Larry Ratliff

Top 10 films of '09; Give me the blue man group

Neytiri (Zoë Saldana) and Jake (Sam Worthington) make preparations for battle in "Avatar."  (Courtesy:  20th Century Fox)

Movie critics are an eclectic bunch.  We sit in the dark and stare at a bright wall in front of us for a living.  Then we go home or to a dreary newsroom cubicle and stare at the glaring light of a computer screen to write about them.

More often than not, the moving images that spill across the movie house screens fall into the mundane category.  Or even worse:  They cater to the lowest common mainstream denominator.  Films like "The Hangover" or "Did You Hear About the Morgans?"

If you thought the films mentioned above were the finest films of 2009, please don't waste your time or mine by reading further.  Heck no, not when it's still early enough to make a screening of "Alvin and the Chipmunks:  The Squeakquel."

Occasionally, as real film critics -- not some TV weather guy or newspaper editor who catches a movie once in a while -- plod through 200 to 300 films a year, we're lucky enough to witness something truly magical unfolding on that light-splashed screen.

With that said, here's my list of the Top 10 films of 2009.  If you're interested, click on the titles to read my full review of each film.  Also, there'll be no sneaking up on the cream of the crop.  We'll start with the best of the best.

1.   "Avatar" -- With his first first narrative feature since "Titanic" in 1997, James Cameron achieves the near-impossible.  He marries cutting-edge technology with human acting and animation with such precision that I had chill bumps most of the way through.  This is a visionary futuristic sci-fi thriller simply unequaled in the history of cinema. 

2.  "Precious"-- This year's "Slumdog Millionaire," a fantastic little film-that-could-and-does, "Precious" begins in the darkest regions of human nature, abuse and ugly pigs feet boiling on a Harlem stove and takes us on a journey of remarkable redemption.  Extremely well acted by comedian Mo'Nique and newcomer Gabourney Sidibe (who portrays the title character), "Precious" offers hope to the downtrodden everywhere.

3.   "Up in the Air"-- Who knew director Jason Reitman ("Juno") could do what the Coen Bros. or even George Clooney, for that matter, couldn't do.  That's draw a pitch-perfect performance out of the guy with the easy smile and a love for his craft.  Clooney's frequent flier who fires people for a living isn't the only one who's terrific in this comic-drama.  The two key female players, Vera Farmiga ("Orphan") and Anna Kendrick ("Twilight Saga:  New Moon") are dynamite as well.

4.   "Departures"-- Even though this comic-drama from Japan took foreign film honors at the Academy Awards earlier this year, there's a chance this heartfelt, poetic tale of a failed orchestra musician who becomes a funeral assistant because he misread the want ad hasn't made it to your market yet.  If that's the case (Are you listening, San Antonio?), call your local art house and demand an immediate booking.

5.  "Inglourious Basterds"-- As Brad Pitt says in one of the finest performances of his career, "Oh yes, yes, yes, yes."  Quentin Tarantino, who began his career as a gifted, geeky movie fan, thankfully hasn't changed much.  From this aisle seat, this revisionist history tale of World War II, in which Hitler gets his real good, is the finest pulp fiction Tarantino has ever turned out.  Yep, better even than "Pulp Fiction."

6.   "The Hurt Locker"-- Hot-wired, my review headline on Kathryn Bigelow's bomb de-activation nail-biter, sums up the intensity of the Iraqi war drama pretty well.  Jeremy Renner makes a name for himself as Staff Sgt. William James, a daredevil loner member of the bomb squad who thumbs his nose at imminent danger and his fellow soldiers. 

7.   "An Education"-- Like me, you'll likely think "Lolita" remake or rip-off when you hear the adult male-drawn-to-a-much younger-schoolgirl story line.  This British import, directed by Dutch filmmaker Lone Scherfig, turns out to have an intoxicating story of its own to tell, however.  Peter Sarsgaard only leers a little and Carey Mulligan is extraordinary as Jenny, a bored 16-year-old in a hurry to grow up.

8.   "Michael Jackson's This Is It"-- I know, I know.  I'm as surprised as you might be.  Jackson's odd, macabre posthumous curtain call documentary turns into something quite remarkable, though.  Director/producer Kenny Ortega distills the creative genius of the late pop sensation from a series of pre-concert rehearsals. 

