Favorite/Best Films of the 21st Century So Far

After looking over the NY Times’s list of the 25 Best Films of the 21^st Century to date, I starting think about what films would be on my list. It is tough. On one hand you have all your favorite movies, some are more objectively good and some are certainly not; and on the other hand, you have films that are great but not necessarily films you seek out to watch. I decided on a compromise. These are the films that I think are the best – but with my biases/loves built in, let run wild. I also included my favorite documentaries at the end. Ranking all these films is impossible (I narrowed it down to 103; 13 documentaries and 90 features). So, this list is organized by year for the features, followed by documentaries and finally my personal 25 favorites.

2000

American Psycho, directed by Mary Harron

2001

Amelie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Black Hawk Down, directed by Ridley Scott

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, directed by Peter Jackson

No Man’s Land, directed by Danis Tanovic

The Royal Tenenbaums, directed by Wes Anderson

2002

The Hours, directed by Stephen Daldry

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, directed by Peter Jackson

The Pianist, directed by Roman Polanski

2003

The Barbarian Invasions, directed by Denys Arcand

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, directed by Peter Jackson

Lost in Translation, directed by Sofia Coppola

Open Range, directed by Kevin Costner

2004

2046, directed by Kar Wai Wong

A Very Long Engagement, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Downfall, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso Cuaron

Hotel Rwanda, directed by Terry George

House of Flying Daggers, directed by Yimou Zhang

The Life of Aquatic with Steve Zissou, directed by Wes Anderson

Million Dollar Baby, directed by Clint Eastwood

Sideways, directed by Alexander Payne

Spider-Man 2, directed by Sam Raimi

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War, directed by Je-gyu Kang

2005

Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan

The Beat that My Heart Skipped, directed by Jacques Audiard

Munich, directed by Steven Spielberg

Pride & Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright

Serenity, directed by Joss Whedon

The Squid and the Whale, directed by Noah Baumbach

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, directed by Marc Rothemund

2006

Black Book, directed by Paul Verhoeven

Children of Men, directed by Alfonso Cuaron

Mission: Impossible III, directed by J.J. Abrams

Once, directed by John Carney

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, directed by Gore Verbinski

The Prestige, directed by Christopher Nolan

The Road to Guantanamo, directed by Michael Winterbottom

2007

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, directed by Andrew Dominik

Atonement, directed by Joe Wright

The Darjeeling Limited, directed by Wes Anderson

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, directed by David Yates

No Country for Old Men, directed by the Coen Brothers

There Will Be Blood, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

The Visitor, directed by Tom McCarthy

2008

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, directed by David Fincher

The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan

Forgetting Sarah Marshall, directed by Nicholas Stoller

Hunger, directed by Steve McQueen

Revolutionary Road, directed by Sam Mendes

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, directed by Woody Allen

WALL-E, directed by Andrew Stanton

2009

Inglourious Basterds, directed by Quentin Tarantino

Up, directed by Pete Docter

2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, directed by David Yates

Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan

Never Let Me Go, directed by Mark Romanek

The Social Network, directed by David Fincher

True Grit, directed by the Coen Brothers

2011

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, directed by David Yates

Incendies, directed by Denis Villeneuve

Jane Eyre, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga

Super 8, directed by J.J. Abrams

2012

The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon

The Dark Knight Rises, directed by Christopher Nolan

Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee

The Master, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow

2013

12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen

Her, directed by Spike Jonze

Short Term 12, directed by Destin Cretton

The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorcese

2014

The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent

Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher

The Grand Budapest Hotel, directed by Wes Anderson

The Imitation Game, directed by Morten Tyldum

Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan

2015

Avengers: Age of Ultron, directed by Joss Whedon

Bridge of Spies, directed by Steven Spielberg

Brooklyn, directed by John Crowley

Carol, directed by Todd Haynes

Inside Out, directed by Peter Docter & Ronaldo Del Carmen

The Revenant, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Sicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve

2016

Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve

Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson

Hunt for the Wilderpeople, directed by Taika Waititi

Manchester by the Sea, directed by Kenneth Lonergan

Silence, directed by Martin Scorsese

Documentaries

The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons front the Life of Robert S. McNamara, directed by Errol Morris

Super Size Me, directed by Morgan Spurlock

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, directed by Alex Gibney

Why We Fight, directed by Eugene Jarecki

Man on Wire, directed by James Marsh

Inside Job, directed by Charles Ferguson

Magic & BirdL A Courtship of Rivals, directed by Ezra Edelman

The House I Live In, directed by Eugene Jarecki

The Imposter, directed by Bart Layton

Citizenfour, directed by Laura Poitras

13^th, directed by Ava DuVernay

O.J.: Made in America, directed by Ezra Edelman

Five Came Back, directed by Laurent Bouzereau

My Personal Favorite 25

The Dark Knight Trilogy

Lost in Translation

Inception

Inglourious Basterds

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the whole saga really)

Pride & Prejudice

Amelie

Spider-Man 2

Interstellar

The Prestige

Serenity

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

No Country for Old Men

The Lord of the Rings

Hunger

Zero Dark Thirty

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The Darjeeling Limited

Atonement

The Royal Tenenbaums

There Will Be Blood

American Psycho

Gone Girl

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

My Personal Favorite 25 (Redux)

Within the NY Times rules of One Film per Director

The Dark Knight

Lost in Translation

Inglourious Basterds

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Pride & Prejudice

Amelie

Spider-Man 2

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Serenity

No Country for Old Men

Hunger

Zero Dark Thirty

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The Darjeeling Limited

There Will Be Blood

American Psycho

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Life of Pi

The Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Arrival

Downfall

Her

Movie of the Week – Inglourious Basterds

This week’s movie: Inglourious Basterds (2009).

What if the Allies had killed Hitler and ended WWII early? Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds plays a bit like a revenge fantasy. It is split into five vignettes taking place in Nazi Occupied France that all tie together by the end.

Tarantino is one of independent film’s most celebrated directors. His films are mostly considered classics. With Inglourious Basterds, however, he made his most expensive (costing around seventy million) and subsequently most successful film to date (in terms of gross box office). He has said that it is the first part of a new trilogy, with Django Unchained being the second in the series.

Cinematographer Robert Richardson and production designer David Wasco produce brilliant work on the film, which overall is aesthetically fantastic (and maybe Tarantino’s best in that regard). The visuals (and especially the score, taken from classic westerns, war films and David Bowie) reference genre films that Tarantino grew up with.

As good as Tarantino’s writing is (and it is very good), the performances are maybe even better. The cast is universally wonderful, making stars out of a few European actors who before did not have that much exposure in the states. The ensemble includes: Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz (who won an Oscar for his work), Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Daniel Bruhl, Til Schweiger, Jacky Ido, B.J. Novak, Gedeon Burkhard, Omar Doom, August Diehl, Denis Menochet, and Mike Myers, with voice work from Samuel L. Jackson and Harvey Keitel.

Inglourious Basterds was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, but only won one. It is my favorite of Tarantino’s films (and among my 25 favorite films from the last decade), and a must-see for fans of Tarantino’s work and war films. It is brilliant.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray, DVD and Streaming

Brad Pitt – Movies Spotlight – September 2011

Brad Pitt, 47, has established himself as an A-list actor, starring in both blockbusters and prestige films in Hollywood. In September, he stars in Moneyball. It is about the Oakland A’s baseball general manager Billy Beane – the first GM to use sabre metrics to build a competitive team on a budget. The film is directed by Bennett Miller and written by Aaron Sorkin. It looks to be a possible contender for a Best Picture Oscar nomination.

Early Career:

Pitt began his career in 1987 with un-credited parts in No Way Out and Less Than Zero. He had struggled to establish himself early on, and took acting lessons from Roy London. He made his TV debut in 1987 as well with a guest appearance in Growing Pains, and then got a four-episode part in Dallas. The next year, he got his first leading part in the Yugoslavian-U.S. co-production Adriatic. He continued to take guest roles on TV and parts in smaller movies until he got his first big break with a supporting part in Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise in 1991. His character’s love scene with Thelma (played by Geena Davis) defined Pitt as a sex symbol beginning his career as Hollywood’s latest heartthrob. He next took the lead in Cool World (a more adult version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit), but the film was poorly received (though, at the age of 11, I remember eagerly anticipating seeing it). His next big break came in the form of playing one of the leads in Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It. His performance made him a star in Hollywood, even though Pitt considers it one of his weakest. Now a hot commodity, he took the lead in Kalifornia and a small supporting role in Quentin Tarantino’s first produced scrip True Romance. These two roles built upon the goodwill he accumulated setting him up to be not only a huge star in Hollywood but also an acclaimed actor.

Critics Take Notice:

In 1994, Pitt’s career took an even more significant jump forward with his leading performance in Interview with the Vampire (based on Anne Rice’s novel). However, while the film was received well by moviegoers and critics alike, many critics were not pleased with Pitt’s performance. He also made Legends of the Fall in 1994. The film played mixed reviews, but critics praised Pitt’s performance and he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Primarily being viewed as a heartthrob by moviegoers, he decided to play off-type and take a supporting role in Terry Gilliam’s sci-fi opus 12 Monkeys. The role allowed Pitt to show a different side of himself as an actor, impressing many critics and winning the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and receiving an Oscar nomination as well.  In 1996, he took a supporting role in Sleepers. While it was a small role, his performance was a highlight for critics. Pitt took on another offbeat supporting role in Guy Ritchie’s 2000 gangster film Snatch. His gypsy boxer is almost completely unintelligible, but while the film was not as well received by critics as general moviegoer, everyone loved his performance. It also showed off Pitt’s knack for comedy. These five films not only grew Pitt’s popularity among moviegoers but also put him on many a critic’s actor’s to watch list. But, it was his collaborations with director David Fincher that made him an A-list star.

Hollywood Stardom & David Fincher:

Fincher cast Pitt in the lead of his second feature film, Se7en. The film made a fully-fledge star out of Pitt (both with critics and moviegoers) and an auteur director out of Fincher. It grossed more money internationally (and second most domestically) of any of Pitt’s films up until its release in 1995. It also showed off the range that Pitt had as an actor, as his character was deeply flawed. The film is still considered to be a classic (and by many as the best of Pitt’s career). Fincher made The Game next, but then cast Pitt in the co-lead with Edward Norton in his next film Fight Club. Pitt plays Tyler Durden, a role that required a lot of physical work to prepare for, and one that is among his most iconic. While the film was not praised critically upon its release, it has a cult following and is on most critics’ Top 100 films of the Decade lists. These two films with Fincher not only made Pitt a bigger star in Hollywood, but more importantly gave him a ton of acclaim for critics and avid film lovers. In 2008, he again worked with Fincher, taking the lead in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He is wonderful as Benjamin Button, a man who ages in reverse. It is a masterpiece of a film and Pitt received tons of acclaim for his performance, with nominations for Best Actor from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild. Pitt’s collaboration with Fincher is so profound to his career that if you had to take five films to best represent it, three would be his films with Fincher.

Blockbusters:

