Ryan McNeilPerhaps the only thing worse than coming to grips with an off year, is thinking back ten years…and remembering one of the greatest years in recent movie history.
The oddest thing about it, was walking out of a theatre back in the summer thinking I’d just seen something truly amazing. At the time I considered it the best thing I’d seen all year. The odd part was then going to movie after movie, waiting for another film to come along and knock it out of that top spot…but nothing could!
What was this unmovable film? Find out below along with the other four movies that were tops for me this year. And of course, please come back on New Year’s Day for the conclusion of my decade series, where I cover my top five films of the decade…
#5. AVATAR… It’s amazing to see how divisive this movie has become in just two weeks. What can I say – hype kills.
The note I have heard most often is “The story sucks”. To this I say “Hogwash”…or something a tad more explicit which I won’t repeat. The story of AVATAR is as good as it needs to be, and perhaps even a little better. It will never be mentioned amongst the best screenplays of the year, but for a film where most of the effort, energy, and reward comes from the visuals, the story is not a complete afterthought.
Speaking of those visuals, it seems like James Cameron has been sitting back for the last thirteen years watching effects-driven film after effects-driven film, and worked towards something that would say to all challengers “Top this”. The movie has been rendered in IMAX 3-D, and succeeds all the more from being presented in such a manner. It’s a daring bit of sensory overload, and rightfully deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as TERMINATOR 2 and TITANIC.
#4. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS… “This just might be my masterpiece”. Never was a film’s final line so apropos.
In a way, it’s slightly amazing to consider director Quentin Tarantino’s success this decade. Disregarding his grindhouse geekery with DEATH PROOF, both his other projects of the era: KILL BILL and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS were projects that he’d been knocking around since he first broke on the scene as rock star director extraordinaire. Gotta hand it to the guy – the time he spent honing these films was certainly time well spent!
BASTERDS is a wartime fairytale, but not the sort we were told going to sleep as a child. It dares to re-envision history and play out a moment or two that many of would want to know as truth. It dared to incorporate Nazi propaganda filmmaking, made every drop of spilled blood count, and gave us one of the most memorable, unsettling villains of the year. Indeed, it might be Quentin’s masterpiece…hopefully he can build on it and prove that he still has more to say.
#3. PRECIOUS… Earlier I mentioned that hype kills. Every once in a while though, the hype must be believed. Such is the case with PRECIOUS.
If nothing else, PRECIOUS needs to be seen in order to hail two of the best bits of acting done all year. As Claireece “Precious” Jones, Gabby Sidibe becomes a physical embodiment of the question “Why Me?”. What sets her acting apart is the way she goes to such a sad, self-loathing place without it seeming like simply self pity. The fact that she does so with such a genuine performance is a big part of what makes this movie work.
Sidibe carries half of the movie, Mo’Nique carries the other half as Precious’ abusive mother Mary…the darker, more deplorable half. In a way, Mo’Nique is the next in a line of comedians who have startled us by showing their dramatic prowess. However, she might well stand alone as being a comedian who goes to such a dark and disturbing place. Her acting makes the stomach sink, and brings tears to the eyes. It left me wondering where she was able to summon such a performance from – and at the same time left me not wanting to know the answer.
From it’s title on down, this seemed like a movie that was designed as emotional contrivance. As it happens, it’s the furthest thing from it.
#2. AN EDUCATION… My love of this film has raised a few eyebrows, but in the time since I first saw it, I am unwaivered. If anything, I might even like it more.
It’s a stellar bit of acting by Carey Mulligan ion a year filled with stellar bits of acting by actresses. She becomes both a doe-eye innocent and know-it-all twit in the same part, and charms us to death both ways. This is important because if she doesn’t charm us to death, we don’t care about her and feel like she gets what’s coming to her. As it happens, we can see her fate coming, but muscle up some empathy since Mulligan comes off like a sparrow with a broken wing.
AN EDUCATION is all about execution. Every bit of the film – the acting, the photography, the writing, the style, the music, and the direction – is razor-sharp. It all comes together to remind us that lessons learned though life experience can be just as valuable as those learned on chalkboards…so long as you’re open to learning the lesson.
#1. THE HURT LOCKER… The rule says that if a gun comes out in the first act, that it must go off by the third act. But what’s the rule for a bomb that goes off in the first act?? I don’t think there is one, and it’s part of what makes this movie work so well. the movie begins by pointing out that twisted as it might seem, war is a drug. There are indeed men and women who crave living life on the razor’s edge, and disturbing as the notion seems – these are often the men and women who are best suited to protect the rest of us.
