The Rating Scale
| A+ |
4 Stars |
| A |
4 Stars |
| A- |
3.5 Stars |
| B+ |
3.5 Stars |
| B |
3 Stars |
| B- |
2.5-3 Stars |
| C+ |
2.5 Stars |
| C |
2 Stars |
| C- |
1.5-2 Stars |
| D+ |
1.5 Stars |
| D |
1 Star |
| D- |
1/2 Star |
| F |
0 Stars |
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"The Independent Critic's Top 10 Films of 2009" |
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#10: Precious God bless Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry for getting involved with "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire," a harrowing film that wouldn't likely have seen the light of day without their involvement despite the previous awards success of director Lee Daniels. Easily the most heartbreaking and inspirational film of 2009, "Precious" features award-worthy performances from newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and co-star Mo'Nique. While Daniels' use of fantasy sequences were initially a bit off-putting, several weeks after viewing "Precious" the images, words and feelings still companion me. |  |
 | #9: Up It's unheard for Pixar to release the second best animated film of any year, but 2009 has been an extraordinary year for feature-length animation. Had the latter 1/3 of "Up" held up to the poetic majesty of the film's opening sequences, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. No other Hollywood studio so wondrously and consistently creates visually arresting animated films that manage to appeal to both adults and children and, perhaps even more importantly, respect the intelligence of its child viewers. "Up" is a remarkable achievement in what may very well be animation's finest year. |
#8: The Cove "The Cove" is one of the most riveting and exciting documentaries ever made, and captured the "Audience Award" at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The camera work from Brooke Aitken is simply astounding. While advocacy documentaries are certainly not for everyone, "The Cove" is simply one of the best and puts Michael Moore's recent work to shame. |  |
 | #7: In the Loop Directed by Armando Iannucci, "In the Loop" is the best political satire in recent years. With an ensemble cast that is simply stellar, it's hard not to agree with one critic's declaration that the film is the "Best British Comedy in Years." Unfortunately but not surprisingly, the arthouse run for "In the Loop" was a disappointment. "In the Loop" is likely 2009's most underrated flick. |
#6: Where the Wild Things Are While the trailers for Spike Jonze's adaptation of "Where the Wild Things Are' were brilliant, they also falsely implied a much more kid-friendly pic than Jonze actually created. Thus, "Where the Wild Things Are" never really got the audience it deserved. Bold and brave, imaginative and fiercely honest, "Where the Wild Things Are" features a strong performance from young Max Records and a nice supporting turn from Catherine Keener. While the film is likely to be an also ran throughout awards season, rest assured that "Where the Wild Things Are" is one of 2009's top 10 films. |  |
 | #5: The Fantastic Mr. Fox While Pixar's "Up" stole the animation box-office crown in 2009 and remains a slight favorite to take home the golden statuette, Wes Anderson's absolutely delightful "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is 2009's best animated feature film. With outstanding vocal work from leads George Clooney and Meryl Streep, "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is Anderson's best realized film in years and may prove that animation is the perfect medium for the incredibly visual director. Much like "Where the Wild Things Are," "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is based upon a relatively short story that is re-imagined by the film's writer/director. The final result is a film that is entertaining, funny, sweet, touching, intelligent and so much more. |
 | #4: Up in the Air The latest film from director extraordinaire Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air" is such a delightful, easygoing film that you may not immediately realize just how wonderful this film is and just how spot-on perfect the performances from its award-winning trio of George Clooney, Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga really are from beginning to end. As Ryan Bingham, Clooney goes places here that most actors wouldn't ever imagine, while Vera Farmiga's Alex is sexy, smart, sweet and simply divine. Relative newcomer Anna Kendrick is sharing tons of award buzz with Farmiga, and her take on an new grad with new ideas gives "Up in the Air" much of its heart and humor. "Up in the Air" has one of 2009's best screenplays and may very well make all of us quit saying that Jason Reitman is the son of Ivan Reitman. |
