Best Movies of 2009

Editor’s Note: Our reluctant adult didn’t see that many movies this year. This probably stems from the fact that he has no friends and is afraid to see movies by himself, on the off chance that he will be murdered in the theater. The list of movies that he should have seen included these titles: Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up, A Serious Man, Precious, It’s Complicated, Pirate Radio, 2012, Jennifer’s Body, The Informant Crazy Heart, Invictus, Nine and Where the Wild Things Are.
Some commentators might not have the gusto to rank the top ten movies of the year, if they hadn’t seen all the contenders, but I lack such restraint. Instead I’m going to tell you my favorite movies of 2009. The list is based more on what I liked, than what actual critics might deem worthwhile. I’ll try to acknowledge some critical aspects of these films, but my movie experience consists mostly of an aborted porno attempt. Anyway, let’s get to the list.
10. I LOVE YOU MAN
• On its surface this movie is a buddy comedy. This façade, though, is just a disguise for the fact that this is the best chick flick of the year. Boy meets boy. Boy falls for boy. Boys breakup. Boys get back together. Obviously not the traditional dynamic, but it’s the same formula.
Paul Rudd has never struck me as a leading man. He typically works better as a foil for more compelling characters, who graciously allow him to steal any scene he’s in. As the lead of I LOVE YOU MAN, Rudd is extremely capable. I think he works so well because he’s such an effeminate character in the movie, yet lacks the whiny and neurotic tendencies that torpedo female leads of chick flicks.
I didn’t find this movie to be on par with similar comedies (Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Role Models), as far as laughs. Had the movie operated solely as a comedy this reality would have been a deal breaker, but the layers don’t make it necessary for a tally of running jokes. Instead, what you have is movie with a lot of heart and was surprisingly poignant. I have guy friends, but I feel like in a relationship I might have a tendency to smother, which is the fear of Rudd’s mate.
What you get with I LOVE YOU MAN is a fun experience, which is original its delivery.
9. Inglourious Basterds
• I don’t know why I expect fulfilling endings from Quentin Tarantino. They always seem too convenient. As if he’s admitting that he ran out of witty lines and cool action scenes, so he’s just calling it quits. Aside from RESERVOIR DOGS, I’ve rarely been happy with Tarantino’s conclusions.
Basterds is no exception, yet that doesn’t keep it from grabbing the number nine spot. Even with the unfulfilling end, you still have a good world war two movie. It has the tension of the GREAT ESCAPE. It has the excitement of the DIRTY DOZEN. There is the fear of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. This all makes for a good movie, which is brought to another level with the Tarantino bump. That bump includes creative violence, timely music options (David Bowie) and dialogue that shouldn’t roll of the tongue but it does.
The biggest take away from this movie was the creative casting. This included Ryan from The Office, the tiny kid from Freaks and Geeks, director Eli Roth, Mike Myers and Brad Pitt as a southern hick out for Nazi scalps. All of this could end up being Aldo’s Eleven, but it is relatively seamless, to the point where the casting choices are actually quite beneficial. In particular, Myers may come across as a stereotypical Brit, especially since he’s Canadian, yet that’s what the role requires in the vein of those over the top performances from steely actors of the past.
If you like Tarantino, then you’ll like this movie, but it is also accessible to a more mainstream audience.
8. The Watchmen
• I’m a geek. I have the glasses and knowledge of random facts to prove it. As such, I worship a good comic book movie. Superheroes fascinate me, with their back stories, powers and high stake challenges.
The appeal of The Watchmen revolves around its story, setting and delivery. The story isn’t anything that unique, but told in this setting, the 1980s with Nixon as president, it becomes much more interesting. It feels like a science experiment. A science experiment that is interesting because of its delivery, which is told through a sleek medium that is realistic, dark and just a beauty to take in. My knowledge of the comic art for THE WATCHMEN consists of leafing through a copy once, and frankly I found the evolution to the screen a big plus.
What really sells this movie for me is the work of Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley. Wilson plays a hero that has gotten soft, physically and emotionally, since hanging up his tights and needs to snap it back into gear when he is needed. His character is the most realistic and his portrayal could have been comical, yet ends up being quite endearing. Haley plays a slightly deranged anti-hero who is illegally playing superhero. As a hero with a pessimistic view about the world he protects, Haley is also very endearing, almost sweet.
