Favorite movies, 2009
1. Fantastic Mr. Fox
This is probably Wes Anderson’s most accessible movie yet. He has been my favorite filmmaker for several years now, but I was terribly skeptical when I first heard he was making a stop-motion animated movie based on a children’s book. But Wes’s trademark style is easily recognizable, and it blends wonderfully with this medium.
2. The Brothers Bloom
Who else makes movies the way Rian Johnson does? Other than how wonderful they both are, what does this movie have in common with Brick? I can’t imagine what Looper will be like, but I know I’ll have to see it.
3. Away We Go
I took a friend to see this movie, and he hated it from the beginning. I won’t be seeing movies with him anymore.
4. In The Loop
You can’t overstate how funny this movie is. I mean, you’re permitted to try, it’s not a matter of permission. But in trying to do so, you’ll fail - that’s what I’m getting at. This movie never takes a break, it is razor sharp from start to finish.
5. Where the Wild Things Are
This is the second movie on the list based on a children’s book, and it’s the second movie co-written by Dave Eggers (Away We Go being the first). I’m a big fan of the way both trends played out this year.
6. Adventureland
When people talk about Kristen Stewart, and I reply, “Oh, the girl from Adventureland”, I get a lot of blank stares. I guess they think of this as more of a Jesse Eisenberg vehicle.
7. It Might Get Loud
Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White pull the veil back, momentarily revealing some of the mysteries of the creative spark.
8. Zombieland
From now on, Jesse Eisenberg should only appear in movies with one-word titles that end in -land. Is it possible to not get excited when you first realize Bill Murray is in this?
9. You, The Living
Here’s something you don’t see everyday: I saw this movie zero times in 2009. I saw it at the 2008 Nashville Film Festival. But it was released in the US in 2009, and it appears on some Best Of 2009 lists, so I’m counting it. I’m excited about the DVD release next month.
10. Tetro
I haven’t seen this on any Best of 2009 lists, and I don’t understand why. Francis Ford Coppola made a beautiful movie, didn’t he?
11. The Hangover
According to IMDB, Tood Phillips has 8 movies in development. When you’re hot, you’re hot.
12. (500) Days of Summer
The first couple of times I saw this, I spent too much time thinking about the little things I didn’t like: bits of dialogue I didn’t care for, expressions or gestures that put me off, directorial decisions that I didn’t agree with. To my surprise, I later realized that these things are outnumbered by the things I really liked about the movie, like the strength and originality of the storyline.
13. Avatar
I only just saw this yesterday for the first time, so I haven’t had enough time to contemplate the movie, so it’s only #13 on the list. It probably should be ranked higher, seeing how it’s like Star Wars, Braveheart, and The Matrix in one very well-made movie.
