Webomatica’s 13 Best Movies Of 2009

December 31st, 2009

I posted a crapload of movie reviews in 2009, as I watched a crapload of ‘em: Woody Allen’s entire ouvre, the Aliens quadrilogy, all the Star Trek and Star Wars movies, knocked off several from the AFI 100, and discovered French New Wave. A surprising number got the 5 star rating. As a year-end treat, I’ve whittled them down to the best 13 movies I watched and reviewed in 2009.

Note the minority were released in 2009, most were from years past.

The Wrestler

1. The Wrestler

Reminded me of two other sports movie masterpieces: Raging Bull – but the wrenching conclusion with Jake La Motta in a jail cell and dive bar – or a more realistic Rocky. I consider both 5 star flicks, and The Wrestler equals and occasionally surpasses both in some moments. It’s all because of one unlikely character to base a movie around whom you’ll never forget once the movie is over. One for the history books.

Breathless

2. Breathless

Breathless is a gutsy, provocative break from the style of movie that preceded, and I can see its influence scattered among so many movies since. I do think movies have actually returned in some ways to the heavily scripted, heavily planned (CGI cannot be improvisatory) sort of film Breathless was such a contrast to back in 1960. So this fifty year old, black and white film, still felt very fresh and reckless today, to me. This is one movie that’s been on my must-see list for years. Within the first half hour I felt like an idiot for waiting so long.

3. Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back

At the time, this was a very dark, difficult movie, as it ends with the main characters separated, the rebel fleet on the run, the Empire with barely a scratch on them, and deeper, darker, unanswerable questions. Its inconclusive nature made Return Of The Jedi an inevitable must-see, a sequel which hinged completely on the success of this movie, which in retrospect was a seriously gutsy move by George Lucas. The success of this film turned the surprise hit Star Wars into an entire franchise.

Pierrot Le Fou

4. Pierrot Le Fou

Godard is quoted saying, all one needs in a movie is a girl and a gun. Based on Pierrot Le Fou wrapped around the luminous Anna Karina, I’m inclined to agree. This is a rare sort of film that I already feel certain to watch again, again, and probably a fourth time.

The Graduate

5. The Graduate

Once it’s realized that real life consists more of what’s going on beneath the surface than what people willingly reveal, this film’s emotional resonance becomes clear. The weariness of the world’s pressures and dark secrets don’t always show. Sometimes the most painful hurt manifests as the cold stare of a frowning housewife, brooding before a too-loud television, smoldering cigarette in hand.

500 Days Of Summer

6. 500 Days Of Summer

An honest, touching, well-acted analysis of a failed relationship where the two broken halves emerge into separate wholes. It’s one of those rare films that feels tailor-made, uncannily seeming to read my mind as it played out on screen, but more likely it’s because the feelings of both falling in love and apart are universal. This gem is why I watch movies.

Crimes And Misdemeanors

7. Crimes And Misdemeanors

Crimes And Misdemeanors was the first movie that really got me interested in Woody Allen. Here, he really perfected a balance between comedy and drama, and also managed some maturity through contemplation of morality and religion, within the simple framework of a man deciding to commit a murder and having us wonder if he’ll get away with it. The chill of a tense Judah answering that one phone call still disturbs me to this day.

8. Up

Pixar is on an unprecedented roll of ten excellent animated films with some outright masterpieces. Personally, Up is the best installment since The Incredibles. And what I loved most about Up is its glimmer of tantalizing potential – based on the movie’s exquisite first half, Pixar is on the cusp of doing a straight-up, animated drama. I’d love to see Pixar further destroy the stereotype that mainstream audiences will only watch animation that is funny, frentic, and geared for kids. At this juncture, the public will gladly join them on whatever journey they choose – the sky’s the limit.

Alien

9. Alien

The awesomeness of Alien is how it takes a standard horror movie plot and re-tells it in an inventive and entertaining way. Its riveting amalgam between horror and sci-fi results in a cinematic classic for both genres.

There Will Be Blood

10. There Will Be Blood

The plot arc of businessman moving from humble beginnings to a wealthy but paralyzingly isolated existence reminded me of Citizen Kane, but with none of the humor or love – notably Daniel lacks a love interest.

Ultimately, I see it as a condemnation of the corrupting influence of unchecked capitalism, encouraging greed at the expense of all else. This theme is even more appropriate following the bursting of the housing bubble and resultant financial crisis, where Wall Street bankers and CEOs ripped off the American people, leaving nothing behind but empty houses and shattered dreams financed with debt. We should question not only the system but the personalities celebrated and encouraged by American capitalism. Those who care only for profit may destroy the citizens and the system that made their wealth possible. Financial success at the expense of humanity is no success at all, and should be regulated.

In this review, I mentioned being reminded of several of my favorite movies: Citizen Kane, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange. I think There Will Be Blood is on their level. It’s a really great film.

Raging Bull

11. Raging Bull

All his life Jake’s been up against a jail-cell wall, a wall society builds. Despite his talents and strengths he can’t get anywhere by himself. His only success was his brief time of holding the title, which was only due to help from the corrupt system. His final monologue, taken from Marlon Brando’s On The Waterfront takes on different meanings in the context of this film: “I coulda had class.”

Apocalypse Now

12. Apocalypse Now

The definitive Vietnam War movie, Apocalypse Now still raises the blood pressure and confounds today. From the opening scene of Willard (Martin Sheen) going bloody nuts punching a hotel room mirror to the confusingly brooding Kurtz (Marlon Brando), it’s a long, rough ride. By movie’s end, nearly everyone we’ve met is killed off – mostly for no good reason – and we’re exhausted.

13. Star Trek (11)

The new Trek is an entertaining blend of Star Wars and Star Trek, which could have easily, royally sucked. Instead, two hours of giving the prime directive and canon the finger has effectively blown away all the weak Trek of the past decade.

Before Star Trek (11), I was a cynical fan thinking a new Trek adventure was folly, and the entire universe was better off left in the past. Yet despite my complaints above, the movie won me over, and I now look forward to more adventures. That feat alone earns extra star for the time being. Star Trek (11) is the Iron Man of 2009. Highly recommended.

And for those who care, here’s a complete list of movies reviews in 2009 that received a 5 star rating. Should provide some movie rental ideas for 2010: