This year the summer films stuck with me and George Clooney amazed yet again.
The Best of 2009
Up - Carl Fredricksen, voiced by Ed Asner, took everyone on a memorable ride in his house for an animated South American adventure.
Julie & Julia - The food becomes a character in this great culinary comedy/drama with excellent acting from Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, and filmmaking, especially art direction and set design.
Star Trek - The film series reboot puts J.J. Abrams in the forefront while launching Zoe Saldana, Chris Pine, and Zachary Quinto into stardom.
Up in the Air - Clooney does it again with great actresses, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, in director Jason Reitman’s latest great film.
District 9 - Amazing filmmaking on a low budget as director Sharlto Copely becomes an acting star in director Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi, alien refugee masterpiece.
Springtime was the worst with these forgettable flics and two late summer duds:
The Worst of 2009
Bruno - Filmmakers turned up the vulgarity instead of the comedy in Sacha Baron Cohen’s fashion model misfire.
Miss March - Deplorably raunchy comedy mixed with a road trip to the Playboy mansion based on a high school sweetheart’s objectifying transformation.
Fired Up - Mixed genres (gender switching, high school teen angst, etc.) couldn’t save this cheerleading comedy.
Jennifer’s Body - More high school hijinks mixed with vampires, namely Megan Fox, as screenwriter Diablo Cody misfires.
Fighting - Didn’t live up to the title with surprisingly low action and tepid drama.
Happy new year and have a great 2010!
Article comments
1 - Triniman
I'd include The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds and Anvil! The Story of Avil in my top five. Julie and Julia and especially Up In The Air, didn't resonate well with me.
2 - davesnothereman
I liked fired up. it made me laugh.
3 - davesnothereman
and it wasn't a "gender switching" movie like just one of the guys or that wayans bros. flick where they dress up like chicks. they just go to cheerleading camp to mack on chicks.