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By Dwight Brown | SACOBSERVER.COM WIRE SERVICES
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Zoe Saldana stars in the latest James
Cameron epic, sci-fi film "Avatar."
Photo (c) 20th Century Fox. |
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(NNPA) - In this sweeping year
of change, good films have remained a constant. Looking back
on the high-quality movies of 2009, there are memorable stories,
outstanding performances, high-drama, romance, lots of laughs,
and wild thrills. Certain films stand out and will vie for
Oscar awards. Some may never win a trophy, but still have
a lot to offer audiences in theaters, on DVD, or Video On
Demand. These top 10 movies deserve praise on many levels.
The 10 Best Films:
AVATAR (***1/2)
Director James Cameron ("Titanic") mixes live action
and animation to create a 3-D, sci-fi epic about a paraplegic
marine who inhabits the body of a blue, nine-foot-tall, indigenous
droid warrior, an Avatar. The Avatar’s job is to infiltrate
an indigenous tribe group called Na’vi on the moon Pandora
so greedy capitalists can steal buried treasure. A chief’s
daughter (Zoe Saldana) deters bad intentions. The live-action
shots are engaging but don’t hold a candle to the make-believe,
idealistic world of Pandora where astonishing creatures, both
prehistoric and jungle-like, roam. Visually stunning. Eco-friendly.
Groundbreaking technology. An ambitious, groundbreaking film
on the level of "Star Wars" and "Lord of the
Rings."
FANTASTIC MR. FOX (***1/2)
Wes Anderson’s films ("The Royal Tennenbaums,"
"The Darjeeling Limited") are a bit quirky and not
everyone’s taste. This animated movie is his most accessible
and clever film yet. A sly fox (George Clooney) swears to
his wife (Meryl Streep) that he is so over his dangerous habit
of stealing chickens. But like a junkie needing a fix, he’s
back to scoping hen houses and pissing off farmers who have
a vendetta. The script was adapted from a children’s’
book by Roald Dahl ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory").
Odd, jerky animation, compelling voiceovers and droll dialogue
appeal to kids and adults.
HUNGER (****)
The “troubles” between Catholics and Protestants
in Northern Ireland are an enigmatic social issue to most
Americans. African heritage director Steve McQueen and his
writing partner Enda Walsh put a face on the suffering of
the Catholic contingent when they penned and made this riveting
film that chronicles the last six weeks of the life of the
Irish republican political prisoner and hunger striker Bobby
Sands. McQueen’s directing debut is intuitive and polished.
Michael Fassbender as the emaciated Sands turns in the most
challenging male performance of the year.
THE HURT LOCKER (***1/2)
Director Kathryn Bigelow injects a steely, cinema verité
style in this Iraq war film that puts the audience in the
boots of a rebel-rousing, adrenaline-junkie Staff Sgt. William
James (Jeremy Renner) who has the plumb assignment of defusing
bombs. She deglamorizes combat and creates teeth-grinding
suspense with a could-get-killed-any-minute rhythm that keeps
you looking over your shoulder. Anthony Mackie plays the Staff
Sgt.’s antithesis, as the levelheaded, war-weary Sgt.
JT Sanborn. Maverick, in-your-face filmmaking.
INVICTUS (***)
Former South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela emerged
from two decades of prison with saintly virtues. Morgan Freeman
masterfully channels the thoughtful leader as he uses the
sport of rugby and a formerly, nearly all-White national team
to propagate his message of truth and reconciliation. Clint
Eastwood directs. His son Kyle Eastwood provides a winsome
musical score. Matt Damon, with a pitch perfect South African
accent, gives a superb supporting performance as the rugby
captain.
PRECIOUS: Based on the novel “Push”
by Sapphire (****)
Something in this very specific urban drama about an over-weight,
abused African American teenage mother touches audiences.
Credit a strong script (Geoffrey Fletcher) that pits a vulnerable
adolescent (gracefully played by Gabourey “Gabby”
Sidibe) against a demonic mother (Mo’Nique, she’s
a hurricane). Lee Daniels, an uncompromising director, artfully
intertwines winsome, escapist imagery among the nightmarish
tragedy. Yes the film depicts an African American family gaming
the welfare system. Yes Black men are demonized (the father
in this films does every thing but steal his child’s
purse). Even with these transgressions, Precious is an emotionally
satisfying, inspiring and enormously courageous film.
PUBLIC ENEMIES (***1/2)
Director Michael Mann’s ("Heat," "Ali")
exhibits certain artistry in this crime story that follows
J. Edgar Hoover (Bully Crudup) and F.B.I. agent Melvin Purvis
(Christian Bale) as they track down notorious American gangsters
John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham)
and Pretty Boy Floyd (Channing Tatum). Awe-inspiring filmmaking
showcases Depp in one of his most charismatic portrayals.
Oscar-winning French actress Marion Cotlillard plays Dillinger’s
love interest. Gorgeous cinematography.
STAR TREK (****)
A brazen, young Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), an enigmatic
Spock (Zachary Quinto), and a spunky new Uhura (Zoe Saldana)
rejuvenate the USS Enterprise crew, making Star Trek last
summer’s best adrenalin-pumping blockbuster. An ingeniously
conceived plotline weaves in and out of the past and present
and is mind blowing. Heart-racing action at warp speed. Perfectly
choreographed by director J.J. Abrams ("Lost," "Alias").
THIS IS IT (***1/2)
Arguably the best swansong musical documentary made. An engaging
combination of live rehearsals and MTV-like footage along
with the grueling performances of a pop culture icon whose
music, dancing and stage performances have touched people
around the world in ways he could never fathom. This concert
movie about Michael Jackson, with no live audience, will become
a DVD classic.
UP (****)
Pixar Animation Studios hits the jackpot again with this funny,
adventurous romp that teams a grouchy 78-year-old widower
(Ed Asner) and an overzealous eight-year-old explorer scout
(Jordan Nagal). They take a trip in his house, suspended by
thousands of balloons, to Paradise Falls South America to
fulfill a dream of his late wife. Lively, edgy and heartwarming
family entertainment.
Good Films Hanging Off the Top Ten:
- 500 Days of Summer
- Everybody’s Fine
- Tyson, Soul Power
- Up In The Air
- Paranormal Activity
- An Education, More Than A Game
- Coco Before Chanel
- Summer Hours
- Sin Nombré
- Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself
- The September Issue
- Flame & Citron
- Departures
- American Violet
- Crank: High Voltage
- Gomorrah
- The Class
- Taken
- Notorious
- Ché
- Sherlock Holmes
- Up In The Air
- A Single Man
- The Princess and the Frog
Disappointing Films That Couldn’t Find
A Groove:
- Good Hair
- Fame
- Bright Star
- The Informant
- Men Who Stare @ Goats
- Taking Woodstock
- Bruno
- Dance Flick
- Angels & Demons
- Next Day Air
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine
- The Soloist
- Watchmen
- Nine
- The Road
Pass along the good word on the good films.
Better yet, see them yourself. And above all, have a…HAPPY
NEW YEAR!
Visit NNPA Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.
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