Best of 2009

"INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS" is many things... a War film, a comedy, a character study, an homage to the French new-wave, a thriller, and above all else, a masterpiece. This is one of those very, very rare films that comes along every so often, and from beginning to end delivers a completely unique and unparalleled experience. This is the DEFINITION of why I love cinema.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS is one of Tarantino's best works, and is easily his most mature and fleshed-out to date. He is the real deal, and everytime you think that he has peaked, or is past his prime, he reinvents himself and delivers something spectacular. Inglourious Basterds IS spectacular.

This is perhaps the best, most memorable film I'll see all year. Christoph Waltz is a shoe-in for best supporting actor, or even best actor come award season. Melanie Laurent and Brad Pitt are also deserving of recognition for they're terrific work.

In a rather weak year for cinema, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS is a major standout. Don't miss it.

This is arguably my favorite film based on a comic or graphic novel to date. A masterpiece, and an early contender for best film of 2009.



*extensive review coming soon.

* Review Coming soon*

Hands down one of the great filmic achievements 2009 will have to offer, and easily one of the best crime films of recent years.

Heartfelt, funny, and passionate... "Anvil: The Story of Anvil" is a spectacular documentary about one band's 30 year quest of making the big time. It's also one of the most inspiring documents ever captured on film, and one of the greatest films about rock music and the music industry. Not to be missed.

A near perfect film that I will definately be seeing again and again. One of the year's finest.

Apatow's most restrained film to date is also his most accomplished and heartfelt. This is a great film (equal parts drama and comedy) with Adam Sandler in a career best performance that I just hope isn't forgotten this awards season (Hint: He will be).

Yes, there are too many dick jokes, but those can be forgiven due to how strong this film is!

THE HANGOVER is just one of those comedies that from beginning to end just WORKS. Almost every line is hilarious, the characters (and their predicament) are hilarious, and Mike Tyson's cameo is (suprise suprise) hillarious. It also successfully blends mystery and crime elements to suprising effect. I don't think I've enjoyed a comedy this much since THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN! One of the years best.

A great comedy. One of my favorites of the year and easily ranks with the best entries from the comedy/horror genre. Amazing soundtrack is worth noting aswell (featuring Metallica, The Raconteurs, Band of Horses, Metric, Blue Öyster Cult, and Van Halen).

The Bill Murray sequence is classic!

Probably the quirky gem of 2009, "AWAY WE GO" is just one of those satisfying little films that if you connect with it (and it's characters), you'll be left feeling very rewarded as the credits roll. I connected with it...

AWAY WE GO is one of the best films of 2009. A very welcome stylistic change for Sam Mendes.

What a perfect slice of entertainment! STAR TREK is the series reboot I hoped for, breathing new life into the franchise while at the same time respecting what has made it such a revered piece of sci-fi/pop culture . The effects are phenomenal, the script and cinematography are stellar, and most importantly (and I can't stress this enough) the casting is PERFECT. Chris Pine makes for an interesting Kirk, Quinto is flawless as Spock, Simon Pegg is hilarious as Scotty (I wish he had more screen time), Bana's menacing and memorable as Nero, and most stunning to me... Karl Urban as McCoy. He is dead- on accurate. I wasn't as much a fan of Yelchin's Chekov, but what can you do?

This is one of the best films 2009 will have to offer. An exceptional film and I can't wait to see what we get in the form of a sequel!

Far from a children's film... WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is one of the most visually arresting, unique, and original films I've seen in quite some time... and though I loved it, it definately isn't for everyone (my theatre was nearly full, and by the end credits, more than half of the audience became VERY vocal about how much it "SUCKED.").

Definately deserves more than a single viewing. I think I'll like it even more the second time around.

* Thoughts in a bit

Proof that intelligence and entertainment in modern cinema can infact coincide with great effect. THE INTERNATIONAL is a stylish, intriguing, expertly-crafted and acted thriller, and that's precisely what it was trying to be!



Clive Owen; Naomi Watts; a masterful shootout at the Guggenheim; seriously, how CAN you go wrong?

A very strong period piece. One of the years most elegant films.

Quirky and original, "Sunshine Cleaning" excels due to it's very well executed subtlety and grace, and two very strong performances from (two of my favorites) Emily Blunt and Amy Adams.

Sure this is another in the "Heartwarming, Inspired by a true story" cannon of films that we get an unlimited supply of every year, but very few just work on just about every level like "THE BLIND SIDE" does.

The story is truely inspiring, The performances are great, and the project was just handled with a level of care that made the film as a whole seem anything but routine.

A huge suprise and delight.

A stylish, witty, and highly entertaining little horror romp with just the right amount of horror, humour, and gross out. This is Raimi back in top form, doing what he does best!

Highly recommended.

One of the feel-good films of the year. Sure it's predictable, formulaic, and doesn't tread any new ground, but it's entertaining, charming, witty, and the characters are almost all really likeable.

Strong debut for "director" Drew Barrymore.

Selick's best film to date. A very creepy and very beautiful triumph in the realm of stop-motion filmmaking. I think Adults will like this one way more than the kids.

On my first viewing, I thought ADVENTURELAND was a solid and original teen film. Upon my second viewing, I thought it was a lot more than that and easily one of the year's best aswell as one of the more underrated films of 2009.