We're now 4 months into 2010 - hard to believe. And unfortunately, the beginning half of the year is a wasteland for movies; the dead time before summer blockbusters is filled with horrible trash such as Remember Me, The Last Song, Cop Out, and all that other garbage you American moviegoers just eat right up. For all you REAL movie fans who've already seen the few good movies in theaters right now like Shutter Island or The Ghost Writer, have no fear - the best of the best of 2009 are now out on DVD. Here are my top ten movies of 2009 that are just waiting to sit in your Netflix queue.
10. DISTRICT 9
District 9 works more as an experiment than as an actual film, beginning very slowly and having an overlong climax, but this inventive, documentary-style allegory to Apartheid is an absolute rush and a must-see film.Original grade: 8.8
9. AN EDUCATION
An Education is a classic coming of age story about a 16 year old girl who develops a relationship with a much older man.
Original grade: 8.9
8. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER
As the narrator says, this tale of boy meets girl is "NOT a love story". What it is, is a quirky and inventive comedy that is brilliantly written and executed.
Original grade: 9.3
7. UP
The marriage sequence. That alone makes Pixar's latest classic something of beauty.Original grade: 9.4
6. FANTASTIC MR. FOX
While Pixar of course succeeded in creating yet another classic, it was Wes Anderson who brought to the table the most surprising, pleasurable, and entertaining animated film of the year.
Original grade: 9.4
5. THE HURT LOCKER
This year's winner of the Best Picture Oscar. It's the story of a bomb squad in Iraq that focuses on the fear, rush, madness, and loss associated with warfare.
Original grade: 9.4
4. A SERIOUS MAN
It's filled with bleak, bleak humor. The narrative doesn't go many places. The ending will leave many scratching their heads. Yet all of these things, with the guidance of Joel & Ethan Coen, morph to become the richest, most poetic, darkly funny movie of the year.
Original grade: 9.6
3. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Spike Jonze, one of the best directors in Hollywood, has turned the celebrated children's book into an inventive and tragic classic about love and loneliness.
Original grade: 9.7
2. UP IN THE AIR
Jason Reitman, who directed Juno and Thank You For Smoking, has upped his game yet again with a film that is light and dark, funny and tragic, uplifting and bleak, all at the same time.
Original grade: 9.8
1. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
"Say auf weiderson to your Nazi balls." That's all I have to say.
Original grade: 10
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