Captain Howdy’s Top5 of 2009

Nothing beats the cinema. The often-uncomfortable seats, the smell of popcorn, the jumbo drinks, the excessive prices. The film they screen sometimes makes it all worthwhile. The whole experience is unmatched and keeps me coming back for more, more, more! 2009 wasn’t a stellar year compared to most, but it sure had its moments and even produced some classics that I think we’ll be referring to frequently in the coming decade(s).

Here are my favorite films that I saw in cinemas in 2009:

5. Zombieland

Zombie films are a dime-a-dozen these days with direct-to-dvd distribution rife with countless titles that are mostly mindless takes on the genre (it’s a genre unto itself by now, isn’t it?). Rarely does a quality film come along that zombie fans honestly consider a classic. If you ask me, Zombieland qualifies to be regarded as one of the all-time-greatest zombie films ever made, forever to be included in personal ‘Best Ever Zombie Movies’ lists across the web. It took what Shaun of the Dead so masterfully did and gave it the Hollywood do-over with style, comedy and (surprisingly) substance. It’s the funny-casual nature of the film that makes it so damn fun to watch. I can’t wait to watch an unrated version. All it needed was more gore.

4. (500) Days of Summer

I left the cinema wondering… am I just smitten for Zooey Deschanel, or did I just thoroughly enjoy that for real reasons? Turns out I didn’t much like Zooey’s character Summer in this film– although adorable, her handling of a fragile heart is not to be forgiven! (500) Days of Summer lingered with me afterward, tapping at my brain and conjuring up ideas that I should go see it again. I did, and enjoyed it even more. What makes it so attractive is that it’s a romantic comedy with soul. You get the impression that the filmmaker (director Marc Webb) is delivering something special and leaving part of himself on the screen for you — the audience — to justify. You just don’t get that kind of honesty with the usual romantic-comedy-starring-famous-actors-box-office grabs these days. (500) Days of Summer was a refreshing, well-constructed, enjoyable and intimidating change.

3. Moon

You’ll rarely hear me say ‘this is my kind of science fiction’ because, frankly, the genre is beyond me. I can’t buy into the always-unbelievable creatures/aliens, the elaborate space crafts, the convenient warp speeds and laser fights. I understand and certainly appreciate their place on the cinema landscape — and their immense popularity — but they’re just not my thing. Duncan Jones’ Moon is my kind of science fiction. When I heard that the plot centered around a guy alone on the moon mining its resources I had a hunch that there wouldn’t be too many dastardly aliens and high-tech battle scenes going on… and that intrigued me a great deal. Moon brought science fiction back to its contemplative possibilities, having to think and ponder a character (Sam Rockwell as Sam) while we watched him discover himself had us reflecting on our own lives and choices. I enjoyed the experience immensely. Sam Rockwell and Duncan Jones deserve kudos for their efforts on this indie feature– I have no idea why Sony aren’t pushing this for 2010 the awards season.

2. Synecdoche, New York

Charlie Kaufman’s brilliant insight into the calamity mind of a theater director marks the first and only time I have sat alone in a cinema and cried. (More on that in an upcoming review). Wow. Synecdoche, New York took my breath, held it, then seeped it back to me in little drabs. I was changed when the credits rolled– I honestly walked away wiping tears from my cheeks. Because I got it. It spoke to me and I understood every. Single. Frame. Kaufman, you’re a fucking genius. (And yes, I realise this came out in 2008 most places, but I didn’t catch it on Australian screens until July ’09–so in my case,  it counts.)

1. Inglourious Basterds

You saw no film like it in 2009. Hell, you didn’t see a film like it ever, let’s be honest! Tarantino at his best? Possibly– close enough to it. I applaud and thoroughly thank Quentin for providing me with a cinema experience that is probably the closest to traditional cinema this generation is ever going to get. Sure, there are ‘events’ like Avatar and Harry Potter sequels that take up ques and sell bucket-loads of tickets, but for a film to take traditional cinema ideals and throw them on the screen amongst today’s popcorn drab — and be brave enough to call itself art — takes some balls. Tarantino-sized balls. The characters, the themes, the sequences; everything about Inglorious Basterds stands out as completely original while still honoring similar genres of the past with that ol’ Tarantino touch. The fact that it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen makes it so memorable, and easily my favorite of 2009.

How about the other end of the scale?

Here, briefly, are my most disappointing films of 2009:

5. Zombie Strippers
I hired it. I was in the mood for zombies and it had Jenna Jameson tempting me on the cover. I fell for it. What a horrendously awful film.

4. Terminator: Salvation
The trailer sucked me right in and I was convinced, for a moment, that McG might have actually pulled this off. Ten minutes in and I realised I’d been duped.

3. Avatar
Do I really need to go over this? Read Froley’s review.

2. Public Enemies
Somebody buy Michael Mann a tripod and tell him it’s OK to use it, then tell him how to trim a movie into about 97 minutes, then explain how to construct character arcs– because he has obviously completely forgotten.

1. Paranormal Activity
Again, Froley’s review nails it. I still don’t understand the hype. I wish I was missing something, but I’m not – I honestly did not find this scary in any way, and as a result felt completely let down — both by the marketing and the word of mouth that surrounded it. Not the worst of the year, but definitely the most disappointing.