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26 January 2010
Favorite Films of 2009
***EDIT -- HOW did I forget Sherlock Holmes?!?! I think my brain put it in 2010, but it definitely came out Christmas 2009....***
So, 2009 is gone, a new decade has begun, the beginnings of the "down season" for movies has begun, the Golden Globes have been handed out, and that Oscars are soon to be as well...
Thus I will give MY two cents about the best movies of 2009:
First let me say that this is a list of movies I actually like, not movies that I think are critical successes, are necessarily pushing boundaries (though some are), or sure to win awards -- that list is to come later (probably a week or so before the Oscars, which is like my personal little Super Bowl). I don't like depressing movies. I like happy endings - I'll butcher a quote from one of my favorite directors, Tom Tykwer, who said that if a character works really hard for something, it's depressing if they don't get it in the end of the film. (a.k.a. Happy-endings are a good thing. This is why Up in the Air does not make my list...) So basically, this is a list of films I liked that were released in 2009. If you think they were the best, than you’re cool; if you don’t, well then I hope you have better taste in music. :)
OK, so, let's begin...
Movies that I LOVED (basically in order of Loveness):
Up ~ Could there be a better movie? You laugh, you cry, it’s beautiful! Pixar is the best thing that
has happened to Disney since The Lion King. Yup. They never cease to make quality films that speak to all ages. The animation is brilliant also, and they will win the Oscar for best animation. That has pretty much become their category and award. They should just rename it the “Oscar for Best Pixar Animated Film.”
(500) Days of Summer ~ The narrator in the beginning tells you flat out, “This is not a love story.” Yet it is! Love the look of the film. Love the soundtrack. Love the story. Love the characters and all their flaws. Love the actors, Joseph and Zooey. The nonlinear storyline is brilliant and refreshing. And it has closure, even though small, it’s enough.
Fantastic Mr. Fox ~ This was a good year for animation. I love stop motion. They did an amazingly detailed job of building this little fox world. You could see the detail in every scene and know that this is one of those movies that was really crafted, not just put together.
It Might Get Loud ~ The Edge, Jimmy Page, and (my fav) Jack White, making music together, in one movie....what’s not to love?
Sherlock Holmes ~ Wonderful casting. Exciting film. Guy Ritchie is a fantastic director, and they stuck with the rationale of Holmes, which I was afraid they would get supernatural on him, but nope, he explains everything in the end. Very enjoyable popcorn movie.
Julie & Julia ~ Memorable performance by Meryl Streep (yet again). It combines food and film, two wonderful topics, what else do you need?
The Blind Side ~ Another memorable performance by Sandra Bullock. Could the film have been better overall? Sure, but it was still enjoyable with a nice family-based message.
The Princess and the Frog ~ I thought animation was dead for Disney now that they acquired Pixar, but this changed my mind. I look forward to any future Disney 2-D animated films.
Whip It ~ I don’t know anyone who saw this. I haven’t heard any buzz about it, although I think they tried to create some with the marketing back when it came out. That aside, I really enjoyed this directorial debut from Drew Barrymore!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movies that were good, but I really don’t have much to say:
Where the Wild Things Are - good soundtrack/art direction
The Hurt Locker - the bomb scenes are thrilling! Katheryn Bigelow for best director Oscar!
Star Trek - Wow did that really come out this year? - Entertaining popcorn blockbuster.
Invictus - Could watch Morgan Freeman do just about anything.
Night at the Museum 2 - Amy Adams was highly entertaining (though not accurate) as Amelia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movies that DISSAPOINTED:
Up in the Air - started out ok, ended depressed
Amelia - needed better direction (as in what did the filmmakers want to accomplish?) See my previous post regarding Amelia and celebrity.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s all for now, folks! Overall I thought this year was slim pickins, so I hope that 2010 can change that and that there is a stream of quality films! We’re almost one month in and I haven’t seen a thing. Looking forward to that changing.
So, 2009 is gone, a new decade has begun, the beginnings of the "down season" for movies has begun, the Golden Globes have been handed out, and that Oscars are soon to be as well...
Thus I will give MY two cents about the best movies of 2009:
First let me say that this is a list of movies I actually like, not movies that I think are critical successes, are necessarily pushing boundaries (though some are), or sure to win awards -- that list is to come later (probably a week or so before the Oscars, which is like my personal little Super Bowl). I don't like depressing movies. I like happy endings - I'll butcher a quote from one of my favorite directors, Tom Tykwer, who said that if a character works really hard for something, it's depressing if they don't get it in the end of the film. (a.k.a. Happy-endings are a good thing. This is why Up in the Air does not make my list...) So basically, this is a list of films I liked that were released in 2009. If you think they were the best, than you’re cool; if you don’t, well then I hope you have better taste in music. :)
OK, so, let's begin...
Movies that I LOVED (basically in order of Loveness):
Up ~ Could there be a better movie? You laugh, you cry, it’s beautiful! Pixar is the best thing that
has happened to Disney since The Lion King. Yup. They never cease to make quality films that speak to all ages. The animation is brilliant also, and they will win the Oscar for best animation. That has pretty much become their category and award. They should just rename it the “Oscar for Best Pixar Animated Film.”
(500) Days of Summer ~ The narrator in the beginning tells you flat out, “This is not a love story.” Yet it is! Love the look of the film. Love the soundtrack. Love the story. Love the characters and all their flaws. Love the actors, Joseph and Zooey. The nonlinear storyline is brilliant and refreshing. And it has closure, even though small, it’s enough.
Fantastic Mr. Fox ~ This was a good year for animation. I love stop motion. They did an amazingly detailed job of building this little fox world. You could see the detail in every scene and know that this is one of those movies that was really crafted, not just put together.
It Might Get Loud ~ The Edge, Jimmy Page, and (my fav) Jack White, making music together, in one movie....what’s not to love?
Sherlock Holmes ~ Wonderful casting. Exciting film. Guy Ritchie is a fantastic director, and they stuck with the rationale of Holmes, which I was afraid they would get supernatural on him, but nope, he explains everything in the end. Very enjoyable popcorn movie.
Julie & Julia ~ Memorable performance by Meryl Streep (yet again). It combines food and film, two wonderful topics, what else do you need?
The Blind Side ~ Another memorable performance by Sandra Bullock. Could the film have been better overall? Sure, but it was still enjoyable with a nice family-based message.
The Princess and the Frog ~ I thought animation was dead for Disney now that they acquired Pixar, but this changed my mind. I look forward to any future Disney 2-D animated films.
Whip It ~ I don’t know anyone who saw this. I haven’t heard any buzz about it, although I think they tried to create some with the marketing back when it came out. That aside, I really enjoyed this directorial debut from Drew Barrymore!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movies that were good, but I really don’t have much to say:
Where the Wild Things Are - good soundtrack/art direction
The Hurt Locker - the bomb scenes are thrilling! Katheryn Bigelow for best director Oscar!
Star Trek - Wow did that really come out this year? - Entertaining popcorn blockbuster.
Invictus - Could watch Morgan Freeman do just about anything.
Night at the Museum 2 - Amy Adams was highly entertaining (though not accurate) as Amelia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movies that DISSAPOINTED:
Up in the Air - started out ok, ended depressed
Amelia - needed better direction (as in what did the filmmakers want to accomplish?) See my previous post regarding Amelia and celebrity.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s all for now, folks! Overall I thought this year was slim pickins, so I hope that 2010 can change that and that there is a stream of quality films! We’re almost one month in and I haven’t seen a thing. Looking forward to that changing.
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