Before the Oscars, I will post my Top Ten of 2013.
After the (and for the first time ever, During the) Oscars you can read the latest My Thoughts As I Had Them During the Oscars Post, now powered by Twitter.
To see my thoughts as I actually have them, follow me on Twitter (
@joshuatoulouse) or follow the hashtag #MTAIHTDTO (My Thoughts As I Had/Have Them During the Oscars) (If you don't know what that is, you can read more about it
here, including the first 5 years, and year 6
here. I missed year 7, but realized I basically did it on twitter anyway, and isn't that what Twitter is for? Thus the birth of the Hashtag (#MTAIHTDTO) and the live tweeting of the Oscars that I was doing before Twitter existed now continues via that medium! And I will place them here afterwords as a blog post! Everyone wins!)
If you want to join along, tweet with the hashtag (#MTAIHTDTO) and the best will become part of the blog along with a link to your twitter page!
But now it is time to take a trip back in time. I have published Top Ten lists for each of the last seven years (and a Top 5 the year before that), so let's go back in time and take a look, shall we? (Yes, yes, we shall.)
You can click on each of the subtitles to get to the post but here is a quick link to each of them if you want to check out the top tens that way
In 2005, shortly after starting my blog, I listed my Top 5 films of the previous year
In 2006, I did my first top ten (also the only time I wussed out and had a tie at the top)
In 2007
In 2008 (
I also did a look back at the Top Ten films of 1999)
In 2009 I actually did a Top 20 since the Oscars went to 10 Best Picture Nominees
In 2010
In 2011
And Last years, time crunched/no review list, 2012
Of course, I also copied the important bits into this post (which is the whole idea of these Archive Files), so alternatively, you can just read through the rest of this post for the Top movies of each of the last 8 years!
Counting down, because it is ever so much more fun that way...
5.
The Constant Gardener - from the director of City of God, Fernando
Meirelles, adapted from the thriller by John LeCarre. This was a smart,
thriller about a murder and corruption in the drug industry (the legal
one), that entertained without being mind-numbing or requiring an
imaginative stretch.
4.
Capote - a narrative debut of a documentary filmmaker, Bennett
Miller, it is a fascinating look inside the famed author of Breakfast at
Tiffany's Truman Capote and at the same time contains an intriguing
mystery. The mix of styles that Bennett Miller brings to the table along
with the outstanding performances enhances the strong story making it
often feel as though you're watching a documentary.
3.
Syriana - written and directed by the screenwriter who wrote Traffic,
and produced by George Clooney and Stephen Sodorberg (who directed
Traffic), this is a film in the same vain as Traffic, an engrossing and
massive story told from the view points of many different characters who
interact sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in larger ones. Instead
of being about drugs (illegal ones in Traffic's case) it is about the
oil industry. Every actor is fantastic including Matt Damon, who is
often times hit (Talented Mr. Ripley) or miss (nearly everything else).
It is better then every one of the best picture nominees. But then so
are the other two on my list, so on to number...
2.
Walk the Line - I have to admit, I wasn't sure going in about Reese
Witherspoon, but damn, she was really, really good. And I can't say
enough about Joaquin Phoenix, he was unbelievable. After seeing this
film last Thanksgiving with my best friend, I walked out saying, "We've
just seen the movie that will win Best Picture." I was sure of it.
Unbelievably it isn't even nominated. Ray was nominated, and compared to
Walk the Line, Ray was awful. The music was good, and Jaime Foxx was
outstanding, but the movie wasn't that great. Here, the music is amazing
(I thought after first seeing the preview that they were actually using
Johnny Cash's songs, I was blown away to find out it was Joaquin
Phoenix. Face it, he nailed that signature Cash sound), the acting was
as good as it gets, and the story was phenomenal. I truly don't
understand how this film was ignored for best picture.
And now, let me preface by saying that it is entirely possible that no
one will agree with me about my first place movie of the year, but
considering I feel it is the best movie I've ever seen, it would be hard
not to put it at number one for the year. (Are you listening Ebert, my
number one movie of all time is also number one in the year in which it
came out. It only makes sense.)
1.
Serenity.
Okay, okay, some of you are saying, "I've never even heard of that
movie" which means you don't think I'm crazy, you just figure it is some
obscure independent film that only twelve people have seen despite it's
brilliance. Well, you're partly right. Those of you who know what movie
I'm talking about either A. think I've finally gone insane, or B. have
seen the television show Firefly, been broken hearted by the way it was
treated by FOX, heard Joss Whedon (yes the Buffy and Angel Joss Whedon)
was going to be making a feature film continuing the story line of the
television show, proceeded to try not to let your expectations get too
high (because as we all know whenever your expectations are high for a
film, or almost anything for that matter, you are inevitably let down),
failed as your expectations shot through the roof with the news that
every actor from the show would be reprising their roles, the talk of
people who saw early cuts and said it was amazing, and just the fact
that it was being based on the single greatest television show you had
ever seen. Then, with hopes that could not be higher, you found yourself
in the movie theatre for the midnight opening, and as the movie
unfolded, found that your hopes and expectations were not only met, they
were exceeded. Not only exceeded, but embarrassed. It was far better
then you could have even dreamed. If you're in camp B (and I'm actually
not the only one, but there are few of us out here) you can understand
why I say this is the best movie I've ever seen. For those in camp A
(who probably now include all those who previously didn't know what
Serenity was), let me say (in addition to that absurdly long sentence
above) I had Star Wars prequel sized expectations for this film and they
weren't high enough. That, in my book, is unbelievable. Due to that, I
have to say it is the best movie I've ever seen and therefore the best
film of 2005.
10--BORAT
Funny, challenging, disgusting: this movie can be described in many
different ways. Ultimately, I'm most impressed with Sacha Baron Cohen's
ability to disappear so completely within the character that you forget
he's just an actor. I also applaud him for showing us the uglier sides
of our selves, but also for giving us a good laugh at the same time. And
while Clerks II had its tell your friends moments, Borat was full of
them from beginning to end. I know, because I was at a party the day
after I saw it, and along with some others who had seen it, we ended up
retelling pretty much the entire film while laughing hysterically. And
if you want a gross don't know whether to laugh or puke moment, naked
wrestling is for you.
