Many of these films you can watch from the comfort of your sofa...
Want a great movie for a night in? Look no further than Darren’s Picks for 2009’s Best Films!
CROSSING OVER
The film no one is talking about. Wayne Kramer’s film is emotional, painful and actor Cliff Curtis giving a performance well worthy of an Oscar nomination. Quite an experience! Riveting from start to finish, and one of Harrison Ford’s best films in years.
THE HURT LOCKER
This movie grabs you at the very beginning and doesn’t let go. Jeremy Renner’s central performance is strong and the film will keep you holding your breath-thanks to Kathryn Bigelow’s tense direction that never lets up the entire movie. Claustrophobic and Unforgettable, you will leave wondering why these brave men volunteer to diffuse bombs in war…
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Low budget and brilliantly horrifying. The last half hour is some of the most frightening stuff I’ve seen in years!
STAR TREK
This J.J. Abrams reboot of the classic franchise breathes new life and excitement back into the world of Trek! Brilliant casting throughout– a spot on Karl Urban, channeling Deforest Kelley, as Doctor McCoy. It’s also great to see Leonard Nimoy at it again as the elder Spock.
CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY
Corporate greed and political manipulation is on display in all it’s glory in one of Michael Moore’s most hard hitting documentaries. FDR’s final speech is haunting in one of the lesser known “What If’s” of History.
INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
Tarantino’s World War II fiasco is stolen by Christoph Waltz’s brilliant performance as Colonel Hans Landa. Well shot and well written with a stand out opening sequence (plus a bar sequence) that gives suspense a new name. I couldn’t help wishing Tarantino played the whole film straight, but overall it was fantastic. What a great performance from the beautiful leading lady Mélanie Laurent. Dialogue heavy but well worth it.
UP IN THE AIR
A sharp script which actually lets us feel empathy for a main character who fires people for a living. One of George Clooney’s best performances and Vera Farminga and Anna Kendrick are fantastic.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
David Yates brings urgency and mystery to this latest installment of the Harry Potter series. A perfect set up for the remaining two films.
WATCHMEN
This well written and beloved comic is brought to life by Zach Snyder’s brilliant direction and excellent cast. Jackie Earle Hailey’s Rorschach steals the movie with fiery intensity!
KNOWING
Alex Proyas directs this nightmarish/mystery/sci-fi by pushing all the right buttons. Dark, memorable and creepy as hell with a good central performance by Nicholas Cage
What was your favorite movie of 2009?
7 Responses
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
I really didn’t like up in the air, though I actually thought it had a paralell with it’s complicated. I am interested to hear a guy’s perspective because I thought both films had an anti-male twist to them…
I was on Yahoo and found your blog. Read a few of your other posts. Good work. I am looking forward to reading more from you in the future.
Tom Stanley
Well said
Up In the Air was ok. Clooney was good as always, and I understood his character. Overall though, I felt it didn’t really deliver at the end.
Star Trek was awesome. I saw it on Blu-Ray.
I heard the Hurt Locker was awesome.
Nice to see an article in posted on RP.
I got 5 more done and waiting to be published-Can’t wait to cover Oscar Season-:)
I’m still waiting to see Star Trek…. I keep meaning to, but end up seeing other things like Couples Retreat (which had it’s moments, but wasn’t the best movie of the year by any stretch of the imagination…)
Thanks Tom and keep reading, buddy!
Wynne-Couples Retreat was Directed by Ralphie from A Christmas Story-:)