Top 25 Movies of 2009: Movies #11 – 20
The ten that gave me reason to go to 25
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And we arrive at day two of my listed look back at 2009 with the movies ranked #11-20. If you missed yesterday's installment featuring my Honorable Mention choices and spots 21-25 you can click here and start there and continue to this list afterward. Once again, before we get started, here is the schedule for the next few days:
Monday, Dec. 28: Honorable Mentions and #21 – 25
Monday, Dec. 28: Nominations for RopeofSilicon Users Top Ten « UPDATED
Tuesday, Dec. 29: Movies #11 – 20
Wednesday, Dec. 30: Movies #1 – 10
Thursday, Dec. 31: Round 2: You Vote for the Best Films of 2009
Monday, Jan. 4: The 2nd Annual RopeofSilicon Awards
Today's ten films include a couple I had a hard time keeping out of spots nine and ten on my ultimate top ten list of 2009, and are major reasons this list grew from the usual ten selections to twenty-five. After all, who said we should stop celebrating after only ten films? And who really wants a top ten with twenty-three honorable mentions, which is what I would have had. Nah, it's better this way…
Now, I'll remind you again before continuing, this is a list of films I consider to be my
And now that the formalities are out of the way I offer up my choices from #11-20 from 2009.
 | A Single Man |
I had a hard time placing this film, primarily because I only saw it once and it is one of those films that goes down so easy I almost felt like I missed some of its nuance. It contains one of the absolute best performances of 2009 courtesy of Colin Firth, and Julianne Moore is a gem.
After I wrote my review, one commenter asked why I never mentioned the performance of Nicholas Hoult, a name many will remember from 2002's About a Boy when he played the young man at the side of Hugh Grant. You will next get to know him in 2010's Clash of the Titans remake, but before that you should check him out here. Granted, his character's part in the film is one of the problem spots for me, but Hoult gives a good performance nonetheless and I wouldn't be surprised if that "problem spot" dissipates once I give this film a second watch.
 | Paranormal Activity |
As a singular experience, Paranormal Activity is the most frightening movie I have ever seen. As a result I gave the film an A+ when I reviewed it and wrote, "This is a film you must see in theaters." I stand by that sentiment, but it appears the chance for you to do that is gone as the film hits DVD and Blu-ray today.
However, I know this film didn't exactly work for everyone as some commented on my review saying things such as: "Absolute shittiest movie ever," "This movie was a total waste of time!" and "Boring, not scary, not interesting, bad acting, horrible picture, cheap piece of shit!" One commenter even recommended "if you thought this was good shoot yourself in the face and rid yourself from the gene pool please!"
Different strokes I guess, but I think I will stick around and continue contaminating that gene pool. If you're wondering how an "A+" movie ends up at my #19 slot it's because I'm not too sure how this film will hold up to repeat viewings. But, that one midnight at the Neptune theater in Seattle was one of the best cinematic experiences I had all of 2009. For that reason alone it deserves a spot as one of the year's best, and it has the distinction of being the only horror film to make my top 25.
 | Me and Orson Welles |
While Colin Firth in A Single Man was one of the best leading performances of the year, Christian McKay was one of the absolute best supporting performances of the year. Richard Linklater's Me and Orson Welles is a decent enough film, but McKay elevates it to a point of sheer enjoyment.
There isn't a lot more to say than what I already said in my review as it's a relatively simple film that is just downright entertaining and one I am positive I will watch again.
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I must say Brad, with Hurt Locker and Up in the Air on the outside looking in, im super excited to see your top 10, with big hopes for Basterds and Avatar :D
I also thought Paranormal Activity was one of the best cinematic experiences of this year and the most terrifying movie I've ever seen, however I have know idea how it will hold up on a second view.
The thing about this movie is not the story, the scares, the acting (lol) or the directing or anything. It's just that it made me feel so ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED that I just wanted the movie to end so my suffering could too, and I say that as the best compliment possible!
Can it make me feel that way again? I don't think so.
So that's it. May not be a good or inventive movie (like Blair Witch was, 10 years ago, that one still holds up really well), but as a experience, it's one of a kind!!
Great list Brad…looking forward to the rest.
Sensational list Brad…was very surprised to see Paranormal Activity that low down as expected it to be in your top 10, or at least in the top 15! Then even more surprised that Precious is so low too…
I agree with you on both, I thought that Precious was a glorified Opera episode with some superb acting whilst Paranormal was a great cinema experience, but nothing more than that.
Nice list, but now I have no idea what's in your top 10! I'm sure Avatar will be there, but after you put Up in the Air, Precious, and The Hurt Locker below it, I really have no clue what you're gonna put in the top 10.
