2009: The 12 Best Current Films Al Saw, So Far
© A.J. Malouin 2009
If you watch a lot of films & movies, it’s not “fair” to rank ones made worldwide in the last four years in the same grouping with those made in the hundred years *before* these last four years. Nor are documentary films to be looked at through the same lens as “totally” imaginary works of film art. Therefore, here are the 12 best (in his Opinion) current films & movies Al saw during 2009 Gregorian.
(This list was last undated on Monday, 29 June 2009.)
The Wrestler
—Al hates professional wrestling and hates third-tier professional wrestling 27 times worst. Here, though, Mickey Rourke as a washed-over wrestler, Evan Rachel Wood as his estranged daughter Stephanie, and Marissa Tomei as his S.O. (or something) ALL turn in magnificent performances as the people more or less involved in this tawdry livelihood.
Revanche [Revenge]
—So beautiful it’s indescribable, although we did try to do so earlier on this blog. See our review under our sidebar page “Archives > May 2009”
Revolutionary Road
—This film is neither Here nor There actually but of the films in our current backlog, and is currently one of Al’s 12 Current Best.
The Reader
—You know? It’s more of the Holocaust…and we Really don’t need more. There are several loverly performances, however, in this tired old theme about how (obviously!) horrible the Holocaust was.
Oktapodi
—If you love eating calamari you’ll love this funny, brightly animated film, which looks at calamari from the other participant’s point of view.
O’Horton
—Director Bent Hamer’s body of work, including “Factotum,” a film based on a fictional alter-ego of the poet Charles Bukowski, and “Salmerfra Kjokkenet” [“Kitchen Stories,”] make “O’Horton” a film not to be missed, when it (now) comes out in DVD home release.
Lymelife
—Several brilliant performances here. See our review under our sidebar page “Archives > May 2009”
The Limits of Control
—Watch everything that Jim Jarmush has ever written and/or directed. (This is a direct order!) This Fall you get to rent this, a brilliant piece of filmmaking!
Lat den ratte komma in [Let the Right One in]
—Children have troubles in society, just as adults do. If you’ve been a 12-year-old girl for thousands of years, you are going to have both advantages and disadvantages compared to a classmate who lives in the same apartment complex as you do.
Gomorra [Gomorrah]
—The life of a criminal seems all glitter and academy awards in *some* films but here is a better look (on film) at what the average criminal goes through. See our review under our sidebar page “Archives > March 2009”
Etz Limon [Lemon Tree]
—Just wonderful! See our review under our sidebar page “Archives > May 2009”
Aanrijding in Moscou [Moscow, Belgium]
—Everyone here is wanting to start over. At least they think that is what they want. A love story of delicate proportions! Don’t miss it watching it when you can finally take it Home for the night.