With no further ado, here are the Top 10 Films of 2009...
10. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs/Where the Wild Things Are
As i alluded to above, children's titles were superbly adapted this year, and these two films probably share only that fact in common. One equally sunny and light, the other brooding and dark, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
and Where the Wild Things Are
share the distinction of adapting award winning picture books with very magical imagery and minimal text. To expand upon the source material to give us an amazingly funny, 1980s referencing film on one hand and a shockingly cerebral and introspective psychoanalysis on the other, just goes to show the creativity behind these films. While Meatballs abandoned the book's striking black and white line drawings for a burst of technicolour and a 3D smorgasbord in your face (sucka!!) to appeal to both children and adults, the Wild Things opted to not only stick to the strange and scary setting, but to delve deeper into the darkness of where our wildest emotions lurk. Vastly different approaches with equally awesome results. Cloudy makes the cut of the Top 10 for its easily re-watchable humour and spectacle, whereas the Wild Things makes it on the sheer audacity of Spike Jonze to fore go crafting a crowd pleaser, and making a film memorable enough that you don't need to watch it again.
9. Inglourious Basterds
i was going to put Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in this, the ninth position, but for some reason i returned to this re-imagining of World War II by Quentin Tarantino, despite my (possibly unfounded?) disappointment when initially seeing it in theatres. However, i think through time i've come to find the sequences and events in this film far more memorable than the whole, which is exactly the opposite of my present thoughts about Harry's sixth outing. i could eternally internally debate this decision, but for Christoph Waltz's menacing performance as Col. Hans Landa alone, this film exists on hundreds of year's best lists. Every scene he is in is a captivating classic in the making, right up there with last year's amazing performance of The Joker by Heath Ledger. Yet beyond Waltz's award winning screen time, there are some stellar set pieces that build through dialogue and pacing and direction in a way that Tarantino has made his trademark. i still don't think it's one of Tarantino's best films, but it certainly is one of the year's best.
8. Up
A lot of praise has been heaped upon this film, but like Inglourious Basterds, i don't think it rests in the best of its creators' oeuvre, in this case, the amazing Pixar studios. Not as good as WALL-E, or Ratatouille, but certainly as ambitious as those two stellar films, Up suffers from a harsh tone and dastardly villain that loses some children in the audience, while offering us a vista of computer generated imagery that is lush and beautiful, but not as stunning as Finding Nemo's seascapes and the ground level viewpoint of Remy the rat and the toys in Toy Story. Why does it seem i am critiquing this film when its inclusion on my Top 10 of 2009 presupposes i should be praising it? Only to defend its lower than expected ranking. For my money, the first 15 minutes of Up can be found in the Top 10 film montages of all-time, not just 2009. Show me a human on this planet that doesn't cry in those first few minutes of marriage montage and i'll show you someone without a soul.
7. Earth
What is more amazing than any CGI blockbuster out there? Why, our very own planet, captured in celluloid in all its awe inspiring beauty. Nothing is more amazing, incredible, or fantastic to look at than Earth's splendor. The next best thing to experiencing it yourself, and yet the way the cameras take us up close to fabulous destinations across the globe, you might even question whether or not it's better than viewing it firsthand.
6. The Hangover
Nothing is more satisfying than a gut busting, original and irreverent comedy, for adults. The fact that this was a surprise smash hit only speaks to the dearth of such films year in and year out. i usually reserve a spot for the year's best comedy in my annual top ten lists, often near the bottom. The Hangover was just that much more funnier than anything else, it managed to creep up to number six. Hopefully this one doesn't get sequelled to death and gets to stand on its own merits. i'd rather watch this one again and again than a thousand lame Hollywood sequels.
5. One Week
Initially, i didn't want to oversell this movie. As much as i LOVE to watch Canadian films, i find that most of your movie going public doesn't find Telefilm funded fare as fulfilling and self-reflective as i do. And i certainly didn't want to be one of those critics that over hypes and praises a small indie film so people end up watching it by mass recommendation, only to end up hating it for not living up to the hype (see several of previous year's Top 5 worst films). However, there is no denying that there is a shared Canadian consciousness, no matter how hard we try to avoid it, Americanize it, or degrade it. Nowhere is Canadian film at its best than when it is being unapologetically Canadian, without being self-deprecating. Which is why i've catapulted this film from its original B+ grade to roost amongst the year's best. Several repeat viewings while the film was on rotation on The Movie Network have reconfirmed my love of the odd over sized location shooting across Canada, the subdued acting of Joshua Jackson, and the exhilarating narration of the impeccable Campbell Scott. A wonderfully small film, that packs the massive beauty of Canada into its frame.