Kathryn Bigelow’s film tops my list not only because it continually makes the audience hold its collective breath, not even because it features command performances by both Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie, but because she has helmed the greatest tribute to our soldiers in many years. She takes people who seem to come back broken, and shown us that under the circumstances they aren’t broken at all.
THE HURT LOCKER puts us in the suit, hands us the clippers, and sends us straight into harms way. It’s a place that nobody in the audience wants to be, but it’s a place quite a few soldiers have to be. For forcing us to understand the fear and danger they must face at any given moment, this film leaves an indelible mark in our minds…and takes my spot as the best film of 2009.
If you’re interested, you can find my full reviews of all these films here.
Others on my shortlist for 2009 include STAR TREK, UP, THE HANGOVER, AWAY WE GO, HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, THE INFORMANT!, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, THE ROAD, THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX, UP IN THE AIR, and INVICTUS
Check in on January 1st for the conclusion of this series, my top five films of the 2000’s.
Did I miss one? Feel free to leave comments with your own favorite movies from 2009, along with suggestions for the next top five.
Nice list. Hunger is still my top film of 09. Though a few of the ones you listed will be making my top ten as well.
What's going to happen if you see more 2009 films that you like more? Good list, although I'm yet to see An Education.
So… was the summer movie The Hurt Locker, or Inglourious Basterds? I was surprized that The Hurt Locker blew me away. It's strange though as the December releases haven't really gotten people as excited as they normally are.
Totally with you on An Education – saw it yesterday and wow, what a film.
Looking forward to your films of the decade!
@ CS… Didn't get to see HUNGER, but it's really high on my list of flicks to watch. Can't wait to see your list.
@ Andrew… I find I have to draw a line somewhere. So while some movies I've yet to see could well factor in (MOON, CRAZY HEART, A SINGLE MAN), I doubt the list would be majorly overhauled.
Then again, almost every one of my other lists in the Decade series had at least a small change to them from their original incarnation.
@ Shannon… The summer movie that rocked my socks was THE HURT LOCKER. Coming out of every movie since then, I found myself saying "Not bad…but not as good as HURT LOCKER".
Can't wait to see your 2009 list!
I have to admit that I havent seen any of your top five…Avatar I will watch in the next few days and the rest is going on my netflix list.
Great podcast again by the way 🙂
I can't believe I've not seen any of your top 5 but I really want to see the top three. (500) Days of Summer is my number 1 of the year
Very good list. It's hard to argue with any of the choices here although I haven't seen An Education yet. 500 Days of Summer would probably be #5 for me
I haven't even begun to think about 2009's best films yet. Like you said, it's a year of leftovers.
But I highly agree with An Education, The Hurt Locker, and Inglourious Basterds. I haven't seen Precious or Avatar yet.
@ Vanessa… Thanks for listening to the podcast! That one was really interesting to record since Ryan and I hadn't actually spoken before yesterday morning.
Of my five, I'd obviously say jump on HURT LOCKER first. It hits DVD in two weeks and I can't reccomend it highly enough.
@ Filmgeek… Whatchawaitingfor??? BTW, (500) DAYS was pretty darned close to making the cut, and I actually just bought myself a copy on DVD yesterday.
@ Castor… thanks for reading – it always makes my day to get a comment from someone new. AN EDUCATION really grew on me as I thought back on it. Give it a look when you get a chance.
@ Blake… I drew a line on the '09 year. I mean, I could have waited until I'd seen everything of interest…but that could take me well into March.
ooo what a lovely list! very nice choices.
i am yet to see Inglourious Bastards, will defeinetly borrow it from the video shop sometime.
looking forward to your top films of the decade 🙂
and thanks for reading my blog!
I have to say the two best films of 2009 (UK release) had both been kicking around for over a year before they came out. You will have to wait for 1st Jan to find out (unless you have already guessed). My top ten of the year is all written up and set to auto publish and just past midnight GMT.
As for your list:
I really enjoyed Avatar but not as much as you. I don’t think the story sucks but I don’t think it was strong enough to give the film lasting appeal.
Empire magazine made the same point as you about the closing lines of Inglourious Basterds. You could be right, only time will tell. I spent ten years saying Reservoir Dogs was his best film, only to change my mind and say Pulp Fiction was better. I am begging to think Jackie Brown is aging better than the pair of them.
Precious doesn’t come out here until the end of next month.
I think we discussed An Education at length when we both reviewed it around the same time. A great film, clearly you liked it more than I did but I wasn’t one of the people to raise their eyebrows as I can see why you loved it.
