Hello!
It's been a bit since there's been anything new to read here
at SOTO, which means it's probably time to get back to it,
right? Well, almost. The plan is for Noah (look
for this list on Thursday) and myself to wrap up our 2009
film-related thoughts this week, and then I'll get things
back on the right track this weekend. Enjoy!
PS - This list is making it's way to you the second week of
January because I wanted to provide more time for myself to
see some smaller films that traditionally don't open in
Austin until the New Year.
Top 25 Movies Of 2009
1. District 9
Sci-fi made a bit of of a
comeback in 2009, and leading the movement was this gritty
masterpiece from Neil Blomkamp (with a bit of help from
Peter Jackson) that pretty much redefined the genre. Oh,
and don't let me forget Sharlto Copley, who turned in one of
the most amazing performances ever for a first time actor.
Now we just need someone to pony up the cash for this guy to
make a Halo movie.
2. The Hurt Locker
It would be easy to say The
Hurt Locker was so good because of how every scene dripped
with an insane amount of intensity, but it's also important
to note the overall story arch, which dealt with how some
people are simply not meant for war. For instance, me.
Nothing in this film seemed like something I could ever do.
Even on a good day.
3. Inglorious Basterds
I will always have a very
strong attachment to Kill Bill: Volume 1 and 2, so this will
just have to be my second favorite Tarantino film. I love
the characeters, the dialogue and, most of all, the crazy,
alternate take on WWII. Can't wait to see if Quentin
actually does something with the extra footage he shot.
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
If the Academy Awards had a
category for Most Charming Film then this would win hands
down. I've read some comments that it was a return to form
for Wes Anderson, but I actually think it was just a
continuation of his brillance. He just knows how to tell a
story in a way that always leaves me smiling.
5. Star Trek
After each of the five times
that I saw this in a theater I immediately wanted to run out
and give JJ Abrams a high five. That's just how fun it is.
If possible, I'd love to try and force Hollywood to put this
much effort into all their reboots.
6. Up
What else can be said about
Pixar? They don't make anything unless it has great
characters and a great story. There's no stopping them.
I'm even confident they'll do a good job on all the sequels
that are due in the coming years.
7. The Hangover
There wasn't a funnier movie
than the Hangover in 2009, and I'm not sure there will be
anything as hilarious in 2010. Here's hoping that Todd
Phillips can pull off a worthy sequel.
8. Avatar
James Cameron. That name was
why I was interested in this movie, and it's definitely (he
wrote and directed it) why it ended up being so damn good.
The guy is not only a special effects pioneer, but he might
be the best ever at taking cookie cutter stories and
transforming them into fully engrossing experiences. If
we're lucky the rest of Hollywood will look at all the money
Avatar made/is making and realize it's OK to invest in
something that isn't a reboot or remake.
9. The Road
This was as bleak as anything
I've ever seen, but it was also full of life. It will be a
shame if Viggo Mortensen doesn't at least get a nomination
for his role as the father who is desperately trying to
ready his son to be man.
10. Where The Wild Things
Are
I know there's a large
handful of people out there who found this to be tedious at
best, and I don't blame any of them. To enjoy it you have
to think back and fondly remember exactly how emotioanlly
fragile and screwy you were as a child, or you'll just end
up spending every second of the runtime waiting on some sort
of plot. Obviously, I didn't have a problem doing that, and
what I found was a masterful effort from Spike Jonze. That
first scene - with Max chasing the dog - still freaks me out
a little. Kids are weird, man.
11. Precious 12. Broken Embraces 13. Up In The Air 14. Coraline 15. Moon 16. An Education 17. Observe And Report 18. Thirst 19. Watchmen 20. The Imaginarium Of Dr.
Parnassus 21. Zombieland 22. Sin Nombre 23. Adventureland 24. Bad Lieutenant: Port Of
Call New
Orleans 25. Away We Go
- Top 5 Guilty Pleasures -
1. GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra
2. Taken
3. Ong Bak 2
4. Whip It
5. Fast And Furious
- 10 Movies I Still Need To
See - 1. Ponyo 2. The White Ribbon 3. In The
Loop 4. The Princess And The Frog 5. A Serious Man 6. World's Greatest Dad 7. Bronson 8. Humpday 9. Trucker 10. The Informant
- 3
Movies That Would Have Been Awesome Had The 3rd Act Not Been
Terrible - 1. 500 Days Of Summer 2. The Brothers Bloom 3. Funny People
- 3 Worst Movies Of 2009 - 1. Transformers: Revenge Of
The Fallen 2. Terminator Salvation 3. Ninja Assassin
- John Laird
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