Move over Jonathan Ross, Mark Kermode, Roger Ebert, Total Film and Empire, there’s a new critic in town. And he’s about to review the world of film in 2009.
So where to start? How about with my awards to the best actors and actresses to have lit up the silver screen this year? However, before I start, I would just like to mention that throughout this blog I will be handing out my “best of” awards to films that I have seen. So for example, I did not see The Hurt Locker or Gran Torino, so cannot name them among my best, even if they are brilliant films. If you disagree with my choices, let me know why, and if it’s from a film I havent mentioned (and therefore likely havent seen) then let me know why i should!
Best Actor – Sharlto Copley – ‘Wikus van der Merwe’ – District 9
Sharlto Copley as Wikus van der Merwe
A tough choice. Sean Penn won the Oscar in 2009 but having not seen Milk I cant give it to him. Not that I agree with the Academy’s choices usually anyway. Michael Sheen is usually brilliant but he pulled out all the stops in portraying an erratic yet driven ‘David Frost’. Mickey Rourke conveyed the pain and hope of a washed up wrestler perfectly. Dev Patel stood out as an everyman in a country full of everymen in Slumdog Millionaire. Frank Langella simply was ‘Nixon‘. But the winner for me is Sharlto Copley as ‘Wikus van der Merwe’ in District 9. The man came from a producing background to star and steal the show in his first feature film. A ridiculously good performance considering. Beginning as a prejudiced government official, the change in character as his situation unfolds is staggering and oh so believable. A worthy winner.
Best Actress – Melanie Laurent – ‘Shosanna Dreyfus’ – Inglorious Basterds
Melanie Laurent as Shosanna Dreyfus
Another difficult one. Zoe Saldana was brilliant in another body in Avatar. Marion Cotillard was the best thing about Public Enemies. Meryl Streep was awesome as usual in Doubt. But another relative newcomer to Hollywood wins again. Melanie Laurent became vengeance personified as ‘Shosanna Dreyfus’ in Inglourious Basterds. A little bit unhinged (but who wouldn’t be when your family was murdered by nazi’s?), she remained wonderfully human, none more evident than in the strudel scene with her families killer. But we will get to him later. Laurent was brilliant and is surely destined for wider exposure now.
Best Supporting Actor- Christoph Waltz – ‘Col Hans Landa’ – Inglourious Basterds
Christoph Waltz won the Best Actor award at Cannes 09 for Hans Landa
No need for any discussion here. If you havent seen Waltz as ‘Colonel Hans Landa’ in Inglorious Basterds yet, do so. The man is a genius. The best performance of the year beyond any doubt. Just watch him doing the most everyday things like drinking milk or eating desert. He is the perfect balance between charming and sinister, and he is able to do it in four different languages. No contest.
Best Supporting Actress – Zooey Deschanel – ‘Summer Finn’ – (500) Days of Summer
Zooey Deschanel captured many hearts this Summer
Although Diane Kruger pushes her hard for her role as double agent ‘Bridget von Hammersmark’ in Basterds, Zooey Deschanel stands out as the title role in (500) Days of Summer. Her interplay with Joseph Gordon-Levitt was brilliant, and she owned the screen whenever she was on it. The fact that i fell in love with her as much as Levitt is testament to her performance as one of ‘those girls’.
Best Director – Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Ron 'The Ginger Spielberg' Howard
The most difficult nod yet. Neill Blomkamp burst onto the scene with the wonderful District 9. Danny Boyle found the feel good factor in Slumdog Millionaire. Darren Aronofsky perfected the sad ending in The Wrestler. Quentin Tarantino rediscovered himself with Inglourious Basterds. But it was Howard who had the most difficult job I feel in converting a great play into a great film, a difficult task. That he had two fantastic lead actors made the job easier, but he was also able to generate great performances from the supporting cast. Howard wins this award for Frost/Nixon, a genuinely thought provoking and morally conscious film.
Films of the Year
And now to the main event – the film(s) of the year. It was nearly impossible to do this, but I have compiled a list of my top 5. It’s a great watch, I can tell you. Commiserations to The Wrestler, Avatar, (500) Days of Summer and The Hangover who were very close to making this list.
No.5 – Star Trek
Quinto and Pine redefined characters for the next generation
A brilliant reboot of a flagging series. J.J. Abrams brought his magic touch to the Star Trek franchise, utilising time travel to fantastic effect to change the whole make up of the original story. Fantastic performances from Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as Kirk and Spock respectively, with an equally good villanous Eric Bana, allowed old fans and new to enjoy what can only be described as a brilliant sci-fi picture.
No. 4 – District 9
Aliens were confined to District 9 in 2009
Continuing the sci-fi theme, District 9 was just slightly better than Trek. It featured a cast of unknowns dealing with an alien apartheid in South Africa. The first half of the film is dedicated to story and character development, as Sharlto Copley’s government official ‘Wikus’ undergoes a great change. The second half of the film is then full of fast paced action, explosions and everything else a good sci-fi should have, with a touching ending. A truly brilliant debut from director Neil Blomkamp and the best thing to come from South Africa since Herschelle Gibbs!
No. 3 – Slumdog Millionaire
Sadly Chris Tarrant was unavailable
Filled to the brim with violence, extortion and abuse, it still manages to be impossibly uplifting. Despite the cliché of the everyman overcoming the odds and getting the girl, you really don’t think its corny, probably because of the horrors it shows you along the way. Would have been higher but for the annoying dance number at the end.
No. 2 – Frost/Nixon
Proof there is hope for journalists
A great director. Two extremely talented lead actors. A support cast with a wealth of experience. What more can I say. A brilliant film that only fails to reach no.1 because that film was slightly more brilliant. Although based on not the most exciting source material, the film manages to make you care about it more than you should. And it even partially redeems Nixon, while partially crucifying him. What more could you want?
No.1 – Inglourious Basterds
What a glorious bastard
This. Tarantino roared back into the spotlight with a script to match the likes of ‘Dogs’ and ‘Fiction’. An even better ensemble cast than Frost/Nixon, an amazing score that suits every scene, frankly awesome cameo’s and good old fashioned Tarantino magic make this the film of the year. I defy you to watch the opening interaction between Christophe Waltz and Denis Menochet and not be blown away. Tarantino adds to his collection of memorable scenes for the first time since ‘Fiction’ with the opening scene and then the basement bar room. And the ending is baffling and farcical, but somehow very appropriate. Without question, the film of the year.
But you may not agree, in which case, why not? Please let me know if and why I am wrong, and what you think should be on this list, and I will do my best to convince you otherwise, if you havent convinced me already.
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