So, here is my list of the top ten of the year. No, you won’t agree, but isn’t that the fun? I will preface this list with the fact I have not seen the following films, which I hope to see on DVD : An Education, A Single Man, The Blind Side, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Star Trek, Paranormal Activity, Invictus, and The Messenger. So let the fun (and arguments!) begin... (sorry "B", Precious didn't make the cut ... just can't see myself rewatching this film, as great as it was, and with a top ten list, I should want to rewatch each film).
10. Sugar – This film was an early release last spring, after traveling around the independent film festival circuit the previous year. It received some critical praise, but the majority of moviegoers missed out on what is a great film. I reviewed the film extensively under a previous entry (Best Sports Film of the Decade). If you like baseball, underdogs, subtitles, and a protagonist with a big heart, catch this film this spring as baseball season swings into action.
9. (500) Days of Summer – Just recently we "RedBoxed" The Proposal. That was a mistake. The only original romantic comedy worth seeing this past year was 500 Days. Great storytelling (very Pulp Fictionesque), solid lead performances, and a great script. To top it off, the best use of a Hall and Oats song EVER. If you’ve ever been in love with that someone, who eventually doesn’t reciprocate, this film’s for you.
8. The Informant! – I am still bewildered to why Matt Damon received an acting nod for Invictus and not for this film. Tragic. Damon turns in a hysterically hypnotic turn as a bumbling, yet sometimes believable, buffoon who plans to "out" his company. Think The Insider with a comic, clueless pudgy Damon as opposed to a white haired, serious, scared Russell Crowe. Both actors deserve praise for delivering some of their best, most memorable work. Additional shout-outs to director Soderbergh and the rarely used Scot Bakula.
7. District 9 – This film, unlike Cameron’s majestic debacle that is Avatar, lived up to the hype. This sci-fi “mocumentary” follows Wilkus, a government agent leading a special military task force. Their objective – to relocate over one million “prawns” from District 9 in Johannesburg to a new location over 200 miles away. When Wilkus is infected with an alien virus, however, he becomes an unlikely ally for the prawns. This film is both entertaining, and a social commentary on race and apartheid. It is, without question, the best science fiction film of the year.
6. A Serious Man – The Coens strike again, this time writing and directing a film that feels semi-autobiographical. This black comedy doesn’t surpass Fargo, but fans of the aforementioned film will be more than pleased. The film follows Larry Gopnick, a professor at a local Midwestern college, who slowly watches his life unravel. His story resembles that of a modern day Job, although it is much more comical. I also feel this film does an excellent job of educating those who are unaccustomed to Judaism (such as myself). If you enjoy the Coens, or dark comedies, check this out. It is currently available on DVD. (PS – Possibly my favorite movie poster of the year.)
5. Where the Wild Things Are – I have previously reviewed this film on my blog, naming it the Best film Adapted from a Children’s Story, so if you want to read an extended review, check out my blog entry. This film, although not appropriate for young kids, is what a true children’s movie should be … a mixture of fantasy and realism. It blends the imagination of a young boy with the demons he faces growing up in a single parent home. A modern day Wizard of Oz ...maybe. Required viewing …definitely.
4. Up – This film also has been reviewed in detail. I named it the Best Animated Film of the Decade. Pixar delivers another gem, telling the story of a curmudgeon who finds happiness and contentment after losing his wife. This film has the sweetest montage I have ever seen (two people never seemed more in love). In addition, Dug (SQUIRREL!) is possibly the greatest canine actor of all time.
3. Up in the Air - I can’t believe I am ranking this film here. Two months ago I would probably have picked it as the best of the year. So what happened you ask? I didn’t feel it was fair to have a three way tie for the best film of the year … which in reality, is what I would like to do. I loved everything about this film, the lead performances (if Clooney wasn’t playing Clooney so well, he’d win another Oscar), the writing, the direction … there isn’t a false note. I believe this film is a modern classic, and will hold up over time as the one film that defines the latter half of the decade.
2. Inglourius Basterds – Tarantino, you did it. You made a film that is almost as good as Pulp Fiction. I cannot wait to watch this film again. At first, I wasn’t sure what to think, but as the film progressed I became a bigger fan. The first chapter alone is worth viewing, it may be Tarantino’s best work ever (yes, EVER). I can’t say what hasn’t been said about Christoph Waltz’s performance. With the possible exception of Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction, it is the best role (written and cast) in any Quentin film.
1. The Hurt Locker – There is no reason, I repeat no reason, this film shouldn’t win the Oscar for both Best Picture and Best Director (Crapatar … you only wish you had the heart and soul of this film). Kathryn Bigelow’s film sticks to your gut more than any film in recent memory, and for that reason I rank it as the best of the year, and possibly the best of the decade. After viewing the film (at home, unfortunately I missed it on the big screen) my first thought was, “Whew, that’s rough.” But the more I digested the film, the more I realized it wasn’t rough, it was simply upsetting because it was realistic. This film is the “Platoon” of the Iraq War, and in my opinion, it’s also the better film. Here’s hoping the Academy will feel the same way.
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