Now a big star in Hollywood, Pitt started to take roles in blockbuster and Hollywood A-list star vehicles. And while these films are mostly not very good, they did make him an even bigger star (placing him among the top 10 male actors). First up he co-starred with Harrison Ford in the action thriller The Devil’s Own. It was a box office success but a critical failure (as many action films are). Next, he starred in Jean-Jacques Annaud’s epic Seven Years in Tibet, which played to negative reviews and box office disappointment. The same could be said for his next: Meet Joe Black, co-starring Anthony Hopkins (it is probably my least favorite of all Pitt’s films that I have seen which numbers 30). Continuing the streak of bad Hollywood films, in 2001 he starred opposite Julia Roberts in The Mexican (probably my second least favorite of his career), but of course it did well at the box office. Working again with Tony Scott (who also directed True Romance), he starred with Robert Redford in the spy thriller Spy Game. Then, he had his first Hollywood critical and box office hit with Steven Soderbergh’s ensemble theist flick Ocean’s Eleven. It also starred George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon. He followed it up with his biggest commercial hit of his career (so far) playing Achilles in Troy (funny side-story, apparently filming was delayed for several weeks due to an on-set injury to Pitt’s Achilles tendon…What are the odds?). He then co-starred with (future wife) Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the second biggest commercial hit of his career (the film was released in 2005, and is commonly thought to be behind his breakup with then wife Jennifer Aniston). He also made two more Ocean’s films (Twelve and Thirteen) during that time. He continues to make blockbuster films today, though not as frequently. His last was 2010’s Megamind.

Great Movies with Great Directors:

With the string of huge commercial hits, Pitt has become a powerful force in Hollywood, which has allowed him to be more selective about his project and having the ability to get films made in the studio system. As a result, he has worked with excellent filmmakers on fantastic films since 2006 beginning with Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Babel, an ensemble piece about communication and cultural differences between people. It received seven Oscar nominations and won Best Drama at the Golden Globes. Pitt was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Next, he starred as Jesse James in Andrew Dominik’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It is a stunning performance by Pitt (probably my favorite) and a beautiful film. He won the Best Actor Award at the 2007 Venice Film Festival for it. Returning to comedy, Pitt took a supporting role playing a truly stupid man in the Coen Brothers’ (Joel and Ethan) Burn After Reading. Pitt’s performance was called his funniest to date (not that he had done much comedy). Making another black comedy of sorts, Pitt starred next in Quentin Tarantino’s brilliant Inglourious Basterds as Aldo Raine, the head of a group of Jewish American resistance fighters during WWII (it is probably my favorite film Pitt has made, or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – both are in my top 25 of the last decade). This year, he starred in Terrence Malick’s (brilliant or terrible depending on who you ask) The Tree of Life, which won the Best Film at the Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, Pitt has produced a number of great films through his company Plan B – mostly films he stars in, but also two acclaimed films he did not star in (as well as others): Academy Award Best Picture winner Martin Scorsese’s The Departed and Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass.

Upcoming Projects:

Pitt currently has two films slated for release in 2012, and a ton that he is rumored to be attached to in the future. First, he stars in Cogan’s Trade. Working again with director Andrew Dominik, the film is about a professional enforced who investigates a heist that went down during a mob-run poker game. Next, he stars in Marc Forster’s World War Z (yet another zombie movie…At least it is not vampires). It is about a UN representative who interviews survivors of the great zombie war (of 1812…Not really). 

Career Highlights:

1)      True Romance (1993) – supporting [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

2)      Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) – lead [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

3)      Se7en (1995) – lead* [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

4)      Twelve Monkeys (1995) – lead [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

5)      Fight Club (1999) – lead* [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

6)      Snatch. (2000) – lead [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

7)      Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – lead [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

8)      Babel (2006) – lead [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

9)      The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) – lead* [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

10)   The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) – lead* [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

11)   Inglourious Basterds (2009) – lead* [Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming]

12)   The Tree of Life (2011) – lead [Blu-ray, Streaming]

*Editor’s picks

Top 25 Favorite Films of the Decade: 2000-2009 - Part 3, 15-11

This past decade has been awesome for movies with tons of really good big adventure films like Spider-Man, Batman, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. It also featured great genre films, highlighted by the emergence of wonderful new auteur directors and fantastic new stars. Here is the list of my personal favorite twenty-five films from the decade (not necessarily the best films critically speaking, just my favorites):

25-21; 20-16; 15-11; 10-6; 5-1

No Country for Old Men

Rank: 15

Director: The Coen Brothers

Stars: Josh Brolin, Kelly Macdonald, Javier Barden, Woody Harrilson, and Tommy Lee Jones

Release Year: 2007

Genre: Modern Western

Summary: The film is about Llewelyn Moss, a hunter who stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad – dead bodies, heroin and two million in cash. He decides to take the money. The bad news is: the men that money belongs to know he took it and have sent a truly sadistic killer after him to get it back.

