My Favorite Movies of 2009

I thought I would share some of my favorite movies that I saw from 2009. Of course, this can only be based on the limited amount of movies that I did see. Feel free to post some of your favorites as well or maybe some flicks that I missed.

Now for my top 7:

7) Sin Nombre- "Sin Nombre" means "without a name". If a viewer sets aside any political ideology that they may have and experience this movie for what it is, they will be moved. Sin Nombre is a stirring drama but the movie also operates as a suspenseful thriller. The story involves two main characters: Sayra who joins her father and uncle in a trek through Guatemala and Mexico to get to the United States. The second character is Willy, nicknamed Casper, involved in gang activity in southern Mexico. Willy finds himself on the wrong side of his gang and seeks to flee to the United States. They ride atop of a train with other hopeful immigrants. This movie is not about what a person in the US should believe about illegal immigration but about why so many people would risk everything (even doing incredibly dangerous things) in order to come here.

6) District 9- In a year of great sci-fi movies, "District 9" stands out. This is a balls out and, at times, gruesome South African parable of apartheid. Newcomer director Neill Blomkamp really has an original take on the story structure. The beginning of the film starts out like a news cast or documentary about extraterrestrial forces over South Africa who are forced to live in a ghetto. Then the movie focuses on Wikus Van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley in a star making performance) as he becomes an advocate for their cause after being exposed to their biotechnology. This is unforgettable stuff.

5) Avatar- James "King of the World" Cameron may have just taken the throne again. This is the visual spectacle of the year but also has a solid story to go along with the ground-breaking effects. Sure, there are some weaknesses: the human characters are very one-dimensional and the theme of an individual from one culture joining another culture has been done before (Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, etc). However, while a person is watching this movie, there is such a good time to be had that the viewer forgets about those minor flaws. Two and a half hours flies by. Buy the big popcorn and go to the IMAX screening.

4) Up- The fact seems to be automatic that any movie Pixar releases will be considered one of the best movies of the year, and "Up" is no exception. With the brilliance demonstrated from the first "Toy Story" to "Wall-E", the newest movie seems to be moving Pixar toward an even greater maturity in storytelling. "Up" follows a couple, Carl and Ellie, through their courtship and marriage and life together (done through music and animation with hardly any dialogue). They then make a sad discovery which causes Carl to lose his life's partner and threaten the dreams that they hatched together. He becomes a recluse but through circumstances decides to carry out the couple's dream of going to Paradise Falls. He ties balloons to his house and floats toward Venezuela. The movie seems to set up a strong dichotomy. The grief and pain that come from such a substantial loss contrasted with the magic and awe that the world around us entails. The movie will appeal to kids but its themes are mature enough to match any other movie out there.

3) Inglourious Basterds- Who can get away with blatant historical revisionism involving a group of Jews called "the basterds" striking fear into the heart of the Nazi's during World War II? And get away with portraying these basterds whacking Nazi's with baseball bats, scalping them and carving swastikas into their foreheads? Why...Quentin Tarantino can and no one does revenge like the "Pulp Fiction" director. Here is a film filled with unbelievable performances, Tarantino's intoxicating dialogue, brutal violence and mayhem. Not politically correct by any stretch of the imagination and tapping into a collective anger and sense of justice that people everywhere feel toward the Nazi's. Tarantino's gleeful film has high entertainment value and unexpected humor. Its probably the funniest World War II movie a person could ever watch.

2) Up in the Air- Jason Reitman has done three movies (Thank You for Smoking, Juno) and this is his best. The film is a rebuke of American individualism and voluntary isolation. The story involves Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) who indulges in his life of flying around the country as a corporate terminator (he fires people that corporations don't have the guts to fire themselves). On the side, he preaches a commitment-free life and tells his audience to imagine "an empty backpack" with no attachments and little responsibilities. All seems to be going okay until Ryan realizes that the life that he leads, with no commitments or attachments, is the very hell that torments him. The film winds down with a feeling of existential dread and there are surprises waiting along the way. Perhaps most unnerving of all is the timeliness of the sub-plot. America currently stands near 11% unemployment and Bingham fires people around the country according to a corporate script with hardly a thought about it. This movie stings to your soul.

1) The Hurt Locker- While audiences were busy last summer watching Hasbro toy commercials, many missed the best war movie of the decade. There hasn't been a more personal film about men in combat since "Saving Private Ryan". The story follows soldiers in Iraq who have the job of defusing IED bombs. To most of us, this is an unfathomable job. This is about the soldiers and their psychological make-up. Why would men and women would choose a job that puts them in a chaotic life and death situation? Why do some crave these dangerous scenarios to such a degree that it becomes like a drug? Director Kathryn Bigelow shot this apolitical film around Amman, Jordan (which neighbors Iraq). The Jordan military provided security for the film shoot and Bigelow had a hard time finding actors and crew people willing to work in a volatile region. No doubt she had to also fight a Hollywood bureaucracy to get this thing made. If all ends up right, she should become the first female to win the best director prize at the Oscars. She certainly deserves it.

Other good movies I saw: Public Enemies, (500) Days of Summer, Moon, A Serious Man