By Philip Barrett on June 30th, 2009 -
Atomic Midterm: Mid-Year Top 10
With June now leaving us, this marks the midway point of the year. It also means Comic Con, District 9, the 2009 NFL Season (GO STEELERS), my birthday, and Christmas are all around the corner. It also means it’s time to take a look at as of right now are the ten best films of the year. As always, I suggest you take this as opinion only and not some form of law that these are absolutely the best films of the year so far. But really, I’m right and you’re wrong anyway so that’d be pointless. 
10. STAR TREK
Star Trek may have a story that’s full of plot holes and problems, but J.J. Abrams makes the chaos work to create the film that kicked off summer. Chris Pine takes Captain Kirk and makes him his own while Karl Urban a performance DeForest Kelley would be proud of. The effects don’t disappoint and the action is pretty thrilling. It works, and it’s certainly better than Orci and Kurtzman’s other film this year. Here’s looking forward to another, better adventure with this team.
Current Grade – 7.5/10
9. IS ANYBODY THERE?
Michael Caine makes this film, which also makes this flick a prime example of an actor elevating everything around him. Not that John Crowley doesn’t do a bad job directing the film, but it’s just Caine is that good of an actor. Bill Miner certainly surprises in that he’s not annoying and can keep up with the lead Michael Caine gives him. He’s around fourteen so watching him grow up is going to be wonderful. Unlike most films of it’s ilk, this one doesn’t sniff it’s own behind and decides to tell a good story first (here’s lookin’ at you Away We Go.)
Current Grade - 8/10
8. CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE
Odd choice? Oh really, well pardon me for actually having some form of fun when I go to my pictures. The first Crank was offensive, violent, and just balls to the wall fun. The second is more offensive, more outlandish, and just more fun. Who hasn’t had a day they wanted to just go off and destroy any and everyone? Besides if depressed teenage girls and mothers are allowed to live through Bella in Twatlight then I’m allowed to project myself onto Jason Statham in this film. So sue me, I loved this movie and it’s all kinds of fun.
Current Grade - 8/10
Current Grade - 8/10
7. IL DIVO
My friend Anders Wright (San Diego City Beat) said “this is what Godfather III should have been” and he’s right. Il Divo is a Guy Ritchie film on steroids, only it’s more thoughtful and a bit more serious than any of Ritchie’s outings. Tony Servillo gives a great performance as Giulio Andreotti and helps drive the film along with Paolo Sorrentino’s unique vision. There’s a lot to like with this film and it certainly focuses on how Italy became what it is today. That might make it difficult to translate, but technically, there’s few better films this year.
Current Grade – 8.5/10
6. ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL
Rarely does a documentary do such a good job and translating it’s story but Anvil is a wonderful portrait about a band that had a ton of influence but never achieved the success of other (sometimes lesser) bands. Parts of it are hilarious yet other scenes that are supposed to evoke laughs are incredibly depressing and really play on the heart strings. After watching the movie, it really makes one happy that they’re finally achieving so much success after the film brought their plight to a wider audience. Here’s to more success from these guys.
Current Grade – 9/10
5. MOON
Moon has the best performance you’ll see all year from Sam Rockwell. As much as Heath Ledger deserved his nomination last year, Sam Rockwell deserves it ten times more than The Joker did for not only how much he has to do, but how seamless he makes it all appear. It’s also a tough sell that this is Duncan Jones’ first outing as a feature film director as he handles this like a seasoned veteran. The result is arguably the best science fiction fim of the year and one of the most brilliant pieces of the past few years.
Current Grade – 9/10
4. WATCHMEN
Before Zack Snyder’s adaptation landed, I was 100% against it and cursed him with a thousand pains from Hell. Coming out of it I was amazed he had not only crafted a picture that showed he could handle complex material, but also not crapped all over the source material like so many of us feared. I felt because of what Watchmen the book is the film had to be the best of it’s kind and just by an edge, it is. There are some flaws with this theatrical cut (some of which will be fixed with the Director’s Cut) but they can be overlooked for what was accomplished by translating this material correctly to the screen.
Current Grade – 9/10
3. UP
Ian Forbes (Sobering Conclusion) and I both went into this movie wondering how they could top WALL-E. Pixar did, and really crafted a film that features one of the best scenes ever put on film, animation or live action. What Up embodies is a studio that has vastly improved as filmmakers over time and remind me a lot of what Disney used to be way back when. Up isn’t in your face but is very subtle with it’s story and characters and doesn’t bombard us with characters who don’t need to be there. Oh, and if you don’t tear up you’re inhuman.
Current Grade – 9.5/10
2. PUBLIC ENEMIES
Yes, I’m a huge Michael Mann freak so that added to my enjoyment of this film. What I got was a perfectly crafted crime film that immerses it’s viewer into this era and is expertly acted by all parties. The real gem is Mann’s direction as he pulls out his best film since The Insider. No shot is unwelcome and he recreates the era using the radios, movies, and landscape. It’s a true marvel that should really get him the attention he’s so desperately deserved for a long while now. It’s a Mann movie through and through, and that’s what makes it so great.
Current Grade – 10/10
1. THE HURT LOCKER
The way I keep boasting about this film, you’d assume Summit paid me off. But no, I’m just a huge fan of Kathryn Bigelow’s and eagerly anticipated this film just as much as any big summer blockbuster this year. This film didn’t disappoint and exceeded the very high expectations I had for it (the fact I’m putting over a MICHAEL MANN film should say something.) It’s a brilliant story of what war does do you and reminds me of Taxi Driver where our antagonist is the lead character slowly going mad. The action is brilliant and the tension is second to none in this movie. It’s the best film of the year for a reason and deserves to be marveled at.
Current Grade – 10/10
So there you have it. Discuss, debate, enjoy.
