A Serious Man

[Ed. Note: Please welcome film aficionado Robert Cotto to the Do You Like Movies About Gladiators? team. He watches way more movies than I and is thus here to breakdown his best of 2009 as we enter Golden Globe/Oscar season.]

2009 was a rather important year in cinema for me. Not because of the films that came out this year, but my further discovery of films from the Hollywood Studio Era. It’s a fact that no one makes films like the way they used to. Billy Wilder would be well impressed with the work of The Coen’s and Jason Reitman, for their attention to story and detail.

The criterion of assessing a great film is one crucial thought. Not having a wasted moment. Be it in performance or structure, the majority of the films listed below don’t waste the audience’s time. It values it.

#10. Crazy Heart

To quote Warren Beatty, “Plot is character. And character is plot.” Jeff Bridges, who is incapable of not delivering an honest moment, provides us with an unforgettable portrait of an alcoholic country-singing troubadour, who experiences a change of life after a chance meeting with a journalist and her son. T-Bone Burnett’s contribution to the original and source music provides the best soundtrack of the year.

#9. Inglourious Basterds

At the end of the day, Quentin Tarantino knows how to make movies. Brutally funny, entertaining, and perfectly cast. Christoph Waltz’s star-making portrayal as Col. Hans Landa is perfectly matched by Brad Pitt’s pitch-perfect performance of Lt. Aldo Raine. For the non-believers, see it twice. I did.

#8. In the Loop

Britain’s satire of Anglo-American politics following governmental officials in a bid to begin/prevent a war in the Middle East. Peter Capaldi gives one of the year’s memorable performances as a foul-mouth spin-doctor (who’s character originally appears on BBC’s The Thick of It).

#7. The Messenger

Ben Foster is emerging as the Sean Penn of his generation. A powerful portrait of the war at home, reminiscent of Coming Home. Note to Hollywood: pay more attention to Woody Harrelson.

#6. Away We Go

Jon Krasinski & Maya Rudolph’s chemistry highlight Sam Mendes’ coming of age film about two expecting parents.

#5. Tyson

James Toback’s friendship with Mike Tyson provided for one of the most brilliant confessionals ever put to film.

#4. The Fantastic Mr. Fox

After two disappointments, Wes Anderson returns to rare form. Using Roald Dahl’s novel as his template, he creates a world through stop-motion animation that is fitting for the world in which his other films have emerged from. The most fun at the movies all year.

#3. The Hurt Locker

In what is probably the most important film of the year, Kathryn Bigelow leaves CGI at the door to provide the most realistic portrait of war put to celluloid since Platoon.

#2. Up in the Air

Jason Reitman claims nepotism didn’t work for his success. This film surely proves it. Reitman continues to show that he’s truly an actor’s director, incapable of wasting moments with his characters. George Clooney gives an exceptional performance.

#1. A Serious Man

This is the type of film that you’re supposed to make after you sweep the Academy Awards. The Coen Brothers continue to prove they are a leading voice in American cinema.

Related Topics: A Serious Man, Away We Go, Crazy Heart, In the Loop, Inglorious Basterds, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Hurt Locker, The Messenger, Tyson, Up in the Air

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