Top 10 Films of 2009

[harris]

Well it's about that time again. What say you?

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox ~ Wes Anderson
2. 35 Shots of Rum ~ Claire Denis
3. Beeswax ~ Andrew Bujalski
4. Lorna's Silence ~ Dardenne Bros
5. Inglourious Basterds ~ Quentin Tarantino
6. Moon ~ Duncan Jones
7. The Road ~ John Hillcoat
8. The Girlfriend Experience ~ Steven Soderbergh
9. A Serious Man ~ Coen Bros
10. Extract ~ Mike Judge

[masterofsparks]

This is off the top of my head, so I'm probably forgetting something great:

1. Moon
2. A Serious Man
3. Adventureland
4. In the Loop
5. Up
6. Star Trek
7. The Hangover
8. Zombieland
9. Coraline
10. The Informant!

Not necessarily in order of preference.

[Martin]

Quentin Tarantino's Top 8 of 2009! (video)

[Omar]

Here is my list as of now.  I still need to see several films, including A Serious Man, which is almost certain to find a spot.

1. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)
2. The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson)
3. Anvil!: The Story of Anvil (Sacha Gervasi)
4. Adventureland (Greg Mottola)
5. World's Greatest Dad (Bobcat Goldthwait)
6. The Girlfriend Experience (Steven Soderbergh)
7. The Informant! (Steven Soderbergh)
8. Extract (Mike Judge)
9. Zombieland (Ruben Fleischer)
10. Brüno (Larry Charles)

[harris]

I saw Goodbye Solo and Nights and Weekends this year but they were released in 2008. They are both really great films that wouldve made the 09 list if they were released this year.

[Martin]

Well, Lorna's Silence is also 2008. (But I'm guessing you go by US release dates?)

[harris]

Yeh I didn't see it until November. I didn't even thhink of looking that one up.

[Pat K]

There's still a good deal of stuff I haven't seen, including The Road and Fantastic Mr Fox, but these are my top 5 from what I have seen:


5. The Informant!
4. Tyson
3. The Hurt Locker
2. Moon
1. A Serious Man

Also, big ups to Gomorra, Coraline, and Soderbergh's Che movies, which I can't remember if they came out in early 2009 or late 2008, but didn't open in my town until 2009, so I count them in the 2009 grey area.  (I know, if only there were an easy way to find out what the release dates of movies were...)

Also, worst film that I saw theatrically in 2009: The Informers, hands down.  And that's despite the copious nudity and Brad Renfro's fantastic, amazingly creepy performance.

[Martin]

Yeh I didn't see it until November. I didn't even thhink of looking that one up.

To avoid confusion I always try to go by IMDB dates (possible exception: when IMDB considers a 2009 film to be from 2008 just because it screened at one small festival once; however, if it screened at any of the major festivals, it's a 2008 film).

[Ike]

As hokey as this stuff can be, I absolutely love best-of lists.  This format just works for me. 

LOVE IT.

That said.....

1.  Serious Man--a story of my life, as it is being currently lived, or whatever close approximate I can conjur. 

2.  Star Trek--totally blindsided me. 

3.  Inglorious Bassturds--loved it.  I was extremely resistant and came around after t-minus 2 minutes into the film. 

4.  Moon--wonderfully paced, a little goofy at times, but I thought about it for weeks afterwards. 

5.  Mr. Fox--loved it. 

6.  Wild Things--indefensible, but I was really moved by this movie.  WORST SNTK EVER. 


Biggest disappointments:

Public Enemies
Funny People
Observe and Report

[Chris L]

Holding off at least until I see 35 Shots of Rum this week (maybe), although really I should wait til after A&TC:The Squeakuel. 

[Emily]

I'm looking forward to It's Complicated.

Also enjoyed Fantastic Mr. Fox, A Serious Man, The Hangover, and the Meryl Streep half (the "Julia" parts) of Julie & Julia.

also enjoyed Up & Coarline.

did not enjoy Bride Wars.

haven't seen Inglorious Bastards Yet.

and SPOILER alert! clip of my favorite dance sequence of 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2seAJsrtIbQ

[Trotskie]

Biggest disappointments:

Public Enemies

I liked this better when I watched it a second time.

[Chris L]

OK, due to recent chaotic developments I don't know when I'll see another movie.  Therefore, might as well post my current list before I lose all interest in January.  

In the Loop
Inglourious Basterds
Fantastic Mr. Fox
A Serious Man
The Hurt Locker
The Informant!
Still Walking
Gomorrah
The Hangover
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet

Honorable mention: "Headbanging while making fire" youtube clip  Just saw it was from 2008. 

Quite the comeback year for Tarantino and Anderson.  Will we even still make lists after Avatar CHANGES MOVIES FOREVER this weekend?  In the unlikely event we do, I'll see you in December 2010!  

[Martin]

La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet

Cool. Can't wait to see this. Rewatched High School recently.

Will we even still make lists after Avatar CHANGES MOVIES FOREVER this weekend?  In the unlikely event we do, I'll see you in December 2010!  

This has been discussed on twitter. I believe the consensus was that filmmaking officially implodes/dies this weekend, then is reborn on Monday, starting with remakes of the early Lumieres and moving forward. Workers Leaving the Factory 3D is already shortlisted for Cannes.