Many will be pissed off about what I am about to praise, diss, and admit I have missed this year. Hopefully my explanations will explain myself. Let’s start with the best and work down.....

Best of 2009:

1. Inglourious Basterds-

The best movie of the year was also my most anticipated. Being jewish, I could not look forward more to the anti- holocaust movie where Nazis run in terror, and jews are still considered heros. But when I went to see this, it was different and the same as I was expecting. The dialogue is very funny and Tarantino has great timing in the build up of suspenseful scenes. Since this movie is mainly in subtitles, you could assume the performances had to be even greater for this to work. The Jew Hunter(though I have a problem with them using my last name for him) played by Waltz gives a terrific performance being insanely funny and also terrifying because he could know something you don’t think he does, and he would never seem suspicious to you. There is no real star of this film however, because it has to be a collective. Brad Pitt still turns in an awesome performance just like in another dark comedy from last year called Burn After Reading. This movie is bloody at times, but for the most part it spends the time building up to the big payoff which is pretty cool, as long as you can stand Hitler being shot in the face multiple times. Historians beware!

2. Up in the Air-

George Clooney had many winners this year and I knew this was gonna be his best. Jason Reitman has done Thank You for Smoking and Juno, but neither is as good as he is here. This movie seems to make itself. In these times, no one is safe from the deadly syndrome of losing your job. I love the cast they got together because they were first gonna make a straight up comedy so they got many funny people, and even though this is a very funny movie sometimes, there is a lot of drama. Do not go see this movie unless you are ready for the punch it gives you at the end. It severly depressed me, but if you can handle a little sorrow I highly recommend you see this wonderful and moving movie.

3. Funny People-

The last hour is unnecessary. What qualifies you to say such things? This movie is amazing, funny when it can be, and also sad. It does not have to end with a perfect ending and in the end it was the right way to go. I love Judd Apatow and I love this movie for trying to take the road less traveled while keeping his signature dick jokes in. Adam Sandler was an inspired choice and Seth Rogen is showing much range recently, never seeming to play the same person. Everyone does a great job of supporting this movie and making it feel real and relevant. I feel people should give this film a second chance, because they didn’t really understand the point.

4. The Brothers Bloom-

This was truly the first great film of 2009. It was magical like a movie should be and gave Mark Ruffolo his greatest performance I have ever seen, which isn’t hard with a resume of Just like Heaven and 13 Going on 30. You NEED to see this if you haven’t because this is the kind of gem that sits in the dust while all you people go flock to some Transformers mega blockbuster, and then seem disappointed when you realize it was a piece of crap.

5. Fantastic Mr. Fox-

George Clooney’s other brilliant performance was as a fox, which some women would think comes naturally. This movie is very different then most animated movies because it has Wes Anderson’s indie feel and the animals literally cuss out each other. This was not given a fair chance because people thought it was stupid, but anyone I show this film to loved it. It is not typical of animated movies to take this many chances and if you would rather see the same pop culture animal movie then don’t try seeing this movie because it will change your perspective.

6. Away We Go-

I wish this movie did better because it was very funny people doing what they do best. It is visually stunning to watch with some great shots of airplanes in windowpanes and the beautiful driving down an empty freeway. John Krasinski is very good, and equally good is his truly better half Maya Rudolph. If the chemistry didn’t work, you would never buy this film and you do. I also will now see anything by Sam Mendes (even though I have yet to see American Beauty) because Revolutionary Road was also a brilliant movie, small and nuanced. The supporting cast also is great with inspired choices for different sane and insane people they meet.

7. District 9-

One of the most human alien movies around. People who see this movie are amazed that this movie blends moving drama and action with a dose of dark comedy to make a memorable motion picture experience. Neil Blomkamp is the mastermind at work here, even though you can’t go anywhere without seeing Peter Jackson on the poster. Jackson helped get it out to us, but I believe he was not involved in the actual film making. I hope to see Sharlto Copley do more work, he is a fine actor who can make you despise him and then like him again.

8. Star Trek-

Never in a million lightyears would I think I would be interested in Star Trek. This has one of the best and most original casts and was the purest popcorn movie of the summer. This movie is high on entertainment value and anyone who saw it was immediately enticed. One of the bigger surprises of the year.
9. Up-

It was pure magic. No other company would take balloons, tie them to a house, and make a convincing Action Drama Comedy (Dractiody?), and Pixar would get behind this film because they have made rats cooking and robots n love magical also.

10. Watchmen-

The graphic novel is bleak and so is the movie. It’s not all about the blue penis! I recommend this movie if you can stomach insane violence and question the value of superheroes. It raises a lot of questions and is cool and also depressing. I think Billy Crudup is a standout here because his calm demeanor is used to be funny and also sad and he doesn't get a lot of credit for playing one of the hardest characters to figure in this movie.

11. Where the Wild Things Are-

A dramatic movie about a kids dark imagination. It was a bigger hit than Mr. Fox, but still should get a bigger audience when it comes out on DVD, for being moving and sad while enacting childhood fantasy.

12. The Soloist-

Robert Downey Jr. is best when he is an asshole, which is what he does here. HE is not the perfect man, but he tries to help Foxx’s gifted musician as best he can, through any means he can. In the end, it is uplifting and also very musically savvy.