9--THE PRESTIGE
After I saw it, I couldn't stop analyzing it. Like the Illusionist, it
was a good story on a great subject (magic) with amazing acting (come on
who doesn't want to see Wolverine vs. Batman?) but it also had one of
the most talented young directors working today, Christopher Nolan
(Memento), and he did a fantastic job with this film. And unlike the
Illusionist, there were plenty of things that had me scratching my head
until the reveal. A film much like a magic trick, plus it had Scarlett
Johanssen. Mmmm, Scarlett.
8--THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
This was the funniest movie of the year, in my opinion. The fact that it
came out so early is probably the only thing costing it Oscar
recognition. The performances are top notch, even by Mrs. Cruise who
makes you forget she was ever Joey. The script has just the right amount
of heart to go with the huge helping of parody, satire, and sarcasm
that it serves in no doubt unhealthy portions. It manages to have a
happy ending without being cheesy or too syrupy (unlike the comedy Oscar
is favoring) and totally stays true to itself at the end as a good
satire should.
7--THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED
A must for anyone interested in the film industry. This could be one of
the most important films in regard to the film industry ever. This is
the movie that caused the MPAA to break there own strict no piracy rule
and make an illegal copy. There were many revelations in this film that
shocked and surprised me, and by no means am I ignorant to the industry.
And it is as funny as it is unsettling. The subject matter was handled
expertly. Documentaries can be difficult in pacing and in storytelling,
but this one got it just right. As soon as I finished watching it, I
started it again and watched it with the commentary.
6--PAN'S LABYRINTH
Gloriously beautiful, and with a Wizard of Oz-esque storyline, this was a
fabulous film. The only reason it's not much higher is the amount of
violence. While I understand the need for the violence in this film, in
part because of the time period of the story, and also to highlight the
difference in the little girl's fantasy world and the real world, I also
felt that at times it was more graphic then it needed to be. Overall
though, the look of the film was exquisite, and the acting was top
notch. I also loved the ending, you weren't sure what to believe,
leaving it up to your judgement as to whether it was really a happy
ending or not.
5--A SCANNER DARKLY
Finally, the way to make Keanu a good actor, draw over his scenes. Done
in the style of Waking Life (also directed by Richard Linkletter) this
movie was sort of made twice. They filmed it as live action, then with a
computer animation program, actually animated it on top of the film
itself, lending a surreal feel to the film. It's an animated film, and
yet at the same time it seems like live action. This approach worked
perfectly for this story, based very faithfully on the novel by Phillip
K. Dick. A movie about drugs, family, and reality, it succeeds on all
levels, even with Keanu. I've had it from Netflix since December. I
really need to buy my own copy and send this one back.
4--UNITED 93
Originally, I had no desire to see this. I thought it was too soon, and
imagined that the film would be preachy and overly patriotic. It is
neither. It is filmed in documentary, you-are-there style, and runs in
near to real time, adding to its effectiveness. The film not only
focuses on what happened on the one hijacked flight that failed to make
it to its destination, but also in the main control room for the FAA,
the headquarters of the military's air defense, and the air traffic
control towers of New York, Boston, and Cleveland, giving us a very real
look at what was happening behind the scenes on that fateful morning. A
very powerful movie that I liked in spite of myself.
3--THE DEPARTED
Many are calling this a return to form for Martin Scorsese, but
personally, I feel that The Aviator and Gangs of New York were both
better films then this one. And by no means is this film in the class of
Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, or Mean Streets, but it is still a
really great movie. In almost anyone else's hands, this would have been
strictly a genre picture, but under Scorsese's skilled direction, it is
a masterpiece. There are so many nuanced and breathtaking performances
in this film, I don't know how only Mark Walberg is nominated. The only
thing that held the film back for me was the performance of Matt Damon.
At times he was good, but at times I had a really hard time believing
him. Mainly every time he had to show indignation or anger. I think he's
much better when he's restrained such as in Talented Mr. Ripley. The
rest of the films strengths, however, more then make up for Damon's
negatives.
AND THE NUMBER ONE FILMS....
That's right, there's a tie. I've been trying for nearly a month to
decide which film I liked better, but I believe both are utterly
brilliant. It's rare that two films in one year would become among the
greatest films I've ever seen, but that's the case here.
THE FOUNTAIN
I list this one first since I previously blogged about it. My feelings
for it have not changed. Feel free to go back and read what I wrote
right after I saw it. It's rare for a movie to leave itself so open for
interpretation, but it is awesome when it is done right, and The
Fountain does it right. There is little doubt in my mind that Darren
Aronofsky(Requiem For a Dream, Pi) is one of the finest directors of all
time.
CHILDREN OF MEN
So is Alfonso Cuaron (Harry Potter and the Prisoner form Azkaban, Y Tu
Mama Tambien). He tackles huge and troubling subjects with real and
tangible characters even in unfamiliar places. In this film, he makes a
possible future seem all too terrifyingly real in a
documentary/noir/post-apocalyptic sci-fi film that stays with you long
after the credits roll. The fact that Michael Caine isn't being
mentioned for a best supporting actor borders on criminal as he steals
every scene that he's in, managing to provide the film's funniest
moments as well as it's saddest. Ultimately, it isn't too hard to
imagine such a future as being possible, and it reminds us not to lose
sight of or take for granted the hope that we do have.
We're obviously going to count them down, because it's oh so much more fun that way.
10. The Last Legion
Action films are usually predictable, poorly acted, cheesy, and without
strong female characters. This movie, on the other hand, is original,
features superb performances, exciting, and has an outstanding female
lead. It is a new take on the Arthurian legend, and far better done
then the Clive Owen stinker a few years back. It's cast is outstanding,
with Colin Firth, Mr. Darcy in the BBC Pride and Prejudice, Oscar winner Ben Kingsley, and the greatness that is Kevin McKidd (most recently the hero of NBC's Journeyman, and prior to that Lucius Vorenus on HBO's Rome). He plays the bad guy in this film, which gives you an idea of how Rome might
have looked if he'd have played Titus Pullo instead of Vorenus.
