Mark's Best and Worst films of 2009
The arrival of my first child and the demands of a busy day job have meant that, in filmgoing terms, 2009 has been one of my slowest since we began writing about film here at hoopla.nu in 2004. Nonetheless, I've seen some wonderful films amid the usual assortment of shockers and disappointments.
The final list of films released in Australia in 2009 that I reviewed can be found here. The list of highly regarded films that I am yet to see makes any attempt to compile a 'best-of' list next to meaningless, and as such I have limited myself to my favourite (and least favourite) three films of the year.
The three films that were my favourite of the year are listed alphabetically, while the three I liked least are listed in descending order down to the film I most despised for 2009. Long live Stephenie Meyer!
Enjoy.
A rather incredible achievement for a first feature and a terrific example of the maxim that money isn't everything, District 9 overcame its humble origins and became the clearcut best science fiction film of the year (James Cameron can only wish his overblown and overfunded yawnfest were half as good). Just wonderful.
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While most previous Iraq war films have been failures, The Hurt Locker succeeds by focussing so intently on one three-man team that their characters are stripped bare. An extraordinary study of the effects of being in combat on the men who thrive on being there, and Jeremy Renner may well become a star on the back of his lead performance.
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Many doubted that Quentin Tarantino could pull it off, but Inglourious Basterds is a fantastic reimagining of World War II history while being a masterclass in how to manage tension as a director. A stunning fifth chapter finale bookends the film with the first chapter that will become a staple of any film school worth attending.
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Honourable mentions must also go to November Child (Novemberkind) which was my favourite of the foreign language films I viewed in film festivals this year, and Tea with Madame Clos, which, although flawed, was the most surprising and moving film I was lucky enough to see at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Couples Retreat features a stellar cast that could have made almost anything worth watching, and yet somehow Jon Favreau and his buddies ended up with an abomination from beginning until desperately-yearned-for end.
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Whereas once it was Will Ferrell who had a locked down spot in the bottom few of the year, now it seems Katherine Heigl has no depth to which she won't lower herself in the pursuit of romcom success. Offensive and stupid, The Ugly Truth simply must be avoided.
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One suspects that when the history of film in the noughties is written, the abysmal series of films based on Meyer's bestselling novels will be considered close to the most repugnant mainstream offerings released to an unsuspecting teen audience. This abhorrent film still makes my stomach turn several weeks after I was stupid enough to watch it in some kind of masochistic attempt at self-harm. If anyone is left who hasn't suffered permanent damage to their psyche by seeing New Moon, please, resist the temptation.
Rating:
Hoopla Factor: No Stars
Read Stuart's take on 2009 in his top ten films of 2009 list.
What were your favourite films of 2009? Least favourite? Did James Cameron's Avatar knock your socks off? Did Tarantino blow your mind? Comments are welcome below!
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