Favorite Films of 2009

I made it to a good amount of movies this year, not as many as the past 2 years but still I was at the theater at least once a week. It was a good year for some of my favorite film makers, new films from Jonze, Tarantino, Anderson, the Coen brothers, and Miyazaki. Was also a great year for animation and sci-fi. Lot of kids movies made my list this year and that's always a good thing. I didn't see nearly enough foreign or "indie" films, I kept missing them at the theater.

I'm not super happy with the order of my list and I had a few films I wanted to fit in to it but this is the best I can do. So a not so perfect top 10 list that I could shift around a bit depending on the day. So with little fan fair my list...

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox: I saw this 2 days after Avatar and while the technology that made Avatar was amazing at times Fantastic Mr. Fox breathed just as much live in to it's 100 year old tech. The Fox made me laugh a lot, had some really wonderful voice acting and some amazing small details. 

2. Inglourious Basterds: I'm not sure I wanted this at number 2, but It's the only movie I saw twice in the theater, so that should count for something. This movie is all about suspense and it played with it in some very fun ways. Also QT got to re-write history and that's always fun.

3. Where the Wild Things Are: I really liked the raw emotions that the film dealt with. The first scene alone with Max wrestling the dog had so much danger and fun in it. It's also maybe the prettiest movie of the year. Lots of people thought this wasn't a kids movie but I loved that it wasn't a film that talked down to kids in the way it looked and spoke.

4. A Serious Man: I wasn't sure going in to this one how it would play for me, sure it had my favorite trailer of the year, but from what I read about it, it didn't sound like something that would blow me away. But really great characters, and a great ending that sticks with you.

5. Star Trek: FUN, FUN, FUN! This movie works but it really shouldn't. Sure the plot has a million holes, but great casting and great action make it work and I want more. Also the special features on the DVD show you how smart and cleaver J.J. Abrams is. OH and Star Wars rules!

6. Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo): What the hell is this movie. Chicken feet!! What? Love that this movie doesn't have a real villain, I kept waiting for someone to do something bad but really it was about 2 kids getting to do stuff and chicken feet. I don't think enough people got to see this one.

7. Observe and Report: Flash Gordon fight scene what! So mad that I never thought of this and now can never use it in something I make. Color me jealous. This movie is mean and in ways I really enjoy.  

8. District 9: Woot new sci-fi that's not a remake or a sequel! It's not a prefect movie but it has a ton of fun and great looking ideas. Also he throws a pig at a guy... a pig. Shows you don't need to spend 100 million to make a sci-fi movie.

9. The Brothers Bloom: I like movies about ticks, magic, heists and such... and this had all of that. Also I hate Rian Johnson, dude is way too smart. I want more capers at the cinema!

10. Madeo (Mother): Nice (well not so nice) murder mystery with some fucked up twist and turns. One of my favorite ending shots of the year. I like that Joon-ho Bong can jump from murder-mystery-cop-procedurals to monster flicks and back again.

I really wanted to fit Moon, The Hurt Locker and Up on to the list, I really liked them a bunch. Moon made me excited that someone could still made a "cheap" old school sci-fi film and I really can't wait to see what Duncan Jones makes next. The Hurt Locker had me at the edge of my seat, Kathryn Bigelow can you please let me not be nervous the whole movie... please. And Up, pixar stop please, talking dogs, pretty backdrops, asian kid. Good stuff. Oh also I really enjoyed Drag Me to Hell, happy to love Raimi again.

Guilty pleasure of the year Land of the Lost. Stupid but amazing... giant crab and lemon huh? 

Films I missed or need to screen 2009: A Prophet, the white ribbon, the informant, Jennifer's Body, The Girlfriend Experience, Crazy Heart, Nine, Brothers, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, The Messenger, Broken Embraces and The Lovely Bones. 

Ok 2010 what you got?