Why It Made the List: The Coen Brothers are among my favorite working directors (with Joss Whedon, Chris Nolan, Alfonso Cuaron, and Wes Anderson) and after making a couple of their lesser films in the middle of the decade they came back with this amazing modern western that sort of looks at the dying days of the cowboy era. The writing and characters in the film are astounding (and it won the 2008 Best Picture Oscar). The performances in the film are also incredible across the board. Javier Barden’s chief among them (his probably should be in my top five male performances of the decade). The Coen Brothers mix comedy and violence so well and are among the best aesthetic directors around, and this is one of their masterworks.

Watch the Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming and to Rent

Pride & Prejudice

Rank: 14

Director: Joe Wright

Stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, and Judi Dench

Release Year: 2005

Genre: Romance

Summary: The film is about Elizabeth Bennett, a prideful girl who wants more for herself than the period would seemingly allow (being the early 19^th century). When she first meets Mr. Darcy she thinks he is cold and overly prideful and does not like him at all, but as the story evolves and she learns who he truly is she begins to fall for him.

Why It Made the List: Joe Wright’s directing gives this period film so much energy and life, making it feel very fresh (which is saying something for a novel that is practically adapted every other year). The fluid camera work and long takes in particular are wonderful (and I love how all the dance scenes are shot). Keira Knightley also gives a fantastic performance in the film, establishing herself as one of the top young actresses (both having the ability to command the screen in blockbusters, like Pirates of the Caribbean, and prestige films) – this being her breakout film as a serious Oscar contending actress. It is hard not to love this film with its classic story, brilliant aesthetics and great cast.

Watch the Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming and to Rent

Children of Men

Rank: 13

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Stars: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Caine, and Clare-Hope Ashitey

Release Year: 2006

Genre: Sci-Fi Drama/Thriller

Summary: Set in 2027 Britain, the world is in chaos as women are no longer able to conceive and the world’s population carries on towards extinction. However, when an illegal immigrate becomes pregnant, it is up to a former activist Theo Faron to guide her safely to a secret research ship.

Why It Made the List: The first thing to say about Children of Men is that it has possible the two best long takes in the history of cinema. Those shots alone make this film a classic. But, the rest of the film is also quite astounding as well. If you did not already love Alfonso Cuaron’s work, this is just another example of why he is one of the best auteur directors working today. Cuaron does a great job of telling this dystopian story and creating the right look and tone, while mixing in thriller and adventure narrative aspects into the sci-fi drama framework. Along with Cuaron’s, I must note the sheer brilliance of D.P. Emmanuel Lubezki’s work (he might be the best cinematographer right now – see his work with Terrence Malick as well). As far as sci-fi goes, this film and the next on the list are probably the best films of the decade in the genre.

Watch the Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming and to Rent

Serenity

Rank: 12

Director: Joss Whedon

Stars: Nathan Fillion, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Summer Glau, Alan Tudyk, and Morena Baccarin

Release Year: 2005

Genre: Action Sci-Fi

Summary: Taking off where Firefly left off, the film finds the crew of Serenity at odds (again) over River after a simple bank heist is interrupted by Reavers. Simon and River plan to get off the ship at the next port, but when a secret message triggers River alerting the Alliance to her whereabouts Mal and crew have no choice but to help escape and evade the capture of a deadly assassin.