What can I say about The Hurt Locker? I read about it a year before it came out, no film could live up to my expectations for this film, it actually exceeded them. I think I said in my review that it is the best war film since Platoon, as I consider Platoon to be the war film ever I thing you can tell how much I loved this film.
Contrary to the last commenter, I think AVATAR was your strongest pick, and THE HURT LOCKER of course is a stellar selection, as just about everybody agrees. I like AN EDUCATION, but I personally found a number of others I'd rate above it. I had issues with INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, but I've taken my lumps! Ha!
I'd go with:
Bright Star
Avatar
35 Shots of Rum
Up
A Single Man
Police, Adjective
Summer Hours
A Serious Man
Anti-Christ
District 9
Somers Town
Star Trek
Of Time and the City
Seraphine
That's a baker's dozen
I've only seen Avatar out of your top five, but the rest are definitely on my to-see-soon list. My colleague couldn't stop raving about 'Basterds' when it came out and looks like 'An Education' is both the critics' and moviegoers' darling.
One movie that would surely make my list if I get around to writing one is 'District 9'. That flick stayed with me for days, Sharlto Copley delivered an amazing, Oscar-worthy performance. I'm going to see '(500)Days' tomorrow, that one might make my list, too.
Hmmm, I might be in the minority here but I'm not crazy about 'UP' for some reason, despite my affinity for Pixar flicks.
@ Vicki… My pleasure! Just finished watching INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS for the second time (Christmas gift from my mother-in-law). It's even more impressive the second time around. Hope you dig it!
@ Fandango aka "Number Six"… I really believe all of these films will age well, and those that missed the cut (including some of the ones Univarn mentioned in our podcast) just barely missed the cut. In 2009, the difference between a 3.5 movie and a 4 movie for me was sometimes a very slim margin.
Can't wait to see your list!
@ Sam… You have certainly given me a lot to work on, as I haven't seen 8 of your 13!! looks like I gots me some catching up to do!
@ RTM… I mentioned in my podcast (posted on Monday – give it a listen!) that UP for me was "close, but no cigar". Coming off WALL-E, I thought it was a half step backward. I know I'm in the minority, but hey – what else are blogs for??
Precious and An Education still aren't on release (cinema or DVD) down my way but The Hurt Locker is on the top of my To Buy list when pay day comes around
Great list! Avatar is an stunning film and an easy top 5 selection even though I don't know where on my 5 it'd land as I haven't seen the rest of them. They are all right there on the top of the "why haven't I gotten around to seeing them" list though.
I actually preordered The Hurt Locker based on the strength of your review for it.
Great list, and I'm glad to see that "The Hangover" merited an honorable mention. I feel like everyone overlooked that one because it was a raunchy comedy.
You'll hear no complaining from me about "Precious" and "Inglourious Basterds" making the list, since both made mine. Had I been able to see "A Serious Man" and "An Education," I feel certain both would have topped my list.
@ Filmgeek… You won;t be sorry when you finally do see them. 'Til then I'll keep an eye on your blog watching for your inevitable reviews.
@ C Diddle… Bought it based on my say so?? Geez, I'm partially flattered and partially feeling some pressure for you to dig the movie!
@ M. Carter… HANGOVER would have made my ten, were my list that long. Good comedy should never be overlooked! Lookin' forward to hearing your thoughts on SERIOUS MAN and EDUCATION when you finally track them down.
I had such high hopes for 'UP' because I loved Wall-E so much! It's more than a half-step backward, try two. Oh well, at least it was a gorgeous movie and the beginning was quite promising.
Wait this is your top 5 of 2009!? I had no idea!!! *cough cough* :P. I think since I've been hyping up Moon so much to you I should say it's a horrible movie (I need to recheck your expectation meter to not overhyped).
@ RTM… Now, now – UP isn't that bad. It's just difficult for anyone (Pixar included) to follow up a masterpiece.
@ Univarn… My MOON expectations are in check, no worries there. BTW – are you going to do an actual post to list off your top five? I wanted to include it with this week's "Everybody's Talkin", but then realized all you had was the plug for our podcast.
I probably should have had Bigelow's movie No. 1 too, but as good as it is, I just couldn't let anything topple "Inglourious Basterds" at the top … I'm hoping the Oscar nod will bring "An Education" to Macon, 'cause I'd really like to see that again
@ Reel… Too few people saw AN EDUCATION for my liking, but here's hoping it rolls through your town sometime soon.
Taking AVATAR out of the equation, I could easily make a case for any of the other four to be top film of the year – including BASTERDS. It's a really big step for QT to have taken, and if anything it makes me really anxious for his next film.
An INGLOURIOUS Best Picture win would leave me quite content indeed!