FINAL TOP 10 OF 2009!

After much debating with myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that the following 10 films were the best I saw in theaters this calender year. I’m disappointed I missed a few, such as The Hurt Locker, and this list could potentially see minor changes if Crazy Heart or The Lovely Bones cracks the top 10 (as both were released in 2009 in limited release).

Overall, 2009 was not as strong as I had hoped for, and certainly not as good as years past. There were a lot of disappointments, but some surprises too. I’ve learned to never doubt Pixar, never doubt James Cameron, and that my favorite comedians don’t always deliver. You can see the full list of every film I saw, in ranked order, on the tab above.

To the list!…

2009 Best Movie: AVATAR

2009 Biggest Surprises: THE HANGOVER & INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

2009 Biggest Disappointments: THE INVENTION OF LYING & TERMINATOR SALVATION

1. AVATAR – review

2. UP IN THE AIR – review

3. THE HANGOVER – review

4. BROTHERS – review

5.  UP – review

6. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE – review

7. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS – review

8. I LOVE YOU, MAN- review

9. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE – review

10. ZOMBIELAND – review

Review: Avatar

He did it. He actually did it. Eleven plus years in the making, James Cameron’s passion project is not simply golden at the box office as it turns out, but one of the best motion pictures in recent years. It is true – it looks like nothing you’ve ever seen before in movies. Midway through, I leaned over to a friend and whispered, “This is unbelievable. It looks too real.” But perhaps what will cement Avatar as a sci-fi and modern-day classic, and a film that changed how movies are essentially made, is the tremendous work put into the story behind all those pretty pictures. We’ve all seen high-budget/bad acting clunkers – no matter how cool it looks, without a solid story and good acting, it’s going nowhere. Well, fear not for Avatar, because in all respects of how movies are made, it – like James Cameron said some years ago – “is king of the world.”

Cameron has created a masterpiece by showing us something we've never seen, but the story matches the effects in emotion and beauty. (20th Century Fox/aceshowbiz.com)

Look at Cameron’s resume: Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2, True Lies, Titanic. I’m not so sure why this guy isn’t mentioned in the same sentences as a Steven Spielberg; those are all classic science fiction or action movies that are above the standard for their day. Little did we know that back over a decade ago, as Oscar after Oscar was won by Titanic, that Cameron was dreaming up the world of Pandora, the remarkable and game-changing special effects, and this beautiful story. Now we know, and the movie world is better for it.

Let’s focus on what’s being “attacked”, if you want to call it that, by critics. I should say that about 9/10 critics have it in their top 10 of 2009 and it’s been nominated for a number of Golden Globes, with Oscar nominations coming not too far down the road. But I digress…the knock on this film is the formulaic storyline. Now granted, the tribe on Pandora can be interpreted as any civilization in history that was stomped upon by a mightier power. And granted, the human military machines can also be interpreted as any superpower that tried to uproot or destroy another people for riches or land, or both. The military general is by the book: jerky, flat-top haircut, ripped, and completely empty of emotion. But the way in which Cameron brings his feelings, emotions, and thoughts into these cookie cutter ideas is what makes the story take off. Forget the scenic backdrops for a second – the story captures your heart and your mind immensely. It’s riveting and sad, tragic and beautiful. Of course, as noted, you have to have good acting…

And that’s what we get from the cast of Avatar. In other Cameron movies, as amazing as they were, I don’t think Arnold was a ‘moving’ character study in Terminator 1 or 2. But that is not the case here, as our hero – Sam Worthington – plays the hell out of Jake Sully. As a partially paralyzed marine who takes his brothers shoes on this foreign planet and this demanding mission, the character transformation is both well acted and completely understood. Starting from a hard-nosed Marine and ending up as one of the creatures is truly incredible to watch. However, he doesn’t do it alone. Sigourney Weaver is a terrific counterpart to the military general. Zoe Saldana, although never seen in human form, is full of power and emotion. Finally, Giovanni Ribisi is fantastic as a tortured but determined mission leader. You can’t just throw actors into a plot and hope it works: these ones were hand chosen for their roles and they all delivered mightily. You feel their agony, you smile when they laugh, and you become rich with their way of life and being.

