Review of 2009
Every day until new year I will be adding one thing to my review of the year, simple really.
Drama of the Year!
Well here it is, the biggy, the top dog, <insert any rappers nickname>. What film could it be? Avatar certainly clung tightly to my visual synapses, whereas Let the Right One In reinvented the vampire genre, installing naivety and soul into the vampire in question.
On top of this, Sam Rockwell’s performance in Moon really captured the essence of solitude, as did Seymor Hoffman’s in Synecdoche New York. In short it was a great year for film. But none of these make my number one, this accolade instead goes to a film with a darkend youthful exubarance, underpinned by fear, guilt and confusion. This film is of course Where the Wild Things Are.
Based on a children’s book written by Maurice Sendak, WTWTA spans a mere 48 pages, Yet Spike Jonze found a magical film in these 338 words and thankfully brought it to cinematic light. It is worth mentioning that this is not just a kids film, there is a certain warmth from the 
Wild things that kids may respond too, but Jonze concentrates on the darker and a more cerebral journey that Max undergoes.
As a young adult the film really moved me , perhaps because childhood is not that distant yet. I still possess most of the traits that Max expeinces and what the Wild things represents. These being fear, dissapointment, depression – a whole plethora of emotions that I am yet to suss-out.
Consequently, WTWTA took me on an emotional journey, It made me realize things, it brought back nostalgia, and most importantly it made me think. And isn’t thats what cinema is all about?
Comedy/ Musical of the Year!
It was a tough decision, but in the end I whittled it down to three main candidates – (500) Days of Summer, The Hangover and In the Loop.
The order here is deliberately in line with my view count; I have watched these films 6 times, 4 times and once respectively. Which would suggest that 500 Days of Summer is the front runner. However, I thought 500 Days seemed too idealistic in places, I wanted to see the lead actor hit rock bottom. But perhaps this wouldn’t have made the film as warm as it is. As for The Hangover, although it was hilarious, is was maybe a tad chauvinistic and middle class. I would have liked to have seen something more closer to home, but then again I’ve never been to a bachelor party, nor do I live in America. With this in mind, and as a rejection of American Idealism, I have chosen In The Loop.
In the Loop is a spin-off of Armando Iannucci’s BBC TV series In The Thick of It. It follows the aftermath with succeeds an ill-advised statement from British minister of International development (Simon Foster). As a result Foster is used as a pawn to help justify Americas imminent war on the Middle East . Peter Capaldi as Malcom Tucker or Alister Campbell. Ha! – Is worth the DVD cost alone.
Woman of the Year!
Sorry, it’s Not Zooey…I’m trying to be un-biased, although she is a worth candidate (pic Filmschoolrejects)
It was very difficult this year to pick out a female. Winslet was definitely on top last year with a star return in Revolutionary Road and The Reader, whereas Meryl Streep was excellent in Doubt. Even Anne Hathaway put in on a great performance as Kym in Rachel Getting Married. Oh and of course Penelope Cruz was great, as she usually is, in Vicky, Cristina Barcelona. It was a great year for the ladies in 2008.
2009 however hasn’t been as prestigious. Ok, I admit it, i’m yet to watch Nine, Julie and Julia and It’s Complicated. Which all cast strong leads, but no one has stood out to an extend that these film are deemed as essential viewing. Therfore i’m going to make my woman of the year the cast of Nine (I know it’s cheating) But the ensemble is just fantastic and i’m a Big Fan of Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, and Kate Hudson. I’m looking forward to watching it, if that helps.
Man of the Year!
Maybe I’m biased, maybe I’m not. I definitely am biased, because I have not picked Zach Galifianakis as man of the year t on the basis of his acting ability (although he’s pretty good) oh no! I have picked him because he has an epic beard. A big epic ginger beard. Amen brother.
Aside from beard growing in 2009, Zach has also stared in comedy hit of the year The Hangover playing Allan, a not-all-there brother in law. He also played Ray, best friend of Ames (played by Schwartzman) in HBO’s underrated show Bored to Death, which interestingly is referenced in The Hangover, ‘ Ted Danson’s in it, and that jewish actor’ – see if you notice it.
But Zach is at his best when It’s just him and an audience – see him live at the Purple Onion in the video below.