#3: Crazy Heart As soon as I caught wind of "Crazy Heart," I had a feeling. Initially floating around under media radar, a bit of a festival run started the talk that this film could very well contain the latest award-worthy performance from Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake, a 57-year-old country crooner and has been who stumbles into the life of a small town newspaper reporter and single mom played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. With such producers tied to it as Robert Duvall and T-Bone Burnett, one expects authenticity from "Crazy Heart." Indeed, "Crazy Heart" may be the year's most authentic, deeply felt and richly developed story captured on the big screen. Bridges will most assuredly snag an Oscar nomination and should steal the thunder from George Clooney this year. While much fuss will be made over Bridges, co-stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and Colin Farrell are equally astounding in what could have amounted to throwaway roles. It's a shame that "Crazy Heart" didn't screen in time for the Indiana Film Journalists Association to consider it for our awards, because it most assured would have snagged at least a couple. |  |
 | #2: The Hurt Locker "The Hurt Locker" is director Kathryn Bigelow's masterpiece, a big and brawny, yet intimate and unforgettable portrait of the Iraq war told in a way that is fierce, mind-altering, endlessly suspenseful and, well, have I mentioned unforgettable? Long underrated actor Jeremy Renner will undoubtedly find himself on Oscar's doorstep this year, but "The Hurt Locker" is an ensemble piece in every sense of the word. If you've waited years to see a truly great war film, you simply must see "The Hurt Locker," the best war film in years and one that easily transcends such unforgettable flicks as "Stop-Loss" and "In the Valley of Elah." |
#1: (500) Days of Summer The only film in 2009 to get a 4-star rating from The Independent Critic, "(500) Days of Summer" is the only film in 2009 that has completely and utterly enchanted this admittedly jaded and cynical film critic. Alluring and romantic, "(500) Days of Summer" features warm and winning performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, while Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber's script is a playful, witty and heartfelt masterpiece. Director Marc Webb assembles a film with seemingly unimaginable segments inter-locked, and yet makes it all flow with captivating charm. By far, the best romantic comedy of recent years and the #1 film of 2009! |  |
2009's CINEMATIC HIGHLIGHTS
- Honorable Mention Films: Food, Inc; Nine; District 9; Sunshine Cleaning; Adventureland; The White Ribbon; An Education; The Hangover; Eugene; Sin Nombre; Moon; Star Trek; Julie & Julia; The Last Station.
- Best Lead Performances, Actor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer; Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker; George Clooney, Up in the Air; Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart; Adam Scott, The Vicious Kind.
- Best Lead Performances, Actress: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia; Gabourey Sidibe, Precious; Carey Mulligan, An Education; Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side; Helen Mirren, The Last Station.
- Best Supporting Performances, Actor: Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones; Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds; Christopher Plummer, The Last Station; Paul Schneider, Bright Star; Woody Harrelson, The Messenger.
- Best Supporting Performances, Actress: Mo'Nique, Precious; Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air; Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air; Mia Wasikowska, That Evening Sun; Samantha Morton, The Messenger.
- Best Director: Jason Reitman, Up in the Air; Spike Jonze, Where the Wild Things Are; Marc Webb, (500) Days of Summer; Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker; Wes Anderson, Fantastic Mr. Fox.
- Best Original Screenplay: (500) Days of Summer; The Hurt Locker; A Serious Man; Inglourious Basterds; Adventureland
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air; Fantastic Mr. Fox; Where the Wild Things Are; Precious; Crazy Heart
- Best Animated Feature: Fantastic Mr. Fox; Up; Ponyo; Coraline; The Princess and the Frog
- Best Documentary Feature: The Cove; Food, Inc.; Anvil! The Story of Anvil; Best Worst Movie; Garbage Dreams
- Best Foreign Language Film: Sin Nombre; The White Ribbon; Broken Embraces; Lorna's Silence; Summer Hours
- Best Ultra-Indie/Microcinema Production: Eugene; Carter; Humpday; Drawing with Chalk; Munyurangabo
- Best Short Film: Short Term 12; Miracle Fish; Kavi; Charlie Thistle; The Legacy
NOW THAT YOU'VE CHECKED OUT OUR BEST OF 2009, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR VERY SPECIAL "BOTTOM 10 OF 2009!"
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