Hood Today

Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Lifestyle

As the calendar turns to a new year and the beginnings of a new decade, it is time to look back on the films that have truly made an impact on the year of 2009.

Last year was a year of soldiers, leaders, laughs, love, animation, and unforgettable aliens, as we think of the most outstanding movies of 2009.

This list shines a spotlight on the best of the best, number ten being tenth best, up to number one being the absolute best of the year.

10. This movie hits you where it hurts the most . The #10 film of 2009 is "The Blind Side," starring Golden Globe winner Sandra Bullock ("Miss Congeniality") as Leigh Anne Tuohy a Southern matriarch who changes the life of the then homeless Michael Oher, played by Quentin Aaron, by opening her home and family to him and putting him on the path that will lead him to a career in the NFL.

This movie was the most inspirational film of 2009. Bullock was positively outstanding in this role, and she earned all of the award buzz surrounding her.

"The Blind Side," also made this list because of its heartfelt humor, a great performance by young Jae Head, an amazing story, and wonderful direction by John Lee Hancock.

9. Look out Hitler. Brad Pitt is coming for you. #9 goes to Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds." In Tarantino's World War II film, Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") leads a small band of Jewish American soldiers into Nazi-occupied France. Their mission: to exterminate as many Nazis as possible.

This was perhaps the most original story of the year, and it was well cast all around, but the true star of the show was definitely Christoph Waltz as Nazi Colonel Hans Landa, a devious and menacing soldier who is loyal to the cause and his country's ideals.

The dialogue of the film did seem to drag on and the action sequences felt rushed, but this was a movie no one could forget. And a hats off to Christoph Waltz who may have an Academy Award in his future.

8. Touch Eastwood's car, you'd better feel lucky. The #8 spot goes to "Gran Torino," a movie produced, directed by, and starring American acting legend Clint Eastwood, ("Dirty Harry") as Walt Kowalski, a bitter, racist Korean War veteran who holds his classic Gran Torino more dear to him than his own family. That soon changes when neighborhood gang violence gives Kowalski the opportunity to bond with his Hmong neighbors and show those thugs a thing or two.

This movie was all classic Eastwood, from start to finish. He is amazing as the tough guy who likes to growl at things he doesn't like or understand. He is simply superb.

7. Morgan Freeman was born for this . Lucky #7 goes to another Clint Eastwood movie, "Invictus." The Eastwood directed film stars Morgan Freeman ("Along Came a Spider") as the charismatic South African president Nelson Mandela, who is elected to a racially divided country and seeks to heal and unify his country by inspiring the South African rugby team, led by Matt Damon ("The Departed"), to win the World Cup.

With great direction from Clint Eastwood, a stellar supporting role from Matt Damon, but most of all, a phenomenal performance from Morgan Freeman, who should be the top contender for the Oscar for Best Actor, "Invictus" is among the most inspiring movies of this year.

6. How many days are in summer exactly? The #6 movie of 2009 goes to the funniest movie of the year, and no it is not "The Hangover." It is a little movie called "500 Days of Summer." Directed by Mark Webb, and starring Joseph-Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, "500 Days of Summer," is a romantic comedy about the 500-day rise and fall of the relationship between hopeless romantic Tom (Levitt) and Summer (Deschanel), a realist who doesn't believe that true love leads to a fairy tale ending.

This was perhaps the funniest comedy since "Juno," and audiences should see this movie because it will have you laughing from hysterical start to ironic finish, and what makes this movie funny is that it is truly genuine.

5. Wild Things. They make your heart sing. The #5 film of 2009 is "Where the Wild Things Are." Directed by Spike Jonze and based on the book by Maurice Sendak, "Where the Wild Things Are" is about a boy named Max, played by Max Records, who runs away from home and escapes to an island populated by fantastical fun-loving creatures called Wild Things.

This movie had a strong emotional resonance, an innocence that could be felt by everyone watching it.

Truly powerful, amazing direction from Jonze, and a great performance turned in by Records, is the reason why "Where the Wild Things Are," is on the #5 position.

4. Boom, Boom, Wow. If anyone thought that "Inglourious Bastards" was a good war movie, and "Transformers" had amazing explosions sequences, experience the #4 film of 2009. "The Hurt Locker," directed by Kathryn Bigelow tells the story of American soldiers who have the most dangerous job in the world; disarming explosives in 2004 Iraq. The team is led by Sgt. William "Wildman" James, played by Jeremy Renner, who takes his job and his life into his own hands as he is out there disarming the explosives. Acting as the voice of reason is Sgt. J.T. Sanbourne, played by Anthony Mackie, who tries to keep James in line and especially alive.

This movie was immersed in the stench of suspense, and constantly reminded you that your heart was racing as your eyes were fixed on the screen.

This movie was intense through and through. Expect it to clean up in the categories of Best Direction and Best Picture at the Academy Awards. If you haven't seen "The Hurt Locker," see it.

3. Aliens have landed, and humans are the bad guys? "District 9," takes the #3 spot on the top ten films of 2009. Produced by Peter Jackson ("Lord of the Rings"), and written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, "District 9," takes a look at a race of aliens who landed in Johannesburg and have been round-up, isolated, and monitored in the slum-like District 9. The government agency responsible for their welfare decides to evict them from their homes to be relocated and hands the operation to cubicle worker Wikus van de Merwe, played by Sharlto Copley, who in the midst of the eviction has his life changed forever.

The film is saturated in amazing visual effects, fully developed aliens and, with a solid performance from Sharlto Copley, this film is simply outstanding.

2. Cooking with Meryl and Amy. The runner up to the best movie of 2009 is hands down, "Julie & Julia." Directed by Nora Ephron, and starring Academy Award winner Meryl Streep ("The Devil Wears Prada") and Academy Award nominee Amy Adams ("Enchanted"), "Julie & Julia" is based on two true stories. Streep portrays Julia Child, a married, middle aged American in Paris, who eventually becomes the revolutionary chef who teaches Americans to cook, and Adams is Julie Powell, a lowly office worker who decides to find purpose in her life by spending a year blogging about cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook.

With two outstanding performances by Streep and Adams, and Nora Ephron's ingenious direction and screenwriting, "Julie & Julia" easily snags the #2 spot.

1. Here's to the blue people! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the absolute #1 best movie of 2009 has to be "Avatar." Directed by James Cameron ("Titanic"), "Avatar" is the story of handicapped ex-Marine Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington ("Terminator Salvation"), who is whisked away to the moon of Pandora to take part in the Avatar program, in which humans are psychically linked to an artificially crafted alien to live with the natives called the Na'vi. Among the tribe Jake meets and falls in love with Na'vi princess Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana ("Star Trek"), and discovers what is truly worth fighting for.

"Avatar" is completely revolutionary, bold, exhilarating, and nothing short of genius. It took James Cameron 12 years to make this movie, and it was 12 years well worth it.

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