Predicting Brad's Top 10:
Will be there:
In the loop
Avatar
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Inglorious Basterd
An Education
Might be there:
(500) Days of Summer
Up
Star Trek
I'm disappointed you felt that way about Up In The Air. I thought it was Death of a Salesman for a new generation. I completely agree about Bigelow and the Academy–it doesn't quite deserve the award, though a nomination is certainly due, but it will probably end up winning.
And I completely agree with you on Paranormal Activity. I think the division of opinion lies in how people interpreted the pacing. I've heard some people say it was too slow, whereas I thought it was structured so perfectly I was yelling "Oh s***!" when the (spoilers) Demon dragged her down the hall and the last scene (spoiler end). I've never been so involved in a horror film the entirety of my film experience.
I am a little bit confused why Precious and The Hurt Locker were outside of the top ten, and Up in the Air jumped ahead of them. Did the first two disappoint on your second viewing, while Up in the Air improved? That's what it seems like, I just want to make sure.
I didn't like PA much at all, but other than that, good list so far, Brad!
I enjoy reading your opinion on all of these films, but I must say (just getting back from my second viewing of Up in The Air) that I somewhat disagree about the scene from Up In the Air between J.K. Simmons and George Clooney, in terms of what the film is about. That being said, I think we both agree that it's one of the first great scenes of dialogue in the film and that it takes the film to a different level.
Bob's (J.K Simmons) volatile reaction spurs Bingham to talk about change. The idea reinventing of yourself for the not only your family's well-being, but your own happiness and fulfillment. And you start to see that Bingham might actually want to change, that his isolation and distance isn't caused by an overwhelming loathing of people due to his career choice. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farminga's characters really allow him to ease up and open up to others. And they give him a different perspective on relationships, the former spurring and challenging him to try and change. But when he finally does take the effort with both his sister and Farminga's character, we see that things don't always work out and how it ends up creating more distance in his life (though he does make some amends with his family).
So when we see him standing in front of the endless listing for flights at the end of the film, we finally understand the reasons for the isolation and the distance he wants to create in his life. And I think that the essence of the dialogue with Simmons and Bingham is really about taking that plunge and allowing yourself to change and be vulnerable. Things just don't always work out the way we want them to.
@David Lee: Your take on that conversation is fascinating, because I interpreted it completely differently. I didn't see it as a conversation about change, I saw it as a conversation about chasing your dreams and how so many of us abandon our dreams. As a result I lost my connection to Bingham because we never learned what his dreams were outside of seeing he was a good basketball player in high school.
So when he goes about trying to make a change I didn't see it as him looking at it as a choice or him chasing his dreams as much as he saw it as a forced necessity. Considering how smart his character is I would have thought he would have heard the words he was saying up to that point, but he had just gotten so good at his spiel he was hardly aware.
I agree with your opinion on the ending, but I didn't see him standing in front of the endless listing for flights as an understanding of his isolation. I saw it as a symbol of his isolation.
I'm very happy you shared though, especially since your interpretation of the film also hinges on the conversation Bingham has with Bob. Thanks for your comment!
Am I the only one who thinks District 9 should be the winner by far? Tell me who else can compete for a Best Actor Nom? Never mind the guy had Zero Acting experience. Avatar was an exceptional visual/artistic experience, but it stopped there- who's to say a film can't be just simply that- maybe so..
Brad,
I'm looking forward to your top 10. I love reading your reviews, which I consider the best ones out there. You have a really good take on movies and I enjoy reading your commentary. Thanks for doing a great job!
Top five prediction:
1. An Education
2. In the Loop
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Bronson
5. Inglorious Basterds
@PinstripedJon:
I think you are on the money with those. I am going for those 8, plus Bronson and the Damned United.
Top 10 predictions….
Not in a specific order….
500 Days of Summer
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Inglorious Bastards
Avatar
The Blind Side
Star Trek
Up
An Education
In the loop
sherlock homles?
I disagree with PA, but if you liked it that's great. It was difficult for me to get into at the theatre, people were talking , crunching popcorn, walking past to got potty, etc so for me I really couldn't get into the atmosphere.I think that it would've been a lot scarier If I had watched it alone in the dark by myself. However, The House of the Devil creeped the shit out of me, I know you didn't care for it though. I saw that one in theatres as well and there was dead silence the whole time, which made the atmosphere a lot creepier. I also had trouble sleeping after it.
I'm glad you included Sunshine Cleaning, I just bought it on DVD and that is a film that I could watch over and over again. Emily and Amy ( who showed more range) both did a great job.
I also watched PE over, I honestly didn't see squat Marion did (though I agree that she was fantastic in Nine) except be charming, but I did see the film again and I still liked it.