another look back at 2009 in film

ben's top ten movies of 2009 (part two)

6) A Serious Man

after winning an academy award and making universal a solid all star comedy, the coen brothers decided to make this film- a low key, personal story apparently about their upbringing.. anyways, this film was so depressingly funny and poetic and posed some really solid questions about faith and ... well, basically... WHY???

beautifully photographed by their regular collaborator roger deakins, this film is an endearing and at times testing film that demands (i believe) multiple viewings! the acting is all top class by a bunch of relative unknowns but you know you're in capable hands with the coens! and talk about an ending!! phew!

7) District 9

based on the short film - "alive in joburg" - district 9 is the first feature film from director neil blomkamp! made on a budget for next to nothing, this film looks amazing! set amongst the slums of south africa when aliens have landed on earth and become stranded, therefore becoming refugees!

this movie was such a ride and it started off with a slightly unlikable main character but by the end of the film i was crying over an alien!!! it was ridiculous! and the soundtrack is tops too! i love the way the african vocals combine with frenetic bourne ultimatum-esque action music!! twists and turns and turbulent triumphs, district 9 is so, so so much fun!!!

ok, i cannot finish this list at the moment and may have to post a part 3! i am seriously struggling to make 10 films... looking at the list of films that have been released this year it is going to be tough!!!

anyways, talk soon kids!!! xox

some of my favourite songs of the decade!

i thought i'd compile a list of top songs from the decade that had a little effect on me... i won't write much about them but the songs speak for themselves!!!

THE EDITORS - AN END HAS A START!

YEAH YEAH YEAHS - MAPS!



BLOC PARTY - FLUX



SIA - BREATHE ME (spoilers for six feet under in the following clip)



BAT FOR LASHES - DANIEL

2009 - cinema in retrospect

top ten films of 2009 (part one)

yes, it's that time of the year when losers/geeks/fanboys all around the world take time out from waiting in line for avatar or downloading bootleg copies of sherlock holmes to write a top ten films of the year! so, without any further adieu ... let's count down (in no particular order) ben's top films from 2009!!!

1) UP

pixar delivered yet another amazing film with the tale of carl fredrickson and his little asian boy scout companion - russell! the only movie i have ever seen that was able to combine talking dogs with a miscarriage montage! had me crying within the first 10 minutes and pretty much every half hour after that!

incredible animation and a storyline that is tight as a tin drum made up not just a kids movie, instead, a beautiful nod to the ups and downs of life and the experiences we have and the people we become when life perhaps doesn't go the way we planned. there is seriously something for everyone in this film!!!

2) Let The Right One In

this swedish little vampire flick but twilight to shame! but hardly anyone saw it! from it's opening frame i could tell what i was about to watch would be something truly beautiful and haunting! oscar, a 7 yr old boy who is bullied at school meets eli - a new girl in town - who seems to display some strange characteristics! SHE'S A VAMPIRE!!!!

but this story deals with the two falling in love amongst a town terrorised by strange killings and demon cats! the score to this movie by Johan Söderqvist is so moving and sad it gives me chills everytime i listen to it! the two leads are also amazing and their talent is totally on display. i only hope that the american remake from the director of cloverfield turns out to be alright, or at least brings attention to one of the most original takes on the vampire genre in a very very long time!

3) Inglourious Basterds

oh what a movie!!! a 3 hour epic about a plot to kill hitler? yes please!!! quentin delivers his tribute to cinema with this fine film that is about as full of rich dialogue as bruce bogtrotters cake was filled with chocolate! i was not expecting this film to be mostly in subtitles and i was not expecting to see an incredible performance from Christoph Waltz ! the man was unstoppable!

this movie was so much fun and the attention to detail was phenomenal! i can admit the film was a little indulgent but who cares! the finale is soooooo much fun i remember cracking up in laughter when "the shit hits the fan" !!!

4) Avatar

not by any means a well scripted story, the first flaw about this film that some of the dialogue and scenarios are absolutely horrendous.. but i was able to look past this!!! this film is the very reason you go to the movies! what an experience! i haven't seen this film in IMAX 3D but i cannot wait! james cameron created cinema history with this film and i was so happy to sit there for 3 hours! it could've been 30 minutes longer and i wouldn't have cared one bit!!

the technology of this film was so breathtaking i seriously think my jaw was on the floor the whole time! arghhh i don't know how to keep raving about this film.... it truly is unbelievable!

5) The Wrestler

i nearly forgot this film was released in 2009 (jan 15th to be precise) !!! the first heart breaking film of 2009 and a magnificent start to the year! darren aronofsky brought out a truly incredible performance from mickey rourke and in true fashion- made an ultra violent yet very humane story about a wrestler trying to fit into his life and reconnect with his daughter!

a beautiful film with some great 80's rock!!!