Aishwarya Rai plays a woman warrior from the Eastern Orthodox Empire who
helps to protect the young last Caesar of Rome. Not only is she
smart, but she kicks some serious butt too. No need for a man to save
this young lady, although there are plenty of instances where the men
need her to save them. That alone would give it high marks, but it's
actually a good film too.
9. The Mist
Frank Darabont gives us his third Stephen King adaptation (having previously written and directed The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile).
At first I thought this was an odd choice for him, considering the
obvious theme that the first two films shared, prison, but after seeing
this film, I realized that this story was a perfect choice for him as
the same themes run through this movie as well. Another film that
returns the Horror genre to its roots, this movie does a great job of
making an interesting film that at times also scares the crap out of
you. This film also has the greatest ending of any film in a long time.
8. The Darjeeling Limited
Wes Anderson's latest proves that he is a master of storytelling.
Combining eccentric characters with dead on dialogue and crazy hi-jinks
is always entertaining, and again succeeds in this picture, a story of
three brothers struggling to find themselves and repair their
relationship in the wake of their father's death. Both funny and
touching, this film is pure Wes Anderson.
7. Sicko
This is a must see movie. Especially as we get ready to elect the next
President of the United States, it is important to have an
understanding of one of the most important issues, Health Care.
Michael Moore, as much as many people dislike him, does a good job in
this film of avoiding the anti-conservative rhetoric that turn so many
people off and sticking to the facts to give a bipartisan take on such
an important issue. It will astound you how backwards we really are on
this issue, considering we are supposedly the one remaining "Super
Power" nation left in the world.
6. Stardust
What a great film this is, a fantasy in the vein of The Princess Bride,
and I think that it will gain a similar cult status. Just like that
movie, this one features many great cameos by great comedic actors as
well as what very well may be the greatest performance that Robert
DeNiro has ever given. I won't spoil what that performance is exactly
here, because it is much better if you see it first hand. Funny fantasy
films about the power of love come to rarely not to cherish them when
they are done just right like this film was.
5. Sunshine
The best Sci-Fi/Horror film since Aliens, this movie from director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting and 28 Days Later)
blew me away when I saw it. It is beautifully shot with stunning
visual effects and perfectly combines two genres to make a great film
that will please fans of either one. Plus it is nice to know that Chris
Evans, so over the top as Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four pics, can
give a good dramatic performance.
4. There Will Be Blood
A challenging film where no one is portrayed in a good light, this movie, the latest from Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia and Boogie Nights)
is a beautiful looking film that looks at the ugliness of power and
greed. It's a movie about oil, but organized religion doesn't escape
unscathed either. Daniel Day-Lewis gives one of the greatest
performances of all time as he takes a completely unlikable character
that should be completely unwatchable and keeps the audience riveted.
The score from Jonny Greenwood from band Radiohead is probably the best
score I have ever heard. The music keeps you from realizing that the
beginning of the film is without dialogue. Unfortunately, many of the
pieces heard in the film had previously been played by Greenwood in
concerts keeping the score from meeting Oscar's original requirement,
meaning the best score I've ever heard isn't eligible for a Best Score
Oscar.
3. No Country for Old Men
Yet again, the highest an Oscar Best Picture Nominated film can get on
my Top Ten is third (which should tell those of you keeping score at
home that neither Atonement or Michael Clayton made
the list). This is a great film, no doubt, and a return to the genre
that made the Coen Brothers in the first place. This, like number 4 on
the list, is a challenging film, that doesn't end, so much as
finishes. The performances are all top notch and Roger Deakins is
proven, yet again, to be the best Cinematographer ever (more on that in
a moment). Javier Bardeem embodies psychotic killer Chigurh so
completely, I'm going to be scared if I ever meet him (and will
probably piss myself if he asks me to call the flip of a coin.) No
question in my mind, his character is the scariest villain in the
history of film (move over Hannibal Lector and Nosferatu, you have
company.) It is exciting that a challenging movie like this (as well
as There Will Be Blood) is getting the attention that it is, hopefully more smart and challenging films will be made in the future.
2. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
This movie was very nearly number one, and if I hadn't made myself
choose this year (as opposed to the tie from last year) it easily could
have been. This movie is even more amazing by the fact that it is
only the second film ever from director Andrew Dominik (don't worry, I
hadn't heard of him either). The screenplay is brilliant, the acting
is top notch, and the film is simply beautiful. First of all, let us
all thank the movie gods that despite the acting talent skipping Ben it
lodged itself firmly in Casey. He actually is the lead in this movie,
but is nominated in as a Supporting Role. Unfortunately for him, it
doesn't matter. If he were nominated in the lead he would have been up
against Daniel Day-Lewis, and in the supporting he's going up against
the scariest villain in the history of film as brought to us by Javier
Bardeem. If he gets a juicy role in 2008, however, he could be in line
for a makeup Oscar similarly to Al Pacino (Scent of a Woman, as opposed to almost anything else he ever did), Russell Crowe (Gladiator instead of Inside Man), or Denzel Washington (Training Day as opposed to Malcolm X or Hurricane).
Brad Pitt was, as always, brilliant as well. And the movie looks
amazing due in no small part to Cinematography by none other then Roger
Deakins. The tone of the film is reminiscent of a Terrance Malik
picture as the beautiful nature puts us in a place for the film to truly
speak to us.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for..............
The Number One Movie of 2007 is...............
Can I get a drumroll please?
Okay, okay, enough dramatics.
1. Zodiac
Does anyone even remember that this movie came out this year? Oscar
seemed to have forgotten. This was a powerful film, not about a serial
killer, but about what obsession can do to us. The need to solve this
unsolvable case tears at the lives of everyone involved, ruining many
of them as if they themselves were victims of the Zodiac killer. David
Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, The Game) takes on a challenging
subject obsessively himself and rewards us with a powerful film. He is
definitely in the discussion of this generation's best director and
this film is no exception to his deserving that status. Jake
Gyllenhaal is brilliant in the role of Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist
who becomes obsessed with finding out who the killer is, nearly losing
everything in his quest to answer the question. Robert Downey Jr.
continues his streak of playing to type as a man who could have it all
if he didn't succumb to the siren call of drugs and alcohol mirroring
his own life. Hopefully he stays clean in real life so he continues to
reward us with performances such as this.
