The Top 10 Best Films of 2009
10. Up:
Disney-Pixar has a knack for juxtaposing light-hearted hilarity next to heart-wrenching emotional roller coasters. Up is tragic and somehow inspiring– leaving the audience with goose bumps that cannot tell if they’re coming or going. However, what is dissimilar about Up from previous Pixar films is that it strikes upon the heartfelt and heart wrenching immediately: the opening montage is something that everyone can relate to: loss of love.
After ripping at our emotions, Up provides hearty comic reprieve. The director, Pete Docter (Monsters Inc.) captures the ethos of the talking dog with hilarious precision. Beyond Dug the talking dog, Up features Kevin the bird and the innocent, young Russel who all function as a perfect comedy ensemble. All of these characters are hilarious on their own, but confronting them with grumpy Carl, voiced by Ed Asner, the film becomes amazing.
9. The Hangover:
This film earned its placement on this list for sheer comedic value, based mostly around the character of Zack Galifianakis; his character in the frame of that plot is so brilliantly funny it becomes painful. Although Galifianakis gives a superior performance, the film doesn’t offer much else, but it must be mentioned, Mike Tyson air drumming a Phil Collins song is really fun to watch.
8. Taking Woodstock
Ignoring whether or not Ang Lee (The Hulk, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) is out of his element, he does a fantastic job depicting American culture in the 1960′s. Most of us weren’t alive, but according to reputable old people, Taking Woodstock is a perfect representation of hippie culture. The film is a mosaic of fact and artistic interpretation weaved together by comedic brilliance.
7. Where The Wild Things Are:
This film may have ignored the younger demographic, but it deserves placement on a top 10 list nonetheless. The film’s adult demographic can be attributed to the fact that Maurice Sendak’s book was published in 1963 and has enjoyed pervasive success almost the entire time. The film is visually beautiful, and the plot is intensely dramatic. After the main character Max departs from his domestic woes and encounters the Wild Things, the film becomes both emotionally and intellectually stimulating. The wild things are fragmentations of Max’s identity that usher him through his internal healing process.
6. Fantastic Mr. Fox:
So much about this film deserves notoriety. Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore) created a film, based off of a novel by Roald Dahl, that is incredibly entertaining for children and adults featuring stop motion animation. Most notably, the film contains adult dialogue, but never a single swear word. Anderson replaces every curse with the word “cuss,” and it is incredibly funny (e.g. “Are you cussing me?”). The humor may be lost on the younger audience, but the action/adventure plot doesn’t leave the kids behind.
5. Away We Go:
This is a brilliant film about the creation of family; every college aged person should watch it at least once. It is crass and silly; the humor is perfect for a young adult audience. The plot deals follows the couple as they travel throughout the U.S. and Canada trying to figure out exactly where they want to raise their baby. The movie goes well beyond trying to find a place to raise a baby, and this is why it is so salient to college aged people.
4. The Watchmen:
Even if you never read the comic book, or even managed to realize the comic book existed, this film managed to stand alone and be enjoyable. Supposing you have an interest in super heroes, or action films in general, The Watchmen was an epic historical fiction that demanded attention. The director Zachary Snyder made a few necessary changes in the film that may have annoyed comic book fans, but when you step back and make an objective assessment, Snyder made good choices. Most notably, the catastrophe in the end of the comic book was not a massive explosion but a giant, raging tentacle monster. I think we can all agree that a tentacle monster would not have translated well to film.
3. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus:
Arguably one of Terry Gilliam’s best films, this movie deserves notoriety for a huge host of reasons. Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys) directed and co-wrote an original story that literally dove into the imagination. The Imaginarium featured dark, drab realism next to visually fantastic psychedelia. The film was exciting, depressing, and left unanswered questions that forces the audience to think– something most Hollywood flicks avoid aggressively.
