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2009: Top 10 films of the year – Richard Bodsworth

Rich has done a fair few reviews for Live for Films and now here is his top 10 films of the past year.

10. Watchmen

2009 was the year that the ultimate graphic novel finally made it’s way to the big screen. After several attempts with A List names attached, Zach Snyder pulls off what many believed was impossible and to put it bluntly, it’s fucking brilliant! Almost a page for page adaptation from the original novel Snyder, obviously a fan boy, was the perfect choice to direct. All the actors chosen for their skills and likeness to the characters they portray, the film like the novel is tremendous. The coolest film of the year.

9. Where The Wild Things Are:

Literary to cinema adaptations are nothing new these days, but one book you would not expect to be the basis for a $100m Hollywood makeover would be Maurice Sendak’s, Where The Wild Things Are. Containing just ten sentences, the 1963 the beloved children’s classic doesn’t’t have much to go on, but Spike Jonze manages to scrap the clichéd “un-filmable” tag and deliver 90 minutes of sheer beauty. The plot is as thin as the / in Frost/Nixon, but isn’t that what childhood is like? I was captivated by the vivid landscapes and the perfect Jim Henson Studios created “Things”. As the “wild rumpus” commences, you get the feeling you are a kid again and cant help but smile as this charming film washes over you.

8. (500) Days of Summer:

A relationship comedy is probably a better way to describe (500) Days of Summer than as a romantic comedy. To be honest this was not the kind of film I expected to be on my list come the end of the year, but it’s fresh and pretty damn cool. Shot in a non linear fashion it shows 500 days of the relationship between Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s, Tom, and Summer. A realistic look at relationships, some genuine laughs and you have to be mad if you don’t love Zooey Deschanel.

7. Inglorious Basterds:

The genius that is Quentin Tarantino returns after the underwhelming Death Proof with what could be his greatest film since Pulp Fiction. As historically inaccurate and ridiculous as the plot it is, this was one of the most entertaining films of the year. Featuring some brilliant scenes including customary QT dialogue, you are reminded why he won the Oscar back in 1994. The main talking point is the terrifying turn by Christoph Waltz as “The Jew Hunter” Hans Landa who steals the film and has to be a front runner for Best Supporting Actor. Calm, evil and ever so slightly camp, it is an astonishing performance. The opening scene probably the best of 2009, the climatic scenes definitely the most audacious.

6. Avatar:

As cinema experiences go, Avatar has to be one of the most amazing I have ever witnessed. James Cameron’s visual effects wank was awesome, some scenes were truly breathtaking, and the greatest thing I have seen yet in 3D. However, as many have previously said, there isn’t much plot to justify such a long running time. On a personal level I always thought a film was a way to tell a story through images, here we have a lot of images (very nice ones at that) but not much story, I will admit being drawn into some of the emotional exchanges though. But still, I really enjoyed what is a flawed yet stunning film and something you should definitely see on a 3D screen.

5. The Wrestler:

Darren Aronofsky goes back to basics after the critical mauling he took over The Fountain with a moving character piece about an over-the-hill wrestler looking for one last shot at the big time. Guaranteed to draw comparisons to Rocky, it however is not. With the small production values it feels ever so personal, the Clint Mansell and Slash score stripped as bare as the main character, The Wrestler is truly mesmerising. But it is Mickey Rourke who steals the show with such a heartbreaking performance, in which you can tell he has drawn from his own past experiences and allows us to delve deep into Randy “The Ram” Robinson’s soul. Sadly robbed at last years Oscar’s.

4. The Hurt Locker:

Kathryn Bigelow will forever be known for bringing us the action classic Point Break with Keanu Reeves and the late Patrick Swayze. With that she showed her skills at filming action sequences, and after a long lay off from making movies she returned with this brilliant story of a bomb disposal unit in Iraq. Over the past few years the Iraq war has been the favoured conflict, but this is head and shoulders above the rest due to it’s stunning realism, knife edge tension and an Oscar worthy performance from Jeremy Renner. Mark Boal craftily weaves the script between deep, engaging characters and action set pieces which Bigelow shoots perfectly.

3. Moon:

If you happen to have read any of my other posts you will be aware of my love for Duncan Jones’ Moon and still, after several DVD viewings, I’m certain it deserves to be called one of the best films of 2009. A taught Sci-Fi thriller set on a lonely space station based on the moon, focuses on the story more than the visual effects (which are still great for such a small budget) something that seems to be ignored in the genre these days. You cant help but be drawn in and amazed at the solo performance of Sam Rockwell in a role that will hopefully make other people business sit up and recognise him as leading man material.