9.   "Anvil!  The Story of Anvil"-- Fame snubbed this way-back-when promising heavy metal band.  Let's not make the same mistake about director Sacha Gervasi's heart-breaking documentary that examines the souls of two rockers who never gave up on their dreams.

10. "Deadgirl"-- Don't feel left out if you've never even heard of this perverse teen horror odyssey that's not about a girl of your dreams, but a "sure thing" who's quite dead and, shall we say, writhingly lively at the same time.  Some critics drool when they can include something obscure on their Top 10 list.  That's not the case here.  I just think this sometimes comic tale of bad boys who meet their macabre match is the finest of the genre I've seen in some time.  (You should be able to find it at the DVD store.) 

Heath Ledger's final cinematic hurrah

Heath Ledger as Tony and model Lily Cole as Valentina in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."  (Courtesy:  Sony Pictures Classics)

If you thought "The Dark Knight," which won a posthumous supporting actor Academy Award for Heath Ledger as The Joker earlier this year, was the late Australian actor's final film, you would be mistaken.

The mysterious 28-year-old Perth, Australia native was somewhere between a third and halfway through work on Terry Gilliam's fantastical morality tale "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" when he died of an overdose of prescription medicine on Jan. 22, 2008.

Ledger's untimely death hit me harder than some celebrity deaths.  I interviewed the "Brokeback Mountain" co-star on several occasions.  Most recently, we sat down for lunch to discuss Ledger's heroin-addiction drama "Candy" at the Four Seasons Hotel during the Toronto Film Festival in 2006.

With more than a little help from Ledger's friends Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, Gilliam was able to complete "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," which opens Jan. 8 in many markets.  (Check local listings.)

It was far from an easy task, however.  Jonathan Crow, posting a story on the Yahoo! Web site, sat down with Gilliam recently to discuss the imaginative method Gilliam used to complete a film without its star.

Click here to read the Yahoo! piece.

You voted for Pedro, 'Juno' this decade

Pedro (Efren Ramirez) and Napoleon (Jon Heder) launch a high school political campaign in "Napoleon Dynamite."  (Courtesy:  Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Christmas may be over, but now 'tis the season for end-of-year and, in this case, end-of-decade lists.

Look for my 2009 Top 10 list to be posted Thursday for your New Year's Eve reading and arguing pleasure.

In the meantime, though, have you thought much about which of the thousands of films that debuted this decade were the biggest sleeper hits?

Ellen Page and Michael Cera playing a couple of  confused high school kids in "Juno."  (Courtesy:  Fox Searchlight Pictures)

By sleeper, we basically mean surprise overachievers at the box office.  By just observing the photos above and to the right you may have already figured out that the offbeat nerd comedy "Napoleon Dynamite" of 2004 and "Juno," the sweet and sassy teen romantic-comedy of 2007 are on the list.

In a fun story posted on the Hollywood Reporter Web site, however, Gregg Kilday, Jay A. Fernandez and Borys Kit provide details on those two.

In addition, the trio of Hollywood Reporter reporters report on what other eight movies made this list.

Here's a hint or two.  One of them came out earlier this year.

Another one involved a "Diary" and the emergence of a writer-director-producer-actor with a built-in fan base and the determination and talent to expand his theatrical following to the big screen.

It's a clever, informative, entertaining list.  Click here to enjoy the Hollywood Reporter report.

Holiday week DVD debuts; aliens & 'Summer'

Sharlto Copley attempts to relocate the aliens of "District 9."  (Sony Pictures)

'Twas a few nights before Christmas.  And all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for the gross looking aliens from "District 9."

Yes, nothing says the holidays quite like desperate, plotting extraterrestrials forced to live in ghetto shacks Mr. Potter wouldn't even dare impose on the less fortunate residents of Bedford Falls in "It's a Wonderful Life."

Yet "District 9," nominated by both the Hollywood foreign press (Golden Globe) and the Broadcast Film Critics Assoc. (Critics Choice Awards) for its screenplay, leads the buzz at your local DVD and video store today.  (Click here to read my "District 9" review.)

