Let's get discussin' - The Top 10 (and worst 5) Films of 2009

I know we waited, but it was for a good reason. We had to be sure that we had seen as many films that were considered 2009 releases but trickled into Omaha either in early 2010 or after our holiday-induced publishing freeze. Thus, what you see before you is the best that we could do. We didn't see absolutely everything, but together we damn near did. I would also like to point out that the hardest call I made came down to Up in the Air, which I really, really did like. Ultimately, I had such a problem with the final act that it found itself in the undesirable number 11 spot. I mention this because Omaha is slightly obsessed with the film, and because it appears as though the film will get some Oscar love (though it is now no longer a front runner with Avatar, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hurt Locker heating up). Anyway, enough preamble, I'm posting this here to invite conversation and discussion. When I posted the top 10 of the decade, I heard from but one person (a person who I chose to ignore because I'm related to him and he suggested Bee Movie in jest...you don't joke like that in this neck of the woods). I want more discussion. I know you have opinions! You have to think I'm an idiot for putting X film in front of Y film on this list or excluding X film in favor of Y film (man, X is dominating in my analogy). Anyway, peruse the following and let me know what you think.

About Last Year
The best and worst films of 2009

Pretentious writers who glorify films of yesteryear to lord their false sense of superiority over younger generations can suck it: 2009 was one of the all-time great years for movies. Over the last 12 months, a bevy of mainstream films studied hard and brought home a report card so decorated with one vowel that it should be proudly hung on the cultural fridge as proof that our best days aren’t necessarily behind us. Heck, even 2009’s missteps went full tilt; they weren’t merely bad, they were racist and evil. So if you hear someone kvetching about “the state of movies these days,” smack them upside the head with the following lists.

The 5 Worst Movies of 2009

5.) Pirate Radio – Once more proving that there’s nothing fun about watching people listen to the radio, writer/director Richard Curtis’s cinematic Ambien pill earned its spot through sheer hubris.

4.) X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Hugh Jackman’s first signs of following the Harrison Ford path to career exile, this abomination was seemingly just a pastiche of studio notes and X-Men characters as interpreted by sociopaths.

3.) Terminator: Salvation – Director McG managed to McFail worse than anyone thought possible. With volcanic crater–sized plot holes and flat-out hilariously bad acting, the only legacy this leaves is Christian Bale’s vulgarity-laced tirade.

2.) Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen – In any other year, Michael Bay’s opus to sexism and fire would have used its Stepin Fetchit minor characters to evil its way to first place. Better luck next time, Mikey.

1.) Year One – The first comedy in history without a single laugh, this film wiped out all of director Harold Ramis’s previous accomplishments along with all remaining goodwill for Jack Black and Michael Cera. This may be the first movie that absolutely no human has ever liked.

The 10 Best Movies of 2009

10.) The Princess and the Frog – Beyond Disney finally notching its first truly non-troubling minority character, this 2D throwback is a 3-ton nostalgia bomb for adults and a blissfully entertaining masterwork for children. With a moral lesson that thankfully extends beyond “girls and boys should get married,” the film rides a wave of jazz music and clever, appropriate humor all the way to the Disney hall of fame.

9.) Star Trek – Call Pat Robertson, because director JJ Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman must have signed a Satan-spawned contract. How else could they have delivered satisfaction to both die-hard Trekkies and newcomers? Beyond crafting a gold standard for remakes/reboots, the trio gave unto audiences the most flat-out entertaining film of the year.

8.) Watchmen – Only a passionate devotee like Zack Snyder would undertake a project he knew could only serve to piss off fervent followers of the source material and alienate the uninitiated. He did it because he felt he had to…and thank God he did. Hyper-faithful with one notable (and forgivable) exception, Snyder deserves far more praise than punishment for this loyal love letter.

7.) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – Muted reactions be damned, this fantastic fable is more than just the last film from Heath Ledger; it’s the first truly good film from director Terry Gilliam in ages. Ridiculous and playful images join with wickedly delightful performances in a largely flawless endeavor that presents imagination as salvation.

