Top 5 2009 Films
By Austin Johnson
There’s only a couple months left in 2019 and I already wrote a Top 5 for 1999 to honor some films that came out 20 years ago, so let’s talk about some films that came out 10 years ago.
5.) State of Play
“I followed the trail of crumbs, congressman.”
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This is by far and away my favorite Kevin Macdonald directed film. It opens up with some cold blooded murder and then Russell Crowe singing "The Night Paddy Murphy Died" in his 1990 Saab. The plot is super intense and a bit convoluted at times, but I find it to be a really fun rewatch. We have Crowe rocking some long hair and a little bit bigger gut than ol’ Decimus Meridius. Rachel McAdams had a nice one-two punch in 2009 playing Della Frye in this and Irene Adler in Sherlock Holmes. Ben Affleck was in fucking no man’s land for most of the 2000’s, including 2009 with that strange role in Extract and that horribly douchey role in He’s Just Not That Into You, which airs on TBS every fucking weekend. He’s good in State of Play, but holy shit why be in those other two? The cast is stacked and everyone was in such a different spot career wise. Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Viola Davis, David Harbour, Robin Wright, and the lovely Helen Mirren also appear. Mirren’s career and legacy hasn’t changed too much over the past ten years. She’s just always been a dominate actress. The first time I saw State of Play was at this at a theater in Paris. My two older brothers and I were wandering around the city while on vacation and we stumbled upon this badass theater on Champ Elysees Avenue. I don’t remember what it’s called because I was 14 and honestly didn’t soak it all in as much as I should’ve. State of Play still stands firmly because of its strong performances and thrilling storyline. That scene when Crowe’s character, Cal is running from the insane Robert Bingham is exhilarating. The tempo stays consistent even if the beats aren’t all hitting. It’s one of Crowe’s most underrated performances too. Roles get lost in the shuffle when you’re as talented as Russ. The plot does get tricky in the third act, but I’m personally all in every time I rewatch the film. I want to investigate with '09 Russ and Rachel some day. Just not '09 Affleck.
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4.) Pirate Radio
“To all our listeners, this is what I have to say - God bless you all. And as for you bastards in charge, don't dream it's over. Years will come, years will go, and politicians will do fuck all to make the world a better place. But all over the world, young men and young women will always dream dreams and put those dreams into song. Nothing important dies tonight, just a few ugly guys on a crappy ship. The only sadness tonight is that, in future years, there'll be so many fantastic songs that it will not be our privilege to play. But, believe you me, they will still be written, they will still be sung and they will be the wonder of the world.”
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This film has one of my favorite intros of all time. We are told that it’s 1966 England and PSH is The Count, a radio show host for the only station that airs rock 'n roll due to the genre being outlawed by the British government. They post up on a boat at sea and play kick ass music for the British citizens to enjoy, and PSH is just one of the many great actors that portray disc jockeys in this hilarious comedic gem that contains an all time soundtrack. The title for this film is completely different in multiple countries. The Boat That Rocked in England, Good Morning England in France, Radio Rock Revolution in Germany, I Love Radio Rock in Italy, and Pirate Radio all across North America. Real quick Top 5… 5. I Love Radio Rock 4. Radio Rock Revolution 3. Good Morning England 2. Pirate Radio 1. The Boat That Rocked. The cast in this film is stacked in a different kind of way. I mentioned PSH earlier, but we also got Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Rhys Ifans, Kenneth Branagh, Chris O’Dowd, Tom Brooke, Rhys Darby, Emma Thompson, and our main character Carl played by Tom Sturridge. It’s British stacked. That’s a common occurrence for writer/director Richard Curtis. I know he has a lot of very popular and acclaimed films, but this is definitely my favorite work of his. I love the rebellion part of rock 'n roll and this story revolves around that very thing.