All right, let's get to it, counting down (as always), here we go...
10. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL directed by Nicholas Stoller
In a year of good comedies (Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, Step
Brothers) the best in my opinion was also the first. The characters are
so well drawn as to seem like people you really know, and the story is
deep enough (rare for a romantic comedy) that not only can you see the
situation from both sides, but you genuinely think it might turn out
differently then you expect. And, it's hilarious. Always a plus.
There are great performances all around, including a star making turn by
Russell Brand as Aldous Snow. I particularly love all of the
supporting characters from around the hotel where the action takes
place, I wish that every hotel I stayed at was staffed with these
people.
9. MAN ON WIRE directed by James Marsh
I didn't know anything about this prior to seeing the movie, but in
1974 Philippe Petite, a tight rope walker and street performer from
France, broke into the World Trade Center and strung a wire across them
and walked in between them. This is the fantastic story of why and how
he pulled off what many refer to as "the artistic crime of the
century". The movie makes no mention of what ultimately happened to the
towers, but it's never far from your mind as you watch the film,
especially considering how easily Philippe and his team get into the
towers, but overall I'm glad the film doesn't make an out loud
acknowledgment of the fate awaiting the towers, because this way it is a
much more fitting tribute to the famous buildings.
8. THE STRANGERS directed by Bryan Bertino
While last year had more traditional horror films then we'd seen
recently, movies that used suspense to scare instead of pools of blood,
none of them pulled it off exactly the way they used to. This film,
however, did. In what is unquestionably the best horror film in at
least 30 years, my old school friend Bertino (we went to Elementary,
Middle, and High School together) does a tremendous job of scaring the
crap out of you, which is the whole point. Despite this being his
first feature film to direct, he does a great job both with the action
and with the actors. Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler are both fantastic
and the actors who play the masked invaders are chilling in their
portrayal. I love that there isn't any real reason why the attackers
are there, killers with out conscience are far scarier then killers who
have some apparent motive (hint, hint, makers of that terrible series
Saw, and please don't waste our theater space with any more of them).
7. IRON MAN directed by Jon Favreau
Number two on my top ten comic book movie list, this film was
outstanding in so many ways, far better then I was expecting it to be.
I'm worried about the future of the series as it is being rushed and I
don't like all the stories about actors getting screwed around, but
the first in the series will always be a classic. Some say origin
stories are the easiest to tell, but it still has to be done right, and
it is even more important with a character that isn't as familiar to
everyone. Favreau got it exactly right in this film. And the subtle
updates to the character to make him fit so perfectly in this time and
place were also a tribute to the filmmakers. And, of course, there is
the genius bit of casting putting Robert Downey Jr. in the suit. He
did an outstanding job and if the series does continue up from its high
starting point, he'll be a large reason why.
6. BURN AFTER READING directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
A film that either people seem to love or people seem to hate, the
latest from the Coen Brothers is about as far as one can get from their
Oscar winning film No Country For Old Men, but it is very reminiscent
of another Coen Brothers movie that when it came out was either loved
or hated by the movie going public, The Big Lebowski. In many ways,
there are a lot of correlations between the two films. They are
statements about the time periods in which they take place. In many
ways, I consider this the after-Bush Big Lebowski. Whereas Big
Lebowski was a satire on the mystery noir, this is a satire on the spy
film, complete with a Tony Scott like opening shot. Both films feature
the characteristic Coen type characters (read people who are nowhere
near as smart as they think they are) and a ridiculous story that only
works because of our characters. While I don't think this film is as
good as Lebowski (but then, what comedy is?), I do believe that as time
goes on more and more people will fall into the love it category just
like they did for the Dude.
5. W. directed by Oliver Stone
I have to say, this was not even close to the film that I was
expecting. Like a lot of people I have been very disappointed with the
direction that this country has headed in over the last eight years and
a lot of my blame for that has been directed towards the 43rd
President of the United States. And I know that Oliver Stone has been
even more outspoken against Bush then I have, so I was expecting
something different. Because this film is not harsh or hateful towards
George Bush. In fact, it takes a very unbiased look at the man and
his circumstances and in the end managed to make me feel sorry for him
as opposed to hating him. Pretty powerful filmmaking really and worth
seeing no matter how you feel about George W. Bush.
4.
THE DARK KNIGHT directed by Christopher Nolan
There isn't that much more I can say about this film that hasn't been
said already by many people, including myself when I named it the best
comic book movie of all time. This is a film that deserved
consideration for Best Picture (especially considering the fact that a
couple of the actual nominees this year weren't very good, more on that
in my Oscar Post next week) and despite that it will win multiple
Oscars (it is up for 8) I feel like it has definitely been cheated.
Rarely is a film so good that it completely transcends the genre that
it's in, but this film is in that elite company. And last year when
talking about the number 3 movie I wrote that Javier Bardem was the
scariest villain in the history of film topping even Hannibal Lector
and that is why he deserved the Oscar. Well, forget about the fact
that Heath Ledger died, I would be making the same argument if he were
still alive, because his portrayal of the Joker made me wonder why I
ever thought Lector or Chigurh was frightening.
3.
WALL-E directed by Andrew Stanton
A movie that I absolutely loved as you can tell from my
review,
and another film cheated because of it's genre. There is no question
in my mind that this movie deserved a best picture nod, but considering
that it has it's own category (Best Animated Feature) the Oscars feel
that it isn't necessary to acknowledge it where it belongs to be
acknowledged. The problem is, the best animated feature doesn't always
win the Best Animated Feature Oscar. This is a spot where upsets
happen far too often. And if you view the Best Animated Feature as a
synonym for Kid's Movie, well then Kung Fu Panda will win, not WALL-E
because Kung Fu Panda is a far better movie for kids. WALL-E on the
other hand isn't really a "Kid's Movie". It is far more then that, and
probably has a lot more in common with a classic such as 2001 then a
kid's movie like Happy Feet. If it were up to me, both TDK and WALL-E
would have gotten Best Picture Nominations.