4. Sherlock Holmes
From small Canadiana to overblown English adventure. Sherlock Holmes was surprisingly refreshing, fun, and as my wife pointed out, not unlike watching Wilson and House (from TV) starring in an action adventure. The bromantic relationship of Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. elevated this film from your average summer fare, to winter's best Christmas treat. Guy Ritchie returned to form, and undeservedly took a lot of criticism for his take on the scholarly sleuth. i personally liked the slo-mo dissection of how Holmes thinks his way through a Jujitsu battle, the tough guy banter and the damsel that can't be trusted. Casting worked well and the subsequent installments in the franchise are entirely welcome at this point. Holmes truly delivered an unexpected punch and continues Downey's well deserved streak of box office and critical success. The year's best guilty pleasure adventure.
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
At times throughout the year, this one sat solidly at number one in my mind of the year's best films. Another fine example from 2009 of how an auteur took a treasured children's tome and turned it into art house family fun. How Wes Anderson managed to take Roald Dahl
's simple tale of a thieving fox and three nasty farmers and turn it into an unmistakably existential and organic stop motion animation children's movie for adults is beyond me. i'm just content going along for the ride. Stellar voice work by familiar Anderson cast mates, along with slightly odd musical choices and sidetracking plot points make it quirky enough to nestle directly amongst the effervescent whimsy and charm that exists in the very spirit of Dahl's work, (underneath the layers of despicable wit and misery). A triumph for fans of both of these innovative and emotionally honest auteurs.
2. Watchmen
A near perfect adaptation of one of the greatest graphic novels of all-time. How's that for superlatives? What Watchmen
has going for it is the expectation of a sub-par rendering of the Alan Moore classic tale of ordinary everyday people in the role of "super"heroes and the impending doom of Armageddon. Instead, director Zack Snyder nails it in every aspect; tone, pacing, casting, and overall visual appeal. The repeated criticism of this film? Too faithful to the source. If you ask me, that's a ringing endorsement. Watchmen received my only A+ grade in 2009, as it delivered on everything it promised in its entirety. So why isn't it number one? With its two and a half hour plus running time and graphic sex and violence, it's a bit difficult to revisit in my household from start to finish. Though, whenever it happens to be on, it's near impossible to not get sucked in and watch at least a few chapters. Which brings us to...
The number one film of 2009 is...
1. Coraline
It says a lot for a film to leave a lasting impression throughout the year, that even though it was one of the first films i saw in 2009, it certainly cemented itself in the top spot right from February. With the peerless hand and mind of Henry Selick charting the course for Coraline
, an adaptation of yet another beloved (at least in this household) children's novel by Neil Gaiman
, expectations were definitely high for this project. To say it surpassed anything in my imagination would be an understatement. It is one of those rare occurrences where the film outdoes the source material. This film definitely exceeds the book, by way of spectacular stop motion animation and smart, cinematically necessary alterations to the original material. The voice work is stellar and the visuals outstanding. Just when you think the film can't get any more technically marvelous, it conjures up an ARTitecture (i'm copyrighting that hybrid of art and architecture right now) that is wondrous to look at in 2D or 3D or any D for that matter. In a year that will be defined as the year 3D films took over the landscape, and children's films explored and implored themselves with adult themes using all sorts of imagination and animation, Coraline stands atop all the examples as the pinnacle of movie making in 2009.
Honourable mentions: Ghost Town, Let the Right One In, Choke, Slumdog Millionaire, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Taken, Star Trek, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Push, Bruno, The Princess and the Frog
And now, the 5 Worst movies of 2009 are...
5. Funny People
A case of misleading trailers or advertising? Or just a tonal disaster? Or maybe a simple misnomer? Or all of the above? i have yet to revisit this disappointing entry in the string of Apatow releases, and may find it more to my liking upon a second viewing, which i am more than willing to give. However, at first glance it promised a funny look at fame, comedy, and relationships, grounded in real life struggles of divorce and disease. Instead of finding the humour amongst the strife, the moments of joy in life, it blandly took a dull and dry stance, wasting the talent of the cast with a script that didn't know what it wanted to be.
4. Inkheart
A horribly botched adaptation that would have been as wonderful as those children's book inspired films found in the Top 10 above, had the motive of the filmmakers been to create a faithful adaptation, and not a CGI effects film to kick start a mega franchise. When will studios learn that attention to characters and storytelling is what makes a film work? Didn't The Dark Knight
teach the studios anything? Instead of banking on the F/X to spur the next Harry Potter, Inkheart
needs a clever and deft hand that captures the tone and spirit of the book, while exploring how those elements can reveal themselves on celluloid. MAJOR disappointment. Don't let the film fool you, and READ THE BOOK!!
3. Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
It's becoming a tired story, but if we keep buying tickets, they'll keep making lame sequels. There's something that's always been off about this franchise, and at times it succeeds, but most of the time, it just causes some head scratching. Now, in retrospect, this film epitomizes a disturbing trend; the mega 3Ding of everything. Roger Ebert makes every opportunity to denounce 3D technology, and like most of his opinions these days, he's way off the mark. It's not the technology that's bad, it's the use. Just like modern day special effects, if the 3D does little to serve the story or the film making, then it's not worth the money spent on it. Both Coraline and Up used 3D to enhance the viewer's enjoyment of the story line and give more depth both literally and figuratively to their films. Ice Age 3 gained a few gimmicks and gags, nothing more. But if we keep buying tickets, they'll keep making lame 3D films.
2. Transformers 2: Rise of the Fallen
It's amazing when a sequel outperforms the original. Louder, dumber, even more craptacular, Transformers 2 is as incomprehensible and unforgettable as its lame subtitle. For awhile there, i thought i was watching Terminator 3 mixed with The Phantom Menace. Talk about mining the depths of unholy injustices to sci-fi franchises. i can't wait until the third one to see just how lame this crime to 80s toy nostalgia can get. What's that? No Megan Fox? There goes two less reasons to watch the third installment. Rent G.I. Joe instead.
And the worst movie of 2009 is...
1. The Time Traveler's Wife
There has to be something inherently wrong with a film when the projector itself wants to repeatedly attempt to destroy the reel. If only the print had melted before i'd invested any amount of time on this one, a boring and creepy attempt at a love that knows no bounds. In fact, i wish the lead character knew some boundaries when it comes to time traveling to meet six year old girls to tell them they should love him long time. It certainly couldn't be the heat from the romantic leads that led to the combustion of the celluloid. It's more likely it was the actors themselves, trying to destroy any evidence of this film existing on their resumes. At least i got a free movie out of the deal. And that's about all i can say in favour of this film.
Dishonourable mentions: Fortunately, there weren't a lot of truly horrible films i stumbled upon this year. Even those that were in the "C" range, were typical of their genre expectations. In fact, there were more pleasant surprises than there were disappointments. Let's hope 2010 gives us more of the same, less of the lame.
10. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs/Where the Wild Things Are
As i alluded to above, children's titles were superbly adapted this year, and these two films probably share only that fact in common. One equally sunny and light, the other brooding and dark, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
and Where the Wild Things Are share the distinction of adapting award winning picture books with very magical imagery and minimal text. To expand upon the source material to give us an amazingly funny, 1980s referencing film on one hand and a shockingly cerebral and introspective psychoanalysis on the other, just goes to show the creativity behind these films. While Meatballs abandoned the book's striking black and white line drawings for a burst of technicolour and a 3D smorgasbord in your face (sucka!!) to appeal to both children and adults, the Wild Things opted to not only stick to the strange and scary setting, but to delve deeper into the darkness of where our wildest emotions lurk. Vastly different approaches with equally awesome results. Cloudy makes the cut of the Top 10 for its easily re-watchable humour and spectacle, whereas the Wild Things makes it on the sheer audacity of Spike Jonze to fore go crafting a crowd pleaser, and making a film memorable enough that you don't need to watch it again.
i was going to put Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in this, the ninth position, but for some reason i returned to this re-imagining of World War II by Quentin Tarantino, despite my (possibly unfounded?) disappointment when initially seeing it in theatres. However, i think through time i've come to find the sequences and events in this film far more memorable than the whole, which is exactly the opposite of my present thoughts about Harry's sixth outing. i could eternally internally debate this decision, but for Christoph Waltz's menacing performance as Col. Hans Landa alone, this film exists on hundreds of year's best lists. Every scene he is in is a captivating classic in the making, right up there with last year's amazing performance of The Joker by Heath Ledger. Yet beyond Waltz's award winning screen time, there are some stellar set pieces that build through dialogue and pacing and direction in a way that Tarantino has made his trademark. i still don't think it's one of Tarantino's best films, but it certainly is one of the year's best.
