Nominees: A Serious Man, The Secret of Kells, The Secret in Their Eyes, An Education, The Girlfriend Experience, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Sin Nombre, Broken Embraces, Mother, Moon, It Felt Like a Kiss, Mr. Nobody
Oscars pick: The Hurt Locker
Nominees: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air
In 2009 there wasn't one monster work of genius, but rather a block of superb movies that were pretty much on equal footing. And after years of debate and several re-watches, my current pick is...
Up in the Air is a savvy, genuine tale that sees George Clooney playing a guy without ties, who flies across the States just to fire people. Hard, funny and moving – it was a picture that stayed with me. And is one that will mean different things to different people. But I like how critic Jonathan Romney summarized it: “Up in the Air is as eloquent about today's executive culture as The Apartment was about that of 1960. It is a brutal, desolate film – but also a superb existential rom-com, and the most entertaining lesson in contemporary socio-economics that you could hope for.”
As with other Jason Reitman flicks the title sequence is colorful and adds to the tenor of the feature (Saul Bass would be proud), the score is full of character, the script perceptive with language as sharp as a tack.
The film boasts a charismatic cast (along with George there’s Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, and a host of familiar faces in small roles). I liked their interactions and the rapport that builds between them. Ryan Bingham is a great character for Clooney. He’s an asshole with a lifestyle choice that doesn’t leave room for any deep, significant relationships (even with his family). But he’s charming and I liked his arc of development. I enjoyed watching this person go from where he is at the start of the picture to where he is at the end. I actually felt for the guy and hoped he’d settle down with Farmiga’s Alex. They were good together, and she was such a key part of his growth. Their final phone call was a punch in the gut.
Yes, the songs and cinematography can be rather obvious, though they do capture the mood and tone, the camera work for example - what these people do is cold, and that’s reflected in the harsh lighting, and the various shades of blue. When the story shifts to the wedding the colors warm up -even though it’s a snow-filled winter- with brown, orange and rose-tinted hues filling the screen.
Up in the Air is balanced, beautifully structured. It addresses change soberly and smartly. Add it all up and in my humble opinion it's the director's finest work - watching it again, a decade later, and it still impresses.
Oscar-wise I wasn’t as wowed by its Best Animated Feature winner, Pixar's UP, which –like WALL-E - had a brilliant opening sequence, before de-evolving into the standard Pixar madcap chase sequence. I’m getting bored with the formula. I disliked best picture nominee The Blind Side, liked A Serious Man better on a second viewing -- thought District 9 and Inglourious Basterds were both decent.
Big winner The Hurt Locker was at times brilliant, but it got into a repetitive groove –guy would do something intense followed by a quiet scene at the base- back and forth with this until I grew numb to it all. The film does finish strong with a scene in the States and had a great finale. I did admire the Hurt Locker, though I don't consider it the years best (but how cool that a female director finally got some Oscar props.)
Honorable Mentions:
Viggo Mortensen, The Road * Tom Hardy, Bronson * Ben Foster, The Messenger * Michael Sheen, The Damned United * Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart * Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker * Hugo Weaving, Last Ride * Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man * Steve Evets, Looking for Eric * Filippo Timi, Vincere * Ricardo Darín, The Secret in Their Eyes
Honorable Mentions:
Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Vincere * Carey Mulligan, An Education * Penélope Cruz, Broken Embraces * Katie Jarvis, Fish Tank * Sylvie Testud, Lourdes * Sophie Okonedo, Skin * Helen Mirren, The Last Station * Blanca Engström, Flickan * Kerry Fox & Anamaria Marinca, Storm * Lotte Verbeek, Nothing Personal
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Other movies I enjoyed in 2009
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Supporting Actress: Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
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