Year End List: Top 10 Movies

You can refer to my month rankings to see what I think about December (here: http://xmarcspot.blogspot.com/2009/12/ranking-months.html). No matter how you feel about the month, you have to respect the year-end lists that we get in December. I am going to share a few of my lists with you. Let's get it started.

Top 10 Movies of 2009

10. Watchmen- graphic novels aren’t really my thing, but this was a well done flick. The characters are intriguing and it had some very relevant political undertones that weren’t in-your-face like a lot of movies try to pull off.

9. Star Trek- I had no interest in seeing a Star Trek film until it was made and marketed in way that appeals to non-trekkies. This was the film that will reenergize the franchise. I knew nothing about Star Trek going into the movie and never felt like the film was over my head. Good action, good casting and it never got boring. I will probably check out the sequels.

8. Taken- The acting was mediocre at best, and the plot could have been written by high schooler, but Taken held my complete attention from start to finish. Here’s why: after learning that his daughter has been abducted in France, Liam Neeson, who has served as a cover operative for the US government for his whole life, travels to Europe to find the abductors and save his daughter. Not a mind-blowing plot, but the style of which it was carried out impressed me. Neeson goes over there and just kills EVERYONE. He takes no prisoners; he just kick ass and saves his daughter. He even takes out a few innocent people in the process just because it had to be done to save his family. That’s the way it would be done in real life, yet it is very seldom done that way in a movie. Props to the writers.

7. District 9- This one made the list mainly because of its unique style. This movie had a high stock due to producer Peter Jackson’s attachment. I thought he did a good job of creating something new, but the film won’t be remembered as an all-time great. If you look deeper into the movie’s themes of privatization and xenophobia, you’ll realize that there was a special meaning of setting the film in South Africa. This film may be a little ahead of its time, but definitely worth watching.

6. The Informant- while it was never really “laugh-out-loud” funny, I found myself enjoying the subtle comedy in this Matt Damon flick. Damon’s character, although frustrating at times, is simply a likeable guy. His A.D.D. and personal mannerisms that recur throughout the movie make it too hard for you to get mad at his actions. This is a movie that can be enjoyed by people of all ages (as long as they understand some of the corporate concepts involved) and certainly does a good job of satirically mocking some of the notorious scandals that have plagued corporate America.

5. The Blindside- As a Ravens fan, I felt obligated to see this movie. I thought it was going to be very over-the-top cheesy, but it wasn’t. The movie was ok, but the story is just amazing. I felt like, at times, the film was too focused on Sandra Bullock as opposed to the actual characters about which the story was written. But in the end, The Blindside delivered an inspirational message and made you leave the theater thinking that maybe society isn’t always as bad as we tend to think.

4. Public Enemies- In addition to being an enjoyable organized crime type flick, this movie was a great reminder about how our generation is simply slacking in the nickname department, featuring characters known as Baby Face, Red, and Pretty Boy. I thought Johnny Depp phenomenal portrayal of John Dillinger really satisfied the wide range of emotions that you feel toward his character. Christian Bale and Billy Crudup were also very convincing. I’m not sure how it will fare when it comes to re-watchability, but I find myself wanting to see it at least once more.

3. The Hurt Locker- great independent film which chronicles the experiences of a U.S. Army bomb disposal unit in Iraq. This movie didn’t get much hype and wasn’t released nationwide, but it was a treat for those who were fortunate enough to see it. The cinematography was simply brilliant. Moviegoers had an eerily realistic depiction of what these guys go through on a daily basis. The film’s star, played by Jeremy Renner, was fearless and inspirational, yet he made you question his sanity at the same time. The character depth and development, along with the way in which the scenes were shot, really grabbed my attention and made me feel like I was actually there watching the chaos unfold. If you don’t come away from this one thinking about how brave our troops are and how lucky you are to be sitting in an air-conditioned theater while they are thousands of miles away from home and risking their lives, you don’t have a pulse.

2. Zombieland- absolutely great film. Not since Shaun of the Dead has a movie successfully blended two aspects on such opposite ends of the spectrum into one fabulous film watching experience. It managed to mix comedy and horror in a way that wasn’t cheesy; a task that is almost impossible in a movie. The film would be hysterical one minute and have you on the edge of your seat in suspense the next. Woody Harrelson turns in an outstanding performance along with the rest of the cast, including one of the best cameos of all time from Bill Murray. The movie is certainly re-watchable and definitely worthy of a DVD purchase. I know a lot of people probably didn’t see it in theaters, but trust me on this: Zombieland is one of the best films of 2009.

1. The Hangover

one of the top ten comedies of all time which makes it the default #1 movie for 2009. I typically enjoy most movies involving one of the following: Vegas, bachelor parties, groups of friends going on vacation together, and ridiculous amounts of partying that result in memory loss. This movie combined all of those elements. The Hangover quickly became the go-to movie for references and quotes, the mark of a popular film. A few stars were born from their performances in this film and will most likely be vaulted into upcoming comedies as a result. The Hangover definitely left its mark on Hollywood as well as claimed its spot as one of the best comedies of all time.

Movies still to come in 2009 that I didn’t see before I made the list:

Avatar and Sherlock Holmes both have serious potential to land in my top 10 for 2009, but unfortunately they come out very late in the year and can’t be included. Do you think they plan it this way to maximize Oscar hype? Hmm….