Roger Ebert Reveals His Top Ten of 2009
I'm liking his list...
It seems like Roger Ebert has come under fire recently for being too soft on films, but if you look back through his lifetime of reviewing movies he hasn't changed all that much. Then again, who doesn't change their opinions as they get older. While some 14-year-olds out there may believe certain blockbusters are their favorite films right now, ten years down the line they may look at those films and wonder "What was I thinking?" People change over time, but the one thing you can be sure of when it comes to Ebert is that no matter what his opinion of a film is, after you get done reading his review you will know exactly why he has come to his conclusion.
So, today when he revealed his top ten films of 2009 along with his top ten independent films of 2009 it gives good reason to take notice. His inclusion of Bad Lieutenant is no surprise considering his love for Werner Herzog. His inclusion of Knowing is another pick that doesn't catch me off guard considering his theolgical views. Our very own David Frank even discussed Roger's take on that film earlier this year (read here). To say we are admirers of the man around these parts is an understatement.
With that said, here's a note from Ebert's post followed by his list. For the full rundown click here:
The lists are divided into Mainstream Films and Independent Films. This neatly sidesteps two frequent complaints: (1) "You name all those little films most people have never heard of," and (2) "You pick all blockbusters and ignore the indie pictures." Which is is my official Top Ten? They both are equal, and every film here is entitled to name itself "One of the Year's 10 Best!"
I put an asterisk (*) next to the films I am currently considering for my top ten… We'll see…
Special Jury Prize
- Avatar *
The Top 10 Mainstream Films
- Bad Lieutenant
- Crazy Heart
- An Education *
- The Hurt Locker *
- Inglourious Basterds *
- Knowing
- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire *
- A Serious Man
- Up in the Air
- The White Ribbon *
The Top Ten Independent Films
- Departures
- Disgrace
- Everlasting Moments
- Goodbye Solo
- Julia
- Silent Light
- Sin Nombre
- Skin
- Trucker
- You, the Living
Links from Other Sites You May Like
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Interesting list…I know that he loved Knowing, but it still looks so out of place in that list amongst most of the other films which are mostly oscar contenders.
I'm also a little surprised that he omitted Avatar.
You forgot to post his Special Jury Prize recipient: Avatar.
Seriously? Knowing is one of the best films of the year? I'd say it's one of the worst of ALL TIME! Roger Ebert has never been my favorite critic and he has proven this again. Where is Up? Where is District 9? Where is Fantastic Mr. Fox?
Knowing, for me, was one of my biggest surprises of 2009. Based on the trailer I didn't even see it in the theater. But I sure am glad I caught it on DVD. I don't know if it's one of the best movies of the year — but it certainly was one of the most enjoyable and unconventional.
maybe i should know this, but what does special jury prize mean? does that mean he doesn't consider it one of the year's 10 best but its an honorable mention?
I laughed at his inclusion of Knowing.
I'm not sure if Knowing was one of the top ten films… but I know it makes my "Top Ten Talked About" list of the year. It was kind of loony for a big budget studio film.
Knowing wasn't that bad. Watchmen was worse and he gave that 4 stars, calling it "this year's Dark Knight". I'm glad he excluded that in his year's best list.
Glad to see mentions for Bad Lieutenant, though. I had great fun watching that.
I haven't seen many of these films, I admit. I didn't get out this year as much as I would have liked to films, but I admire Ebert's taste. I will try to catch as many of them as I can during the next couple of months to see if I agree with him on this year's films!
I am DONE with this critic? Where's Up? Where's (500) Days of Summer? Where's Coraline? Where's Drag Me to Hell? Where's Star Trek? And where, ON EARTH, is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!? That is the only well-received movie that is frequently omitted on lists! There were so many good movies out this year; why Knowing? He might as well have put Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (the worst film of the YEAR) on the list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha…a terrible world where when a humble critic posts his favorite films, there is an uproar of "WHAT ABOUT MY FAVORITE __________________?" Calm down all…he's not telling you that it is YOUR favorite pick of the year. He enjoyed a movie that didn't fall into YOUR personal pick (or the Oscars for that matter) and had the bravery to say so. Every movie buff has a movie that they are ashamed to admit that they love. I hate "I'm Not There" but there seem to be people that enjoy it. I am ashamed to admit that I love "Armageddon". I consider myself as someone with good taste in movies, and yet one comes along every now and then that everyone hates, but you love. Unexplainable. How about every name a movie that they love that they know everyone else hates? Come on now, don't be shy.
Little surprised to see Me and Orson Welles excluded from the list, especially after Ebert wrote a four star review of it, but it's still a great top ten/twenty. I really didn't enjoy Knowing at all (like most people), but that is what often times makes Ebert so interesting to read.
@Jimmy: I'm not totally mad because he included those films. I'm mad because he barely has any sense!
@m1: transformers was better than knowing. megan fox. nuff said. but yeah Up especially deserves to be on this list and so does star trek. i dont know how but it gets better everytime i watch it
Knowing?? Jesus, Ebert sure does have a hard on for Proyas.
It sounds like most of you simply won't be able to sleep tonight after seeing Ebert's list. How will you go on with your days?
Why are people po'd at some of the movies he included?
They are HIS favorites! You do not have to agree with him.
If we all liked the same type of movies there probably wouldn't be much to see.
I don't agree with some of his picks but then he probably woudn't agree with some of mine.
To each their own.
Just my opinion, mind you.You don't have to agree.
@Garrett, @Jimmy and @THE DUDE: It's funny you guys have to say this a second time since this is exactly what I was trying to get across in my post. Perhaps I have to be a bit more blunt about it next time.
One of the two indies I've seen on Ebert's list is Sin nombre, and I'd put it in the top 10 films of the year, period. The film gave an unflinching portrayal of Central American gang life, and I'm not sure how anyone could watch this film and not be emotionally affected. It's also a film that no mainstream studio would have been willing to do, and as bleak as the film was I'm glad I saw it.
I also saw Silent Light. I'll definitely say it was different — it's not every day you can see a German-language film set in Mexico. But I found it pretentious and unsatisfying.
great to see love for Disgrace from ebert. Malkovich and Haines give mesmerizing performances.
@Gavi: Actually, no it wasn't. Knowing had an interesting, if overdone, plot and Transformers barely had an interesting storyline to keep me interested.
I love going to movies and I love talking about the movies. So when the year comes to a close, I’m a sucker for the Top 10 lists of best movies from various critics.
This weekend, I got on the computer and looked at some of these lists. It’s interesting to see what my favorite critics like. It’s surprising, however, how much little duplication there is from critic to critic. It really just comes down to individual taste. There is no definitive right or wrong answer.
And yet, there is something definitive about a list. The Top 10. It sounds pretty official to me. And yet, if you compiled a master list from say, 10 critics, you would probably arrive at a list of 25–30 movies. So, the Top 10 list as gospel is a myth.
We like lists because they make our lives easier. That’s why the Christmas list and the grocery list will never go out of vogue. But when it comes to something more subjective, like movies , it’s best to take lists with a grain of salt.
@brian:
That's a good point. Here is a link to A.O Scott's and Michael Phillips top movies of the decade, and they have completely different movies on there:
http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/atm/specials/bestofthedecade/
I just find it funny to see Knowing on that list lol But it shows that not every critic is out there looking for the artsy-fartsy movie but does enjoy movies that entertains them, regardless of what others think of it.
@Alex: I'm pretty sure it's HIS list, Ally.