Top 10 (2009)

So, here we go, my carefully chosen list of my favourite films of the year. I think most of you will have disagreements, however it is entirely based on my opinion and, frankly, I don't give a shit! :p

It took me a lot of thinking to put these 10 films in order from 10 to 1, and I am very sad to leave another three out of the list. I will mention them in the end though. My basic criteria for ordering the films was how intense emotions I had while watching them and how lost I was in the film's universe.

So read on, and post some comments here or in my Facebook page.

10. Paranormal Activity: One of the scariest films ever?? Not for everyone, as it turned out, but it was certainly for me! I found the sound design amazing, 90% of the scares were just sounds and extremely effective I must say. Also a very good demonstration of what you can do on a minimal budget.

09. Drag Me To Hell: The return of the good old Sam Raimi was unbelievable. Jumps and laughs simultaneously and every 5 minutes, literally!! A pure fun cinema experience, especially in sold-out screenings. Masterful!

08. In The Loop: One of the funniest films ever. If you like comedies, there is absolutely no excuse for not having seen this film. Walked into the theatre without knowing anything about it (thanks Ally!) and couldn't stop laughing. Peter Capaldi is a God, honestly!

07. Moon: Don't be tricked because it's in #7. Moon is one of the best Sci-Fi films of all time, too bad we had two more of them this year. Two excellent performances by Sam Rockwell and, although a sci-fi film, it tells more about the human condition and loneliness than most dramas on that subject. Don't miss it.

06. District 9: Staying with sci-fi, Disctrict 9 is an in-your-face attack of humanity's past crimes on immigrants/native populations. Abuse, ignorance are only the weakest words to describe the way people treat the helpless aliens in this movie. And unlike another similar movie that came out this year, this is not the fairy tale version.

05. Avatar: I had many doubts for this film, and went in the theatre with very low expectations. However, I learned never to doubt J.C. again, because once again he made a masterpiece. For those who say that the visuals doesn't matter in a film, well, screw you! The way this film pulls you rapidly into its universe is mind blowing, the 3-D is stunning and at the same time it touches on themes from the American Colonialism to the war in Iraq. This could be my favourite film of the year, however due to some bad dialogue at moments and some relatively flat characters, it dropped to #5. It is pure magic though!

04. Watchmen: If you haven't watched it yet, I'd strongly suggest you to watch the 186-min Director's Cut version of the film. It improves some minor pacing problems, and for people new to the material, gives a bit more space to breath and understand everything. However, the substance is always there. Why would someone become a vigilante? Vice, honour, psychosis or power-obsession? If a real super-hero existed, what would he be like? What is the human nature? Does the end justify the means? Do we need heroes? etc, etc. Watchmen touches on all those themes, and many more, and without giving definitive answers, it is probably the most thought provoking super hero movie out there.

03. Up: Just like J.C., Pixar can't go wrong either. Another journey in a magical world, but the difference is that Up succeeds where Avatar failed. Top-notch storytelling/dialogue/performances, even from characters largely supportive, or even with no dialogue (the big bird). I'm speechless. The opening 15 minutes could be a film by itself, and it would still be occupying this place in my list. Flawless.

02. Inglourious Basterds: Tarantino can go wrong (Death Proof). But here he doesn't. In one year he completed a script, pre-production, shooting, post-production and released it to cinemas! And with the film's scope, in terms of locations and cast, I don't think anyone else could have created this masterpiece. Taking all the film rules and throwing them out of the window (he spends 20 minutes to introduce 1 character, but it is the best character intriduction scene ever made!) he creates a reality that only he can create and takes us on a fantastic journey across... Nazi-Occupied France!

And the top place goes to...

01. (500) Days of Summer: It's probably a big surprise for most of you, but I don't know, this film speaks to me. It's one of those films that you watch and you instantly know, it's one of your favourite films. I hadn't realised it was my favourite film of the year until I started making this list. But in the end, it was the film I enjoyed most this year. I was absolutely buying every single moment of it, I could see real characters, people that I've met, people that we've all met somewhere and in the same way being so artistic and visually jaw-dropping. I love this film, end of story. And, something that I always want to say, this film has one of the best and most original sequences ever printed on film (or DV/HD for you tech geeks :p). The "Expectations/Reality" sequence...


Oh, and I'd love to include The Hangover, A Serious Man and Zombieland but unfortunately there wasn't any space, so if you want you can consider them my #11, #12 and #13 respectively.

So, as I said, feel free to rant on, here or on my Facebook page. Or in Twitter. Or send me a text. Well, you get the idea :p

Your pal,
D.