UPDATED 1/14/10 (** denotes new review).
These are the best movies in 2009 to date. This will be updated weekly.
Note that traditionally the best movies are presented in the second half of the year, closer to the Academy Awards nominations, that are selected in Feb 2010. So this list will change often in the 2nd half.
1) INGLORIOUS BASTERDS - Starring Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Diane Kruger, Christoph Waltz.
This is Quentin Tarantino at his best and the surprise movie of 2009. Our expectation was blood and gore, which is Tarantino's trademark, and "Basterds" has its share of it, but this is 2 1/2 hours of pure entertainment from start to finish.
Be prepared for history to be rewritten, in this tale of a Jewish American hit squad making mincemeat of Nazis in France during WWII.
Pitt is superb as the southern Lt. who leads the squad. However Austrian actor Christoph Waltz is equally suberb as the slimey SS Col, hunting Jews in France.
Not to be outdone, the two women (Laurent and Kruger) play memorable roles as a Jewish Theater owner hiding from the Nazis, and a German actress who is spying for the Allies.
The plot centers around two plans to blow up/burn down the Theater, where the High Nazi Command (including Hitler) is gathering for a new German movie that is commenorating the slaughter of Americans by a Nazi war hero.
I can't give away more of the plot but I highly recommend this and am rating it #1 thus far in 2009.
A word of caution, be prepared for some intensely bloody and violent scenes. Hey, its Tarantino! A
2) **AVATAR- Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Siquourney Weaver.
A visual masterpiece by director James Cameron, which has received wide aclaim. Dazzling special effects and a very unique storyline keep you entertained throughout and the 3D experience is breathtaking.
It is a fantasy which contains much symbolism re the US Government treatment of Native Americans in the 1800's.
A race of people, on a distant planet, are invaded by US Corporations, aided by US Military, in order to mine a very precious mineral at the expense of the natives.
Scientists have developed a method of turning humans into natives by creating a humanoid (i.e. Avatar), in an effort to learn their ways and acheive a peaceful coexistence with the natives. This conflicts with the corporate/military objectives of domination and conquest of the population.
There is much more to the plot that one must see to appreciate and the acting is surprisingly good, in spite of a rather far fetched storyline.
See it in 3D and, if you treat it as a fantasy with a provocative message, you will enjoy a unique experience. A 3)**CRAZY HEART - Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall. A former country western star, Bad Blake finds himself struggling to regain his career because of hard living and alcoholism. During a low level road trip he meets a local journalist (Gyllenhaal), who sees the true man beneath and falls in love with him, despite his continuing road to distruction. Jeff Bridges gives an Oscar Winning performance and Maggie Gyllenhaal is equally outstanding, This is simply one of the best movies of the year, with excellent music, and surprise signing performances by Bridges and Colin Farrell. This is the best performance in Jeff Bridges career, and I look forward to seeing Maggie Gyllinhaal more in the future, Don't miss it. I rated this #3 during the 2009 Academy Award season, A- 4)**UP IN THE AIR - Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick.
Ryan Bingham (played by Cooney) is a corporate downsizing expert, who travels 320 days a year in quest of the 10 million mile award. His job is to gracefully terminate (i.e. lay off) employees of various companies who are downsizing.
Ryan is an anti-commitment, free spirited guy, but meets the frequent flier girl of his dreams in Alex Goran (played by Vera Famriga), and hooks up with her every opportunity when their paths cross.
Natalie (played by Anna Kendrick) is a young Ivy League up and comer at his company, who proposes a strategy to perform the "lay off" interviews online instead of face to face. This would eliminate all travel, much to the chagrin of Ryan.
This is a comedy/drama that is a "don't miss" hit. Acting is outstanding, with Clooney at his best, and Anna Kendrick a possible nominee for Best Supporting Actress.
This is a far more complex storyline than one would anticipate taking you through a number of unexpected twists and a wide spectrum of emotions.
We absolutely loved it. A-
5)**INVICTUS - Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.
The true story of Nelson Mandela's rise to power as President of South Africa, and how he united a nation during the rugby teams unlikely quest for the World Cup.
This is a Morgan Freeman Oscar performance as well as a possible Oscar nomination for the movie.
Matt Damon, plays the captain of the rugby team, Francois Pienaar, who takes the lead from Mandela to unite a divided nation.
Very inspiring and enteraining, with the added feature of seeing how brutal and demanding a sport rugby is.
A- 6) PRECIOUS - Starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey
This is reviewed in the "Current Releases" section.
