2009 in film. A disappointment?

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by toefer

Last year's Pixar movie (Wall-E) was better than this year's (Up).

That is my only disagreement with your post. I have never felt a connection in a Pixar film like I did in the first 20 minutes of Up. Probably the best 20 minutes they've ever done, in my opinion.

Okay, no more posts from me.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Sorry.

Don't get me wrong, I had high hopes for the movie even though it wasn't getting stellar reviews. I just found the kid to ruin it, among other things.

Stop yappin romulus and get to the next movie community topic! haha just playin What is next anyway? Got Em!!

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Romulus

That is my only disagreement with your post. I have never felt a connection in a Pixar film like I did in the first 20 minutes of Up. Probably the best 20 minutes they've ever done, in my opinion.

Okay, no more posts from me.

Wall-E, just no emotional connection. I thought it was overly preachy and boring and who cares if electronic devices "fall in love"? I sure don't. Up is the best non-anime animated movie I've ever seen, doubt that'll change, at least until the next Pixar film comes out. Wonder if Marvel will be involved.

[Romulus]

Probably at the beginning of January. While my schedule is pretty laid back for these two weeks, from the 18th through the New Year I'll probably be hard to come by. So we'll do one in January. I can't exactly remember which one we agreed upon, so I'll have to go back in look.

If I do anything this month is going to be something related to the Oscars... you'll just have to wait and see.

[Elvis]

I agree...Star Trash (err Trek) pretty much killed the year for me. I still can't belive they screwed up that whole franchise. Sigh...............

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Elvis

I agree...Star Trash (err Trek) pretty much killed the year for me. I still can't belive they screwed up that whole franchise. Sigh...............

Elvis and I agree, the world must be ending. How true fans can hate the 4 TNG movies so much but embrace the new one makes my head spin. /rant

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Probably at the beginning of January. While my schedule is pretty laid back for these two weeks, from the 18th through the New Year I'll probably be hard to come by. So we'll do one in January. I can't exactly remember which one we agreed upon, so I'll have to go back in look.

If I do anything this month is going to be something related to the Oscars... you'll just have to wait and see.

if u have a light schedule for the next 2 weeks u should get sumthin crackin now! I think we agreed on action films I believe. Got Em!!

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Now I know that this year isn't over, and I still have some films to see... but to me 2008 is much more stacked with quality films. I would put all 10 of the 2008 films above Fantastic Mr. Fox minimum and a bunch would be placed higher than District 9.

Does anybody else agree? Sorry for the huge wall of text. I know I'm going to get a wide variety or remarks here, agreeing and disagreeing. I just want to see how everyone stands on the issue.

For me, it's been the same in terms of the quality of movies. I don't get much time to hit the theaters as I used to, but of the ones I've seen, they have all been great, with a few subpar entries.

House of the Devil & The Burning Plain were 2 that I really enjoyed. The big blockbusters for me were Star Trek and Watchmen, while Transformers 2 gets a honorable mention. I also enjoyed Taken which came out this year. A great action flick.

As I look through the list, I find several I haven't seen yet:

Up, Inglorious Bastards, Public Enemies, Hangover, Drag me to hell, Zombieland, 9, 2012

So I've got my work cutout for me.

The big letdowns this year were district 9 and GI Joe. Overall though, a very good year for movies, Star Trek and Watchmen being my favorites so far, rank right up there with Dark Knight and Iron Man in 2008.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Agreed 100% with Doubt. I'll admit that the first time I watched it didn't do much for me, and it wasn't until I started to think and reflect on the film that I truly began to appreciate it. The ending was the icing on the cake for me.

As for Gran Torino, I thought the movie was just average. I think it was ruined a little bit by the dialogue of Clint's character, although that was a aspect that many people liked.

I have yet to Revolutionary Road, but it's been on my list for quite some time now.

I was very impressed with Doubt. I was expecting some stuffy period piece and was floored by Streep and the ever-impressive Hoffman. I should have known better. I too like Gran Torino, but didn't see what all the hype was about. The only surprise in the whole thing is how he effected his revenge.

[Sponge-worthy]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

Elvis and I agree, the world must be ending. How true fans can hate the 4 TNG movies so much but embrace the new one makes my head spin. /rant

I thought it was fairly clever--a competent action film. However, I did not understand:

[Show spoiler]The utility of constructing the Enterprise on the ground as opposed to in an orbital dock. I guess it could have actually been just a non-operational proto-type craft (like the Space Shuttle STS Enterprise), but that was never mentioned.

