And so we reach the end of 2009. It’s been quite a year for movies, hasn’t it? Records were broken, vampires continued to sparkle and the game was presumably changed. James Cameron showed the world that he still knows how to tell a tale. Neill Blomkamp and Oren Peli both proved that there are still fresh, original ways of presenting familiar fare. And folks like Joel and Ethan Coen, Jason Reitman, Quentin Tarantino, J.J. Abrams, Spike Jonze and the entire Pixar team continued to define themselves as some of our favorite storytellers.
Here on the MTV Movies team, everyone has a different idea about what made 2009 a fantastic one for film. I’m here to share some of those highlight moments and favorite movies with you now. The entire team isn’t represented here — busy end-of-year schedules and all that jazz — but you get a good sampling of what moved us and why. Happy New Year, y’all! See you in 2010!
Josh Horowitz, MTV Movies Managing Editor on his favorite movie of the year… (originally posted as part of Josh’s Top 10 of 2009 list)
It’s admittedly easy to fall into hyperbolic exclamations when discussing (maybe) the biggest movie ever made but here we go…
“Avatar” is why we go to the movies. Or to make it more personal, “Avatar” is why I fell in love with the movies. It inspires awe and emotion by equal measure and that’s a mean feat when the former has the most sophisticated effects ever created behind it. Anchored by soulful performances (Worthington and Saldana impress more with each viewing) that somehow transcend the spectacle, “Avatar” takes its rightful place alongside the great wondrous epics that stand for what the medium can be at its best. I’ve seen “Avatar” three times and it makes me feel like a kid again every time. I look forward to taking the trip again.
Brian Jacks, Senior Producer on his favorite releases of the year…
“Adventureland“
A hip, modern romantic comedy with superbly convincing performances from Jessie Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, and a wonderfully understated ensemble cast.
“Taken“
One of the best action films of the past decade, placing Liam Neeson’s vengeful father on the same pedestal as James Bond and Jason Bourne.
“Duplicity“
A cute spy yarn showcasing the picture-perfect chemistry between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.
“District 9“
Any film that grosses over $100 million on a budget of under $20,000 deserves respect, but luckily in this case it was also one of the smartest, most original sci-fi movies in recent memory.
“Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans“
An absolute joy to see a battle-hardened Nicolas Cage basking his most surreal film since “Leaving Las Vegas.”
“Avatar“
A defining gamechanger for the industry, Avatar builds on its lavish special effects with an emotional connecting storyline and characters you can root for.
Kyle Anderson, MTV Newsroom Editor on his favorite movie of the year…
Definitely “Taken.” I saw the “I will find you and I will kill you” ads on TV and thought, “That looks delightfully nutty,” but couldn’t dream of the awesomeness contained within. For those who don’t know, “Taken” is the story of Liam Neeson and how he likes to go to Paris to shoot people in the face (the movie is even more awesome than that description). Who knew that Neeson was such a great action hero?
Rachel Josue, Digital Producer on… well… see for yourself:
Best WTF (yet awesome!) Stint On A Soap: James Franco
Josh Wigler, Contributing Editor on two standouts in 2009…
Best Performance: Sam Rockwell, “Moon” (*spoilers ahead*)
Not only is Sam Rockwell’s turn as lonely moon-dwelling spaceman Sam Bell in Duncan Jones’ “Moon” the actor’s finest performance to date, it’s also the single best performance of the year. The fact that Rockwell — and “Moon” at large — was entirely skipped over by the Golden Globes is still frustrating to me, but it doesn’t take away from the actor’s fantastic portrayal(s) of a man (men) on the edge of his (their) wits. (*end spoilers*)
Best Theatrical Experience of the Year: “Drag Me To Hell”
As an avid fan of James Cameron’s, I fully expected “Avatar” to be my favorite moviegoing experience of the year. It certainly ranks high on the list, but the top honor ultimately goes to director Sam Raimi’s epic return to the horror genre in “Drag Me To Hell.” Is it the best movie of the year? No, probably not, but it’s certainly the most entertaining trip to the theaters I had all year. If you missed this in cinemas, make sure you see it with the best surround sound system you can possibly get your hands on — the gags in this movie are all about the sound, provoking one of the most simultaneously disgusting, hilarious and riveting viewing experiences of 2009.
Adam Rosenberg, MTV Movies Blog Editor on his favorite in-theater experience of the year…
I saw lots of great stuff this year and had a kickass time taking it all in at theaters, but nothing for me compares to the experience of seeing “Black Dynamite” at Sundance in January. It was a midnight screening, the capper on a two-day span during which I took in 10 movies, five per day. We got to the theater 10-15 minutes late, but it didn’t matter; a packed house kept the movie from starting in anything approaching a timely fashion. It also created a magnificent sort of energy in the room, one of those situations where everyone is responding to the movie in tandem with one another.
“Black Dynamite” is a riotous good time, and one of my favorite flicks of the year. This enthusiasm comes in part from that night’s screening, two hours of non-stop laughter and hooting. It also comes in part from the movie’s climactic showdown. Spoilers lie ahead, so beware. But any movie that pits our hero against President Richard Nixon in a nunchaku fight wins, simple as that.
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