The late Heath Ledger played a smooth-talking, two-faced debonair and gave a remarkable performance in his final film. He was infuriating and still managed to inspire sympathy. Ledger’s untimely passing a third of the way through production seemed catastrophic, but Gilliam adapted remarkably. The story flowed perfectly, as though the director never had to face the morose challenge of continuing without one of the star actors. Although Gilliam’s adaptability was greatly aided by the all-star help Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrel who stepped in to fill Ledgers shoes.
2. Zombieland:
The highest grossing zombie film in history demands placement on any top 10 list. This is the funniest zombie flick since Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead and is accessible for people who don’t care for zombie iconography. It’s gory, hilarious, and in 17 days it grossed more than 60 million dollars. Generally, the film follows the generic zombie formula of group of people survive the apocalypse and attempt to find a new life somewhere. However, within that formula Zombieland dominates.
1. Inglourious Basterds:
Writer/Director Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill) created a historical fiction that was gory, glorious, and epic. Tarantino often referenced this film as a spaghetti western like The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly in a World War II setting, and given the chapter style story line and the character creation he has succeeded. Similar to a spaghetti western the film features scenes with extended dialogue, long silences, followed by staggering violence that takes the audience aback.
Films to Look Forward to in 2010
Tron: Legacy:
If you enjoyed the original Tron, then prepare yourself for anticipation that may border on agony. The director of the original, Steven Lisberger, returning as a producer for this sequel. Furthermore (brace yourselves), Daft Punk is composing the score for the film. At the 2009 San Diego Comic Con it was revealed that Daft Punk composed 24 tracks, and if their previous albums are any indication for the film’s soundtrack, the theater may witness an impromptu dance party.
During the same comic con, the trailer was released as well. The film appears incredibly attractive with a style similar to the original. And, of course, Tron: Legacy will be available in 3D.
Jeff Bridges returns to assume the same character, Kevin Flynn, that has been trapped in the same cyber universe for the past 25 years. Now however, while investigating his father’s disappearance, his 27-year-old son, Sam Flynn, is ensnared in the same universe. Father and son are re-united and confronted with new, more technologically sophisticated dangers.
The Runaways:
This film is based on the mid-70′s all female band and their successes and tribulations. Most college aged people may fail to realize this band existed save for the brief reference made in the movie Juno; although, Juno made so many obscure references you may have missed it completely. Regardless, if you enjoy punk-rock like Patti Smith, The Dead Kennedys, or the idea of an all female punk band at all, this movie is for you.
The movie’s cast may also pique your interest; Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Series) and Dakota Fanning (Man On Fire, Coraline) co-star in this film. Not only does selection for the cast seem odd, the director Floria Sigismondi has made her career with photography and music videos. All in all the entire ensemble is novel and interesting and deserves at least one viewing.
Shutter Island:
For fans of Martin Scorcese (Goodfellas, The Departed) or horror films in general, you should take note of this films release. Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo star as two U.S. Marshals who are investigating the disappearance of a patient from an insane asylum.
What makes this film relevant to horror fans is that the insane asylum is isolated on a small island. Needless to say, terrible, terrible things are going to happen, and although Scorcese is more famous for his gangster films, he has shown time and again he is capable of depicting savage violence. All in all, this film promises to be suspenseful and vicious.
Red Dawn:
This is not a clerical error. MGM has decided to remake the 1984 original Red Dawn. For those who have no idea what this means, Red Dawn was a war film that chronicled the adventures of high school students as they formed a band called the Wolverines to fight the Russians after they invade the U.S. Though it may be crass to say, this franchise is a prime example of war porn. It is that simple.
However, since it’s 2009 and we aren’t really afraid of Russia anymore, the remake will feature a Chinese invasion. Given this summary you may be wondering why you should look forward to it; Red Dawn was one of those movies you were completely aware it was bad, but it was so entertaining you didn’t care. It was not a cult classic by accident. If the remake will bear any resemblance to the original then it should be worth at least one viewing.