Top 8 Movies of 2009

As you can see from the title, I have a top 8 list, instead of a top 10 list - this is largely due to the fact that I simply had less time this year to go to movies due to an increased work load.

So here they are:

1. Up - The best movie of the year is yet another Pixar triumph. I think history will look back and see the Pixar team as the primary story tellers of our time. This film will motivate you to pursue your dreams, no matter your age, as the central protagonist does.

2. Precious - I just saw this film last week. The film centers around a teenage girl growing up in Harlem enduring a life of horrific abuse by both father and mother. She is transfered to a special school, and under a kind teacher and social worker, she starts to believe in herself again. This film never stoops to sappy hallmark movie of the week cliches. There are several difficult scenes to watch, but is an important film to open up those areas of our heart that we tend to cauterize through willful ignorance of the hurting around us.

3. District 9 - Perhaps the most original film on the list. This film is about how South Africa deals with the arrival of extra terrestrial beings. This is a film that is about how we treat the "other" in our midst. The choice of South Africa as the setting is particularly interesting.

4. Hurt Locker - A film about an Iraqi soldier who deactivates live bombs gives us a first hand look at the pressures that the men and women serving in Iraq and Afganistan are facing. The best recent depiction of how being in the extra-ordinary context of warfare affects the human psyche and soul.

5. Star Trek - The franchise is reborn! As an avid trekker, I was a bit nervous about this "prequel", giving us a young Kirk and Spock. But, my fears were laid to rest as J.J. Abrams brilliantly gives us the most entertaining Star Trek film ever. (Also - I was pleased to see Ben Cross, who portrayed runner Harold Abrams in Chariots of Fire, return to the big screen).

6. Anvil! The Story of Anvil - This unlikely entry is about the Canadian rock band Anvil, who for some reason didn't reach the heights of success as their peers, The Scorpion, Bon Jovi and Guns and Roses. Revered by other rock greats and their faithful fans, the band never seems to get a break. The movie covers their Spinal Tap like tour of Europe where they miss trains and play for crowds of 12 people at times, and the recording of their latest album. But its the bond between lead singer and guitarist that gives this film its heart. (Profanity and some sexual content may deter some viewers - like my parents).

7. The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band) -An amazing film by one of the most interesting directors around -Michael Haneke (Cache). Saw it at the Vancouver FIlm Festival, and it is a true film fest. type movie - black and white with subtitles! Strange events in a German Village lead to a truly troubling discovery.

8. A Serious Man - The latest offering from the Cown brothers is probably their least accessible film to date. A man searching for answers discovers that religion is of no use. A rather cheeky slap in the face of religion, but entertaining none-the-less.

Movies that would probably be on this list if I had seen them: Up in the Air, Avatar, Invictus.