15 years on, 2009 looks to be one of the best years for cinema in the 21st century. Several iconic directors produced some of their best work in 2009, including Kathryn Bigelow, Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. The year also delivered some surprise hits, like Neil Blomkamp’sDistrict 9, which came out of nowhere to shake up the sci-fi genre and establish the director as a name worth keeping an eye on.
At the box office, the big story of 2009 was the record-breaking success ofAvatar,which is something that continues to shape the movie industry. Other big financial winners were Pixar’sUp,which is yet another animated classic from the studio, andThe Hangover, which is the kind of comedy that probably wouldn’t be as successful in today’s industry. 2009’s best movies encompass dramas, sci-fi, horror and more.
Not all Best Picture winners have aged well, especially not those which seem to be propelled to their victory based on how they capture a specific moment in time.The Hurt Lockeris not one of these movies, and it remains every bit as exciting 15 years later. Kathryn Bigelow’s mastery of tension and frantic release makesThe Hurt Lockera worthy title to hold the distinction of being the first Best Picture winner directed by a woman.
Kathryn Bigelow’s mastery of tension and frantic release makesThe Hurt Lockera worthy title to hold the distinction of being the first Best Picture winner directed by a woman.
The Hurt Lockertakes inspiration from screenwriter Mark Boal’s experiences as an embedded journalist during the Iraq War, and this gives the movie an immersive and believable atmosphere.WatchingThe Hurt Lockercan be a draining experience, but this is the point. It wouldn’t work without Bigelow’s clear and precise direction, and a career-best performance from Jeremy Renner as a relatable character with an extraordinary aptitude for what he does.
Upcame out in the middle of a hot streak for Pixar which also saw the release ofRatatouille, WALL-EandToy Story 3in consecutive years. Each of these classics now rank amongPixar’s best moviesfor various reasons.Upstands out for the simple fact that the main characters are all humans living in a world not too dissimilar to our own, which is a rarity for Pixar. Historically, the studio has been more focused on toys, fish, cars, monsters or anything else.
Upstands out for the simple fact that the main characters are all humans living in a world not too dissimilar to our own, which is a rarity for Pixar.
Upsets out its intentions with its incredible opening montage,designed to make audiences laugh and cry within just a few minutes. The story of Carl and Ellie’s life givesUpmeaningful emotional stakes even when Carl finds himself lugging his entire house over a remote plateau in South America. This blend of the deeply personal and the highly absurd makesUpsuch an endearing and rewatchable addition to the Pixar canon.
Wes Anderson had experimented a little with stop-motion animation beforeThe Fantastic Mr. Fox,notably with the quirky creatures inThe Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.The Fantastic Mr. Foxrepresented a huge leap forward, however, and Anderson took to the medium like a natural. He has always been a director who likes to exert total control over everything in frame, and stop-motion animation allows him to comb every hair of his charismatic critters to his liking.
All 4 Of Wes Anderson’s Short Roald Dahl Movies, Ranked Worst To Best
Four new short films from Wes Anderson have been released on Netflix, all based on short stories by Roald Dahl, but all have their pros and cons.
The Fantastic Mr. Foxremains one ofWes Anderson’s best movies, alongside the likes ofThe Grand Budapest HotelandRushmore.It’s no surprise that Anderson recently returned to the works of Roald Dahl for inspiration with his series of shorts on Netflix. Dahl’s children’s stories are often categorized by their frightening moments.The Fantastic Mr. Foxembellishes the story with abandon, butAnderson adopts Dahl’s technique of never talking down to a young audience.15 years later, many critics are still undecided ifThe Fantastic Mr. Foxshould even be seen as a children’s movie.
David Fincher’s 2011 English-language version may be more famous, but there’s a lot to admire about Niels Arden Oplev’sThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.There has been an ongoing debate over which adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s best-selling crime novel is superior.Both have their own positives and slightly different focuses, and both are worth watching for fans of the novel or fans of gritty crime thrillers in general.
ATV adaptation ofThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoois currently in development for Amazon.
Although the cast of 2009’sThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoowill be largely unknown to audiences outside of Sweden, the two stars have gone on to find mainstream success in Hollywood. Michael Nyqvist plays the villains inMission: Impossible - Ghost ProtocolandJohn Wick,while Noomi Rapace will be familiar to fans of theAlienfranchise. They both deliver compelling performances inThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoothat help to create an intense, heart-pounding atmosphere.
Avatarwas the biggest movie of 2009, and it remains the highest-grossing movie of all time with a global box office gross just shy of $3 billion. Even by James Cameron’s absurdly high money-making standards, this represented a seismic hit, especially consideringAvataris an original concept that doesn’t rely on pre-existing IP. After over a decade of dormancy, the franchise has come roaring back.Avatar: Fire and Ashis set for a December 2025 release, and there will be at least two further sequels.