2.
MILK directed by Gus Van Sant
What an amazing movie this was, and the timing literally couldn't have
been better as it's release coincided with the heartbreaking results of
Prop 8 in California along with many similar propositions throughout
the United States. Another movie, like Man On Wire, that had
historical importance of which I was largely unaware. This film is so
brilliantly acted by the likes of Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, James
Franco, and Josh Brolin that everyone completely sinks into their
characters. (On a side note, in my mind Josh Brolin is one of the best
actors of this generation as he completely disappears into all of the
very different characters he's played over the last year, the disturbed
Dan White here, Llewelyn Moss in No Country For Old Men, and the best
portrayal of George W. Bush anywhere, not even close to just being a
caricature). As good as Sean Penn is and has been, I think this might
be his best acting job ever. A very powerful and important film.
1.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON directed by David Fincher
For the second straight year a David Fincher movie tops my Top Ten and
this time with a movie very unlike anything that he has done before.
For a slightly more detailed look at my thoughts about this movie you
can look at my
review,
but I wanted to add that one of the reasons I find this film so
fascinating is that is so easily could have been bogged down by excess
sentimentality (probably the reason why some people don't like Forrest
Gump), but it wasn't at all. There is no cheat to this movie, the
heartstrings aren't pulled by tricks simply to pull the heartstrings.
Fincher has just the right amount of detachment to deliver the movie in a
completely original way unlike the other favorite to win Best Picture
which uses every trick imaginable hoping to force sentimentality on you
(more on that in my Oscar Post next week as well). I sincerely hope
that the Oscars do the right thing and reward this magical movie.
Of course, this year, the Oscars themselves made a Top Ten list, as this
year, there were 10 Best Picture nominees instead of the usual five
(Thank you Batman).
Since the Oscars usually only name five best picture nominees, and
therefore my list doubles that amount, this year I might go ahead and
give you a Top Twenty.
If they can double their faves, I suppose that I can also.
If I wrote a review for the film, it is linked through the title!
So, here you go...
THE TOP TWENTY FILMS OF 2009
20. The Hurt Locker
This movie won best picture, but it finds itself on my list at number 20.
Sure, I enjoyed it, and Jeremy Renner is masterful, but I don't really
think it was worthy of being named Best Picture, and probably didn't
deserve to be nominated. For the most part, the movie is amazing, and
everything you would want out of a best picture winner, but there is an
entire section of the film that bothers me. Renner's character goes off
of the base to avenge the death of a local kid he believes that he
knew. It turns the film into something different, something that this
movie wasn't really about; it almost completely derails the feel that
the film had spent so long building up. I suppose it was meant to give
you a little more insight into Renner's character, but it actually made
me like him less. Everything else he does in the film makes me
sympathize with him in the way that the movie wanted me too, but that
portion did just the opposite. It didn't fit, and moved this film all
the way down to number 20 on my list.
So, hopefully that'll teach 'em.
19.
District 9
Another movie that I really did enjoy, but that didn't quite win me
totally over as it wasn't quite sure what type of film that it wanted to
be.
It starts out as a very smart sci-fi film that has some interesting
things to say on how we treat each other, and it becomes an exciting
shoot-em-up action flick. The mock-umentary feel at the beginning of
the film and the more basic action flick in the second half don't really
fit together in my opinion, and detracts from what is otherwise a very
good film. Seeing as this was the first film from the director, perhaps
some of the pacing issues and uneven feel of the film can be forgiven.
However, since there is another first time director on this very list
much, much higher, we can't cut Mr.Blomkamp too much slack. Instead, he
will have to be satisfied with number 19 on my Top 20.
18. The Blind Side
Without question a great feel good story. Even the freaking previews
get me choked up. As did the first time that I heard Michael Oher's
story as he was being drafted. The film does a great job telling that
story, and as much as I am not a huge fan of Sandra Bullock, she is
fantastic as the woman who went out of her way for a young man who
really needed someone to believe in him.
17. The Hangover
An outstanding comedy that doesn't pull any punches. Bradley Cooper is
amazing, but then, I've known that from way back. I loved him as Will
Tippen on Alias. Zach Galifianakis steals every scene that he is in.
This film is highly quotable, which is part of what makes a great
comedy. You can't help but laugh again when you are talking with your
friends about it long after the movie has ended.
16. (500) Days of Summer
I've had a bit of a thing for Zooey Deschanel for quite some time. She
really blew me away in the recent Sci-Fi channel miniseries Tin-Man, an
update of The Wizard of Oz. So it is no surprise that she is so easy to
fall in love with in this movie. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was great as
well in this unconventional love story told out of order after it has
already ended.
15. Julie & Julia
Any movie that is about a person who found fame blogging already has a
head start in winning me over. The strange story of a woman who cooked
her way through Julia Child's cookbook coupled with the story of how the
cookbook came to be published is a fun and intriguing way to intertwine
two stories that aren't as unconnected as they might at first seem.
Amy Adams is clearly an actress to keep an eye on as she continues to
perform very well in interesting roles, and, of course, Meryl Streep is,
as always, amazing.
14.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
I might not have thought to combine the story telling visuals of Wes
Anderson with the dark yet whimsical tales of children's author Roald
Dahl, but after seeing this movie, let me assure you, they fit together
perfectly. The film is without question a Wes Anderson film, and as
true to his sensibilities as Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, but it
is also quite true to Roald Dahl, and as true to his sensibilities as
any reading you have ever done of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It
is a perfect marriage. Also the music is unbelievable. It is worth
seeing the movie for the soundtrack alone!
13. Fanboys
There was actually quite a while where I thought that I might have to
put this movie first on any best of list that I did. I absolutely loved
it and felt that it was made with me in mind. It is a story that is
unabashed in its love for Star Wars, uncompromising in its comedy, and
unashamedly emotional as well. I don't want to give away too much, but
suffice it to say that if you grew up loving the original Star Wars
films, you will love this movie too.
