Welcome to Now Showing’s first
YEAR END TOP 10!
Before I go into my top ten there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. Though I tried to watch as many films as I could this year, you can only spend so much before you start slipping on your rent! Just because I haven’t previously reviewed it on my site, it doesn’t necessarily mean I didn’t see it. I do have a life… sort of. And now, in no particular order, the 2009 YEAR END TOP 10! 
1.An Education- The buzz around this gem has been Carey Mulligan’s breakout performance as a sixteen year old girl who gets involved with a much older man who gives her a life a young woman could only dream of. You’ll fall in love with this pre-Beatles era picture!
To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
2.Public Enemies- Michael Mann’s film about John Dillinger may have divided critics when it came to the technology that was used to film this period piece but there is no dividing anyone when it comes to the sheer energy its cast displays on screen. Johnny Deep leads an all star cast featuring great performances by Billy Crudup, Marion Cutillard and Christian Bale.
To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
3.Star Trek- I never, ever thought that a Star Trek film would come out and cream the Star Wars franchise! J.J. Abrams and company got us all excited for space operas again! May the force… I mean, live long and prosper!
4.Up- Pixar can do no wrong in my eyes. Who knew that an animated story about a house floating on balloons and a cranky old man could bring tears to those who watch? Only Pixar.
To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
5.(500) Days of Summer- This is not a love story. It’s a break up story. But you’re going to watch it anyway because we are all suckers for a good breakup story, or is it just me? Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschannel are irresistible as the doomed couple!
6.Invictus- I know that the promotional posters for Clint Eastwood’s latest project put Matt Damon front and center, but it is Morgan Freeman who carries the film as Nelson Mandela (In the role he was born to play), during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. This is an inspiring look at the man who was not willing to allow his past to dictate how he viewed others and how a rugby team brought a whole nation together.
7.Red Cliff- John Woo’s epic about the battle at Red Cliff is brilliant. His work in this film has been compared to Akira Kurosawa’s own masterpieces. If you like sword and sandal films like Braveheart and Gladiator, look no further than Red Cliff!
To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
8.Where The Wild Things Are- This Royal Rumpus tugged at my heart with a warm performance by Max Records as the child who his mother called, “WILD THING!” Spike Jonzes was determined to make this an experience that reminds us of our own youth and how fragile we were at one point. Well done.
To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
9.The Damned United- “Those dirty, dirty Leeds!” Michael Sheen stars as the man who lasted only forty- four days as the Leeds manager, Brian Clough. Peter Morgan’s script, who’s past work includes The Queen and Frost/ Nixon, is brilliant and brings a dimension to The Damned United that would not have been possible through anyone else.
To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
10.Terminator Salvation- People can hate on this film all they want but the reality is that it WAS a great action movie! It may not have James Cameron’s hand print but it does respect the world he created. I really am hoping this is not the last we see of the war against the machines.
To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
Honorable Mentions:
District 9,
The Men Who Stare at Goats
I'm sure you've already read about Sony pulling the rug on Sam Raimi and choosing to reboot the Spiderman franchise. My wife was the first to break the news to me and in disbelief I immediately went to every movie website to get some clarification. Just in case you haven't read about it, here's the short version:
1.An Education- The buzz around this gem has been Carey Mulligan’s breakout performance as a sixteen year old girl who gets involved with a much older man who gives her a life a young woman could only dream of. You’ll fall in love with this pre-Beatles era picture!
2.Public Enemies- Michael Mann’s film about John Dillinger may have divided critics when it came to the technology that was used to film this period piece but there is no dividing anyone when it comes to the sheer energy its cast displays on screen. Johnny Deep leads an all star cast featuring great performances by Billy Crudup, Marion Cutillard and Christian Bale. 
3.Star Trek- I never, ever thought that a Star Trek film would come out and cream the Star Wars franchise! J.J. Abrams and company got us all excited for space operas again! May the force… I mean, live long and prosper! 
4.Up- Pixar can do no wrong in my eyes. Who knew that an animated story about a house floating on balloons and a cranky old man could bring tears to those who watch? Only Pixar.
5.(500) Days of Summer- This is not a love story. It’s a break up story. But you’re going to watch it anyway because we are all suckers for a good breakup story, or is it just me? Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschannel are irresistible as the doomed couple! 
6.Invictus- I know that the promotional posters for Clint Eastwood’s latest project put Matt Damon front and center, but it is Morgan Freeman who carries the film as Nelson Mandela (In the role he was born to play), during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. This is an inspiring look at the man who was not willing to allow his past to dictate how he viewed others and how a rugby team brought a whole nation together. 
7.Red Cliff- John Woo’s epic about the battle at Red Cliff is brilliant. His work in this film has been compared to Akira Kurosawa’s own masterpieces. If you like sword and sandal films like Braveheart and Gladiator, look no further than Red Cliff! 
8.Where The Wild Things Are- This Royal Rumpus tugged at my heart with a warm performance by Max Records as the child who his mother called, “WILD THING!” Spike Jonzes was determined to make this an experience that reminds us of our own youth and how fragile we were at one point. Well done.
9.The Damned United- “Those dirty, dirty Leeds!” Michael Sheen stars as the man who lasted only forty- four days as the Leeds manager, Brian Clough. Peter Morgan’s script, who’s past work includes The Queen and Frost/ Nixon, is brilliant and brings a dimension to The Damned United that would not have been possible through anyone else. 
10.Terminator Salvation- People can hate on this film all they want but the reality is that it WAS a great action movie! It may not have James Cameron’s hand print but it does respect the world he created. I really am hoping this is not the last we see of the war against the machines.
