Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives one of the best performances of his career outside of Brick. Zooey Deschanel is amazing but for a change doesn't have to sing as part of the plot of the movie which is kind of sad because her voice is amazing....but that's why we have her band She and Him. Funny, depressing, emotional, with an interesting twist to the storytelling and beautiful presentation.
2) The Hurt Locker
Outside of Apocalypse Now, one of my favourite war movies of all time. Easily one of the most suspenseful movies I've ever seen. Since 75% of the dialog is conversations mainly between the 3 leads, the characters of the Bravo Company's EOD unit are well developed, which is a rarity for a movie filled with explosions.
3) Up
Yes the Pixar movie. It was sentimental and adorable, yet left you with sore abs from laughter, the way only Pixar movies can. Made more heart wrenching when you read this story. Pixar proves movie studios can still have heart.
4) Moon
Sam Rockwell + Kevin Spacey Robot + Beautiful but simple special effects + suspense = Moon. The 00's answer to 2001 A Space Odyssey.
5) Funny People
If you said this movie was too long than you don't have a heart. Seth Rogan and Adam Sandler (and anyone else who does stand-up in the movie, including Jonah Hill and Azis Ansari) wrote their own stand-up for the scenes, and if you like Apatow's produced comedies somewhat raunchy offbeat humor you'll love those scenes. But if you love the sentimental, emotional side of Apatow from Freaks and Geeks, you'll love it as well - I think it's an equal amount of both approaches.
6) Zombieland
I don't think I have ever laughed this hard in a theater. Ever. Might have done the Romantic-Comedy-With-Zombies genre even better than Shaun of the Dead. Also features possibly the best celebrity cameo in movie history - no spoilers for those of you who haven't seen it.
7) The Brothers Bloom
The sophmore attempt by Rian Johnson, writer and director of 2005's Brick, which is a must-see film noir. Brothers Bloom shows that Rian Johnson just has it - the imagery and symbolism from Brick is still here, and so is sarcasm and wit in the dialog. Mark Rufallo and Adrian Brody
honor the script with their performance. Confidence Man Meets Girl - it's been done before, but not quite like this. Not a flick for everyone, but I loved it.
8) District 9
Once upon a time, Neill Blomkamp was an aspiring filmmaker. It's a pretty well known story now - he made a short called Alive in Joburg about aliens in South Africa and it ended up in the hands of Director/Producer Peter Jackson. It was expanded into a feature length, the sci-fi movie some people have been waiting for for years - social commentary, special effects, and a movie you didn't need to have memorized alien races, planets, or languages for.
You'll notice there is no 9 or 10. That is because it isn't 2010 yet, and there are still some 2009 movies I haven't seen - four, really, that I've yet to see, that are all movies I hotly anticipated and am sure will place highly in my list of films. I highly suggest seeing these as well:
1) The Fantastic Mr Fox, Wes Anderson (Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums) first animated comedy.
2)The Lovely Bones, (the above mentioned) Peter Jackson's new film based on the best selling novel. Featuring Mark Whalberg and Rachel Weis.
3) Up in The Air, Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Juno) third feature length journey behind the camera. This movie is absolutely adored by critics, and is getting a lot of Oscar buzz. If this is as good as his previous films, it'll definitely be one you want to see in theatres and later buy on dvd.
4) Sherlock Holmes, ...look, I freaking hate Jude Law. I think he's a miserable actor, yet I can't wait til Christmas releases this. That should tell you something. It doesn't hurt that Robert Downey Jr is playing the titular character nor that Guy Ritchie (of Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels fame; also Maddon's Ex-Husband) directed it.
Honorable Mentions for 2009:
1) Extract - Mike Judge (Office Space) will make you laugh again.
2) Whip It - Ellen Page is goddamned adorable.
3) Fanboys - funny, but funnier if your a sci-fi nerd.
4) Star Trek - A completely respectable sci-fi flick. And guess what? It's a reboot so you don't even have to sit down through the hours or boring television shows or old flicks to follow it. JJ Abrams knows what he's doing.
5) Coraline - Visually stunning, of course you've come to expect that of Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach). Based on the Bram Stoker award winning Horror Novel. Definitely worth a viewing.
Best Movies I saw in 2009 From Previous Years
1) Primer (2006)- The entirely realistic and seemingly plausible discovery of time travel. This movie will confuse many people. Regardless, watch it.
2) Manic (2001)- Seen for the first time after (500) Days of Summer came out, Zooey and Levitt's first work as an on screen couple. Except much darker - set in a mental institution.
3) Choke (2008) - Okay, so this was a 2008 indie flick that never really got shown in Baltimore so I had to wait for DVD release. Regardless, it's based on Chuck Palahniuk's book about a sex addict with a habit for intentionally choking on food in public for sympathy and money. Sam Rockwell shines, again as Victor Manicini, and Anjelica Huston as his mother with Alzheimers.
4) Smart People (2008)- Ellen Page is still adorable.
5) Spun (2002) - Jason Schwartzman and (Rip) Brittany Murphy on a methamphetamine binge.
Disappointing Films of 2009
1) Inglorious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino. I've loved everything he's ever touched before, but this movie bored me. It could've been that the showing we saw didn't start until something like 11PM and I was tired, but I fell asleep...more than once. I went with 2 friends, and while one of us raves about how it's one of the best movies he's ever seen, the other two of us took turns waking each other up. It's certainly not the best I've seen.
2) 9. By Shane Acker (produced by Tim Burton). Visually beautiful, but lacking a plot. With a voice cast including Elijah Wood, John C Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, and Christopher Plummer, you'd think you'd write some dialogue.
3) the Hangover - Yes, I laughed, yes I thought it was a good film, yes I'd watch it again and if you're into this sort of humor, I'd suggest it. But everyone I know treated it like the funniest movie they've ever seen - this movie is no Animal House, I'm sorry. But I love Zach Galifinakis, so although it disappointed me, it wasn't horrible.