Highly recommended but graphic, gut wrenching, and disturbing. A- 7)** IT'S COMPLICATED - Starring Meryl Streep, Alex Baldwin, and Steve Martin. Has Meryl Streep ever been in a movie that wasn't great? Well her streak continues with the best comedy of 2009. I'm not a big Alex Baldwin fan, but he surprised me with his performance. The storyline is a middle aged women, who was divorced from her husband (Baldwin) for 10 years, rekindling her relationship with him. Problem is he is remarried to a younger woman, yet pursues his ex-wife relentlessly. Her architect (Steve Martin) enters the scene and forms an unusual love triangle. It works! Very funny, yet has some serious moments that blend into excellent entertainment. I'm continually amazed by Meryl Streep's depth and diversity as an actor. She goes from DEVIL WEARS PRADA, to DOUBT, to MAMA MIA, to JULIE AND JULIA, to IT'S COMPLICATED, with the same outstanding level of performance. She is a unbelievable. Don't miss this one. A- 8) BROTHERS - Starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman.
Captain San Cahill (Maguire) is deployed to Afghanistan, leaving his wife (Portman) and daughter to fend for themselves. He is missing and presumed killed.
Tommy Cahill, Sam's brother (played by Gyllenhall) is the family black sheep, who is released from prison, and helps the family cope with the loss of his brother. He falls in love with Grace (Sam's wife) but does not pursue the relationship in respect for his brother.
Sam, is alive as a prisoner of the Taliban, and is forced to kill a fellow Marine to save his own life. This trama turns Sam into a severely troubled, broken person, who returns home as a totally different person, to attempt to continue his family life.
An excellent storyline and outstanding acting performances, particularly Tobey Maguire, whose performance is worthy of Oscar consideration.
A gripping and powerful drama . A-
9)** SHERLOCK HOLMES - Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law and Rachel McAdams.
A unique characterization of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, and a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. The chemistry between Downey Jr and Law is outstanding, and the lead villain Lord Blackwood (played by Mark Strong) is a compelling evil character, bent on using black magic to rule the world.
It's a fun movie for the whole family (over 12) and will definitely have a sequel since the worst villain is still at large. A-
10) MY SISTERS KEEPER - Starring Cameron Diaz, Abagail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva. This is an adaptation from the best selling novel, with a few significant twists. It is a poignant drama about a girl with lukemia and her sister, who is burdened with the task of providing bone marrow and other bodily elements, to keep her sister alive. It is an inspirational story with more than its share of emotion.
Cameron Diaz is excellent as the distressed mother and the two girls, Vassilieva and Breslin, are outstanding. A must see. A-
11) JULIE & JULIA - Starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Stanley Tucci. Two true stories, presented in parallel: the first, Julia Child's journey to fame in Paris, where she attends Cordon Blue School and co-writes her famous "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". The second takes place in Queens NY in 2002, where Julie Powell (Amy Adams) creates all recipes in the Julia Child cookbook (over 500) in one year.
A delightful journey through Julia Child's life with a superb performance by Meryl Streep, and an equally impressive performance by Amy Adams, as a young married women, in a mundane existence, looking for challange and fulfillment in her life.
Guys, this is not just a "chick flick", although women may identify with it a bit more. I thoroughly enjoyed it and we highly recommend it for a light, "feel good" movie. B+
12) DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Starring Jim Carrey
This is an animated adaptation of Dicken's classic, with Jim Carrey's voice portraying Scrooge and the three ghosts.
This is a visual masterpiece, with animated visual effects that are stunning. It must be viewed in 3D to get the full effect, but it is 136 minutes of pure entertainment.
No need to describe the storyline since we all know it, and this version is identical to the book.
My only caveats are that it's too scary for young kids (under 8), and I've seen the story so many times that I was quoting the lines before they were delivered.
Nonetheless, it's a magical experience and a "must see" to kick off the Holiday Season. B+ 13) THE BLIND SIDE - Starring Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw.
This is not only a football movie, but a true to life, inspirational, and "feel good" story of overcoming adversity and succeeding, with help from an unexpected source.
Michael Oher (played by Quinton Aaron) is a very big high school boy with no home and in total dispair about his self worth.
A wealthy white women, Leigh Ann Touhy (played by Sandra Bullock), drives by Oher walking in the rain, and takes him into her house and later her family.
This is the true story of Michael Oher, who became All American at Mississippi, and was drafted in the 1st round by Baltimore Ravens in 2009.
Bullock's performance, as a no-nonsense mom taking on all comers, is outstanding, and newcomer Quinton Aaron does a very nice job as Oher.
As football dramas go, I would rate this near the top, perhaps slightly behind REMEMBER THE TITANS and BRIAN'S SONG. B+
14) HURT LOCKER - Recently released, starring Jeremy Renner as a bomb defusion expert during the Iraq War in 2004. Very intense and not for the squimish, but excellent acting by Renner. It gives a very realistic accounting of the trials and stress of war in Iraq, and what our troops are experiencing.
Hurt Locker has some Oscar acclaim with a number of critics, and will rivet you to your seat. B+
15) ADAM - Starring Rose Byrne and Hugh Dancy.