12.
A Serious Man
A bit different from the usual Coen Brother fare (if you can call
anything that these eclectic filmmakers do usual). A Serious Man is the
Coen Brothers modern day take on the book of Job and the theology
contained therein. This is not a happy movie, but then, life itself is
often not so happy go lucky either, and any contemplation on the
injustices of being unfairly targeted to the point to where it seems
even God must be against you despite your assurances that you have
always been a faithful (or serious in Jewish parlance) man is worth
digesting. When it is contemplated by Joel and Ethan Coen, you quite
simply can't go wrong.
11.
Funny People
Another film that spent quite a lot of time in my top spot, Judd Apatow
abandoned his usual comedy for a dramatic piece about life and the
lengths we go to to avoid facing its realities. I think that had this
film been marketed for the drama that it was instead of the comedic
piece that it was advertised as, it would have gotten some series Oscar
buzz. Adam Sandler gives what I believe is his absolutely best
performance. Seth Rogen also impressed me greatly with his
performance. It is a sign of what a great year 2009 has been for film
that a movie that spent a long time as my number one movie of the year
ends it at number 11.
10. Zombieland
Stylistically, this movie is perfect. Told from the perspective of the
least likely Zombie apocalypse survivor ever, Zombieland succeeds as a
hilarious comedy as well as a fun zombie romp (much like Shawn of the
Dead, I wonder what it is that makes Zombie movies work so well in
satirical films?). Woody Harrelson reminds me why I like him so much,
as he steals every second of the movie that he is in. Abigail Breslin
proves that she will have a career beyond just being that cute little
girl from Little Miss Sunshine, and Emma Stone joins Amy Adams as
actresses to keep a serious eye on. Both character driven and
zombie-filled, Zombieland was way better than it probably had any right
to be. It also has the best comedic cameo of all time.
9. Sherlock Holmes
Though Guy Ritchie has been slacking some from the promise that he
showed early with Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, he
does an excellent job bringing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's incredible
creation to life on the big screen. The story feels like a Sherlock
Holmes story, Robert Downey Jr. continues his unbelievable hot streak of
bringing iconic characters to life, and Ritchie 's somewhat frenetic
pace is kept enough in check to fit the film perfectly. I, for one,
can't wait for the next installment from Baker's Street.
8. Up
A movie that I have seen numerous times, and that I love more each and
every time that I watch it. The almost silent-film-esque opening is
worth the price of admission by itself. A story that is so incredibly
emotional and yet at the same time filled with such a child-like sense
of wonder, it is amazing to me sometimes when most movies are just
cookie cutter retellings of old stories that something so original can
still be made. It helps when you are PIXAR and have never made a bad
movie. You get a little bit more leeway to be original when you can't
do any wrong. That trend certainly didn't stop here.
7.
Star Trek
A movie that filled me with trepidation all the way up until the moment
that I saw it. Other than a few moments that were a little more cheesy
than I would have liked (such as Kirk's puffed up hands), this movie was
completely true to Star Trek. It doesn't lesson my desire for a new
Star Trek series on TV following the TNG, DS9, Voyager timeline, but I
also can't wait for the next film in this universe with this cast. I'm
sold and ready to Boldly Go once again.
6.
Watchmen
While many considered the graphic novel to be unfilmable, Zach Snyder
actually did an amazing job in capturing everything that the comic was
about in a way that applies to our more modern sensibilities and in
relation to the current craze in making comic book movies. It so easily
could have gone wrong in so many ways, and yet I have a love for the
film that might outstrip the love that I have for the graphic novel on
which it was based. Rarely can you even begin to think that the movie
is better than the book, but this film certainly has a case to make,
although you can't take away anything from the book since each and every
scene is lovingly recreated from the template that is Alan Moore's
masterpiece.
5. Coraline
Each year, I notice some trend in the really great movies of the year,
and this year it might have to be adaptations. Literary works are
notoriously hard to translate well to the screen, and yet so many have
been successfully made this year. Dahl's work is put perfectly to
screen by Wes Anderson, Doyle's troubled genius gets a fantastic reboot
thanks to Downey and Ritchie, Alan Moore's "unfilmable" book becomes a
breathtaking movie thanks to Zach Snyder, and now, Neil Gaiman's work is
once again brought to spectacular life (the last time was two years ago
with the very underrated Stardust), this time by Henry Selick and the
stop motion animation that he perfected with A Nightmare Before
Christmas. Coraline is a hauntingly beautiful story that is full of
thrills, chills, and just the right amount of emotion.
4. Where the Wild Things Are
Continuing the amazing adaptation theme, a short picture book is an
unlikely source to turn into a fully engaging feature film, and yet
Spike Jonze (director of Being John Malcovich) and Dave Eggers (best
known for his memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) do just
that with this film. The performances are unbelievable, the Wild Things
are brought to perfect life, and the work of Max Records as Max is
unbelievable. It is literally one of the best acting performances that
I've ever seen. The movie itself is not what I would call a kid's
movie, but rather a movie that is exactly about what it is to be a kid,
and that can be a scary thing. But also hauntingly beautiful when it is
survived.
3. The Road
I haven't read the Cormac McCarthy novel that the movie is based on, but
the movie blew me away. Incredible cinematography that really captures
the mood right off the bat, performances that are so very raw and
intense, and a story that cuts right to the bone, this movie hits on
every cylinder. It certainly isn't a "feel good" film, but it
definitely does a perfect job in capturing the love between a father and
a son, and giving a realistic portrayal to a world that has "moved on"
as Stephen King might say.
2.
Moon
Like District 9, this is a sci-fi feature film from a first time
director, yet Duncan Jones doesn't make any mistakes in his tale about
loneliness and humanity. Set on a base on the moon in the near future
manned for three months by one individual and a robotic assistant, the
film doesn't get old or tiresome at all, and instead is perfectly paced
and completely gripping. This is in large part due to the amazing skill
of Sam Rockwell as Sam, the laborer finishing up his stay at the moon
base. His performance is without question the finest of the year, and
one of the best acting jobs I've ever seen. Duncan Jones's superb film
also places him instantly in amongst the young directors whose films I
will see immediately upon release, joining Alfonso Cuaron, David
Fincher, Darron Aronofsky, and Christopher Nolan.
