AND THE BEST MOVIE OF 2009

I am very eager to recap the eight (that's right eight!) films I saw at WIFF 2010.

But first let's quickly cap up my favorite movies of 2009

#10. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
9. AFTERSCHOOL
8. OBSERVE AND REPORT
7. RED CLIFF I AND II
6. STAR TREK
5. IGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
4. SILENT LIGHT
3. A SERIOUS MAN
2. THE WRESTLER

ooooo, I want to see all of them again!

NUMBER ONE:

CORALINE

I noticed with some surprise how #1 for 2009 happens to be in the same somewhat narrow category of film genres as #1 of 2008, since both Wall-E and Coraline are animated films geared for all ages. Despite my love of artistic violence and my distaste for movies that have characters that don’t act authentic to their gritty realistic setting, I seem to be most enthralled with movies that use the animated medium and the ability to literally create a fantastic world that taps into the pure escapism of cinema. I might go into a new film ready to analyze a style, or see if a performance matches up to the accolades it received, but when I want to just watch and be entertained, nothing seems to match the innocent and multi-sensual pleasure of a good narrative animation.

While Wall-E borrowed elements from a multitude of favorite genres and previous movies to make a perfect film catering to everyone, I think Coraline moved me in a more personal, tender way. Pop-up books were a real treat when I was a kid, with moving paper parts on each page adding new dimensions to child book illustrations while keeping in anchored in a literary medium. Coraline basically brought to life the most amazing pop-up book imaginable.
And with my interest in alternative animation growing, I also very much enjoyed that the film did not shy away from very dark imagery. Scenes could be both cute and the settings for nightmares, a juxtaposition of the evil and innocent that adds appropriate complexities to the movie and treats the audience like adults.

With particularly dazzling but somehow homespun visuals, Coraline continued the excitement I remember many moons ago of seeing Nightmare Before Christmas in an Oklahoma theater on Halloween night. As my viewing habits mature I can appreciate the grown-up storyline more while reminiscing on childhood fantasies, from the lighter and darker places of my psyche.

[I also eagerly picked up the Blu-Ray with 3D glasses of this movie, but I haven't had the time to watch it yet. This is still my #1 despite only a single viewing.]

Film festival report will be next!