Why It Made the List: If you love Firefly as much as I do (and other Browncoats), you will love this film – however it does have a much different tone (which some fans and critics do not like), being grander and more of an action film than the character-centric show. Basically, the film serves as the finale to the show (unless Joss Whedon finally gets the go ahead to make another film, or as planned the comic progress the series) and assumes you know the characters well enough from the series. Whedon’s characters and writing are what set this apart and make it the wonderful piece that it is, as it is funny, dramatic and entertaining – and just very emotionally engaging (which all the best films are). The performances are great in the film as well, especially from Nathan Fillion (who proves he could be a Hollywood blockbuster leading man) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (who creates one of my favorite villains of the decade). All sci-fi fans need to see this film and the series that precedes it.

Watch the Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming and to Rent

Inglourious Basterds

Rank: 11

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Stars: Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger, and Michael Fassbender

Release Year: 2009

Genre: War/Black Comedy

Summary: Brocken into five parts, the film serves as sort of an alternate reality version of WWII history, as a plan is put together to end the war with the assassination of top Nazi officials in one grand strike.

Why It Made the List: Quentin Tarantino’s script for the film is maybe the best of the decade. The scenes are all wonderful and the dialog is top notch. Inglourious Basterds also boosts extraordinary performances (almost across the board, though Mike Myers’s performances seems out of place a little). While Brad Pitt is very funny and great in it, Melanie Laurent, Michael Fassbender and especially Christoph Waltz give career-making performances (at least for American audiences). The aesthetics in the film are very good as well and I love the use of found music by Tarantino, borrowing classic pieces from Westerns and other great genres and composers. While it may not be a completely fluid narrative, the individual scenes are magnificent and all come together brilliantly in the finale. (I have said this a few times in this list, but this is very true for this film) each time I see this, it grows on me more and more and I love it more and more.

Watch the Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming and to Rent

LeapBackBlog 2009 Film Awards

Top Ten Films

Adventureland

Directed by Greg Mottola, the film is about a recent college graduate that has to trade a summer in Europe for a summer working at a crummy worn-down amusement park. The film succeeds on the awkwardness and thrill of young love, with a dose of 80s nostalgia thrown in for good measure. Stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kristin Stewart do fine work, and along with the rest of the cast bring the film to life and amplify it above the run-of-the-mill teen/early twenties dramas. Check out the trailer.

Avatar

Directed by James Cameron, the film is about a soldier that inhabits an avatar made to look like one of the native people of Pandora in order for him and the military to learn about their culture and more deviously to find out where to exploit them for the precious resources of their home world. However, the tables are turned when the soldier begins to have feelings for one of the natives. In 3-D, the film is the most exciting and amazing theatre experience of the year. The world that Cameron has created to fit the new technology is wondrous and takes full advantage of its potential. Avatar is a must-see in 3-D. And while the story is nothing new, the film is none the less a masterpiece of its time. Check out the trailer.

District 9

Directed by Neill Blomkamp, the film is about a social worker in South Africa that is charged with heading up the relocation of alien inhabitants, the Prawns, of a slum in the city. Everything is going fine until the social worker is exposed to an extraterrestrial chemical that begins to change his biochemistry and he joins forces with the Prawns to help a few escape Earth. Blomkamp’s film is a fantastic mixture of buddy-action and sci-fi genres. The film is also a relevant social commentary on slum life, and the class prejudice that exists. Overall, District 9 is just a lot of fun. Check out the trailer.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Directed by Wes Anderson, the film is about a fox, having settled into family life, still craving adventure, only to act on his craving putting his family and community in danger. Now, it is up to him to right his wrongs and save the day. Artfully composed, the stop-motion animation in the film meshing with Anderson’s abundant style and cool elicits a fun atmosphere in the theatre. The characters feel warm, and, with an all-star cast voicing them, they are very likable. The film has a wry wit to it and if nothing else is magnificent purely on an aesthetic level. Check out the trailer.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Directed by David Yates, the film is the sixth adventure for Harry and friends. This time Harry must extract a memory from a new professor at Hogwarts as it is essential to defeating Voldemort. Meanwhile, Drako has a nefarious task of his own. Harry, Ron and Hermione must also battle a difficult new foe, young love. The film is really two films occupying the same space, one of a mystery with dark undertones and the other a romantic comedy with melodramatic tones. Yates’ ability to transition between the two is masterful – one minute the view is laughing, the next engrossed in dread and despair. Yates is also able to foster great performances from his young cast. The film is both bleak and hopeful and sets up the upcoming two-part conclusion nicely. Check out the trailer.

