What my Top 10 looks like (Finally!!)

My original goal was to finish this serious of columns during January…then before the Oscars…and seeing as how it is already July 26th, it is probably about time. Better late than never? Remember, these are my favorite movies of 2009…not necessarily the best. Something might hit me square that missed you completely. Agree or disagree, I hope you enjoy!

10) Where the Wild Things Are – This book terrified me as a child in such a way that I was actually proud of making myself watch it. And make no mistake…this isn’t a kids’ movie. I was enthralled by the real opening scenes, affected by the island, and moved by the ending.

9) Black Dynamite – I’m guessing you haven’t heard of this one. Trust me…set this one up in your Netflix queue for the next time you plan to watch a film with a large group. You’ll thank me.

8) A Serious Man – A lot of critics considered this to be a movie illustrating the Coen brothers’ total contempt for their characters and one of their lesser works. That wasn’t the movie I saw. Yes, the main character had to deal with an undeserved amount of abuse, but wasn’t that the whole point? I laughed throughout…you can’t underestimate a movie with a character as great as Sy Ableman.

7) District 9 – This movie gets almost everything right. A fantastic story idea with obvious undertones, a clever storytelling device, and a tonal shift after the first act that really throws the audience. This is a fully realized world filled with odd details. I could have lived without the Hollywood action movie ending, but it didn’t detract too much from the whole.

6) In the Loop – Biting, savagely funny modern update to the Wag the Dog style of political satire. Political humor isn’t for everyone, but this movie is a must for Daily Show/Colbert Report fans.

5) Up in the Air – Gorgeous film that brings to mind what may have become of Ed Norton’s Fight Club character if he had embraced his role of road warrior instead of being driven insane by it. This is a film whose foundation is built on performances, and all three leads are stellar. The clips of real people talking about their experiences being laid off add heft and ground the story in reality.

4) Hurt Locker – Here is what I wrote when I originally saw it in July – “The Hurt Locker may very well be the best movie (of the year). This is the type of movie that should win multiple Oscars, but will be lucky to even sniff a nomination. Iraq war movies have notoriously poor at the box office, but this one deserves to be the exception. It is haunting, tense, and claustrophobic. Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie are fantastic in the lead roles.” Wow, guess I underestimate the Oscar voters, huh?

3) Adventureland – This movie benefited the most from my procrastination. I loved it the first time I saw it, but was surprised by how much it still hit home with each subsequent viewing. This movie evokes an unmistakable era without hitting you over the head with it and it shows emotions without resorting to cloying sentimentality. Whenever someone tells me that they love this movie I just want to hug them and vow to be their best friend for life. You don’t get that with films like Avatar.

2) Inglorious Basterds – There is a very famous quote by legendary actress Rosalind Russell that goes “Do you know what makes a movie work? Moments. Give the audience a half dozen moments they can remember, and they’ll leave the theatre happy. “ Inglorious Basterds fits that line to a tee. The opening scene and the bar scene are probably the two best of the year, and there are numerous other s that are still sharp in my memory even though I only saw it once.

1) 500 Days of Summer – Again, back to what I wrote in July – “I almost feel bad reviewing this movie, because my praise is going to be so hyperbolic that I’m sure it will eventually cause some of you to be let down by it. This movie absolutely owned me. I had very high hopes, but they were exceeded in every respect. It was clever, it was sad. It was witty, thorny, and joyous. There were more scenes than I could count that left me with a smile that I couldn’t remove. There were scenes where the pain was visceral. The soundtrack was fantastic. Zooey Deschanel is my (and everybody else’s) celebrity crush. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was my favorite actor before I saw this movie…now I’m certain that he is about to become a household name. It is only July, but I’d be shocked if I see a movie that I like more all year.” I didn’t.

What I’m Listening To: Rill Rill - Sleigh Bells, I Need a Dollar - Aloe Blacc, Tightrope - Janelle Monáe