as real individuals, not objects to be glorified.
2. The Hurt Locker
This years Best Picture winner contained more suspense than an entire platoon of war films, and told a story that smartly focused on it's soldier protagonists and didn't spend it's time trying to please a right-wing or left-wing political agenda. It's a briskly told thriller that examines the war on terror through the eyes of one who has truly lived it: members of the high-risk E.O.D. unit, responsible for detonating road-side bombs in Iraq left behind by insurgents. These guys eat danger for breakfast, every time they go out and suit up, it's life or death, and Kathryn Bigelow's masterful direction captures both the psyche of these soldiers as well as the suspenseful moments where their lives hang in the balance. It truly deserved Best Picture, and I thought it was one of the best told stories I've seen on modern day warfare in some time, easily the best of the bunch in the recent boom of "Iraq war films", most of which are too preachy and too biased to sit through. The Hurt Locker grabs you from the first frame and doesn't let go until the credits roll.
1. Up
Yep, I think Up was the best film of 2009. I seriously think the directors walked into a room full of animators and basically said in so many words, "Ok guys here's the deal: we want the audience crying in 10 minutes.... oh, and don't use words." The grasp that the folks at Pixar have on the ability to tell a moving and meaningful story visually through images is phenomenal, and really ought to put most of their live action dramatic contemporaries to shame. There's more rich emotional development imbued into the character of Ellie, Carl's late wife who's already dead less than 10 minutes into the film, than any character that inhabits the world of Avatar on the planet Pandora. Seriously, anytime you find yourself experiencing the level of emotion that Up evoked in a "normal" film it's special enough, but for a so called kids movie told with animation to reach these levels was truly amazing. The haunting images of Carl pulling his house on his back, juxtaposed with the playful developments of reluctant wilderness explorer Russel and talking dog Dug made this a film that worked for all audience of all ages on multiple levels. That right there is reason enough to rank it at #1.
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So there you have it, my top 20 for the year. If you're not satisfied with this "mainstream list" however, and want to dive deeper into some more unique niches of the film community, then check out what I'll call my "other 6" top films, all of which are either documentaries or foreign language films, two categories that usually contain some of the more obscure gems to be released, films which yield to the patient viewer much more than most expect. I'll start with the foreign language stuff:
3. Ponyo
This animated tale comes from the brush of legendary director/animator Hayao Miyazaki, an academy award winner for 2001's Spirited Away, and a man many consider to be the greatest living animator, second only to the late great Walt Disney. This story, loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson's original Little Mermaid story, explores the relationship between Sosuke, a young boy, and Ponyo, the female goldfish-turned-human that he rescues from the ocean. Bright colors, simple hand-drawn animation, and very simply storytelling make this a film for children certainly, but it's also got some lovely lessons for adults and some pretty well developed characters in the form of Sosuke's Mom and the old women who live at the local nursing home. Not for everyone, but for those willing to give it a shot, Ponyo is a delight. I literally saw this movie hours after I had just been let go from the best and only job I'd had in over 6 months, so this film holds a special place in my heart for helping me temporarily escape the stress of it all and just revert to a few hours of childlike fascination once again. The version released domestically in the states by Disney has an English language track featuring stars such as Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, and more; but I for one recommend the original Japanese language track as I feel it more closely captures the original emotion and heart of the story.
2. Departures
This film, also from Japan, won the oscar at the 2009 academy awards as the best foreign language film of 2008, but it didn't see any American distribution until 2009, so I consider it a release for this year in many ways. It's not hard to see why it won best foreign language film either, as it's easily one of the most poignant films to have come along in recent memory. It's the story of a cellist let go from his orchestra, and in his struggle to find a new job, takes an ad in the paper labeled "Departures" thinking it will be work with a travel agency. He finds instead that it's actually a position as an encoffiner, preparing dead bodies for their departure from this life to the next. The philosophical musings on death and what it means to different families of the deceased, as well as subplots involving the cellists relationships with his wife and with his father, all collide to make a very moving portrait of life that beautifully examines what it means to live and to love. The use of seasons to symbolize the passage of time and the further maturing of our protagonist, as well as the repetitive use of some lovely cello pieces, will certainly steal your heart and win you over.
1. Red Cliff
This film is Chinese (I know what you're thinking: goodness Ben, you only watch foreign films from Asia or something? haha), and directed by action master John Woo. Here he really takes on history and legend and epic filmmaking all at once to recreate and tell the battle of Red Cliff, one of the most famous stories from early Chinese military history, 208 AD to be precise. Utilizing the genre conventions of many martial arts movies (flying swords and sweeping hand-to-hand combat), Red Cliff still manages to stay loosely grounded enough in real time and space to be enjoyable to even the casual viewer. It should be noted that the version released in America is a 2 hour 40 minute film, and while it's good and will get the point across, the actual film in China was cut into two pieces as it clocked in at an impressive 4 hours and 48 minutes, and was released as not one but two films, Red Cliff Part 1 and Red Cliff Part 2. That international "directors cut" is available on BluRay and DVD, and highly recommended if you want the whole story. The battle scenes are beyond epic, and surprisingly for the type of film, the characters are given a pretty good multi-dimensional treatment that makes them much more real that you'd expect. After watching the whole thing, you'll feel like you've been on an entire military campaign with the generals featured therein.
And now for the documentaries....
3. The Cove
One of the most entertaining (if that's the right word) documentaries to come along in some time, this film about the dolphin slaughter taking place in Japan is part environmental call-to-arms, part Ocean's eleven thriller. That's because the whole film is told by way of a framework that presents the operation as an undercover mission, and it totally was: the filmmakers had to sneak in under cover of darkness using highly sensitive thermal and night-vision cameras to plant their respective eyes and ears around the cove in question and properly capture the footage of what was really happening to these animals. As one reviewer noted, "it's Flipper meets The Bourne Identity". I'm not usually an animal rights activist kinda guy (which isn't to say I don't care, just that I don't care enough to elevate the lives of animals over that of humans for starters), but this film really won me over. Whether you agree with all the views expressed within or not, one things for sure, you'll not be disappointed with the way the documentary unfolds in a suspenseful manner.
2. Burma VJ
This documentary was also nominated for Best Documentary and lost to The Cove at the Oscars, which is a real shame because as good as The Cove was, I find the subject of Burma VJ to be much more important than dolphin slaughter: the oppression of an entire nation by a cruel military regime that rules by fear and thuggery, striking out against any displays of resistance or free speech. Burma VJ captures the few weeks in 2007 when the Buddhist monks of Burma led an uprising against the military junta that runs the country, and when one realizes that the images presented in this documentary were obtained at the risk of the camera-man's life and freedom, the film takes on a greater weight. It's not often you feel like you're literally watching history unfold live before you, but Burma VJ does just that and does it in a way that raises awareness over an issue that has yet to be resolved and deserves more attention. It's illegal to film things in Burma, especially demonstrations or protests against the government, and so in many ways it's remarkable that this film even exists in the first place. Worth watching on an empty stomach and with a desire to learn and be challenged.
1. Walt & El Grupo
The work of filmmaker Theodore Thomas, son of legendary Disney animator Frank Thomas and director of previous films about Disney such as Frank & Ollie, this one is unique in it's scope: The film examines that period of Walt's career when he was sent by the US government to south america to help strengthen diplomatic ties in the wake of WW2 and Nazi infusion into places such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, etc. From these goodwill trips came the two films Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, animated classics that explored the culture and history of our south and latin american friends. Through mostly photographs and interviews, along with some old 16mm footage, Thomas has given us a vibrant record of that trip and what it meant to Walt and did for his career. The film creates a great sense of mood and nostalgia, and there's one scene in particular where it literally goes from being a documentary to more of a "nonfiction cinema" piece, creating in the viewer a sense of longing to return to the way things were in a world long gone and faded, now only a memory from long ago. It's a true testimony that a film about a time period made long before I was ever born could make me feel nostalgic for that period, and the creativity and love on display here as Thomas follows Walt and his father's pilgrimage through South America is quite moving. Playing with old photographs and manipulating them in different planes and fields of view give the film a extra boost and elevate it beyond a tired PBS style documentary and instead into a real sentimental work of art. For whatever reason, this film moved me so much that I was tempted to list it as my number one film of the year, but since it's quite literally been seen by only a couple hundred people fortunate enough to know about it's existence, I gave it it's own unique category to inhabit. I do hope it gets a limited release elsewhere and a life on DVD in the near future, because it's a really charming picture of Walt Disney and a very unique look into the man behind the myth that I think everyone who loves film, history, culture, and animation ought to see.
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So yeah, that's pretty much my top 26 films for the year, check for them wherever you look for good movies (Blockbuster, RedBox, Netflix), you're bound to discover some great films for the first time if you take my word for it. Enjoy! and let me know what you think! Comments are always welcome! =)
