Yes, like many bloggers before me, I am blogging about my favorite movies of 2009. I usually try not to do this not because of the "movie blogger cliche" but because I can only watch so many movies in the theater during the year because unfortunately I don't get paid to watch movies and by the time January comes along and all the critics are sharing their top ten lists and I am looking through these lists thinking to myself "that's not on video yet but I really want to see that" and...I'll just stop my rambling now. Long story short with some help from Blockbuster and a month delay, here is my list of favorite films for 2009. Hope you enjoy!
1. Fantastic Mr. Fox - "Here, put this bandit hat on." I love stop motion animation and the book Fantastic Mr. Fox and this movie is a wonderful representation of both. It is adorable, humorous, fun, and a cussing good time. Anyone other than Wes Anderson would have cussed it up.
2. Is Anybody There? - "I remember looking up at the stars and thinking what a great big universe this is. Now it's very very small." A movie about death set in a retirement home doesn't seem like something that would be appealing. But the story of the friendship that develops between an old magician and death-obsessed 10 year old is touching and uplifting.
3. (500) Days of Summer - "This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story." This quirky non-love story made me both laugh and cry (damn Regina Spektor song). Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoey Deschanel are perfect as anti-Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan. And props for best use of a split screen since Carrie.
4. Inglourous Basterds - "You know somethin', Utivich? I think this might just be my masterpiece." How could one not love a spaghetti western revenge flick set in World War II? The tense opening scene is cinematic genius. Tarantino's dialog gets a little wording during the bar scene in the middle but I can forgive him for that.
5. The Proposal - "Do you prefer Margaret or "Satan's Mistress?' " This was just a fun movie to watch. Unlike a lot of recent romantic comedies, the cast is actually funny.
6. Sunshine Cleaning - "Um, we come into people's lives when they have experienced something profound - and sad. And they've lost somebody, you know? And um, the circumstances, they're always different. But that's the same. And we help. In some small way we, um, we help." There's nothing like finding a job that you are truly good at and can take pride in. And if that dream job happens to be cleaning up crime scenes, then so be it.
7. An Education - "I feel old. But not very wise." The young girl/older man plot has been done before and I thought this movie would fit into what has become the same basic plot. But this movie is different. The title actually refers to an education (the one with school books), the girl isn't naive or misunderstood (she's just young), and the man is charming without the creepy under tone that makes you wonder why nobody has mace him yet.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
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