My Favorite Movies of 2009

As of this writing, I saw at least 47 films eligible for this year’s Academy Awards, all but one of them in the theater. That’s well more than double last years total (yes, I’m obsessive about some things. I keep a list) and just reinforces to me that going to the movies is one of my favorite pastimes, even if popcorn is way too expensive. 

I’ve managed to see nine of the ten Best Picture nominees in the theaters, though I’ll probably be skipping The Blind Side.  That definitely meets one of my post-Oscar resolutions from last year, although this accomplishment may have more to do with finding a regular movie-going partner than anything else.  The Oscars are the reason this post was delayed from December, because I don’t live in LA or New York, so I have to wait to see some of these films to hit the small town theaters of Philadelphia in order to see them.  I’ll have an Oscar predictions post closer to the ceremony, but here are my favorite films of the year, regardless of whether they are touched by Oscar’s gold glow.

 

Best Movie of the Year: Inglourious Basterds

Basterds is my favorite kind of movie—Tarantino aside for a moment—it’s an action movie with a brain. The best action movies are not only smart in how they show action, but also that you care about the outcome and the characters. Not only is Basterds excellently written, with sharp dialogue, and an intricate plot, but what really makes this movie work is two things: One, the well-defined but not shallow characters, and Tarantino’s newfound mastery of suspense. As a total package, this was the best movie-going experience I had all year.

 

Most Gripping Performance (Actor): Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

It’s no secret that Waltz is one of the major reasons why Basterds works so well. Every time he was on screen, the tension ramps up immediately, as everyone on screen and in the audience knows that they are in the presence of evil genius. Also, I feel bad to say this, but he even beat out Robert Downey, Jr. as having the best on-screen Sherlock Holmes this year, though his character is morally aligned with Moriarity.

 

Most Gripping Performance (Actress): Mo’Nique, Precious

All I have to say about Mo’Nique performance is that I left seeing Precious having to immediately acquire a new pair of pants.

 

Best Comic Book Movie: Watchmen

This pretty much wins by default, beating out the awful Wolverine and the rumored-to-be-worse Whiteout.

 

Best Action Movie: Sherlock Holmes

I’m so happy Guy Ritchie found something worthwhile to apply himself to, and Robert Downey Jr. once again makes it look easy to have fun at the movies.

 

Best Sci-Fi Film: Moon

This is exactly why I’m excited about the costs of technology coming down. Moon and District 9 both are shining examples of how this can lead to quality “hard” sci-fi at a low budget. What puts Moon over the top is the performance of Sam Rockwell, who basically carried the whole movie and pulled it off.

 

Most Overlooked Movie: The Brothers Bloom
I love con movies. And I love movies that feel literary. So a lighthearted literary con movie (featuring Rachel Weisz, one of my favorite actresses nonetheless) was too much to pass up. It’s criminal that this movie wasn’t more widely seen, and at the very least, I will force feed this movie to as many of my friends as possible. It’s my new favorite camel.

 

Best Actor: George Clooney

I’m stunned. Until this year, I’ve only liked Clooney in the Ocean’s movies and under the tutelage of the Coens. However, this year gave me three fantastic movies all starring George Clooney. First was Men Who Stare at Goats, a fantastic tour of the American military and psi-ops, then followed Fantastic Mr. Fox (more on that soon), and Up in the Air, another Jason Reitman triumph. He had a fantastic year. Runner up: Jeff Bridges for the aforementioned Goats and Crazy Heart.

 

Best Actress: Meryl Streep

Like Mr. Clooney, Meryl Streep had an excellent year, also with three movies that I very much enjoyed. Not only was she in Fantasic Mr. Fox (as the wonderful Mrs. Fox), but also Julie and Julia, easily the most delicious move of the year. It’s Complicated looks like an also-ran in this company, but it had a great cast, and I suspect part of my faults with it may be my age relative to the main cast.

 

Best Film Based on a Children’s Book: The Fantastic Mr. Fox

I love this movie. It’s completely wonderful in every way. Funny, heartfelt, touching, suspenseful, and artfully made, as well as boasting a great soundtrack, it may be Wes Anderson’s best movie, and features a great cast of Anderson Players and newcomers. A complete joy to watch. Runner up: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

 

Best Romantic Comedy: (500) Days of Summer

A great film that dances around and through genre tropes with death-defying ease, bolstered by the charming performances of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. I haven’t seen this movie in six months, and I still think about scenes in this movie on a weekly basis.

 

Best Movie I Had to be Talked into Seeing: The Informant!

I went into this movie completely expecting not to like it, but I came out positively raving. Matt Damon’s performance as Mark Whitacre was severely overlooked this awards season. Runner up: Julie and Julia

 

Best Franchise Movie: Star Trek

Such a venerable franchise had fallen by the wayside until JJ Abrams gave Trek it's groove back. Playful, sexy, and fun, this is a Trek I can't wait to take again. This is how you do a reboot. Enough fan fodder to make it feel like the property, but ground-floor enough for everyone else.  

Here’s my Top Ten:

10. An Education

9. Julie & Julia

8. Whip It!

7. The Hangover

6. Up in the Air

5. Up

4. (500) Days of Summer

3.  The Brothers Bloom

2. Fantastic Mr. Fox

1. Inglouriuous Basterds

Comments

[Jill]

I'm mad that Hurt Locker and Twilight are not on this list....

That is all.

Your "regular movie going partner"

Jill