Critics might pick this movie apart for some of the cheesiness, but I think it hits just the right note. This movie may not provide the same level of commentary as the graphic novel, and I don’t think it has to, in order to be a success. THE WATCHMEN is extremely watchable, is like nothing I’ve ever watched and has a nice rhythmic pacing as if it was set to a reliable watch (Editor’s note: David had to sneak that idiotic line in when I was battling the toilet after a run in with Taco Bell.)

7. The Hangover
• 50 minutes into this movie I thought I was watching one of the best comedies of all time. Ultimately, though, this movie came crashing back down to earth. The feeling was much like the hangover after a quality night out drinking. The great memories are tempered by the awful feelings in the morning.
THE HANGOVER doesn’t represent anything new in the comedic realm, as it is essentially a better version of DUDE WHERE’S MY CAR? Comedy doesn’t need to be original, though, as long as it improves on the original idea. This movie does that, primarily through the efforts of the amazing cast. In particular this is a testament to Ed Helms and Zack Galifianakis, who became breakout stars this summer based on their work in this movie. Helms takes a break from his ridiculous Andy character on THE OFFICE, to embrace the straight role amongst this zany cast of characters. He ends up keeping the movie grounded, which also highlights the few scenes where his characters loses it. As for Galifianakis, it appears that he’s on another comedic level than everyone else. It is impossible to imagine anyone else executing the character he plays as effectively as he does. Anyone else would simply be acting, whereas he is that character.
The downside about THE HANGOVER is that many of the jokes rely on surprise for effectiveness. Even after you’ve exhausted these jokes there is still a good film, which should speak to how good this movie is the first time around.
6. Star Trek
• Star Trek is essentially a really good adventure movie. As James T. Kirk, actor Chris Pine isn’t channeling William Shatner, so much as he is doing a version of Indiana Jones. I think that’s what the movie needs, and I think it’s where most of the movies success stems from.
All of this is possible, though, because of the direction from J.J. Abrams. I’m not saying his poop is gold, but I’d be willing to bet that if you went through his stool sample you’d find some worthwhile material.
It’s not an exaggeration to rate a movie that is basically a thrill ride as the 6 best movie of the year. People shouldn’t denigrate thrill rides, which aren’t an easy feat to accomplish. This ride has a nice pace, made me cry early on (every time I’ve seen it), makes me laugh and is interesting. Plus, it’s got cool aesthetics that make it a pleasure for the eyes.
I will admit that the romantic in me, in terms of my sci-fi love, probably impacted the ranking of this movie. They score extra points in casting and writing for leaving the legacy of the original series intact and improving on it. That’s impressive.
It’s not a think piece. It’s fun. It may not strive for the moon, but ultimately it ends up as one of this year’s stars.

5. Adventureland
• I love this movie, but I’m tired of writing about it. I like it because it speaks to me. I see myself in the main character. This is an excellent movie about the transitions in life and growing up. It is also a funny movie. It is nice to look at. The story is original, yet remains very relatable. Kristen Stewart is a goddess. I reluctantly accept Jesse Eisenberg as my leader.
Finally, where is my generation’s Lou Reed?
4. Up In the Air
• I wrote about this movie too recently to delve into it again. Look up my review in my catalog of old posts for December.
Quickly, though, I’ll say that this movie is a good adult film. It’s not an alternative indie film or some over the top big budget studio film. It represents a shrinking niche, of movies with big stars and modest budgets. Original stories aimed at grownups.
The movie might rely too heavily on the excellent casting, but that might just explain why the movie is so special. Vera Farmiga makes this movie for me, and not just because her backside is amazing (her whole body is amazing). Farmiga puts Clooney in his place, in a way that almost no other actress could. Think about the way he goes up against Julia Roberts in Ocean’s Eleven, and he cleans her clock. Farmiga hopefully has a coming out part after this movie. Please, though, no more terrible Boston accents.