Also, the 'new' Enterprise was TARDIS-like in that it seemed bigger on the inside than it did on the outside. I mean, you get a sense of the ship's scale from the shots of the shuttle bay, so how does that HUGE brewery/engineering set fit in there?

Regardless, I am curious to see what happens in the sequel, Star Trek: The Wrath of the Lens Flares.

[casablanca3]

What is up with no one saying Up in the air? It is the movie I am most looking forward too and I already know its going to be great, have absolutely loved everything I have seen of it. It is the clear frontrunner right now too.

Nine will be terrific too and I hate musicals but its Daniel Day Lewis. He doesn't do a bad movie and even he himself said unless the script is great, I don't do it.

It will be nice when some screeners start coming online because I live in a place where we dont get most of these Oscar type films until Christmas or later or if at all. Really want to see An Education but it will never come here.

[samdaman94]

Originally Posted by Romulus

1. District 9
2. Moon
3. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
4. The Hurt Locker
5. Up
6. Star Trek
7. Fantastic Mr. Fox
8. An Education
9. Inglorious Basterds
10. Zombieland

I also enjoyed The Hangover and Watchmen. Hated Star Trek, but then again I've always hated the show so I guess it's more to do with that. Didn't see the rest but have heard nothing but greatness about the Hurt Locker and Up.

EDIT - Just noticed a post above saying about UP IN THE AIR. I am very excited about that one!

[Romulus]

Up in the Air is another film that I have my eye on. It comes from the director of Juno... which I didn't enjoy so much, but I'm still more than willing to give this film a shot.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Here ya go Romulus:

2008
1) Slumdog Millionaire
2) Milk
3) Frost/Nixon
4) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5) The Reader

6) Changeling
7) Revolutionary Road
8) The Wrestler
9) The Visitor
10) Elegy
11) Doubt
12) Gran Torino
13) Vicky Cristina Barcelona
14) In Bruges
15) The Dark Knight
16) Man on Wire
17) Wall-E

How did I miss this post? I had a similar ranking for Wall*E. I definitely enjoyed it, but didn't like as much as other Pixar projects. I can't say I've heard of Elegy, what is it about?

Also glad to see Man on Wire on the list, probably the best documentary of 2008. It's right up there with Dear Zachary, in my opinion. I haven't seen Revolutionary Road, we already discussed Changeling and how my friend ruined the whole for me. Other than that I just need to see Vicky Christina, which I had at my home at one point but just never bothered to watch it. :/

And it's always good to see some recognition for The Visitor, definitely the most underrated film of 2008.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Romulus

How did I miss this post? I had a similar ranking for Wall*E. I definitely enjoyed it, but didn't like as much as other Pixar projects. I can't say I've heard of Elegy, what is it about?

Also glad to see Man on Wire on the list, probably the best documentary of 2008. It's right up there with Dear Zachary, in my opinion. I haven't seen Revolutionary Road, we already discussed Changeling and how my friend ruined the whole for me. Other than that I just need to see Vicky Christina, which I had at my home at one point but just never bothered to watch it. :/

And it's always good to see some recognition for The Visitor, definitely the most underrated film of 2008.

Elegy - per IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974554/
Also per Roger Ebert -

[Show spoiler]
Ben Kingsley, who can play just about any role, seems to be especially effective playing slimy intellectuals. "Elegy" is a film that could have been made for him, although by the time it's over, Penelope Cruz has slipped away with it, and transformed Kingsley's character in the process. It's nicely done.

Kingsley plays David Kepesh, a professor of literature whose classroom manner seems designed to seduce the young student of his choice from each new class. He narrates the film, and is not shy about describing his methods. To stay out of trouble, he waits until the semester is over, and the grades have been given, and then throws a party at his book and art-filled apartment, where he singles out his prey and dazzles her with flattering insights, intellectual bravado and an invitation to meet sometime -- just for coffee or a drink and conversation, you know.

His target this semester is the lithesome Consuela, played by Penelope Cruz as a Cuban-American who is old enough to know better but discerning enough to see that there may really be something to old Kepesh after all. The professor appoints himself her tutor to all the mysteries of life, art, New York, music and sex. And for a while they mesh and enjoy each other.

But David grows obsessed with jealousy, convinced that Consuela is seeing someone else -- younger, or course, and more handsome and virile. He even accidentally drops in at a dance he knows she's attending, to check up on her. His distrust spoils everything, because she cannot abide not being trusted.