13. Princess and The Frog-

Why this movie you ask? It is a fun throwback to Disney’s original imagination, has an extremely different type of evil at hand, some wonderful songs, and you would not know it, but everything fits perfectly together. Every good guy gets what they deserve, and the bad guys also get their comeuppance.

14. A Christmas Carol-

Motion capture technology is still not perfect, but I could not stop smiling at this Disney theme park attraction. It was loads of fun to be whisked away over rooftops and chased by a ghost through London streets. Jim Carrey tok his role seriously which was a good choice and Robert Zemeckis made a very interesting approach to the already classic tale.

15. Michael Jackson’s This Is It-

A very interesting way to see the master at work. He took you through the steps he made to make a would have been great concert and he had very interesting visual mind. He was a visionary and no one can dispute that.


Honorable Mentions:

The Hangover-

Zach Galifianakis made this movie. I did not love it at first, but every time I watch it, it gets funnier and funnier.

The Ugly Truth-

I found Gerard very funny and Cheryl Hines and John Michael Higgins made a good husband and wife duo. I thought this movie was pretty funny, but not good enough to put in my top.

Fanboys-

A funny Star Wars fan parody that many cool, famous people got behind got shafted and never really saw the light of day. I think if you want to get a couple of laughs go give tis a rental.
The International-

It could have made my top, but I didn’t really understand what was going on. I was extremely entertained, but since I could not follow it, it is not the best of 2009, though it is still awesome to see Clive Owen get mad.
Moon-

Have not seen it, but many loved it and it would have probably been on my list if I had.

The Hurt Locker-

Everyone told me to see this, but I never had time. I will see it soon, but that is why it is not on my list.

Bandslam-

A good, clever teenage comedy that I recommend for kids.

The Invention of Lying-

A very funny concept attached to very funny people that makes very good comedy.

Ponyo-

This movie was magical and a beauty, but I never got to watch the entire hing. If I did, it probably would have been one of my favorites.

Whip It!-

A charming movie about female roller skaters and very underrated.

Zombieland-

I am not a fan of zombie movies, but this is my favorite one. It is very funny and makes me actually like Jesse Eisenberg.

The Men Who Stare at Goats-

The third awesome George Clooney movie. Entertaining mix of government and hippie movement.

The Road-

The book was bleak and I was not ready for the movie, but I think I would have liked the movie.

Brothers-

I was not in the mood for a drama, but I heard this one was good and did not get to see it.

Nine-

I appreciate a good musical and I think this one about a director would have been right up my alley.

Invictus-

A very strong work about the wonderfully brilliant Nelson Mandella, but did not seem to fit my list. I recommend it though.

Bruno-

An underrated comedy that made fun of pop culture, which may have been its downfall.



The Bad and Overrated:

Adventureland-

If Funny People was bad, why did this movie get so much praise for being the teenage 1980s version of it? Was it the bad acting of Eisenberg or Stewart or was it just easy critic bait that no one seemed to challenge? This is a FUCK YOU movie.

Avatar-

While it was not terrible, it did not really move me as District 9 did, and did not entertain as Star Trek did. It was beautiful, but did not have an original story and only interested me for five minutes at the end. It is overrated and hopefully will not win the Oscars because there are far superior movies in the race than this.

Whatever Works-

Not really.

Public Enemies-

Beautiful bore.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince-

The Most boring movie of the series and the stupidest reason for the title. Hopefully the next two will make up for this one.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon-

Did not see it, but I don’t think it takes a mastermind to know that this movie would be nothing(literally) without shirtless dudes. That’s the buzz it gets.

It’s Complicated-

You can tell it’s written by a woman because everything works out for Meryl in the end, even though she doesn’t deserve it.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard-

This movie sucked hard. Ed Helms was the funniest thing about this and he couldn’t even pull out of this clunker.

All About Steve-

The news crew was the best part, but even towards the end, they too, fell apart with this movie.

Extract-

I wish it was more what I wanted, but I might enjoy it more on later viewinigs. I was expecting Arrested Development: The Movie.

Couples Retreat-

This movie is a waste of all talent making the film. NO ONE TRIED!!

Law Abiding Citizen-

Stupid, unbelievable movie. Cell phone shot someone in the head, give me a freaking break!

Precious-

Did not see it because I heard and it looked screwed up.

Pirate Radio-

Did not sit right with me and takes a weird left turn at the ending.

Planet 51-

The trailer made me gag.

Old Dogs-

5 minutes of this movie were more than enough to sit through.

Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus-

Great special effects and really showed how good of an actor Heath Ledger was, but I hate how Gilliam has actors talk over each other in scenes. It really took away from the movie. I have to say it has a great, exciting ending, but I don’t know if it is worth sitting through the whole movie to see.

Sherlock Holmes-

Good acting and writing, but I feel that Guy Ritchie was not the right directing choice. I will likely like it better on repeat viewings.

Taken-

A stupid movie that is entertaining when Liam Neeson is killing everything in his path. The drama sucks and if you take this movie seriously, you will be disappointed.



Well that raps up 2009 for me. I feel it was a pretty good year all around with very entertaining movies. 2010 is shaping up to be a good year as well. I have already liked Youth in Revolt, Get Him to the Greek and Book of Eli and am awaiting many movies that will be coming out soon. Any words of wisdom I would like to hear, as well as any quibbles or agreements. I like debate so let's get to it!