Top 15 of 2009

1 spots really isn't enough for 2009, 2009 was a great year for films.

1. Up in the Air

George Clooney with director Jason Reitman.

This film just worked so well for me. A lot of the reasons for me loving this film and making it my #1 though were for personal reasons. My personal favorite screenplay out of any 2009 film, again mostly due to personal reasons. The characters in this film seemed so genuine and reminded me a lot of myself and others that I know in my life. Clooney gives a great performance that he’ll surely be nominated for Best Actor for. Anna Kendricks, does a fantastic job as well forgetting the atrocity known as Twilight and much more in favor of her performance in Rocket Science which she outshines. Jason Reitman proves himself as director/screenwriter with this film, with the help of Sheldon Turner for the screenplay.

This film is a portrait of our society today and takes a look at who we are as people in this day and age.

2. A Serious Man

Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man gives one of the Best Male Performances of 2009

The Coen Brothers are on a roll! No Country for Old Men was easily one of the best movies of the last decade, then they bring the hysterical Burn After Reading, and now to finish off the decade with A Serious Man.

I wasn't sure what to think of the film at first, I had read that it's a slam on religion. Well whoever said that was wrong.

A Serious Man is one of the most thought provoking films of the year. It has a great screenplay that retells the biblical story of Job set in 1967 in a suburban Minnesota town. I’m hoping to see more of Michael Stuhlbarg in film as well as his performance was spectacular in this. I personally believe that he should have been nominated for Best Actor for this.

The cinematography in this is beautiful as well as expected from frequent Coen brothers collaborator, Roger Deakins.

Great movie, it was an incredible close tie for this, The Hurt Locker, and Up in the Air.

3. The Hurt Locker

War is a Drug

One of the best war movies that I have ever seen. This movie isn’t about the plot at all for those looking for a movie to just sit back and watch, the plot is simply the remaining days of Bravo Company’s last days on their tour. This is a great character study that shows the effects of war. Jeremy Renner does a great job as well that will get him a nod for Best Actor. Kathryn Bigelow hopefully will win for Best Director this year, she deserves it.

4. Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent in Inglourious Basterds

Tarantino is at the top of his game with this film. He follows up the enjoyable but not too amazing Death Proof with Inglourious Basterds. Definitely one of Tarantino’s best made movies as far as directing goes and screenwriting. This movie features a fantastic cast, shining with Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa, the Jew Hunter. I really loved Melanie Laurent in this movie and I look forward to seeing her in other films in the future. The final scene between Shoshanna and Zoller is my favorite scene in all of 2009.

5. An Education

Carey Mulligan gives my favorite female performance of the year in An Education

Saw at this Sundance Cinema in Madison over Christmas break, Carey Mulligan is my personal pick for Best Actress. At least that's who I'd vote for if they let me.

A lovely romance story between a 17-year-old girl and an older man. Carey Mulligan shines in her first starring role. She comes off so incredibly beautiful. Alfred Molina also does a great job as well. One of the best ensemble casts of the year as well. The film has a lot to say without pressing it. Very interesting storyline as well, fantastic screenplay that will surely be nominated. One of the best British films of the year.

6. Crazy Heart

Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell star in Crazy Heart

Jeff Bridges gives one of the best acting performances from the year. Bridges gives the performance of a lifetime in this film, Jeff Bridges is Bad Blake. Bridge's acting makes me believe that this story was real. It's hard to believe this movie was originally just going to be on CMT (that country channel). 

The film does have its faults but they're forgivable due to the rest of the film. It ends too quickly and could've perhaps done with an additional 20 or 30 minutes for the 3rd act of the film. 


It's a great movie though that gives you a look into the life of this fiction character that you want to be real. At least I do, I'd listen to his music. 


7. The Damned United

Michael Sheen in The Damned United

An interesting take on a British soccer coach, Brian Clough, who rises to glory through his obsession to be the best team but only for it to bring about his downfall. Michael Sheen gives one of the best performances of the year in this as well.

Also features some brilliant cinematography with some beautiful shots. This film isn’t getting the credit that I feel it deserves and I think should’ve gotten a push for the Academy Awards. Sony Picture Classics really screwed up on that one along with another film I’ll mention later. This is the best movie of 2009 that is sports oriented (much better than The Blind Side).

8. Moon

Sam Rockwell stars in Duncan Jones' Moon

Duncan Jones (son of David Bowie) brings one of the best movie screenplays made this year with this film. Sam Rockwell gives a knockout performance as well. To anyone who hasn’t seen it, try avoiding reading about it because the less you know about the film the better it makes it. This film is getting snubbed as well I’d say. Thanks to the folks at Sony Pictures Classics. Apparently they didn’t send out screeners because of piracy. Piracy, yeah right this movie got leaked out months ago. I think this film should've been nominated for Best Original Screenplay. This film doesn’t use any fancy special effects really; it gets to the core of science fiction and does it great.

