Top 50 Films of 2009 (20-11)
#20. Zombieland (Ruben Fleischer) - A much better alternative to 'Shaun of the Dead'. Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, The Squid and the Whale) has quickly become one of my favorite young actors. He's never boring, not even for a second. Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson (Kingpin, Defendor) make a great comical team. The wonderful Emma Stone (Superbad, The House Bunny) adds a little spice to the mix. Look for a hilarious cameo from Bill Murray (Caddyshack, Stripes).
#19. Public Enemies (Michael Mann) - Another fantastic Mann (Heat, Collateral) film, starring Johhny Depp (Donnie Brasco, Edward Scissorhands) and Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, The Machinist). This is a great, atmospheric bank-robber film with some phenomenal action sequences. The acting is topnotch throughout. Absolutely worth your time.
#18. The Messenger (Oren Moverman) - This is an emotional and deep film starring Harrelson and Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, Hostage). Their job is to tell the families of dead soldiers about their loss. This one tugs at your heart, and provides a large amount of laughs, as well. Not your typical war film, and that's A-OK for me.
#17. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Werner Herzog) - What we have here is a good Nicolas Cage (The Weather Man, Matchstick Men) film. They seem very rare these days. He plays a two-faced, crooked, drugged-up cop in New Orleans. His performance is unforgettable. This film shows how corrupt the police force can really be.
#16. Bronson (Nicolas Winding Refn) - An under-the-radar film starring Tom Hardy (Inception) as Michael Peterson (A.K.A. Charles Bronson). This film is a treat. A brilliant performance by Hardy that will make you laugh and cringe simultaneously. He gets sent to prison and thinks get violent.
#15. Moon (Duncan Jones) - Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke) is on his game in this Sci-Fi thriller. A great soundtrack sets the tone and the visuals are great. What's better than Sam Rockwell? Two Sam Rockwell's.
#14. District 9 (Neill Blomkamp) - A huge summer blockbuster best seen on the big screen. The action sequences are among the best in 2009. The bloody fun sticks with you. Sharlto Copley (The A-Team) is outstanding as his body begins to turn on him. This film is a riot.
#13. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino) - Easily one of the best made films of the year. There are so many unforgettable performances along the way. Look for possibly the best bar scene in cinematic history. Melanie Laurent and Christoph Waltz are so ridiculously good. Tarantino outdid himself here.
#12. A Serious Man (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen) - Another Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski) masterpiece. Michael Stuhlbarg is wonderful, as the 40-something married man, in the middle of a nervous breakdown. Seek it out, you won't be disappointed.
#11. Watchmen (Zack Snyder) - I'm in the minority, but I absolutely love this film. Easily Snyder's (300, Dawn of the Dead) best film to date. This is one of the best superhero films ever. It's not up there with 'The Dark Knight' or even 'Spider-Man 2', but it's close. Jackie Earle Haley's Rorschach, is one of the best characters of the year. I really love the 70's soundtrack. This is a phenomenal film.
#19. Public Enemies (Michael Mann) - Another fantastic Mann (Heat, Collateral) film, starring Johhny Depp (Donnie Brasco, Edward Scissorhands) and Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, The Machinist). This is a great, atmospheric bank-robber film with some phenomenal action sequences. The acting is topnotch throughout. Absolutely worth your time.
#18. The Messenger (Oren Moverman) - This is an emotional and deep film starring Harrelson and Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, Hostage). Their job is to tell the families of dead soldiers about their loss. This one tugs at your heart, and provides a large amount of laughs, as well. Not your typical war film, and that's A-OK for me.
#17. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Werner Herzog) - What we have here is a good Nicolas Cage (The Weather Man, Matchstick Men) film. They seem very rare these days. He plays a two-faced, crooked, drugged-up cop in New Orleans. His performance is unforgettable. This film shows how corrupt the police force can really be.
#16. Bronson (Nicolas Winding Refn) - An under-the-radar film starring Tom Hardy (Inception) as Michael Peterson (A.K.A. Charles Bronson). This film is a treat. A brilliant performance by Hardy that will make you laugh and cringe simultaneously. He gets sent to prison and thinks get violent.
#15. Moon (Duncan Jones) - Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke) is on his game in this Sci-Fi thriller. A great soundtrack sets the tone and the visuals are great. What's better than Sam Rockwell? Two Sam Rockwell's.
#14. District 9 (Neill Blomkamp) - A huge summer blockbuster best seen on the big screen. The action sequences are among the best in 2009. The bloody fun sticks with you. Sharlto Copley (The A-Team) is outstanding as his body begins to turn on him. This film is a riot.
#13. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino) - Easily one of the best made films of the year. There are so many unforgettable performances along the way. Look for possibly the best bar scene in cinematic history. Melanie Laurent and Christoph Waltz are so ridiculously good. Tarantino outdid himself here.
#12. A Serious Man (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen) - Another Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski) masterpiece. Michael Stuhlbarg is wonderful, as the 40-something married man, in the middle of a nervous breakdown. Seek it out, you won't be disappointed.
#11. Watchmen (Zack Snyder) - I'm in the minority, but I absolutely love this film. Easily Snyder's (300, Dawn of the Dead) best film to date. This is one of the best superhero films ever. It's not up there with 'The Dark Knight' or even 'Spider-Man 2', but it's close. Jackie Earle Haley's Rorschach, is one of the best characters of the year. I really love the 70's soundtrack. This is a phenomenal film.
A Serious Man
Bronson
Bronson
Comments
Post a Comment