And the number one film....
1.
Avatar
James Cameron's incredibly imaginative and immersive world changed film
forever. It proves that with modern cinema is now capable of anything.
While some are critical of the somewhat unoriginal story, the
imagination of everything else in the film makes up for any stale story
elements. And personally I didn't see the story as stale, I saw the
story as a classic tale that added to the realism of what easily could
have been an unrealistic world but instead thanks to the imagination and
technology of James Cameron was utterly believable and that made
Pandora a place that I almost felt like I could step through the screen
to join. Movies will never be the same again, and that is what cinema
is all about.
All year long I have been upset at the lack of good films this year.
My
joke for much of the year was that the year in movies was so poor that
Hot Tub Time Machine had a legitimate shot to make my Top Ten.
(Thankfully, it didn't turn out that poorly, although I did enjoy the
movie, it shouldn't ever be in a year ending Top Ten.)
Last year, I did a Top Twenty (any of the films in it, incidentally,
probably would have made the Top Ten this year) due to the fact that the
Oscars had upped their nominations to ten.
I won't be doing a Top Twenty this year.
There also won't be any honorable mentions.
On to the list...
10. The American
George
Clooney is fantastic in this slower paced action/thriller that is far
more character driven then the typical spy/assassin film. It is
beautifully shot and keeps your attention despite the slower pace.
Thanks to the interesting story, the fantastic acting, and the beautiful
cinematography, this is one of the better films of the genre in quite
some time. It reminded me of another movie to make one of my Top Tens,
The Constant Gardner.
9. Shutter Island
Leonardo
DiCaprio has become one of our generations most fantastic actors, due
in large part to his relationship with one of the greatest directors of
all time, Martin Scorsese. In any other filmmaker's hands, this might
have been a convoluted mess, but Scorsese makes it a masterpiece.
Twists and turns that are completely character and story driven rather
than just for the sake of twists and turns makes this a film that stays
with you long after it is over.
8. Toy Story 3
Each
successive Toy Story film has been better than the ones that came
before, and this is no exception. Chronicling the painful yet
inevitable end of the toy and kid relationship, while keeping the door
open for future instalments, Toy Story 3, like the two films that
preceded it, mixes laughter, tears, joy, sadness, and excitement in
equal parts. A beautiful and moving film, but what else can you expect
from PIXAR?
7. 127 Hours
Driven
largely by the unbelievable performance of the star (and this year's
Oscar co-host) James Franco, 127 Hours manages to captivate despite the
close quarters of most of the films setting and the fact that it focuses
on only one character. It is a harrowing experience and the film puts
the viewer directly into that experience. This is a powerful movie, and
proof that James Franco is an undeniable talent.
6. The King's Speech
While
the film is overly emotionally manipulative, and it often feels more
like a stage play than a film in terms of camera movement, it is still a
moving story and an overall good film. Like 127 Hours, the film is
definitely strengthen by the performances, and it will probably be
rewarded by Oscars for Firth and Bonham Carter.
5. Exit Through the Gift Shop
One
of the most original films I have ever seen, and by far the best
documentary this year, Exit Through the Gift Shop is a movie that defies
explanation. When you find someone else who has seen it, however, I
guarantee that you will have tons of lively discussion about the film.
4. Social Network
A
movie that by all rights should have been terrible was handled by the
exact right creative team. Ultimately, this is a story of the times in
which we live, and it is a story that desperately needed to be told. I
am glad that it was Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher who told it.
3. Black Swan
One
of the most disturbing films of all time, definitely on a level with
the very disturbing Requiem For a Dream (also directed by Aronofsky).
Natalie Portman is unbelievable, and Mila Kunis continues to surprise me
and shed the image of Jackie from That 70's Show. Almost a horror film
at times, the movie manages to make you live with obsession and desire
while also showing the dangers of wanting something too much.
2. Inception
Christopher
Nolan continues to make unbelievable films. While I'm not entirely
sure that he is the right fit for producing and writing the new Superman
film, I can't deny that his films are always fantastic. Again,
DiCaprio performs flawlessly as the troubled protagonist, and the rest
of the cast is terrific as well. The whole movie works on every level,
as this is a movie that you have to watch more than once.
And the number one movie (and the "Should Win" for Best Picture from my Preview and Prediction Post) is...
1. True Grit
Rarely
are remakes far and away better than the original, but rarely are
remakes handled by Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges continues his
unbelievable run, and Hailee Steinfeld steals every second of the film
(making it quite a crime that she is nominated as a supporting actress
instead of as a lead actress). While I am not a huge Matt Damon fan, he
is incredible in this movie. I always used to say that Matt Damon was
only good in The Talented Mr. Ripley, now I have to add True Grit to
that list. Roger Deakins does an amazing job as always, as he is, in my
opinion, the best cinematographer working today. The script is
perfect, and the Coen brothers' direction is impeccable. Not only is
this the best film of the year, but it also is among the best films of
the entirety of the last decade. While 2010 was a down year, this film
certainly keeps it from being a total disappointment. I also might put
this as the best Coen brothers' movie ever, and that is certainly saying
something.
JUST MISSING THE TOP TEN
Contagion
What a great film. Very different from most movies, it moves very
slowly and through a lot of stories from a lot of different
perspectives, but it never loses momentum or the audiences attention.
Then there is the fact that the movie just gets to you. If you didn't
have at least a little apprehension about germs after seeing this film I
think you might actually be a cylon.
My mother refused to touch the sides of the escalator on the way out of
the theater and then paused at the door to the street finally decided to
use her elbow to open it. I'm sure that she wasn't the only one with
that reaction, and if a film can get you to react that strongly after
seeing it, it is doing its job.
Source Code
In
my review, I called Source Code "one of the best time travel movies of all time," and it really is.
Unlike
a lot of time travel movies, it sets up the rules and follows them,
rather than breaking them in order to provide a satisfactory ending
(looking at you Deja Vu).