(Courtesy:  Fox Searchlight)

Personally, I'd go for the clever, entertaining romantic-comedy "(500) Days of Summer," which also debuts today.  Except my wife Suellen wants some holiday warm and fuzzy this week.  So we're going with "The Family Stone" (2005), a semi-new holiday chestnut, the offbeat classic "A Christmas Story" (She's never seen it all the way through.) and, on Christmas Eve, "It's a Wonderful Life."  (I'm afraid I insist on the Christmas Eve viewing of Jimmy Stewart's holiday classic.)

If you're not thinking holiday theme, aliens or "Summer" as you pull up to the vid store, might I suggest "It Might Get Loud," the excellent documentary spotlighting guitar gurus Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2)  and Jack White (The White Stripes).  (Click here for my review.)

Mike Judge's offbeat comedy "Extract" also sweetens the DVD and video pot today.  (Click here for the review.)

Just make sure you get as far away from the difficult-to-watch "romantic-comedy" "All About Steve" as you possibly can.  (Click here for the review.)

Sandra Bullock made two really entertaining films this year, "The Blind Side" and "The Proposal," and one half-baked turkey.

"All About Steve" = gobble, gobble.  

   

R.I.P.: Brittany Murphy, actress interrupted

Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher in "Just Married"  (Courtesy:  20th Century Fox)

In addition to the vibrant, joyful Christmas spirit, the holidays also always seem to have a sorrowful undertone.

Dean Martin, Charlie Chaplin and soul singer James Brown all died on Christmas Day, for instance.  Martin in 1995, Chaplin in 1977 and Brown, the great soul singer, in 2006.

We got the word yesterday that actress Brittany Murphy collapsed and died in her Los Angles home.  She was pronounced dead just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

I interviewed the co-star of "Girl, Interrupted" "8 Mile" and other films several times.  I remember Murphy being more engaging in conversation than co-star Angelina Jolie during the "Girl, Interrupted" interviews.

My other impression was that Murphy had what I recall as cat's eyes; always darting around, always keenly aware of her surroundings.

She hasn't been on the big screen much in the past few years, although she co-starred with Ashton Kutcher in the romantic-comedy "Just Married" in 2003.

"King of the Hill" fans know Murphy as feisty Luanne, an animated character that never saw a low-cut top she didn't like.

Murphy was born in Atlanta and lived in New Jersey before convincing her mother to move to Hollywood so she could pursue an acting career. 

Click here for The Hollywood Reporter's full account of Murphy's life and death.

For whatever reason -- an autopsy is pending -- the loss of Murphy is a life interrupted way too soon.

'Line!' Check out the AFI's best movie lines

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."  "Of all the gin joints ..."  "Stella!"  "As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again."

It's Friday afternoon, so why not take a little break to savor what the American Film Institute considers the finest movie lines of all time.

If you're not familiar with three or more, get to your nearest movie theater or DVD rental store STAT!

Surely, I can't be serious.  I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

Click here and hold on.  As Bette Davis said, "Fasten your seatbelts:"

'Ava'-tardies at office, school on Friday?

A Na'vi warrior races into battle on a panther-like creature in "Avatar."  (20th Century Fox)

Yes parents, it's that time again.

Your movie-fan teens are pressing hard for permission to spend tomorrow's wee morning hours at the local movie house watching James Cameron's other-world space fantasy "Avatar."

I'm not about to tell you whether or not to say "yes."  That's your department.  All I'm saying is that if you OK the kids for a wildly inventive, technically spectacular epic movie thrill ride, just know that "Avatar" rolls through the projector for just over two hours and a half.

Let's do the math here, Mom or Dad.  Let's say that "Avatar" begins just after midnight at precisely 12:01 or 12:05, which it probably won't.  That means you'll be picking up the non-drivers a little before 3 a.m. Friday.

That's the downside, of course.  Now for the upside.  If you're going to be up anyway, you might as well tag along.

Although my review won't hit this Web site until a couple of minutes past midnight tonight (I won't be up.  Thank God for automation!), I can say this.   You'll be skipping sleep for one of the Top 3 movies of 2009.