Soundtrack of the Year!
Fusing pop/indie-music and film has been a calling card for independent films of the last 10 years. Garden State – Shins will ‘change your life’ and Almost Famous - ‘Hold me closer tiny dancer’ come to mind as key examples of copuling digetic sound and action. The same plot device is used in 500 Days of Summer, and I think Marc Webb got it right. (Despite being a tad cheesy about it)
Summer – ‘I love the Smiths’
Tom – Sorry..?
Summer – ‘I said I love the Smiths…you have good taste in music’
Tom – ‘ You love the smiths..?
Summer – ‘To die by your side is such a heavinly way to die…I love ‘em’
Elevator Opens
Tom – ‘Holy Shit’
- His background as a music video director, perhaps influential in integrating this scene.
Track Listing
1. A Story Of Boy Meets Girl [500] Days Of Summer – Music From The Motion Picture
2. Us-Regina Spektor 4:48
3. There Is A Light-That Never Goes Out The Smiths
4. Bad Kids-The Black Lips
5. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (2007 Remastered Version) She & Hiim
6. There Goes The Fear-Doves
7. You Make My Dreams-Hall & Oates
8. Sweet Disposition-The Temper Trap
9. Quelqu’un M’a Dit-Carla Bruni
10. Mushaboom Feist
11. Hero-Regina Spektor
12. Bookends-Simon And Garfunkel
13. Vagabond-Wolfmother
14. She’s Got You High-Mumm-ra
15. Here Comes Your Man-Meaghan Smith
16. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (Album Version)-She & Him
Verdict – A well rounded, quasi-indie, twee-mainstream collection, that perhaps tries to hard. (But when has that ever hurt anyone?)
Villan of the Year – The Dog.
What! you say, and innocent animal as villain of the year? How could you! – Don’t worry there is a good reason for this. In fact there are 5 good reasons for this.
1) Hotel for Dogs – Obviously a soul leaching kids film, saturating the already corrupted multiplexes. But more humorously The game was given 12% by the Official Nintendo Magazine UK, stating that ‘anyone who buys this should be put down’
2) Marley and Me – Although it is technically a 2008 film (breaking Christmas Day box office records in the US -$14.75m). It’s vile stench made its way into the UK to the delight of Peter Bradshaw; who said, “the relentless gooey yuckiness and fatuous stereotyping in this weepy feel bad comedy gave me the film critic’s equivalent of a boiling hot nose,”. It also won the Kids Choice Award for Bromantic Comedy – yes, this award does exist.
3) X-Men Origins – Wolverine (Same family, still counts) – Dull, explosion, sfx, dull, yawn….nothing exciting is happening here.
4) Twilight: New Moon (ditto)- Stewart’s character moans, Twaterson’s character moans, some dude turns into a werewolf, Stewart’s character moans again…When will this disease end.
5) Old Dogs – Has been actors – Travolta, Robin Williams, WORST director ever (Van Wilder, Wild Hogs) who is somehow allowed to continue (Wild Hogs II – yes its happening!). I’ve not seen it. But I can still predict this will be as shit as you can possibly imagine. If you don’t believe me, believe them – The San Jose Mercury News and The Boston Globe both described the film as a “turkey”.[5][6] Reviews in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and AV Club said the movie was ‘not recommended for adults or children’.
Also, It has 5% on Rotten Tomato’s, the films tag-line is – Sit, stay, play dad for god sake. AND it’s made back its budget ($31m) with $10m to spare. AND it’s not been released in the UK yet (which means more idiots will go to see it) AGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH.
Surprise of the Year!
Everyone loves an Underdog…well forget that because me Biggest Surprise of the year came from the over of over-dogs (if that exists) – Quentin Tarantino.
For many film fans QT is the don, the king, whatever – everyone loves the guy. But, “First think fucking last”, his previous 4 films (Jackie Brown, Kill Bill 1+2 and Death Proof) where, how can I put it…, not Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs. Good sure, but not great. As such I started to believe that the egotistical dick was becoming to0 big for his boots, boots that may soon be hanging up (Football Pseudonym there). But nope I was wrong because Inglourious Basterds was utterly fantastic.