A lot of praise has been heaped upon this film, but like Inglourious Basterds, i don't think it rests in the best of its creators' oeuvre, in this case, the amazing Pixar studios. Not as good as WALL-E, or Ratatouille, but certainly as ambitious as those two stellar films, Up suffers from a harsh tone and dastardly villain that loses some children in the audience, while offering us a vista of computer generated imagery that is lush and beautiful, but not as stunning as Finding Nemo's seascapes and the ground level viewpoint of Remy the rat and the toys in Toy Story. Why does it seem i am critiquing this film when its inclusion on my Top 10 of 2009 presupposes i should be praising it? Only to defend its lower than expected ranking. For my money, the first 15 minutes of Up can be found in the Top 10 film montages of all-time, not just 2009. Show me a human on this planet that doesn't cry in those first few minutes of marriage montage and i'll show you someone without a soul.
What is more amazing than any CGI blockbuster out there? Why, our very own planet, captured in celluloid in all its awe inspiring beauty. Nothing is more amazing, incredible, or fantastic to look at than Earth's splendor. The next best thing to experiencing it yourself, and yet the way the cameras take us up close to fabulous destinations across the globe, you might even question whether or not it's better than viewing it firsthand.
Nothing is more satisfying than a gut busting, original and irreverent comedy, for adults. The fact that this was a surprise smash hit only speaks to the dearth of such films year in and year out. i usually reserve a spot for the year's best comedy in my annual top ten lists, often near the bottom. The Hangover was just that much more funnier than anything else, it managed to creep up to number six. Hopefully this one doesn't get sequelled to death and gets to stand on its own merits. i'd rather watch this one again and again than a thousand lame Hollywood sequels.
Initially, i didn't want to oversell this movie. As much as i LOVE to watch Canadian films, i find that most of your movie going public doesn't find Telefilm funded fare as fulfilling and self-reflective as i do. And i certainly didn't want to be one of those critics that over hypes and praises a small indie film so people end up watching it by mass recommendation, only to end up hating it for not living up to the hype (see several of previous year's Top 5 worst films). However, there is no denying that there is a shared Canadian consciousness, no matter how hard we try to avoid it, Americanize it, or degrade it. Nowhere is Canadian film at its best than when it is being unapologetically Canadian, without being self-deprecating. Which is why i've catapulted this film from its original B+ grade to roost amongst the year's best. Several repeat viewings while the film was on rotation on The Movie Network have reconfirmed my love of the odd over sized location shooting across Canada, the subdued acting of Joshua Jackson, and the exhilarating narration of the impeccable Campbell Scott. A wonderfully small film, that packs the massive beauty of Canada into its frame.
From small Canadiana to overblown English adventure. Sherlock Holmes was surprisingly refreshing, fun, and as my wife pointed out, not unlike watching Wilson and House (from TV) starring in an action adventure. The bromantic relationship of Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. elevated this film from your average summer fare, to winter's best Christmas treat. Guy Ritchie returned to form, and undeservedly took a lot of criticism for his take on the scholarly sleuth. i personally liked the slo-mo dissection of how Holmes thinks his way through a Jujitsu battle, the tough guy banter and the damsel that can't be trusted. Casting worked well and the subsequent installments in the franchise are entirely welcome at this point. Holmes truly delivered an unexpected punch and continues Downey's well deserved streak of box office and critical success. The year's best guilty pleasure adventure.
At times throughout the year, this one sat solidly at number one in my mind of the year's best films. Another fine example from 2009 of how an auteur took a treasured children's tome and turned it into art house family fun. How Wes Anderson managed to take Roald Dahl
's simple tale of a thieving fox and three nasty farmers and turn it into an unmistakably existential and organic stop motion animation children's movie for adults is beyond me. i'm just content going along for the ride. Stellar voice work by familiar Anderson cast mates, along with slightly odd musical choices and sidetracking plot points make it quirky enough to nestle directly amongst the effervescent whimsy and charm that exists in the very spirit of Dahl's work, (underneath the layers of despicable wit and misery). A triumph for fans of both of these innovative and emotionally honest auteurs.
A near perfect adaptation of one of the greatest graphic novels of all-time. How's that for superlatives? What Watchmen
has going for it is the expectation of a sub-par rendering of the Alan Moore classic tale of ordinary everyday people in the role of "super"heroes and the impending doom of Armageddon. Instead, director Zack Snyder nails it in every aspect; tone, pacing, casting, and overall visual appeal. The repeated criticism of this film? Too faithful to the source. If you ask me, that's a ringing endorsement. Watchmen received my only A+ grade in 2009, as it delivered on everything it promised in its entirety. So why isn't it number one? With its two and a half hour plus running time and graphic sex and violence, it's a bit difficult to revisit in my household from start to finish. Though, whenever it happens to be on, it's near impossible to not get sucked in and watch at least a few chapters. Which brings us to...The number one film of 2009 is...
