Tyson, I Love You Man, District 9, Up, Bruno, Let the Right One In, The Hurt Locker, and Man on Wire are what come to mind as my favorites of the year, without much thought. Coraline was good too. What do you recommend?
Film in 2009, for me
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I wouldn’t have had you down as somebody who might like Bruno.
My top 5 would be District 9, Capitalism: A Love Story, Zombieland, Year One (which I surprisingly liked…), and Harry Potter. Of course, I watch a large number of movies on HBO, so I’m at a significant time lag here.
Biggest wastes: Mall Cop (which I watched at zero financial cost), Watchmen, Star Trek, Pirate Radio
Movies I refuse to watch unless it cures cancer: Ice Age 3, Underworld 3
Movies I wish I saw in theaters: Law-Abiding Citizen, The Hurt Locker, Up
I saw Troubled Water and Moon at a film festival and liked them more than anything else I’ve seen this year (though The Hurt Locker does come close). Troubled Water is particularly worth seeing if you enjoy listening to organ music. Did it actually get a regular release in the US this year?
The only thing this year that I’d really recommend was Moon. (OK, I *liked* Star Trek and Watchmen, but those should only be seen by people who already suspect they’re going to like the movies. Also, I haven’t seen Brief Interviews With Hideous Men yet, and want to.)
I think we could be out of release-sync in Blue Mountains, Australia. But by far the most engrossing new film I watched during 2009 was Synecdoche New York. Boxed around boxes around boxes. If you were asking about jazz/classical podcasts with ambiance, I’d nominate Aspen Public Radio. But you aren’t.
I agree with Moon and I just saw Precious, which is pretty hard to watch at times because you know that there are people as horrific as those portrayed in the movie, and I thought it was a great film. Who knew Mariah Carey could act?
Twilight: New Moon
HAHAHAHA! Just kidding.
Inglorious Bastards was great, and I usually stay away from Tarantino movies.
Someone please explain to me how and why I should see a film. I have a hard time because (among others) it seems to me that my opportunity costs are far too high. I know of no location where I can drink a decent beer and watch a movie simultaneously other than my (or an acquaintance’s) home. This is not a problem for a book (which I can throw in the fire or pass along to someone i dislike if it annoys me sufficiently, adding to my enjoyment). It seems I have a hard time ignoring my sunk costs in attending a movie at the theater. Including others compounds the problem.
I did see District 9 (with another) this year and enjoyed it. If I saw any others I cannot be bothered to recall them.
rluser, I tend to rely on the opinion of those who I trust, who have seen a film, when deciding on whether or not I want to see it.
Trailers, I find, are often poorly made – they usually present a pace that is different from the film and are so piecemeal that they don’t deliver enough of the plot to be a fair assessment.
Additionally, I think one may do better to read a synopsis of the film, pay attention to the film’s director, and pay attention to the actors that star in the movie. The latter two concepts will help you to compare it with films you have enjoyed in the past, and the first concept should give you more plot depth than the trailer will provide.
The Hangover
rluser:
I see a movie in the theatre if I *really* want to see it and do not want to wait. If it’s a movie that will be a significant difference on a very large screen/surround sound (Sci-fi, yes; chick flicks, absolutely not.) Sometimes, the shared experience is enjoyable- I saw The Departed in a theatre full of UMass-Amherst students opening weekend– an entire theatre full of people familiar with Boston who laughed/groaned/etc at slightly different times than those not familiar with Boston might have. I found it gave me a sense of community. The same can be said of many opening night/opening weekend experiences. All that said, I still rarely see a movie in the theatre.
And there are some places where you can actually get food and a beer at a movie. In the DC Metro area, there’s here (http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/), but I’ve gone to similar places before. They’re generally not first run movie theatres, but they do exist.
The Blind Side, Hangover, Up, Star Trek, Up in the Air
Transformers 2, Harry Potter, Terminator, Bruno and Tyson. Tyson was the best documentary ever made.
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (aka heath ledger’s last movie), good cinematography and solid acting performances (from Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell) almost make up for the lack of plot.
I thought Every Little Step was very good (if you want to count it as coming out in 2009).
Fantastic Mr Fox was also quite good. Compared to the other animated fare, I’d say probably as good as Up, much better than Coraline.
a serious man. one of those rare movies that reaches almost literary levels of depth.
Best: Inglourious Basterds, Up, maybe Moon and (500) Days of Summer.
Most overhyped: Drag Me to Hell, District 9, The Hangover, Antichrist.
Was really surprised you liked I Love You Man. Also I’m guessing you forgot to mention Star Trek.
Dev.D, one Bollywood recommendation for you from 09.
In addition to the above, The Cove, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and A Serious Man, which is playing at the AFI Silver in Silver Spring MD, where decent beer can be had, and where I’ve never found the audience to be a drawback.
Twilight: New Moon has the virtue of not taking itself seriously.
Up, The Hangover, The Informant were my favorites. Inglorious Basterds and Star Trek were pretty good too.
I check Box Office Mojo just to see if I was forgetting anything, and was stunned to discover that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was the top grossing movie of the year.
http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2009&p=.htm
“A Serious Man,” “Up in the Air,” and “The Informant!” are additions I would make. “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” is fun as well; between that and “Coraline” it was a good year for stop motion animation.
No one has mentioned The Wrestler yet. Really good in my opinion.
Also, The Wrestler if we’re counting that.
(500) Days of Summer would probably round out my top 3.
I hear Up was good. My favorites:
Inglourious Basterds
Harry Potter
Fantastic Mr. Fox
District 9
Hurt Locker
“Hump Day” was very excellent. It had some of the most believable dialogue between two straight men planning to make a gay porn I’ve seen in any movie, ever. And it was hilarious.
Up – Pixar always seems to do well, but I thought the score really added to the film.
The Hangover – Unrestrained, outrageous coarse humor. But it never stopped, it was at times clever, and Ed Helms singing about tiger dreams was amusing.
A serious man, in the loop, humpday.
I loved A Serious Man, the new Coen Brothers movie.
“A Serious Man” is one of the best films about the Jewish experience in America ever made. I’m not surprised it’s been overlooked by critics – it doesn’t have the feel good assimilationist message typical of minority centric flims, but almost revels in Jewish exclusivity. Very funny in a very dark way. Of course, I also really loved “Burn After Reading.”
More good films (some are 2008 films that were released in the US in 2009):
Johnny Mad Dog (a breathtakingly intense film about child soldiers in Africa; constant shouting, raping and shooting interspersed with some beautiful moments)
Adventureland (a nostalgia trip for me)
Extract
The White Ribbon
Fish Tank
Sin Nombre
Just Walking (completely ridiculous, but entertaining)
Goodbye Solo
Sugar
For a Moment, Freedom
Broken Embraces
Tokyo Sonata (too bad the ending was a bit off)
A Perfect Getaway (a surprisingly good popcorn flick with a gimmicky twist)
Red Cliff (definitely not a masterpiece but I never got bored when I saw the five-hour version on the big screen, the only way to watch this movie)
Kinatay was probably the most interesting film as an experience. A masterpiece of atmosphere or worthless crap? See it and decide for yourself. This is one of those films that you can only watch once.
“Whatever Works” Woody Allen and Larry David. Movie of the year for me.
Transformers 2, Harry Potter, Terminator, Bruno and Tyson. Tyson was the best documentary ever made.
Nothing But The Truth with Kate Beckinsale and Matt Dillon
I gree with it!
Agree with you.
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