And, of course, there's the usual over-hype and hoopla factor for a movie event like this.  Carl DiOrio, writing on The Hollywood Reporter Web site, reports that "Avatar" may have cost as much as $300 million to produce. And that's without all the marketing costs.

What does Oscar-winning filmmaker Cameron ("Titanic") think about all the focus on the film's cost?

"I don't think that means jack *#@&," he told the Hollywood Reporter.

Click here to read the complete report. 

Downsizing comedy 'Up'-sizes in awards season

George Clooney and Vera Farmiga share a case of corporate wanderlust in "Up in the Air."

(Paramount Pictures)

T-t-timing isn't just for comedy anymore.

Jason Reitman's heartfelt dramatic-comedy "Up in the Air" is loading up awards baggage with precise timing the major airlines, one of which it features prominently, never dreamed of.

It's a daring comic-drama about the horrors of losing your job in a year when so many Americans have lost theirs.  It's about a lonely loner (Clooney) who only springs to life when he's on the road earning frequent-flier miles.  It's about love; the joy, the pain, the stupid, wrong decisions and occasionally, on very rare occasions, getting something right.

Sad to say (but strangely) joyful as well, two out of three of the subject thrusts of "Up in the Air" hit me squarely in the tormented soul.

Let's just say it's been a rough year, a year of living dangerously, if you will, and leave it at that.   

With nominations from the upcoming Golden Globes Awards and the Broadcast Film Critics Association, as well as best actor (George Clooney), screenplay (director Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner) and supporting actress (Anna Kendrick) wins from the National Board of Review, "Up in the Air" is ready for takeoff when the Academy Award nominations are announced on Feb. 2.

The latest kudo for the sometimes acerbic, but always poignant Clooney starring vehicle came this morning.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association, an esteemed group of North Texas film critics that includes me as a member in fairly good standing, has proclaimed "Up in the Air" the best film of 2009, edging out "The Hurt Locker" and "Precious."

This is important, I think, because if you live in North Texas, the 33 broadcast, print and on-line journalists who chose the best of the film year aren't speaking from some lofty cinematic ivory tower somewhere.

We munch popcorn and Milk Duds beside you as we appreciate the art -- and yes, sometimes the dredges -- of cinema together.

We, like you, love going to the movies, except when you rattle the ice in your drink cup, talk loudly as if you're at home and not in a public place or text (or talk) on your cell phone during the movie.  Stop that!

On more than one occasion, a member or two of our own critics' group has been guilty of taking a cell phone call or checking e-mail or making a hair appointment during a preview screening.

Stop THAT!

The bottom line, though, is that the members of the DFW Film Critics Assoc. celebrate the magic of movies just like you do.

Here's Todd Jorgenson's full press release announcing the results of the DFW Film Critics Assoc. balloting, which was released today:

DALLAS-FORT WORTH FILM CRITICS NAME “UP IN THE AIR” BEST PICTURE OF 2009

 

The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association voted the sophisticated comedy-drama UP IN THE AIR as the best film of 2009, according to the results of its 16th annual critics’ poll released today.

Rounding out the composite list of the top 10 films of the year were THE HURT LOCKER (2), PRECIOUS (3), UP (4), AN EDUCATION (5), A SERIOUS MAN (6), INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (7), DISTRICT 9 (8), AVATAR (9) and FANTASTIC MR. FOX (10).

 

For Best Actor, the association named George Clooney for UP IN THE AIR. Runners-up included Jeff Bridges for CRAZY HEART (2), Jeremy Renner for THE HURT LOCKER (3), Colin Firth for A SINGLE MAN (4) and Morgan Freeman for INVICTUS (5).

 

Carey Mulligan was voted Best Actress for AN EDUCATION. Next in the voting were Meryl Streep for JULIE AND JULIA (2), Gabourey Sidibe for PRECIOUS (3), Emily Blunt for THE YOUNG VICTORIA (4) and Sandra Bullock for THE BLIND SIDE (5).

 

In the Best Supporting Actor category, the winner was Christoph Waltz for INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. He was followed by Woody Harrelson for THE MESSENGER (2), Stanley Tucci for THE LOVELY BONES (3), Alfred Molina for AN EDUCATION (4) and Christian McKay for ME AND ORSON WELLES (5).