Avatardelivers the kind of hair-raising cinematic spectacle that audiences have come to expect from James Cameron.
Avatardelivers the kind of hair-raising cinematic spectacle that audiences have come to expect from James Cameron. It’s a movie that definitely works best on the biggest screens available, andit represents the peak of the 3-D screening fad of the 2000sand early 2010s.Avatarwas more than just another movie in 2009. It was sold as a full-body immersive experience to transport audiences to a new world, and it delivered.
The unorthodox alien invasion storyDistrict 9is inspired in part by director Neil Blomkamp’s vision of South African apartheid. More specifically, the movie refers to"District Six,“an area of Cape Town that was turned into a whites-only neighborhood during the peak of South Africa’s segregation era. WhileDistrict 9produces an intelligent allegory about apartheid, the broad strokes of the story also apply to other forms of racism, xenophobia and marginalization.
WhileDistrict 9produces an intelligent allegory about apartheid, the broad strokes of the story also apply to other forms of racism, xenophobia and marginalization.
District 9makes its high-concept sci-fi story feel grounded and real with some documentary-style sequences, news reports and interviews. These all grant the world ofDistrict 9with a realistic complexity and nuance, but what’s more important is that the kinds of things people say about the strange insectoid aliens aren’t too far removed from 21st century political discourse. Beyond its social commentary,District 9also delivers a finely-tuned personal story.Fans have been calling for a sequel ever since 2009, but concrete news has been scarce.
Moonstars Sam Rockwell as a lone astronaut at an automated mining station on the far side of the moon nearing the end of his three-year contract. Despite its relatively small budget of just $5 million,Mooncreates an absorbing portrait of a strange near-future. It uses its budget wisely, and eschews splashy sci-fi spectacle in favor of an emotionally-driven human story that ultimately leaves a greater impression.
Moonstill doesn’t get the kind of recognition that it deserves. It’s a relatively low-key sci-fi movie, far from the likes ofAvatar,which summed up the era. However,Moonhas gathered many fans who can appreciate it for what it is. Its appeal is built around a great double-performance from Sam Rockwell, who manages to be compelling even when he’s on screen alone for long stretches.
The legacy ofThe Hangoverhas been tarnished somewhat by its two sub-par sequels, but it’s worth remembering how the classic comedy earned its status.The Hangoverrevels in bad-taste, brash humor that gets the most out of its three main stars. With a madcap misadventure involving a missing person, a mysterious baby and Mike Tyson, it hits the heights of chaotic comedy, even if some may find its loud humor a turn-off.
“In An Instant”: Bradley Cooper Explains Why He’s Open For The Hangover 4 Return
Bradley Cooper explains why he’s still open for a return in The Hangover 4 a decade after the raunchy comedy franchise came to a close.
The Hangoveris filled with great quotesto go with its confident physical humor.The Hangover’s varied approach to comedy is also reflected in the talents of its cast, with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis all bringing something different to the dynamic. With a hilarious turn from Ken Jeong,The Hangovercements its place as a comedy classic that’s full of surprises. The movie’s quality and popularity are best reflected in the simple fact that the premise doesn’t warrant any sequels, butThe Hangoverhas two.
Not everybody lovesJennifer’s Body,with some critics dismissing it as another comedy horror that trades in shock and sexuality. However,Jennifer’s Bodyhas grown a firm fan base as a cult classic, especially within queer circles. The story about a woman who sustains herself by killing and devouring men is seen in some quarters as a sapphic satire and a feminist fantasy.
Jennifer’s Bodyhas grown a firm fan base as a cult classic, especially within queer circles.
Jennifer’s Bodyhas a woeful Rotten Tomatoes score of just 46%, and audiences rated it at an even worse 35%. It’s certainly not what many people would picture when discussing the classics, but it’s a surprisingly clever teen comedy that may go over some people’s heads due to its gore and heavy focus on Megan Fox’s appearance.Jennifer’s Bodystill doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.
Quentin Tarantino seems set on the idea of retiring after directing his tenth movie, leaving a record with all hits and no misses. Once the dust has settled and critics present their rankings of his filmography as a whole, expectInglourious Basterdsto wind up near the number one spot. 15 years after the groundbreaking success ofPulp Fiction,Tarantino proved he was just as inventive and unique as ever with a war movie that rips up the history books.
Inglourious Basterdsdoes for the war genre whatKill BillandDjango Unchaineddo for martial arts movies and westerns.
Inglourious Basterdsdoes for the war genre whatKill BillandDjango Unchaineddo for martial arts movies and westerns. It’s a love letter to the classics that came before it, but it also feels completely original and revolutionary in its own way. It helps thatInglourious Basterdshas an outstanding cast. The range of talent allows Tarantino to dip in and out of several loosely connected plot threads which all come together in one magnificent crescendo.