6.) Up – If you made it through the first 10 minutes without crying, it’s sad that you’ve never felt love. Arguably the finest feather in Pixar’s insanely finely feathered cap, it is every bit as hilarious and eye-catching as it is tender and sweet. When an animated film makes you reconsider aspects of how you behave as a person, it belongs in the year’s top 10.

5.) Moon – Director Duncan Jones didn’t have to wait long to be known as more than David Bowie’s son. It only took his first full-length film, a wholly original sci-fi rumination on identity and life, to prove his visual prowess. Leading man Sam Rockwell’s finest performance may go unrewarded, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the year’s best.

4.) Where the Wild Things Are – The most emotionally affective and effective flick this year, director Spike Jonze and writer Dave Eggers turned a microscopically short kid’s book into a tour-de-force fantasy exploration into how childhood truly feels. Pitch perfect in its blend of magic and terror, this may be the first-ever children’s movie for adults.

3.) The Hurt Locker – A movie that should only be watched while in chairs with soft armrests for gripping, this white-knuckle war tale forgoes politics in favor of sheer intensity. Director Kathryn Bigelow, who damn well better win an Oscar, is merciless, piling tension on tension relentlessly. Jeremy Renner, who deserves more than his currently allotted fame, helps elevate this from cliché to crackerjack.

2.) Inglourious Basterds – Sad but true: Quentin Tarantino may never make another film as good as this one. The culmination of a career based on quirk and dialogue, his meta-cinematic revenge fable improves with each viewing, as does Christoph Waltz’s perfect performance and the sheer entertainment value. In truth, this has as much right to the top of this list as the owner of that spot.

1.) District 9 – Originality is a commodity rarer than crude oil, which is why writer/director Neill Blomkamp’s freshman effort won 2009. His blend of sci-fi, documentary, comedy, and horror is an absolutely, unequivocal masterpiece. Socially significant and visually exhilarating, this one is the rebuff to “they don’t make films like that anymore.”

Hey, don’t take my word for how great this year was. Here are two other perspectives from Reader writers on the brilliance of 2009.

Justin Senkbile’s Top 5 Movies of 2009

5.) The Fantastic Mr. Fox - Since when does a director's most commercial film end up being his best? Drenched in detail and digging deeper into family complexities, Wes Anderson's latest is, above all, amazingly fun.

4.) Up in the Air - Balancing deep-rooted melancholy with a lighter-than-air comedic touch is no easy feat, and it's the secret ingredient in Jason Reitman's third feature.

3.) Ballast - Lance Hammer's grey, drizzly Mississippi Delta drama is one of the most mesmerizing family stories in recent memory and a startlingly authentic slice of modern American life on the fringes.

2.) The Hurt Locker - Almost physically exhausting in its intensity, Kathryn Bigelow's film could likely be remembered as the definitive Iraq war picture.

1.) Goodbye Solo - Every element in this deceptively simple movie blends together quietly, amounting to an unexpectedly powerful ending, and another example of how good small American films can be.

Ben Coffman’s Top 5 Movies of 2009

5.) District 9 – Thanks to lead actor Sharlto Copley’s expressive (and hilarious) face, as well as director Neill Blomkamp’s vision, we have a slightly goofy documentary that morphed into the best sci-fi flick of the year.

4.) Inglourious Basterds – Tarantino re-writes the Nazi occupation of France, perfecting the Mexican stand-off in the process—an instant classic.

3.) In the Loop – Bumbling government policy makers and war do mix, as evidenced by the best comedy of the year. Sorry, The Hangover.

2.) Tetro – Although some critics dismissed Tetro as bombastic, Coppola dug deep and mined his personal background to create a beautifully filmed drama shot in high-contrast black-and-white Buenos Aires.

1.) The Road – This movie was too haunting to miss the top spot. From its grim plot to its skinny, ragged cast, including the anorexic Viggo Mortensen, John Hillcoat’s follow-up to The Proposition delivered horror-movie tension rounded out with the tiniest hiccup of hope.