 

For Best Supporting Actress, the association named Mo’Nique for PRECIOUS. Runners-up included Anna Kendrick for UP IN THE AIR (2), Vera Farmiga for UP IN THE AIR (3), Marion Cotillard for NINE (4) and Maggie Gyllenhaal for CRAZY HEART (5).

 

Jason Reitman was voted Best Director for UP IN THE AIR. Next in the voting were Kathryn Bigelow for THE HURT LOCKER (2), Lee Daniels for PRECIOUS (3), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for A SERIOUS MAN (4) and Quentin Tarantino for INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (5).

 

The association voted SIN NOMBRE as the best foreign-language film of the year. Runners-up were BROKEN EMBRACES (2), SUMMER HOURS (3), THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (4) and RED CLIFF (5).

 

THE COVE won for Best Documentary over ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL (2), CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY (3), THIS IS IT (4) and a tie between BURMA VJ and THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (5).

 

UP was named the best animated film of 2009, with FANTASTIC MR. FOX as runner-up. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won the Best Screenplay award for UP IN THE AIR over Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for A SERIOUS MAN.

 

The award for Best Cinematography went to Andrew Lesnie for THE LOVELY BONES, followed by Barry Ackroyd for THE HURT LOCKER.

 

The association voted PRECIOUS as the winner of the Russell Smith Award, named for the late Dallas Morning News film critic. The honor is given annually to the best low-budget or cutting-edge independent film.

 

The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association consists of 33 broadcast, print and online journalists from throughout North Texas. For more information, visit www.dfwfilmcritics.com.

'Basterds,' 'Nine' top Critics' Choice nominations

Brad Pitt, looking for a few good "Basterds."  (The Weinstein Company)

When I filled out my Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) ballot for the Critics' Choice Awards over the weekend, I felt pretty sure that "Inglourious Basterds" would do well.

Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido in "Nine." 

(The Weinstein Company)

I'm a little blindsided that "Nine," Rob Marshall's follow-up musical to "Chicago," tied Quentin Tarantino's skewed-historical war drama with a leading 10 nominations, however.

It's a fact, though.  The musical and the war drama will battle it out for best picture honors when the 15th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards are broadcast from the Hollywood Palladium by cable channel VH-1 on Jan. 15.

James Cameron's highly anticipated sci-fi thriller "Avatar," opening Friday, came in a close second with nine nominations.  Kathryn Bigelow's riveting Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" and "Up in the Air," the business road warrior comedy starring George Clooney, tied with eight noms.

The 235-member BFCA, which includes yours truly, nominates 10 films in the best picture race.  Other candidates this year include "An Education," "Invictus," "Precious," "A Serious Man" and "Up" (the only animated entry for the top honor).

Click here for a full list of nominations compiled by Gregg Kilday of The Hollywood Reporter.   

It's official, Hollywood's gone insane over Jane

(Courtesy:  Quirk Books)

I don't know about you, but when I think of prim and proper late 18th/early 19th century British novelist Jane Austen, I think of zombies.

So does modern day U.S. writer Seth Grahame-Smith, apparently.

Grahame-Smith paid bloody homage to Austen (I'm trying not to laugh as I write this) with this year's best seller "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" published by Quirk Books.

Never heard of Quirk Books?  They're the fine folks who'll also be glad to sell you a copy of "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters," another Austen rip-off, uh, tribute.

Now comes word that Natalie Portman, on screen now in "Brothers," will take a stab at zombie slaying Austen style.  No, make that, Austen-rolling-over-in-her-grave style.

According to a report posted on the Variety Web site, Portman will star and produce "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."

"Portman will play feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet, who is distracted from her quest to eradicate the zombie menace by the arrival of the arrogant Mr. Darcy," the Variety article says.

I'd love to tell you more about the project, but I've got to get back to "Persuasion:  Fangs for the Memories."

It's a real page-burner.  This pretty, but grim demure prep school girl, like, totally falls for this brooding hunk of a teen vampire who's really 109 years old.

Boy, that Jane Austen could write some wicked $&*@.