Mainstream Viewer's Top 10 films of 2009

1) District 9

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp

Written By: Neill Blomkamp

Starring: Sharlto Copley

Plot: An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.

What We Say: District 9 isn’t for everyone – just people that like a little something more with their action. Straight up, District 9 is a lot of fun. It’s got something for everyone. A well-made sci-fi epic that mixes politics, social commentary, action with bits of comedy and corniness and a fantastic Hitchcock-ian wrong-man-pursed plot. It’s unusual choice for the lead is exactly why it was the right one. Sharlto Copley is a fresh face that didn’t fit the usual mold of action hero, that is at first unlikable, but by the end, audiences are right there with him. Even the ending will leave you shocked. This is the closest an action movie has come to perfection in a long, long time.

2) Hangover

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Written By: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianskis, Ed Helms

Plot: A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.

What We Say: Many of the films on this list many people have seen and probably agree they deserve their acclaim. There were a lot of films this year that really grabbed hold of audiences and word of mouth is what got people to collectively propel these films into success stories. Hangover was the hit of the summer 2009 for many reasons. It had fresh actors in lead roles that were likeable and made audiences wish they could hang out with them. The film also took the smart approach and let the audience discover the mystery of the missing night as the characters did. It provided audiences with much more stimulation because it made them feel like they were right there with them trying to put piece by piece of their story back together. It was refreshing to see a comedy that didn’t come out of the Ferrell/Sandler/Apatow/Rogan machine for once. 

3) Zombieland

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

Written By: Rhett Reese, Paula Wernick

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg

Plot: The horror comedy Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies

What We Say: What We Say: It was a great year for the action movie (excluding Transformers 2). Avatar, District 9, Taken, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, Crank 2 to name a few. Zombieland joins those ranks with an extremely entertaining and surprisingly witty entry. When action movies became relics of themselves, this new breed is self aware of their predecessors’ faults and reinvents the tired and true genre. Zombieland is pure fun and is probably what many mainstream viewers hoped Inglorious Basterds was going to be like. The film does being to crawl at the midway point, but it fills the zombie-free mid-section with some incredibly funny and witty banter. Zombieland is exactly what an action movie should be. See it.

 4) Avatar

Directed by: James Cameron

Written By: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver

Plot: A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.

What We Say: The event of 2009. It’s a technical masterpiece that finally creates photo realistic special effects that helps draw viewers into a fantasy world like never before. The film’s 2 hours and 40 minutes seem to fly by as Cameron constantly changes the focus of Avatar.  It’s part war movie, part romance drama which helps provide a little of something for everyone. The story is laughably poor and just plain lazy on Cameron’s part. He must have know though that this would be overlooked by audiences caught up in the film wonder. There’s a very good chance the film will win best picture. You can agree with it or not, but in the end, few films can make you feel like a kid again as well as Avatar does.

5) Up In the Air

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Written By: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick

Plot: With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.

What We Say: In the one true grown-up film on this list, Up In the Air will surprise a lot of people. George Clooney is at his best working off Jason Reitman’s super sharp script. The other two female leads beautifully compliment his performance with roles that are slight off-shoots of his own. The scene where Clooney and Farmiga meet is one of the best of the year and dig up old memories when Hollywood movies had this much charm.  Bring a date and go see it.

6) Taken

Directed by: Pierre Morel

Written By: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Starring: Liam Neeson

Plot: A former spy relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been forced into the slave trade.

What We Say: The first big hit off 2009 that slowly amassed a huge word of mouth following. Why? Because everyone can route for Liam Neeson in this role of revenge were he uses all of his skills to save his daughter. A crowd pleaser through and through that at times feels more like a James Bond film than, well, James Bond films. It’s hard to dislike.

7) Star Trek

Directed by: JJ Abrams

Written By: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman

Starring: Chris Pine, Eric Bana

Plot: A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.

What We Say: Boy does JJ Abrams know how to construct a well-rounded feature film. It’s just what the doctor ordered. He focuses on Star Trek strengths while making an entertaining film and it works. Star Trek brought in people from all age groups including women, which is no small feat considering the franchise was on its deathbed with an image that screamed “uncool.” How’d he do it? He loses the geeky talk and goes for sexy entertainment with the franchise’s 11^th feature reboot. He also in all of this didn’t alienate hardcore fans. Live long and prosper JJ Abrams and your future in the Star Trek universe.

8) I Love You, Man

Directed by: John Hamburg  

Written By: John Hamburg, Larry Levin

Starring: Paul Rudd

Plot: Friendless Peter Klaven goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But when his insta-bond with his new B.F.F. puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée, can the trio learn to live happily ever after?

What We Say: Bromance became a buzzword in 2009 thanks to the well crafted, I Love You, Man. It isn't a movie about people insulting each other or putting each other down for the sake of a laugh. It’s about the male bond two guys can share with each other and the humor that ensues. The film manages to earn its laughs from a combination of good old-fashioned writing and trust in its actors. Rudd so completely sells the concept of a nice guy with no guy friends that you can't help root for the poor guy. The film has heart and has fun with its concept.

9) Up

Directed by: Pete Docter, Bob Pertson

Written By: Pete Docter, Bob Pertson

Starring: Edward Asner

Plot: By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

What We Say: If you don’t have kids you probably have no plans to see this. Don’t make that mistake. Everyone still has a kid in them somewhere and Up will find the rascal. You know it is going to be silly just give it a chance. There is a very adult underlining tone to the film that children won’t full grasp. Up is about what a person does with their life and in retrospect wonder if they are happy or disappointed with the decision they made. Did they let their dreams float away on them? Yes there are talking dogs, but don’t let the old fogie in you, tell your inner child what to do. Live a little. Watch Up now.

10) Crazy Heart

Directed by: Scott Cooper

Written By: Scott Cooper, Thomas Cobb

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Plot: Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who's had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean, a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician.

What We Say: Crazy Heart is an ok movie. The acting is Crazy Heart is what ultimately makes the film. Crazy Heart isn’t something we haven’t seen before, it’s just who’s telling it this time. The film share similarities with last year’s The Wrestler, only this time we like actor Jeff Bridges a whole lot more. Crazy Heart’s main problem is that it lack’s The Wrestler’s grit and honesty. Yet, Crazy Heart’s entirely predictable, nicely linear story will be overlooked by a performance that is sure to win Bridges an Oscar.

-Check back for our Deeper Cuts #11 - 20. Coming Soon


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