I know, I may be a tad too late for yet another “Best of 2009″ blog, but if I was on time, why would you care so much?
While there was some truly dreck-filled crap this year, I look fondly back, somewhat surprisingly at some movies that I didn’t hate. In fact, a list of 10 movies. I mean, c’mon. How original is that? 10 movies? That’s crazy.
These, my fellow Film-Freaks, are in no particular order, for how can one distinguish between genres from one year to clarify how one is better than the other. And just before anyone goes all nutty be-jesus-fucking-freak-out on me, here is a list of films I wanted to see that I thought might have made it to the top 10 slots, but alas, have not seen yet: Where the Wild Things Are, Up in the Air, 500 Days of Summer, The Hurt Locker, Fantastic Mr Fox, Precious, Ponyo, World’s Greatest Dad, Sherlock Holmes, Whip It, and A Serious Man. I also wanted to see Black Dynamite, but I somehow suspect it wouldn’t have made this list.
Zombieland
How did you not see this one coming? I only raved about for a few weeks after seeing it. A beautifully tasty blend of horror and comedy, throw in some wickedly well written characters, add a dash of video game antics and leave the audience with a well adjusted pallet of self aware film making. I’m telling, along with Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, there seems to be a wonderful backlash of “serious parodies” coming out, and they are all coming out very well made.
Fanboys
While I was much more wanting to see ‘77, this Star Wars reference-filled-to-the-bring gives us exactly what we want… and what Family Guy and Robot Chicken are pushing down our throats. A touching story about a dying friend’s last wish, and the coming together of best friends on a road trip. While the movie is definitely not a “good” movie that I strive to preach about, it’s the pop culture references and constant use of vocabulary that my friends and I use in a daily situation. Was it good? It was hella enjoyable.
Coraline
As much as I loved the movie in the theater, my jaw dropped when I picked up a copy on Blu Ray. The movie is beautiful, touching, and simply amazing. As Fuckin’Bob said, “Neil Gaimandoesn’t talk down to kids” and that is what makes it so enjoyable: a kid’s story without all the intrepid tripe that most children stories are filled with.
Up
Disney’s first Pixar film had many people worried that the Mouse would have such an influence on the story/movie that it would turn out like shit, like most Disney fecal. Even with all these worries the movie seemed to slide in to our hearts and won a place among my favorite Pixar films.
District 9
The viral advertising was awesome enough as it was. Every pop culture website I went to for months had the No Aliens or Humans Only icons all over the pages. With no titles or info about the movie it grabbed my attention early and held on until the trailer was released. I was hooked. After hearing some peoples’ opinions about the movie (saying it was “dudical” or “wicked fucking awesome”) I lost almost all interest, but I was so happy I went to see it. It blew me away! From beginning to end, I was thoroughly engulfed.
Watchmen
After all the years I was excited to see this I went the one night, opening night, where I was the sickest of the last few years. Turns out I had pneumonia and bronchitis. With one of the closest adaptations to date (aside from the thankful ending change - see Fatguy’s review in Film Munkey episode 2), the movie set Snyder into a whole new directing bracket (not that the Dawn of the Dead remake and 300 didn’t help). This still stands as the only Blu ray in my collection I has watched more than 3 times.
The Road
While I wish I had read the book before hand, the movie was overly depressingly charged and an emotional sledgehammer. At the very start I felt the world they lived in; all the grays, the barren landscape, the emptiness, the loneliness, the sheer fear of nothingness. It sounds bleak, but it was beautiful in it’s sadness. That’s enough “ness” words for one review.
Star Trek
Ok, I am a full fledged, badge carrying Star Wars fanatic. I can tell you why and how Boba Fett escaped from the Pit of Carkoon. I can tell you who Luke meets in the original deleted scenes from the first (1978) movie and what they talk about. I am as far from the world of “where no man has gone before” as can be… however, I have to applaud JJ for this amazing reboot/reimaging. I was floored and wished I had seen it in the theater.
Moon
Ever since I first heard about this movie I knew I wanted to see it. With the release date seemingly being pushed back almost weekly, I thought I never would. Finally, I got my review copy and BOOM! I was hooked. It’s a beautiful mix of Tarkovsky’sSolaris and Kubrick’s 2001 with a splash of Aronofsky’sRequiem For A Dream. I was floored by Rockwell’s performance as much as the bleak setting of the script. My only complaint is the constant flow of retards who think I am talking about New Moon. It’s cool, come here, I have a machette for your face.
Inglorious Basterds
How could I forget the one movie that I walked out of with tears of cinematic joy glistening in my theater-screen eyes? I couldn’t, that’s why it’s last. While the movie was not what I thought it would be, I was pleasantly surprised with what it was and was happy it was nothing like the trailers. The opening 15-20 minutes in the French cottage only deserves the best acting award. I spit on any house that doesn’t nominate Christoph Waltz for best supporting actor. Spit, I tell you.
Ah…
Well there you have it. My favorite films of 2009. As you can see, Transformers 2, Wolverine, Avatar and others are not present. Although I have yet to see Avatar, it is so far down on my list of films I want to see, it will be on public access by the time I get around to wanting to view it.
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