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3.) Adventureland
“Wait, Em! I think I maybe see you a little differently than you see yourself. Yes I see the person who fucked up, but I also see the person who saved me from being knifed over a giant-ass panda, who introduced me to psychotropic chocolate-chip cookies, who stood up for Joel, and who doesn't make apologies for herself. Look, my theory is you can't just avoid everybody you screw up with. And you should trust me,
I'm a New Yorker.” |
Just like Pirate Radio, Adventureland captures a specific time and place with music as the staple. This gem from the genius mind of Greg Mottola has become one of my favorite comedies of all time. The story takes place in 1987 Pittsburgh. That’s not as intriguing as England 1966 on paper, but a good story can come from the boring ass suburbs of Pittsburgh. Jesse Eisenberg is severely underrated and I find this character of James Brennan to be relatable and punchable at the same time. He was supposed to go to Europe after college, but his parents couldn’t help him financially, so he’s stuck in Pitt for the summer. The scene where he is applying to a bunch of places and failing at the interviews is timeless, because college doesn’t have the best track record for setting people up when they’re done. He is forced to work at the wonderful theme park run by Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, Adventureland. His first day, he is shown around by Martin Starr’s character Joel in fine fashion, who gets a whole corn dog thrown at his head later that night. This film doesn’t fucking stop with no weakness in the cast. All the while there’s artists like Lou Reed, David Bowie, The Replacements, The Cure, INXS, Husker Du, and fucking Falco playing throughout the film. I love how Ryan Reynolds character has this story about jamming with Lou Reed, but whenever it’s brought up he’s just like, “Yeah, I’ll tell you about it sometime.” No one questions it, because he’s fucking Connell man! I could do a Top 5 characters for just this film. Oh, I love when Brennan and Joel are talking at his house and Joel’s little brother is mowing the lawn. Joel gets pissed because he can’t talk over the lawn mower, so him and his brother get into it, and he yells “Fuck off fuck face!” at Joel! Haha what a classic line! I put it right up there with “Go suck a fuck” from Donnie Darko. Ahh man, I damn near cry when I hear Paul Westerberg screaming on the track "Bastards of Young" at the beginning of the film. I get goose bumps everywhere and just want to dance. Of course, this film didn’t win shit, but it’s a classic as far as I’m concerned. Greg Mottola has one of the best one-two punches of all time with Superbad in '07 and Adventureland in '09.
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2.) Inglourious Basterds
“I didn't think so. You don't like them. You don't really know why you don't like them; all you know is you find them repulsive. Consequently, a German soldier conducts a search of a house suspected of hiding Jews. Where does the hawk look? He looks in the barn, he looks in the attic, he looks in the cellar, he looks everywhere he would hide. But there's so many places it would never occur to a hawk to hide. However, the reason the Führer has brought me off my Alps in Austria and placed me in French cow country today is because it does occur to me. Because I'm aware what tremendous feats human beings are capable of
once they abandon dignity.” |
This has to be the one film that is on every best of list when talking about 2009. That’s not surprising as Inglourious Basterds is the 6th film from Quentin Tarantino. My list for his films changes every week. I did a Top 5 QT films back in April to go along with episode 5 of the Filmgazm podcast, which put a spotlight on all of Tarantino’s work. That list has The Hateful Eight at 5, Basterds at 4, Reservoir Dogs at 3, Jackie Brown at 2, and Pulp Fiction at 1. Now, it would be more like Basterds at 5, Dogs at 4, Once Upon a Time at 3, Pulp at 2, and Jackie at 1. It’s a never ending debate in my own mind that I thoroughly enjoy. Inglourious Basterds would find itself on a list of war films as well, a genre that I find to be overpraised and falsely sold to us. Occasionally, we get a gritty and humane war film and that’s what Basterds is. The use of multiple languages and little use of English is mighty impressive for a big time American director. He didn’t just implement those languages, but he sucks you in with a thrilling story set in one of the most dangerous eras known to mankind. It’s fictional non fiction at its absolute finest. Well, I think QT outdid himself with Once Upon a Time, but that’s not the point. He’s bending the rules in risky, but satisfying ways. Brad Pitt is now responsible for changing history in two separate decades! Aldo and Cliff have got to be related somehow. I thought Pitt would’ve won an Oscar by now, but maybe that’ll change in February. Basterds got eight nominations altogether but only Christoph Waltz walked away as a winner. Hans Landa is one of the most frightening and methodical villains I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. That opening scene at LaPadite’s house showcases some of the best acting of all time. Au Revoir Shosanna! Basterds could be someone’s favorite 2009 film, QT film, or just favorite film of all time and I’d completely understand.
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1.) A Serious Man
"Well, you know, the way I look at it, it's an opportunity for me to really sit down and figure things out and look at the world afresh instead of just, you know, settling for the routine, tired old way of looking at things.”
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Back in March of this year, I did my first ever Top 5 list on my favorite Coen films. Connor and I also covered every film during episode 25 on the Filmgazm podcast. A Serious Man is locked in as my third favorite, because Lebowski and No Country are locks for 1 and 2. Now, this is a 2009 list and A Serious Man finds itself rising to the top. Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker won Best Picture at the 82nd Academy Awards, which is a pretty good film, but it’s not anywhere near the caliber of Basterds or A Serious Man. It’s not even Kathryn’s best work! A few years later Zero Dark Thirty came out and my god that is a pristine film. It’s definitely better than Argo! The other film that’s aged well from the 85th Academy Awards Best Pic nominees is Django Unchained. I must like the Coens and that Tarantino guy or something. I don’t have a way to justify putting A Serious Man over Basterds honestly. I just know that they are both timeless films with some of the best performances given during 2009. I think as you get older, you process art differently and A Serious Man is something I didn’t quite connect with at age fourteen when it came out. It’s taken a few viewings for it to become what it is in my own head: A masterpiece. Not only will it always be one of my favorite Coen films, but Larry Gopnik who was played by Michael Stuhlbarg appeared at number 3 on my Top 5 Coen characters list. It’s safe to say that I am in love with the Coens' work and A Serious Man is a huge part of that.
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