It says a lot for a film to leave a lasting impression throughout the year, that even though it was one of the first films i saw in 2009, it certainly cemented itself in the top spot right from February. With the peerless hand and mind of Henry Selick charting the course for Coraline
, an adaptation of yet another beloved (at least in this household) children's novel by Neil Gaiman, expectations were definitely high for this project. To say it surpassed anything in my imagination would be an understatement. It is one of those rare occurrences where the film outdoes the source material. This film definitely exceeds the book, by way of spectacular stop motion animation and smart, cinematically necessary alterations to the original material. The voice work is stellar and the visuals outstanding. Just when you think the film can't get any more technically marvelous, it conjures up an ARTitecture (i'm copyrighting that hybrid of art and architecture right now) that is wondrous to look at in 2D or 3D or any D for that matter. In a year that will be defined as the year 3D films took over the landscape, and children's films explored and implored themselves with adult themes using all sorts of imagination and animation, Coraline stands atop all the examples as the pinnacle of movie making in 2009.Honourable mentions: Ghost Town, Let the Right One In, Choke, Slumdog Millionaire, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Taken, Star Trek, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Push, Bruno, The Princess and the Frog
And now, the 5 Worst movies of 2009 are...
A case of misleading trailers or advertising? Or just a tonal disaster? Or maybe a simple misnomer? Or all of the above? i have yet to revisit this disappointing entry in the string of Apatow releases, and may find it more to my liking upon a second viewing, which i am more than willing to give. However, at first glance it promised a funny look at fame, comedy, and relationships, grounded in real life struggles of divorce and disease. Instead of finding the humour amongst the strife, the moments of joy in life, it blandly took a dull and dry stance, wasting the talent of the cast with a script that didn't know what it wanted to be.
A horribly botched adaptation that would have been as wonderful as those children's book inspired films found in the Top 10 above, had the motive of the filmmakers been to create a faithful adaptation, and not a CGI effects film to kick start a mega franchise. When will studios learn that attention to characters and storytelling is what makes a film work? Didn't The Dark Knight
teach the studios anything? Instead of banking on the F/X to spur the next Harry Potter, Inkheart needs a clever and deft hand that captures the tone and spirit of the book, while exploring how those elements can reveal themselves on celluloid. MAJOR disappointment. Don't let the film fool you, and READ THE BOOK!!
It's becoming a tired story, but if we keep buying tickets, they'll keep making lame sequels. There's something that's always been off about this franchise, and at times it succeeds, but most of the time, it just causes some head scratching. Now, in retrospect, this film epitomizes a disturbing trend; the mega 3Ding of everything. Roger Ebert makes every opportunity to denounce 3D technology, and like most of his opinions these days, he's way off the mark. It's not the technology that's bad, it's the use. Just like modern day special effects, if the 3D does little to serve the story or the film making, then it's not worth the money spent on it. Both Coraline and Up used 3D to enhance the viewer's enjoyment of the story line and give more depth both literally and figuratively to their films. Ice Age 3 gained a few gimmicks and gags, nothing more. But if we keep buying tickets, they'll keep making lame 3D films.
It's amazing when a sequel outperforms the original. Louder, dumber, even more craptacular, Transformers 2 is as incomprehensible and unforgettable as its lame subtitle. For awhile there, i thought i was watching Terminator 3 mixed with The Phantom Menace. Talk about mining the depths of unholy injustices to sci-fi franchises. i can't wait until the third one to see just how lame this crime to 80s toy nostalgia can get. What's that? No Megan Fox? There goes two less reasons to watch the third installment. Rent G.I. Joe instead.
And the worst movie of 2009 is...
There has to be something inherently wrong with a film when the projector itself wants to repeatedly attempt to destroy the reel. If only the print had melted before i'd invested any amount of time on this one, a boring and creepy attempt at a love that knows no bounds. In fact, i wish the lead character knew some boundaries when it comes to time traveling to meet six year old girls to tell them they should love him long time. It certainly couldn't be the heat from the romantic leads that led to the combustion of the celluloid. It's more likely it was the actors themselves, trying to destroy any evidence of this film existing on their resumes. At least i got a free movie out of the deal. And that's about all i can say in favour of this film.
Dishonourable mentions: Fortunately, there weren't a lot of truly horrible films i stumbled upon this year. Even those that were in the "C" range, were typical of their genre expectations. In fact, there were more pleasant surprises than there were disappointments. Let's hope 2010 gives us more of the same, less of the lame.