And then -- the movie takes a dramatic turn, which I will not reveal, even though it contains all the deepest emotions and real feelings of the story. And in these scenes, Cruz is quietly powerful and very true. You understand why the Spanish director, Isabel Coixet, chose Cruz instead of, say, a 19-year-old. An actress needs depth and the experience of life to play these scenes, and Cruz has them.

The film is based on a novel by Philip Roth, who has just about exhausted my desire to read his stories about young babes falling for older, wiser, intellectuals like, say, Philip Roth. I was reading his Library of America volume about Zuckerman recently, and finally just put it down and said to the book: Sorry, Phil, but I cannot read one more speech founded on the f-word. I don't object to the f-word itself, but sorry, I've simply been overserved.

That "Elegy" is not simply a fantasy about the horny old rascal and the comely maid is to its credit. That it sees Manhattan clearly as a setting is also an advantage, since it is a place where we believe things like this are likely to happen. And then there is a wealth of supporting characters, notably Carolyn (Patricia Clarkson), no spring chicken, who has been David's mistress for years. She can't believe there's another woman in his life and launches a barrage of f-words, but she makes the character real -- and poignant. I also liked Dennis Hopper as George, the old pal he has coffee with, who attempts to bring sanity to David's behavior, but despairs. And Peter Sarsgaard as David's son, with problems of his own, and a father who has become not only an embarrassment but, worse, an irrelevancy.

The movie is not great. I'm not sure why. Maybe the payoff plays too much like a payoff. Consuela asks David to do something I think we might be better off hearing about, instead of seeing. I'm not sure. The movie is obviously going for a big emotional charge at the end and might have been more effective with a quieter one. But you decide.

Source - Chicago Sun Times Blog

[Lepidopterous]

Sorry to bring it back up but I agree with most on here that Doubt's ending was great.

[Show spoiler]It's left with a degree of ambiguity for viewers to reflect on her character and on the underlying message of the film.

Originally Posted by Romulus

It does look like 2010 is shaping up to be a good year.

I'm already getting excited for 2011. Thor and Hobbit

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by toefer

There are still a good number of movies I want to see this year, but so far it does kind of seem like it was a step down from 2008.

Last year's Pixar movie (Wall-E) was better than this year's (Up).

Last year's big blockbuster (The Dark Knight) was better than this year's (Transformers 2).

Last year's underrated/overshadowed action movie (Iron Man) was better than this year's (Star Trek).

Last year's year-end Oscar bait movies (The Wrestler, Doubt, Mlik) seem better than this year's (Nine, Precious, Up in the Air).

Last year's Clint Eastwood/"based on a true story" movie (Changeling) seems better than this year's (Invictus).

I agree on all but your Wall-E comment which I can't fathom. To me, Wall-E was cliche thematically and at least to me, was emotionally uninvolving. I think it is by far the weakest Pixar film. I think Up is by far the BEST Pixar film (which is saying something because they're all great except Wall-E). How many animated films have an opening 15 minutes that is as emotional as anything seen on film all year? Tremendous, emotionally involving story.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by repete66211

I hear where you're coming from, but I can't say I agree. Some of the 2008 movies you list (IMO) weren't that great. Slumdog, while sugary when the film's rolling, rings very hollow. I hadn't even got to my car before my pleasure faded to a feeling of having just been ripped off. (Reminded me of my first visit to a strip joint in that respect.) And I don't know if we saw the same movie, but I didn't think In Bruges was funny or entertaining. It made me want to visit Bruges, but that's about it. Ben Button was cute, but I think it will age about as well as Forest Gump.

I saw An Education last night. I'm glad to see it made your list. The ending was a bit pat, but it's refreshing to see intelligent movies aren't dead (yet). I would place it above 7 of the 9 movies I've seen on your 2008 list.


An insider told me they expanded to 10 nominees to save the trade papers. They're really sucking air for revenue and need all the advertising they can get.

The academy said itself that it was predominatley due to a desire to increase tv ratings.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Romulus

I also must be one of the few that enjoyed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It seems like nobody felt a personal connection to story, yet for some reason I found myself extremely attached. I guess it's different strokes for different folks.

Oh no! Czar's quotes have rubbed off on you!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Probably at the beginning of January. While my schedule is pretty laid back for these two weeks, from the 18th through the New Year I'll probably be hard to come by. So we'll do one in January. I can't exactly remember which one we agreed upon, so I'll have to go back in look.

If I do anything this month is going to be something related to the Oscars... you'll just have to wait and see.

If and when you have time to do another community list, it should be war films!