The Tops in 2009: Part 1

Hello everybody, and welcome to Hairy Lime's official top ten films list for 2009.

In summary:

2009's been a gravy-train year for the industry. With a record 10.5 billion and counting in domestic ticket sales, 2009 was definitely a recession year, ripe for escapist experiences. Or so you'd think. There were some radical films this past year, but not all were digestible tripe. Sure we had gonzo excess with "Avatar" and "Gobots 2," and I kinda had fun at those. But, we also had some really memorable and engrossing films like "Precious," "The Messenger" and "The Proposal."

We saw Sandra Bullock kick ass at the BO, but taint it with the fact that her movies were middling. "Taken" and "Paul Blart" tortured terrorists and audiences, respectively. Mo'Nique shocked us by letting us think she deserved an Oscar. Grown women got all Mary Kat Loterneau for a 17 year old in "New Moon." "Harry Potter" made $300 milly, despite every complaining that it was unfaithful, again. And, we saw a surprisingly low amount of comic book films. What the flog?

There was a lot to see this year. And it was mostly worthwhile. Ebert called the year magical. OK. I'd call it decent. Maltin called it weak. I'd still call it decent. It's not perfect when I'm not fawning at all of Clooney's movies. Let's be frank, I've had some time to catch a flick or two or twenty, and I saw some great, thoughtful work in theaters. After I saw "Terminator," of course.

But, enough of my fluff.

This list will be in two parts. 10 through 6 today. 5 through 1 this week. There will also be an"Honor Roll" for films that don't quite make the grade (we're in a recession, not everyone has ability, or passion to make top 40's.). And, we'll have a list of films I'll admit to not seeing, next issue. And you don't like the list? Upset I didn't include "Precious" or "Ponyo?" Eat it. Or spew in the comments. Whatever works.

Let's do this.

A triumphantly lyrical return for Jane Campion ("The Piano"), the Aussie director came back with an emotional punch, doing what she's always done best: sincere period romance. "Bright Star" is the episodic ballad of John Keats (Ben Wishaw, "Perfume") and his brief but rapturous romance with his neighbor Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish, "Stop-Loss"). Artfully staged, elegantly scored and lovingly acted out by the two leads, "Star" is a reminder that the best romance on film is patient. Abbie Cornish deserves super kudos for her work as Brawne, a woman experiencing first love on a level that is both familiar and enviable for its honesty. And remember, this a time when being a poet was chick magnetic. It wouldn't get you laughed out of a bar.

Keith Phipps said it best in the A.V. Club: "Haneke's latest is essentially an inquiry into the roots of certain kind of evil." Vague, simple, and all too deeply taunting. Michael Haneke, master of the modern, awkward thriller hooks it with this eery postcard of a Protestant town in Northern Germany on the cusp of World War 1. Weird shit's happening like barn fires, horses being tripped with wire, and attempts made on the lives of infants. The town's adults at a loss for what's happening, but we come to realize it's a pseudo "Village of the Damned" scenario as we learn the town's children are committing these atrocities. And we all know what generation these children grow into. "White Ribbon" is a truly haunting look at a time of bitter withholding.

Honestly, it took me three viewings to realize just how freakin brilliant this movie is. "District 9" deserves to be called one of the great science fiction films, as it encompasses some of the genre's best qualities in terms of images and ideas. At times "9" is thrilling and visceral — the electro gun that turns people into apple sauce appeals to that 10-year old in everyone. But it's also one of the most thoughtful ruminations on occupation policy to reach a wide audience. My original complaints were that "9" tries its hand in too many genres to hide its space opera roots. But after repeat viewings, I see "9" now for what it is: Innovative, isigthful and ultimately, damn entertaining. Take THAT Dean Worm, er, James Cameron!

The only true comedy on this list, "Black Dynamite" was not only one of the funniest films to come out in '09, but it was a perfect satire and parody of a genre and an era we really don't visit that often. That's not to say "Dynamite" is totally esoteric. "Dynamite" has enough clever, cult comedy to make this film get a deserved audience. With great lines like "Diabolical dick-shrinking motherfuckers!" and great sight gags (visible boom mikes, crappy 1970's camera) worthy of Zucker Brothers credibility. Think "Grindhouse," but less smug. And, unlike "The Hangover," "Dynamite," has a killer soundtrack. Also, after years of B-movie crapola, Michael Jai White deserves an A-list breakout with his winning afro show as the eponymous lead. "Dyno-mite! Dyno-mite!"

A former colleague of mine argued that the lead character in the Coens' latest didn't deserve anything that happens to him. I begged to differ. But we certainly agreed on one thing: This was one weird and rewarding dramedy. Half grotesque Coens ("O' Brother," "Raising Arizona"), half crafty Coens ("No Country," "Miller's Crossing"), "A Serious Man" is the kind of personal project project directors could only make after winning Oscars. Wanna see a Jewish Minnesotas math professor face off with the cosmos in the early 1960's? Well, that prospect has never been so abysmally entertaining. See it with friends, as you'll be debating this doozy of a movie for weeks to come. Oh, and if you keep complaining that you "didn't do anything" like the "Serious Man" keeps exclaiming, then maybe you deserve to be railed on by the universe. And oddly enough, you'll wanna be there when it happens.

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That's it for the first half. But stay tuned for part 2, coming soon.

And, if you're interested in last year's top ten, ch-ch-check it out:

(http://blakegoble.blogspot.com/2009/01/top-ten-films-of-2008-cross-streams.html)

To Be Continued...