Brad Pitt leads the Basterds - but Waltz steals the show.
Here are the top ten best films of the year (so-far). Not to be confused with the ten major Oscar contenders. Or the ten best critically reviewed films of the year. Or the ten top selling DVDs/Blu-rays of the year. Though many of these are shoe-ins for Oscars, some of the largest box-office grossing films ever, and some of the all-time top rated movies throughout history:
1. Inglorious Basterds - Brad Pitt is hilarious, eccentric and award-worthy as usual - but the unknown and multilingual Christoph Waltz is the real scene-stealer in this gory Tarantino film with typically lengthy, suspenseful and completely captivating dialogue.
2. Hurt Locker - This nearly perfect war epic is "well-acted, intensely shot, and action filled." Like Jarhead or Blackhawk Down? You’ll love this!
3. Up - By far the best film in theaters and the first real shot at a Best Picture nomination (not just Best Animated Picture -- which should be a lock) for Pixar. Up is not just an animated film for children and Pixar fans, it's a thoroughly entertaining adventure for all movie-goers. As of now, almost half way through the year, Up is the best picture of 2009.
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Though Harry Potter races through each memorable moment in the book, it does so while remaining true to the story, superbly entertaining, and completely comprehensible.
5. Paranormal Activity - See-it if you can - One of the top ten scariest movies of all time - This film about a "real" haunted house is finally earning a wider release, and you HAVE to see it when it finally arrives in your town (and it will). Paranormal Activity is an absolutely terrifying faux-documentary (think Blair Witch Project) that will have you finally believing that horror movies can scare the living sh*t out of you again. Be prepared to be scared about the everyday things in your life like you never thought you could. And if you haven't read the story about Steven Spielberg, the haunted DVD copy of the film, and him being inexplicably locked inside his own studio, read it here: The film that jolted Spielberg into ‘yes’
6. Anvil! The Story of Anvil - One of the best films in theaters this year if you were lucky enough to find it playing in a cineplex near you. If you loved This Is Spinal Tap (and who didn't) you will love this film.
7. Taken - Hands down the best non-stop action flick you've seen since Bourne 3. And surprisingly, the trailer only gives away the first 15 minutes of the film.
8. State of Play - This film has an astounding cast performing at the peak of their careers to deliver a story so powerful and intriguing that, despite this hype, you will not expect.
9. The Hangover - Carried by hilarious performances by the three leading roles, The Hangover sets the bar at an all-time high for bachelor party movies. It will define comedy for a generation like Animal House did for the Boomers.
10. District 9 - "Intelligent film" is a term used to widely, this sci-fi action thriller is as in-your-face as it is stylish, while still trusting us to be "intelligent" enough to fill in some the blanks. District 9 brilliantly revives a dying and overdone genre of film that not only gives hope to die-hard "SyFy" geeks but will also bring new fans to the genre. One can only hope Neill Blomkamp will get a chance to actually make the film adaptation of the Halo video game.
Other films that just missed the top ten:
Watchmen - A union of two pioneers in the graphic novel and film industry: Zack Snyder (director, 300) and Alan Moore (writer, V for Vendetta) team up to recreate the "unfilmable" graphic novel that follows a group of masked vigilante superheroes in time where the US is at the brink of nuclear war.
Friday the 13th - This sequel remake is right in line with every other Friday the 13th and better than most of the new slasher/horror films.
Star Trek - This witty, sexy and violent film is truly the first Star Trek film for everyone. Even after 2 hours and 6 minutes, Trekkies and newbies alike will walk out wanting more - which inevitably will come in just a few years time following an $80 opening weekend.
A Perfect Getaway - A Perfect Getaway is a perfect campy b-movie horror film with an unpredictable act 3 twist and red herrings galore.
Bruno - Hilarious, offensive, insightful, crude and unbelievable - these words simultaneously describe Sasha Baron Cohen's latest character and film, Bruno, the newest "mockumentary" from the man who redefined the word in 2006 with Borat.
Ponyo - You've never heard of it because I hadn't, but Ponyo, a story inspired by The Little Mermaid from Academy Award-winning Japanese animation director Miyazaki, is one the best animated fairy tales ever made!
Last Updated: October 16, 2009
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