2. District 9:

The science fiction film narrowly bumping Moon into third place is another directorial debut, this time from Peter Jackson apprentice Neil Blomkamp. Not unlike Moon, the film does feature some impressive visual effects but they are put on the back burner (for the first part of the film at least) as Blomkamp weaves the completely believable scenario with the underlying themes of xenophobia and the use of a privatised military. The final act does fall into action packed blockbuster territory but not without the thought provoking build up, all the more poignant by the country in which it is set.

1. Let The Right One In:

2009 saw a resurgence in popularity of the Vampire genre with the likes of True Blood and the love of teenage girls worldwide, Twilight, but the best of the lot has to be the Swedish masterpiece Let The Right One in. Focusing on the relationship between two kids, one a vampire, it is definitely my favourite film of the year. Beautifully shot against a snow covered landscape, the performances are outstanding, the story as chilling and haunting as anything over the past few years. It refuses to be a ‘proper’ horror film and the gore is kept to a minimum but this just further heightens the taught atmosphere and sucks you into the blossoming relationship. Such a fantastic film.

I always thought this would be an easy task, but it wasn’t. Some I sadly had to leave out included

Star Trek which was a great blockbuster by J.J Abrahms

Funny People and Adventureland, two of my favourite comedies of the year.

In The Loop, simply for Malcolm Tucker’s foul mouthed rants.

Drag Me To Hell, one of the funniest ‘horrors’ I’ve seen in a long time, Sam Raimi you legend.

Zombieland, another hilarious horror which I cant wait to watch again.

Frost/Nixon and The Damned United, that Michael Sheen is a great bloody chameleon! Two highly enjoyable films, especially Frost/Nixon.

Is there any others I have missed out? Please feel free to argue against my list of you disagree. Roll on 2010!

Downstream – Trailer for new sci-fi film

Wes Keller is a young man living in a world where oil has collapsed, the food supply has been wiped out, and cancer rates for women have skyrocketed, depleting the female population. In a barbaric environment where bio fuel, batteries, bullets and people are currency and marauders roam free, Wes tries to escape to a mythical world run on cold fusion “Plutopia”, a place that may only exist in the mind. THE BILL IS DUE. ‘Downstream’ is a view of the not so distant future. We follow a young man (everyone’s son) as he pays the price for society’s decadence.

more about "Downstream", posted with vodpod

Source: Quiet Earth

Youth in Revolt – Micheal Cera not happy about being interviewed while Bob Weinstein makes the drinks

more about "Youth in Revolt – Micheal Cera not ha…", posted with vodpod

Michael Cera seems to enjoy doing these staged interviews and set ups (another example below) and the documentary, Paper Heart, he starred in was pretty much one great big staged piece. Still Youth in Revolt looks like it could be good and actually shows a different side to Cera’s acting ability with his characters alter ego, Francois Dillinger.

YOUTH IN REVOLT is an outrageous and heartwarming tale of Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) and his quest to win the heart of Sheeni (newcomer Portia Doubleday) and hopefully lose his virginity along the way. Based on C.D. Payne’s cult-hit novel of the same name, YOUTH IN REVOLT is directed by Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl”) and features an all-star ensemble cast including: Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Justin Long, Jean Smart, Ari Graynor, Fred Willard, Zach Galifianakis, Mary Kay Place and more.

Highlights of 2009 by Ben Mortimer

Here is a great list of some of the cinematic highlights of 2009. It is by the excellent Ben Mortimer who writes for HeyUGuys and ComingSoon.Net amongst other things.