(http://reluctantadultperspective.blogspot.com/2009/12/up-in-air-experience.html)
3. 500 Days of Summer
• (Editor’s note: For what David previously wrote about this movie, click here: http://reluctantadultperspective.blogspot.com/2009/10/cant-shake-that-summer.html. )
I’ve only seen this movie once, so I’m hoping my memory doesn’t fail me as I reap praise on this movie. It is not a romantic comedy, first of all. The movie even refuses the identity of a love story. This is a movie about one character’s (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) journey of self-discovery, which stems from his relationship with a girl named Summer (during the Summer strangely enough).
I’m a sucker for any movie, which has the main character realize he’s a sap like in me in love and life, but then unlike me, learns from the lessons they’ve experienced. I find them inspirational, well not that inspirational since I haven’t changed my ways.
What makes this movie great is that it’s a roller coaster ride. Some movies are thrill rides, this is a roller coaster ride, because of the dramatic ups and downs. It’s as if you put a bi-polar person on fast forward and watched that play out (Editor’s Note: David has no medical knowledge and doesn’t know what he’s talking about. His idea of bi-polar is someone who has sex with people and polar bears). And life really is a series of highs and lows for people who haven’t given into the listless existence in the middle, where you don’t have to feel the lows and are denied the highs.
Plus, this movie has the best use of a song during the year. PIRATE RADIO has 8 million tries to win this recognition, but Gordon-Levitt grabbed everyone’s heart with his dance/stroll to Hall & Oates.
Oh yeah, there is also poignant stuff about going for your dreams and not forcing an existence because it is convenient and seems akin to the ideal existence you heard about once. The supporting cast is funny and drunkenness is portrayed very accurately. Kudos.
2. District 9
• (Editor’s Note: Here is the link to District 9 review from 2009, done by Dave Lombardo: http://reluctantadultperspective.blogspot.com/2009/12/district-9-must-see.html.)
In a year where the biggest hyped sci-fi movie was driven solely by effects, this movie was more affective with some choice gimmicks and a strong story.
I feel like talking up this movie is a fruitless endeavor, because people who haven’t seen it think I’m getting all hot and bothered for nothing since this is just a goody science fiction movie, and people who have seen it already understand my excitement.
This movie is a dramatic masterpiece. Not sure what that means to critics, but to me it represents my belief that this movie is superbly assembled and is a heart pumping story that also tugs at your heart strings and could give you a heart attack (That last heart is so they come in 3s. I heard that’s good luck. Although, does mentioning the heart count as a reference? If so, then I’m at 5. Maybe it’s good to be divisible by 3s. Heart).
What to say, what to say, what to say? This movie is cool when it needs to be. It’s touching when you don’t expect it. It’s distasteful to set the mood. It creates life as we know it in a world we don’t know. That’s an amazing trick, especially when reality is so hard to capture on the big screen in a movie of this scope.
Make your way to District 9.
1. In the Loop
• This movie is a combination of Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue, Burn After Reading’s interpretation of upper level civil servants, the verbal abuse of Dr. House, and characters straight from a Christopher Buckley or Carl Hiassen novel. In case you didn’t know, that equation adds up to success. Basically what you have is a funny version of The Wire, in that it captures an aspect of reality, and instead of making you cry from the bleakness, you cry because of how hilariously ridiculous it all is.
IN THE LOOP is about the period leading up to a possible American invasion with British support, akin to the escalation of 2002 before the invasion of Iraq. If the real buildup was this hilarious, it might excuse the atrocious results (Editor’s Note: We do not support Dave’s political commentary. He is a bleeding heart liberal because he is protected from the realities of life by living at home.)
I found the whole experience extremely enjoyable. It’s not a laugh out loud funny movie, for the most part, but it leave you smiling throughout.
Even with my minimal political experience I could tell this movie was born out of reality, even if the players became caricatures of the real people they represent. As caricatures, we’re allowed to get a clear vision of all the hypocrisy and idiocy that characterizes our government and its institutional procedures (even if this is a movie that’s focus is on the other side of the pond).
Outsiders forget that our policy makers are real people, and by going so far in the opposite direction, you get the kind of movie that Charlie Wilson’s War might not have strived to be, but should have strived to be. It’s not only effective in delivering a message, it is wildly entertaining.
This is far and away the best movie of 2009.

Now it’s your turn. What did you think? Should I have seen 2012? Was Avatar just great? Have you seen any of these movies? Will you see any of these movies?