A brillant, sensitive drama of a relationship between a man with Asperger's Syndrome (a form of Autism), and a teacher/writer who lives in his apartment building.
Superb (Oscar level) performances by newcomers Byrne and Dancy in portraying the many difficulties in overcoming the social and behavioral problems of Autism.
This is not your typical romantic drama. It is a thought provoking journey through a relationship that is difficult to sustain. B+ 16) **EVERTBODY'S FINE - Starring Robert DeNiro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell.
A widower, Frank Goode (Played by DeNiro) is excited about his 4 children visiting for Christmas, but when all cancel for various reasons, he embarks on a journey to visit each.
He was a demanding father who set high expectations for his children, and doesn't realize the scars this has created. Each of his children have lives much different than he envisioned, one of whom (Robert) has hit rock bottom with drug use.
This is not your typical "feel good" movie during the Christmas Holidays. It is a study in modern family relationships and disconnects that occur when children grow there own ways.
This is DeNiro's best performance in years (perhaps Oscar level) and the supporting cast is excellent.
While some critics were less enthusiastic, I would highly recommend this movie as a thought provoking, compelling journey of a father's awakening to his children's lives.
17) EASY VIRTUE - Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Jessica Biel, Colin Firth. A British comedy/drama taking place in the 1930's in the English countryside. Story of a young English gentleman who brings an American beauty (Biel) home to meet the family. It proves to be landmines of issues in being accepted by British gentry. Funny, poignant, and very entertaining. If you liked "Gosford Park", a few years ago, you will love this movie. B+ 18) YOUNG VICTORIA - Starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend. An historically accurate epic of 17 year old Victoria rising to the throne of England, and her storied love affair with Prince Albert. Emily Blunt gives an Oscar level performance as the young Queen, and a great supporting cast contributes to a quality of the movie. A bit slow in places (as most British historical movies tend to be), but overall a very entertaining history of an era that is seldom covered in the theater. B+
19) WHIP IT - Starring Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis.
Review is in the 2009 Current Releases section. Very entertaining. B+
20) THE TIME TRAVELERS WIFE - Starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana.
After seeing "District 9" yesterday, this was an unusual weekend for movies.
This was adapted from the best selling novel, with one significant difference that readers of the book will recognize.
The storyline centers around a man (Bana) who has special genes that enables him to travel through time without warning. He visits his wife (future wife at times) during various periods of her life.
While a rather bold premise, it actually works, resulting in a moving love story with a number of surprise twists.
For those who haven't read the book, play close attention to the travel sequences or you can get very confused.
We really enjoyed it. B+
21) EARTH - A documentary narrated by James Earl Jones. I don't generally include documentaries but this is truly an exception. It's the story of three animal families on an amazing journey throughout the planet. Cinematography is breaktaking and is the backdrop to a heart warming and thoughly enjoyable experience. A-
22) UP - An animated adventure from Disney/Pixar in 3D, which is an amazing journey by a 78 year old man and 8 year old boy. It is a comedy adventure that appeals to adults as well as older children. Must be seen in 3D because it really enhances the experience, B+
23) THE PROPOSAL - Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. A light romantic comedy about an executive (Bullock) who is facing deportation to Canada if she doesn't get married quickly. She convinces her assistant (Reynolds) to play the part, with some hilarious consequences. A "feel good" movie experience. B+
24) STAR TREK 2009 - Starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. You don't have to be a Trekie to enjoy this film, which depicts the beginning of the Star Trek adventure and the careers of John Kirk and Spock. Plenty of action and special effects, which may turn you into Trekies afterall. B
25) PARIS 36 - starring Gerard Jugnot and Clovis Comillac. This is a French comedy/drama with English subtitles. I've only enjoyed foreign movies in the past few years because the sub-titles often distracted from the film. But I've adapted and we have enjoyed a number of quality foreign films recently.
This is the story of 3 friends, who are out of work, who produce a musical in a depressed pre-war Paris. Excellent character portrayal and an inspiring story of stuggles and successes. B
26) TAKING PELHAM 123 - Starrting Denzel Washington and John Travola. How can you go wrong with these actors? You can't. This is the remake of the original, which starred of all people, Walter Mathau. This version is much superior and offers action, suspense and a rivetting plot. A side note is that I used to take this train as a kid in the Bronx. B
27) LIFE IN RUINS - Starring Nia Varadalas (Greek Wedding fame). A light romantic comedy about a Greek-American tour guide in Athens, who leads disfuntional tourists through the treasures of Greece. Critics were mixed on this but we totallly enjoyed it.
Some hilarious situations. beautiful scenery and a captivating Nia Varadalas.
Definitely worth a rental. B
I failed to include the latest Harry Potter, we did enjoy it, even if we aren't Harry Potter freaks. Fans will love it, we simply enjoyed it.
Note that this list will be updated as new movies are released and viewed.
|