9. Up

Pixar brings magic to films. One of my favorite animated movies ever made and truly one that will be a classic. The Married Life scene is one of the greatest scenes in any animated film ever made. Very lovable story as well.

Also Mr. Frederickson= Santa

10. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Nicolas Cage in Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant

Nicolas Cage is out of control! Hasn't this man just gone through ups and downs this last decade? Starring in films from Adaptation. and Matchstick Men to films like Ghost Rider. To anyone who thinks Nicolas Cage is a bad actor, watch his good movies. Some may mistake if for overacting, however Cage at his best is a genius at work.

This is one of those movies. Cage stars in Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Cage plays a corrupt police lieutenant, Terrence McDonagh. There is a plot to this movie but it’s not important at all, this film is all about Cage and his actor McDonagh. Eva Mendes also does a fantastic job as Cage’s girlfriend who also happens to be a prostitute.

11. Precious

Gabourey Sidibe gives a fantastic acting debut in Precious

Fantastic acting all around in this film. Mo'Nique has a vast turn from her previous work giving one of the greatest performances of the year. Newcomer Gabbie Sidibe gives a fantastic debut in her acting career. I'm torn between whether Gabbie Sidibe or Carey Mulligan should win best actress. It's amazing that she was just a college student that decided to go to a casting call with her friends and ended up getting cast. Daniels must be some director.

The ending scene in the office is one of the greatest scenes of the year. Why can't there be more films like this? The film is very sad but the ending let's everything come together perfectly and without being trite.

12. Fish Tank

Katie Jarvis and Michael Fassbender star in Fish Tank

Fish Tank stars Katie Jarvis as Mia Williams, a 15-year-old girl who lives in Essex, England. The life she lives is a terrible one. People ridicule her constantly, the apartment she lives in is obviously in a poverty area, and her mom is never there to help her. Typically in movies, there’s always that person that helps lead these hopeless characters to a greater one and help the rise above the odds, well that doesn’t exist in this film.

It's a very special film that is unique from most tales, Jarvis gives what is probably my favorite female performance of the year besides Carey Mulligan and Mo'Nique.

13. Avatar

Sam Worthington with director James Cameron

Fun movie that properly uses 3d. I really hate how films are going to use 3d all the time now that Avatar did it right.

James Cameron has done it again though; he now holds the top 2 spots for the highest grossing films ever made. I was skeptical of Avatar until I read Roger Ebert’s review and then I knew that I would love it. Some people had problems with the storyline being unoriginal, while I agree that it wasn’t and that it took a lot of aspects from other films, I think that Cameron just did it better. Visually this movie is a masterpiece as well, not just for the 3d but the CGI was fantastic as well.

This film shouldn't win Best Picture by any means but it's a great science fiction film.

14. The Messenger

Ben Forrester and Woody Harrelson in The Messenger

A very interesting film with Ben Forrester and Woody Harrelson. It's somewhat similar to Up in the Air in that the characters follow a systematic manner of completing their task. Woody Harrelson gives one of the best supporting actor performances of the year (my personal pick for #2). Steve Buschemi has a small role in it but in his few scenes does an amazing job.

Fantastic screenplay though, certainly a favorite of mine for the year. The Messenger is something nobody ever really thinks of. When you think of soldiers dying in Iraq and the men coming to their door to tell them that their loved one has died, most think of the grieving that the family will be doing but nobody ever thinks of "The Messenger". Somebody has to do this job. Maybe it's because nobody does want to think of it.

15. Invictus

Matt Damon with director Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood brings us another fantastic film, shame it wasn't nominated for Best Picture over The Blind Side. Morgan Freeman is the one of the only men who could pull off playing Nelson Mendela and he did it perfectly. Matt Damon was pretty good too but definitely overshadowed by Freeman's performance. It does intrigue me that Damon went from the pleasantly plump Mark Whitacre in The Informant to the ripped Francois Pienaar. As for the movie itself, I really enjoyed the way that Eastwood portrayed racism. Instead of using tactics of extreme violence, a solution is offered through Mendela through his compassion and forgiveness. There are some very powerful scenes in this movie that I really enjoyed but I'll leave out the details for others to enjoy. As somebody who's played a fair share of rugby, I feel slightly biased but whatever this movie is great. Definitely a favorite for the year.