There is only one way to describe this movie: game-changer. You feel as if you are truly in Pandora. Unbelievable. (20th Century Fox/aceshowbiz.com)

So, apparently there’s some cool special effects I hear? This movie was hyped up like nothing I can remember in the past, and to say it lived up to expectations would be a slap in the face of everything it accomplished. It wasn’t just great to look at it, nor was it cool or amazing. It’s a game-changer. When you see Iron Man 2 next year, and walk out of the theater with a smile on your face, try and think if you’d rather have it shot the way this was shot. In no movie I can remember was I so entirely “inside” the movie. You literally feel as if you are walking amongst the mystical trees and bushes, as if you are pressing the beautiful folding flowers and jumping over waterfalls and rocks. Pandora isn’t a planet in a movie you’re watching – it’s real life for a few hours. Someone noted to me after the credits rolled, “I feel like I want to go back to Pandora, like this life should be the dream.” Yes, it’s that insanely mind-blowing. Yes, you are part of the movie. And my God, is it more beautiful and jaw-dropping than you can imagine.

I had a difficult time juggling in mind which was the better picture this year: Up in the Air or Avatar. Both were tremendous in sincerely different ways. While Up in the Air is a 4-star movie that I will re-watch in the future and remember for years to come, Avatar blew the competition out of the water. The story is top-notch. The acting is top-notch. The experience is top-notch. The special effects are literally like nothing I’ve ever seen.

When you add it all up, this could be Cameron’s greatest achievement – ahead of Aliens, Terminator 2, and the Abyss – all classic movies. This is his passion project, eleven plus years in the making. And every single element, every scene and every word were chosen and made beautifully. This is the movie of the year and one that people will be talking about decades from now.

AVATAR: (out of 4)

As We Wind Down 2009: My Big 5

The end of the year draws ever so near and with the turn of the calender comes a brand new slate of movies.

2009 hasn’t quite lived up to past year’s expectations, but there have been some really, really good movies. Some surprises, some stinkers, as usual. But with oh, 47 days left in the year, here at the 5 films, in order, I’m most looking forward to:

1. The Lovely Bones – why? Peter Jackson. Simply incredible book. Amazing young actress. Great cast. Riveting story.

2. Brothers – why? Two fantastic lead actors. Heart-wrenching storyline. Incredible trailer. Great director.

3. Up In the Air – why? Clooney in a perfect role. Director who hasn’t let down yet. Massive positive hype. Trailer.

4. Avatar – why? Decade in the making. Special effects like nothing before. Have to trust Cameron.

5. The Fantastic Mr. Fox – Amazing early reviews. Creative director with a creative cast. Looks inventive and hilarious.

 

I can honestly say I’m more excited for these 5 films than any other 5 films this entire year. Bring it on!

FINAL TOP 10 OF 2009 PREDICTION

Below are my predictions made for the year at the movies for 2009. There are a lot of good looking movies coming out this calender year, but this is my final draft at what I think the top 10 might look like. Last year I had the top spot – The Dark Knight – in the right spot. But I also had The Happening – the year’s worst film in my view – in the second spot. So it should be exciting, as always, to see what happens. You should find a 2009 tab at the top of the site.

2009 Predictions (made 1/1/09)

1. FUNNY PEOPLE – July 31

2. TERMINATOR: SALVATION – May 22

3. AVATAR – December 18

4. THIS SIDE OF THE TRUTH – March 20

5. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN – June 26

6. THE LOVELY BONES – December 11

7. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE – July 17

8. PUBLIC ENEMIES – July 1

9. I LOVE YOU, MAN – March 20

10. THE YEAR ONE – June 19

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A few others to watch for:

May 15 – Bruno

May 15 – Angels and Demons

July 10 – 2012

September 18 – The Informant

October 2 – Shutter Island