Duncan Jones (who also wrote and directed the incredible Moon) proves
himself to be a director to keep a close eye on. If the end of the year
hadn't been filled with some truly fantastic films, this would have
unquestionably made the top ten.
AND NOW, THE TOP TEN FILMS OF 2011
10. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Ostensibly a film about the attack on 9/11, this is really a film about a
young boy with Asperger's who struggles to find meaning after his
father (Tom Hanks) dies in the World Trade Center. His father sent him
on elaborate quests in order to get him to interact with others and
overcome the social awkwardness that went with his disease. A chance
discovery seems that there might be one more mystery that will allow him
to continue to feel the presence of his now absent father.
It walks the fine line of sappy sentimentality that can bring a film
down, avoiding the possibility of becoming too preachy or "Hallmark
movie of the week" and instead provides a powerful look into one
family's struggle with the events of a tragic morning.
9. Ides of March
A friend of mine actually works on political campaigns for a living, so
immediately upon seeing this, I thought of him. He said it was a pretty
accurate take on what can take place on the campaign trail. It is also
a very good and dramatic film. It keeps you intrigued throughout, and
the acting is top notch. While the attention is going to The
Descendents and Drive, I thought that George Clooney's and Ryan
Gosling's performances were far better in this film.
8. Tree of Life
A movie about love, life, tragedy, and above all else the relationship
of a father and a son. It isn't a typical film told in a typical style,
but it works and it is beyond beautiful. It switches between a cosmic
look at life and an extremely personal take on a boy who is entirely too
much like his father, both of them struggling to find their place
amidst everything else. If you go in with an open mind, I find it hard
to think that you won't walk away touched. At the very least, the film
will make you think. And that in itself is entirely too rare these
days.
7. The Artist
This is another of the films this year that evokes films of the past.
It is almost entirely silent, and yet even without spoken dialogue there
is a fantastic story that will make you laugh and cry. Carried almost
solely by the performances of the actors (and one cute dog) you forget
that you are watching a silent, black and white film. It is at once a
chronicle of the changing of the guard in film history, a love story,
and a tale of despair with the hope of redemption. Powerful movie
making and certainly not easy to pull off successfully in a time where
Michael Bay explosions are the norm rather than strong character and
storytelling (although arguably, the dialogue in this film where there
hardly is any rivals the dialogue in any Michael Bay film).
6. The Muppets
While not exactly evoking the past in film, it certainly qualifies as
nostalgia. Anyone who grew up watching either The Muppet Show or the
subsequent films will find themselves falling in love with the Muppets
all over again. The fact that this isn't sweeping all kinds of awards
is criminal. Thankfully, "Man or Muppet" got nominated for Best Song,
but there is a rumor that the Muppets won't be able to perform the song
at the Oscars! I really hope cooler heads prevail and the Muppets get
at least that recognition since they deserve so much more. Immediately
after seeing this at the midnight showing, I bought the soundtrack, and I
have been listening to it nearly non-stop since (four months later!). I
will be buying this film the second I can and will watch it over and
over again, because the world is a better place (and life is a happy
song) when the Muppets are around.
5. The Help
While
I understand the trouble some people have with this film, noting the
fact that the black women had to be saved by a white woman. But it also
does a good job of capturing the reality of this time. Plus the acting
was fantastic and very likely will end up with wins in the Best Actress
and Best Supporting Actress categories.
4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
I
loved the book series, and while there are some minor changes, this is a
very faithful adaptation. Of course, if you are familiar with the
books, that means that there are some difficult moments in this film.
However, David Fincher handles the difficult material expertly and
delivers a very powerful film that is as exciting and mysterious as the
source material on which he based the film. Honestly, my main problem
with the Oscars this year is that this movie wasn't nominated for Best
Picture. And while Rooney Mara did get a very deserved nomination, she
isn't going to win. In my opinion, she definitely should as her
portrayal of the title character was beyond perfect, and it certainly
was not an easy role to play.
3. War Horse
My
top three films this year were so close that I almost wussed out and
had a three way tie for number one, but I fought through that desire and
ultimately put an order to them. While some of the films this year
were obviously homages to film (including a film still to go on my
list), I think that this movie fits in, in a way, with those. It isn't
about film, but it certainly hearkens back to films from the past. It
reminds me of a John Ford epic (as an aside, it is interesting that
Spielberg made a film meant to evoke the work of another filmmaker the
same year that JJ Abrams made a film meant to evoke the work of
Spielberg). It was a positive and powerful film that had more than its
share of sentimentality, but as much as forced sentimentality generally
annoys me, under the watchful hand of Spielberg it doesn't bother me at
all.
2. Hugo
The
final film on the list that is an homage to film, Scorsese made a movie
about the very beginning of the film industry that is also a mysterious
and adventurous tale about a young boy and the search for a final
message from his father. This, along with Avatar, shows the true
potential of digital film and the power of 3D done right. Scorsese is a
master of the medium of film and in this movie he celebrates its past
while showing off the possibilities of its future.
and my choice for the Number One Movie of 2011 is....
1. Midnight in Paris
Woody
Allen has been making movies for a long time, but it has been quite
some time since he has made a film quite this good. There are quite a
few films on this list that can be called nostalgic, and this is yet
another one. Although the history that this film invokes predates
movies. Instead it is nostalgic about the art of storytelling in a more
general sense, but it is wholly nostalgic and wholly original just the
same. To close out my top ten, I'll quote from
my review after I saw the film this summer...
"If you categorize it as romantic comedy (and
I'm not really sure that is the classification I would use, I would
rather refuse to try to box it in to any one genre) then it is
unquestionably the best romantic comedy I have ever seen."
10. WRECK IT RALPH
9. RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
8. FLIGHT
7. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
6. CLOUD ATLAS
5. LIFE OF PI
4. PROMETHEUS
3. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
2. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
And my number one movie of 2012...
1. MOONRISE KINGDOM
So there you have it.
My Top Films of the last 8 years on this very blog!
Until Next Time, check this space tomorrow for the Top Ten Films of 2013!
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