The Archway

Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Variety

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, left, and Zooey Deschanel star in the romantic-comedy, (500) Days of Summer. (MCT Campus)

The year 2009 was an eclectic year for Hollywood. As expected, movie theaters were bombarded with the usual formulaic drivel we get every year, ranging from the dumb and clichéd teen comedies (Fired Up, I Love You Beth Cooper), the PG-13 "horrors" (The Uninvited, The Stepfather), the mindless mega-action flicks (GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, 2012), and the countless sequels (Harry Potter 6, Fast & Furious), not to mention the nauseating wave of 3-D flicks (The Final Destination, G-Force). However, this year saw a number of genuinely funny comedies, some scary and classy horrors, and a "reboot" or two that actually worked, along with a few highly original ideas that translated well to screen (more on all of those later…). Clearly, the bar was raised in many ways, and 2009 turned out to be a pretty good cinematic year. The winners outweighed the stinkers-even if it was just barely-and I've compiled a list of what I feel were the best and worst movies of this year.

The Best

A number of great, original movies hit screens this year, and I cannot include all of them on this list, unfortunately. Paranormal Activity proved that you certainly don’t need a big budget or buckets of blood to be a frightening and entertaining horror movie. Duplicity showed us that there are still a few movie stars who know how to make a good movie. Taken was fine proof that the action-thriller genre still has life in it. And kudos to The Proposal and He’s Just Not That Into You for being breaths of fresh air in the increasingly stale romantic comedy genre. Although none of these made my top-10 list, I will still be quite happy if this is what we can start to expect from Hollywood. Here is my list of what I feel were the best of the best for 2009:
    
Honorable Mention: Drag Me to Hell
Director Sam Raimi deserves credit for crafting a funny and scary film that kept you on the edge of your seat, while you still covered your eyes and laughed at the audacity of it all. It was a great mix of horror and comedy, and one of the most fun times I’ve had at the movies in a while.
    
1. (500) Days of Summer
This movie is a real gem in that it not only has everything, but it successfully blends it all together to make it all work. A non-traditional story about love, (500) Days of Summer takes a wonderful storyline, throws in a dash of humor, adds a dose of heartbreak, and leaves us with just a little hope. The movie uses a non-linear format to tell a non-Hollywood story of a relationship that just isn’t meant to be. Even in the tough times, you care deeply about the characters, and the talented and charismatic Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the quirky and adorable Zooey Deschanel make leads Tom and Summer unforgettable. All of these elements combine perfectly to make this film my personal favorite of the year.
    
2. Zombieland
Who would have thought the end of the world could be so funny? Apparently, when it comes to a zombie apocalypse, it’s a riot! A top-notch cast, clever writing, tongue-in-cheek humor, and exactly the right amount of bloody, gory, gross-out moments make this movie one of the best of the year. Providing a good, old-fashioned, fun time of escapism—and also being careful to not take itself too seriously—Zombieland not only provides plenty of, ahem… brains, but also a lot of heart as well. The combination of thrills, laughs, and cheers make this film a real winner!
    
3. District 9
An original and inventive makeover is given to the all-too-familiar “aliens invade” plot that has been seen in countless films of the past decades. Made on a low budget and starring complete unknowns, this socially relevant movie successfully mixes political overtones with heart-pumping action to craft a story that is thrilling, engaging, and has the potential to be culture-changing. District 9 tells the story of aliens who live in the slums of Johannesburg, South Africa and the relocation project that uncovers the secrets that they are holding. In short, it is a sci-fi movie that is smart and suspenseful and does something that most sci-fi movies don’t: bring in relevancy. The result works on so many levels, and I’m happy to say I can’t recommend this movie enough!

The Worst

     Trust me when I say there were some bad movies this year. Hollywood’s need to cash in on embarrassing sequels and remakes is beyond irritating. While Twilight: New Moon and Terminator Salvation both could have been much worse than they were, they still proved that sequels are often just unnecessary and that simple popcorn entertainment can easily become tiresome. Public Enemies and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian were fine examples that star power does not always equal a good film. And films like Paul Blart: Mall Cop were poor attempts at quality family entertainment. Here is my list of what I found to be the worst stinkers of the year. Steer clear – you were warned!
    
Honorable Mention: Surrogates
A smart and intriguing plot was executed terribly, and what we got was a bad sci-fi action pic that really could not be saved. Zero character development, dull action scenes, and atrocious acting (I’m looking at you, Ving Rhames!) made this one a flick that you were better off just skipping.

1. Transformers 2
If you haven’t seen this movie yet, I envy you. A gross of over $400 million at the U.S. box office does not actually signify that it is worth seeing. In fact, I have a hard time thinking of when the last time I saw a film this bad was. Ridiculous action, silly writing, and a preposterous slap-in-the-face of the viewers’ intelligence, this film now has the “honor” of being the worst of 2009. I was shocked at myself for the amount of times I loudly begged for this dumb, 150-minute mess to be over. Somehow, “steaming pile of crap” just doesn’t quite express how utterly brainless it is.

2. The Ugly Truth
Quite possibly the most cynical rom-com ever made, this flick was absolutely painful to watch. I cringed at the forced jokes and sighed at the blatant hypocrisy. Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl’s “battle of the sexes” turns out to be a ridiculous commentary on male behavior, along with an even worse expression on how women react to it. Both actors should be embarrassed for appearing in this frustratingly shallow—not to mention unfunny and uncomfortable—film.

3. Push
An outrageously bland action film, Push just cannot decide what kind of movie it wants to be. Borrowing from countless films before it—most notably the X-Men films—this movie is not only lazy and miscast, but it also lacks any originality whatsoever. The usually reliable Djimon Hounsou and Dakota Fanning are both completely out of place, too.

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