Top Ten Favourite Films of 2009
Another year draws to a close, and I've made my last trip to the cinema for 2009, so it's time to look back at what were my Top Ten Favourite Films this year.
I found putting together this list very interesting for several reasons.
Firstly, I liked many films I saw this year, so choosing this ten was quite hard.
Secondly, romances have made a very strong showing this year, with three of my Top Ten being films of this nature. Maybe 2009 was a good year for romantic films, or I'm becoming a big softie in my old age, or both (or more?)
Finally, I consider one of my Top Ten choices to be controversial. Yes, these are my Top Ten Favourite Films, not what I thought were the Top Ten Best Films - but even so, the film I'm talking about was an unintentionally bad film (or was it...?) that I enjoyed very much as a guilty pleasure. There were other films that could have taken this selection's place, and they were good films...but despite some lingering misgivings, this particular movie stays in my Top Ten because it did what it did well (if badly), and it also provided one of my best cinema-going experiences this year.
So, without further ado, and listed in the order that I saw them throughout the year...
Last Chance Harvey
A very charming and moving film about an unlikely-seeming romance between two lonely middle-aged people. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson (sigh) were great together.
JCVD
One of the most intriguing films of the past few years, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as himself in a funny and startling combination of real-life and fantasy.
Wake In Fright
This classic Aussie film is actually as old as I am, but it was re-released at the cinema this year after it was feared that it was lost forever. 38 years later, 'Wake In Fright' has lost none of its power - it's a grim yet compelling glimpse at Australia's recent past, and some would argue that little has changed.
I Love You, Man
Paul Rudd starred in two films that I enjoyed very much this year - the hilarious Role Models, and this very charming and very funny look at male friendship that also led me to discover the music of Rush. I was especially struck by Jason Segel's character Sydney Fife - he's a lot like me and has other aspects that I aspire to, as well as aspects that I should be more careful about.
District 9
One of the most amazing films I saw this year, this South African science-fiction shocker is already being hailed as a classic - and rightly so. 'District 9' is stunning on many levels.
Anvil! The Story Of Anvil
One of two documentaries in this year's list, and also my favourite feel-good movie of 2009. Anvil! is an inspiring and rousing tribute to the strength of the human spirit - you may not like Anvil's music, but you will admire their refusal to give up wanting to be rockstars (and since the success of this documentary, their persistence has finally paid off big-time).
(500) Days Of Summer
The second of my three romantic picks this year, '(500) Days Of Summer was a sad and sweet story about love found and lost, and hearts broken and healed. Zooey Deschanel...sigh.
An Education
My third romantic fave this year, An Education was a wonderful film that worked well on many levels. Unlike Avatar, which quickly became the most over-rated film of 2009, An Education lived up to its hype and more, thanks in great part to its luminous star Carey Mulligan (sigh).
2012
This is the controversial choice I was talking about earlier. Why? Because although 2012 is a bad film - it's clumsy, ridiculous, stupid and totally unconvincing - it's one of the most enjoyable bad films I've seen and also the most spectacular-looking bad film I've seen. As well, it provided one of my favourite trips to the movies this year which included two friends and many others in the audience laughing constantly throughout the movie; one of those friends (by her own admission) almost wetting herself several times; and genuine applause by one half of the audience at film's end that was regarded with dumbfounded amazement by the other half (that was truly a remarkable scene to behold)
It Might Get Loud
Unlike Anvil, the three subjects of this thrilling documentary - Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U2's The Edge, and The White Stripes' Jack White - hit the big time a long time ago. Together, they talk to each other and demonstrate to us how and why they became famous guitarists - and, of course, they also play wonderful music.
I found putting together this list very interesting for several reasons.
Firstly, I liked many films I saw this year, so choosing this ten was quite hard.
Secondly, romances have made a very strong showing this year, with three of my Top Ten being films of this nature. Maybe 2009 was a good year for romantic films, or I'm becoming a big softie in my old age, or both (or more?)
Finally, I consider one of my Top Ten choices to be controversial. Yes, these are my Top Ten Favourite Films, not what I thought were the Top Ten Best Films - but even so, the film I'm talking about was an unintentionally bad film (or was it...?) that I enjoyed very much as a guilty pleasure. There were other films that could have taken this selection's place, and they were good films...but despite some lingering misgivings, this particular movie stays in my Top Ten because it did what it did well (if badly), and it also provided one of my best cinema-going experiences this year.
So, without further ado, and listed in the order that I saw them throughout the year...
Last Chance Harvey
A very charming and moving film about an unlikely-seeming romance between two lonely middle-aged people. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson (sigh) were great together.
JCVD
One of the most intriguing films of the past few years, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as himself in a funny and startling combination of real-life and fantasy.
Wake In Fright
This classic Aussie film is actually as old as I am, but it was re-released at the cinema this year after it was feared that it was lost forever. 38 years later, 'Wake In Fright' has lost none of its power - it's a grim yet compelling glimpse at Australia's recent past, and some would argue that little has changed.
I Love You, Man
Paul Rudd starred in two films that I enjoyed very much this year - the hilarious Role Models, and this very charming and very funny look at male friendship that also led me to discover the music of Rush. I was especially struck by Jason Segel's character Sydney Fife - he's a lot like me and has other aspects that I aspire to, as well as aspects that I should be more careful about.
District 9
One of the most amazing films I saw this year, this South African science-fiction shocker is already being hailed as a classic - and rightly so. 'District 9' is stunning on many levels.
Anvil! The Story Of Anvil
One of two documentaries in this year's list, and also my favourite feel-good movie of 2009. Anvil! is an inspiring and rousing tribute to the strength of the human spirit - you may not like Anvil's music, but you will admire their refusal to give up wanting to be rockstars (and since the success of this documentary, their persistence has finally paid off big-time).
(500) Days Of Summer
The second of my three romantic picks this year, '(500) Days Of Summer was a sad and sweet story about love found and lost, and hearts broken and healed. Zooey Deschanel...sigh.
An Education
My third romantic fave this year, An Education was a wonderful film that worked well on many levels. Unlike Avatar, which quickly became the most over-rated film of 2009, An Education lived up to its hype and more, thanks in great part to its luminous star Carey Mulligan (sigh).
2012
This is the controversial choice I was talking about earlier. Why? Because although 2012 is a bad film - it's clumsy, ridiculous, stupid and totally unconvincing - it's one of the most enjoyable bad films I've seen and also the most spectacular-looking bad film I've seen. As well, it provided one of my favourite trips to the movies this year which included two friends and many others in the audience laughing constantly throughout the movie; one of those friends (by her own admission) almost wetting herself several times; and genuine applause by one half of the audience at film's end that was regarded with dumbfounded amazement by the other half (that was truly a remarkable scene to behold)
It Might Get Loud
Unlike Anvil, the three subjects of this thrilling documentary - Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U2's The Edge, and The White Stripes' Jack White - hit the big time a long time ago. Together, they talk to each other and demonstrate to us how and why they became famous guitarists - and, of course, they also play wonderful music.