Inglourious Basterds

Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film is about a fictional end to the Third Reich in Nazi occupied France. The film features wonderfully vibrant outrageous characters, if not completely theatrical. Structured into four stories all of which come to a head in the fifth and concluding chapter, the film is able to superbly incorporate violence, emotion, laughs, and gasps all in the same breath. Tarantino’s writing is at its best in the film as well, as it features a few of the best scenes of the year. Check out the trailer.

Public Enemies

Directed by Michael Mann, the film is about the exploits of John Dillinger, from his escape from prison to his ultimate death at the hands of the law. The film features wonderful performances across its star cast. But what stands out most about the film is Mann’s direction. His use of the camera to show the way Dillinger felt, the police ever closing in on him – the viewer literally feels claustrophobic at times. Mann shot the film completely digital, which some reject as an appropriate medium, but in this case makes the film feel grittier and adds to the overall composition and experience that Mann wants the audience to feel. The film is probably the most underrated of the year. Check out the trailer.

A Serious Man

Directed by the Coen Brothers, the film is about a man whose life begins to fall apart around him. The film is a fantastic character piece of a man who no matter what he does is completely inadequate. His life is seemingly in ruins and there is simple nothing to be done, no matter how hard he tries. The film is darkly funny and features typical top-notch Coen brothers’ style both in shot composition and writing. Check out the trailer.

Star Trek

Directed by J.J. Abrams, the film is about the origin of the crew of the Enterprise, specifically Spock and Kirk, and their first mission to defeat a Vulcan from the future with aspirations of destroying all that they hold dear. The film features a cast that works quite well together and is certainly one that viewers look forward to seeing in action together again. Abrams is able to reimaging Trek as a more action oriented film, but still with character and emotion, which made this film exciting and one of the best blockbuster film experiences of the summer. Check out the trailer.

Up

Directed by Pete Docter, the film is about an old man about to lose his house that decides to finally take the adventure of a lifetime, and one that he had been planning for a lifetime. The film is charming, surprisingly sad, yet sweet, and full of wonder and great characters. Pixar continues to make the best animated films year after year and this is one of their best of the decade. Docter’s opening sequence is one of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching in cinema history. How can Pixar top this? Check out the trailer.

Top Directorial Efforts

James Cameron – Avatar

Neill Blomkamp – District 9

David Yates – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds

Michael Mann – Public Enemies

Joel & Ethan Coen – A Serious Man

Tom Ford – A Single Man

Top Leading Performances

Audrey Tautou – Coco Before Chanel

Michael Sheen – The Damned United

Sharlto Copley – District 9

Carey Mulligan – An Education

Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker

Saoirse Ronan – The Lovely Bones

Robert Downey Jr. – Sherlock Holmes

Michael Stuhlbarg – A Serious Man

Colin Firth – A Single Man

Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria

Top Supporting Performances

Zoe Saldana – Avatar

Alfred Molina – An Education

Jim Broadbent – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Michael Gambon – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent – Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger – Inglourious Basterds

Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones

Christian Bale – Public Enemies

Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air

Top Technical Achievements

Mauro Fiore – Cinematography – Avatar

Arcade Fire – Score – The Box

Christopher Young – Score – Drag Me to Hell

Mark Gustafson – Animation – Fantastic Mr. Fox

Bruno Delbonnel – Cinematography – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Nicholas Hooper – Score – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Robert Richardson – Cinematography – Inglourious Basterds

David Wasco – Production Design – Inglourious Basterds

Dante Spinotti – Cinematography – Public Enemies

Roger Deakins – Cinematography – A Serious Man

Michael Giacchino – Score – Up

Lance Acord – Cinematography – Where the Wild Things Are