• Slumdog Millionaire
• Frost/Nixon
• The Wrestler
• Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist – I know it’s got little critical or artistic merit, but it makes me feel very happy.
• Watchmen – hopelessly flawed, incredibly faithful adaptation, but the presentation I watched (in a nightclub set out like a series of scenes from the comic) made it worthwhile.
• Bronson – Bat-shit-fuck-balls crazy. Loved every minute, particularly the violence set to opera.
• Let The Right One In – Beyond exceptional. Words cannot describe how good this film is.
• Observe and Report – Much maligned, hopelessly flawed, but one of the funniest films of the year.
• Coraline – A wonderful piece of cinema that demonstrated the beauty of stop-motion animation, and the storytelling possibilities of 3D.
• Star Trek – Best pre-credit sequence of any film made. EVER. If the rest of the film had lived up to the first ten minutes it would have been the best film this year. As it was it won the summer hands down. Not bad for a film that was so badly affected by the writer’s strike.
• Drag Me To Hell
• Looking For Eric – Witty, touching and clever. Ken Loach’s most watchable film, and the most realistic portrayal of crime on the streets of Britain yet committed to film.
• Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince – Every Harry Potter film so far has improved upon the last. In addition to a great fun action flick, the romantic scenes played like a UK, public school version of American Pie. That’s a good thing.
• Moon – Terrific film. Surpasses almost everything made this year. Sam Rockwell and Clint Mansel should win an OSCAR. Duncan Jones, Stuart Fenegan and Gavin Rothery should run the British film industry
• Funny People – Best comedy of the year. Far too industry-centric to make the megabucks reaped by The Hangover, but the heartfelt and touching story, and the exceptional performances set it head and shoulders above other movies in the genre.
• The Hurt Locker – In twenty years time this will be considered the definitive Iraq war movie. Biggelow’s film combines overwhelming tension and heart-pounding action expertly. If possible watch the entire series of Generation Kill, then finish the day with The Hurt Locker. It’ll be a hard watch, but you’ll have a better understanding of how drama works afterwards.
• UP! – The first film to make me cry since I was twelve. Like Star Trek, fails to live up to the promise of the first act, but nothing has ever affected me like this movie. Better than anything Pixar have put out, and by a long margin better than 95% of the films released this year.
• Fantastic Mr. Fox – Any other year a serious contender for Best Animated Feature OSCAR. Terrific adaptation that transcends the idiosyncrasies of its director.
• An Education – A few years ago Carey Mulligan revived my interest in Doctor Who. In an Education she carries a film with elegance and grace. Despite my love for Moon, and I really do love it, this film is my favourite Brit-flick of the year. In another universe this has been turned into a Richard Curtis-style comedy. Be grateful you don’t live there.
• Starsuckers -If you lie in the 21st Century you need to watch this film.
• Taking Woodstock – Manages to evoke the spirit of the sixties without overt musical refernces. A perfect companion piece to Almost Famous, and all the better for Liev Schrieber’s transvestite security guard.
• Bunny And The Bull – Proof that innovation and a commercial sensibility can live side-by-side in the British film industry.
• The Princess and The Frog – NOT RELEASED IN THE UK UNTIL FEBRUARY 2010 – I haven’t enough superlatives to describe this film. I would hate to be voting for the best animated picture this year, particularly when the three main contenders are essentially the best three films of the year.

A great list there. Quite a few films there I’ve still got to see. Cheers Ben.

Cop Out – Trailer for Kevin Smith’s new one

This is the trailer for the film that used to be called A Couple of Dicks. The studio got cold feet about that so now it is called Cop Out. Personally, I think that is a bit of a cop out…ah I see what they did there!

Looks like it could be fun and good to see Smith getting to direct more big names after Zack & Miri Makes a Porno (that was a great film). Smith didn’t write this one though, that honour goes to Rob Cullen.

Two longtime NYPD partners on the trail of a stolen, rare, mint-condition baseball card find themselves up against a merciless, memorabilia-obsessed gangster. Jimmy (Bruce Willis) is the veteran detective whose missing collectible is his only hope to pay for his daughter’s upcoming wedding, and Paul (Tracy Morgan) is his “partner-against-crime” whose preoccupation with his wife’s alleged infidelity makes it hard for him to keep his eye on the ball.

The film also stars Seann William Scott, Adam Brody and Michelle Trachtenberg.

more about "Cop Out – Trailer for Kevin Smith’s n…", posted with vodpod

The film is out on 6th February 2010.

By the way if anyone knows Street Pete can you ask him why Bruce Willis looks so much like him.

Arise Sir Jean Luc Picard – Make it so.

Stage and film actor Patrick Stewart (Star Trek, Moby Dick, X-Men) has received a knighthood in the New Year Honours list for his services to drama.

Sir Patrick, born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire and known for a string of theatre and screen roles, said he was “very proud” to be made a knight, adding the theatre has always been his “great joy”.

“In particular the past six years have given me acting opportunities that at one time I could not have imagined possible.

“This is an honour that embraces those actors, directors and creative teams who have in these recent years helped fill my life with inspiration, companionship and sheer fun,” said Sir Patrick.

What are your favourite Patrick Stewart moments?


Cheers to Andy M for sending me the link.

POLL: What is your favourite John Carpenter film?

Biff answers all the Back to the Future questions

I posted this ages ago, but it is doing the rounds again and it always makes me chuckle.

It is Tom Wilson who played Biff Tannen in the Back to the Future films. He now does stand up and made this cracking song going through all the questions he gets asked.

Thanks to Andy M for showing me this all those years ago.

Solomon Kane – Lots of fighting

Here is some great footage of James Purefoy kicking ass as Solomon Kane in Michael J. Bassett’s adaption of the Robert E Howard character.

Go on Purefoy kick him again!

Source: Topless Robot