2009
(500) Days of Summer
Writers- Scott Neustatder and Michael H. Weber
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel and Chloe Moretz
As the film says, "This is not a love story, this is a story about love" a great soundtrack, a Tarantino-esque structure and a relatable, realistic, un-Hollywoodized take on love. (500) Days of Summer is that rare thing, a romantic-comedy from a guy's perspective and one that is visually inventive, rejects cliche and is bearable.
Writers- Scott Neustatder and Michael H. Weber
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel and Chloe Moretz
As the film says, "This is not a love story, this is a story about love" a great soundtrack, a Tarantino-esque structure and a relatable, realistic, un-Hollywoodized take on love. (500) Days of Summer is that rare thing, a romantic-comedy from a guy's perspective and one that is visually inventive, rejects cliche and is bearable.
Adventureland
Writer and Director: Greg Mottola
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Reynolds
An eighties set and esque teen movie. Adventureland contains career best performances from Stewart and Reynolds, has a great soundtrack and makes me want to work at a theme park for a summer. Like (500) Days, Adventureland is not your typical modern 'teen movie' and has an undercurrent of poignancy, heart and intelligence missing from most of its current ilk. If (500) Days is one of my favourite, if not my favourite rom-com , Adventureland is one of my favourite, if not my favourite, teen movie.
Writer and Director: Greg Mottola
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Reynolds
An eighties set and esque teen movie. Adventureland contains career best performances from Stewart and Reynolds, has a great soundtrack and makes me want to work at a theme park for a summer. Like (500) Days, Adventureland is not your typical modern 'teen movie' and has an undercurrent of poignancy, heart and intelligence missing from most of its current ilk. If (500) Days is one of my favourite, if not my favourite rom-com , Adventureland is one of my favourite, if not my favourite, teen movie.
Avatar
Writer and Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver
Arguably the cinematic experience of the decade. Avatar is in my top fifty for its visual and financial achievement, as well as the fact that 3D or 2D, it is a film which demands a cinematic viewing.
Writer and Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver
Arguably the cinematic experience of the decade. Avatar is in my top fifty for its visual and financial achievement, as well as the fact that 3D or 2D, it is a film which demands a cinematic viewing.
District 9
Writers: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
Director: Neil Blomkamp
Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James and Jason Cope
A film that if it weren't for Inglourious Basterds may have been in my top ten of the decade. It's the best film about apartheid, not about apartheid. A moving, tragic tale of transformation at its core, a politically based background and some stunning special effects on a low budget...District 9 is an example of thrilling, emotional, intelligent and inspirational science fiction.
Writers: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
Director: Neil Blomkamp
Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James and Jason Cope
A film that if it weren't for Inglourious Basterds may have been in my top ten of the decade. It's the best film about apartheid, not about apartheid. A moving, tragic tale of transformation at its core, a politically based background and some stunning special effects on a low budget...District 9 is an example of thrilling, emotional, intelligent and inspirational science fiction.
Drag Me To Hell
Writers: Sam and Ivan Raimi
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long and Ruth Livier
One of my most enjoyable cinematic experiences and an example of horror filmmaking at its fun and frightening best.
Writers: Sam and Ivan Raimi
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long and Ruth Livier
One of my most enjoyable cinematic experiences and an example of horror filmmaking at its fun and frightening best.
Star Trek
Writers: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
Director: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Leonard Nimoy
Not your father's Star Trek. This film pays respect to the original series whilst also rebooting it in a brave and inventive way. A superb score, visuals, cast and story makes this Star Trek, a thrilling, action packed, thrill ride.
Writers: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
Director: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Leonard Nimoy
Not your father's Star Trek. This film pays respect to the original series whilst also rebooting it in a brave and inventive way. A superb score, visuals, cast and story makes this Star Trek, a thrilling, action packed, thrill ride.
Up
Writers: Bob Petersen and Pete Docter
Director: Pete Docter
Starring: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer and Jordan Nagai
One of three Pixar films in this top fifty, arguably the best movie studio of the decade and one of the best of all time. With Up as they have done with all of their films (Except perhaps Cars) they have made an animated film which deals with big life issues, in a way that can move, charm and thrill both young and old. This is genuinely one of those films were a four to an eighty-four old can sit together and enjoy it. It also has what is positively one of the best openings of the decade, a scene so magical that the rest of the film struggles to top it. While not their finest hour (Although their first Best Picture nomination, however that was more down to the expanded 10 film field than the film itself) Up is an example of why animated films need not be looked down at and why children's cinema can infact cover the darkest, as well as the lightest ground.
Writers: Bob Petersen and Pete Docter
Director: Pete Docter
Starring: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer and Jordan Nagai
One of three Pixar films in this top fifty, arguably the best movie studio of the decade and one of the best of all time. With Up as they have done with all of their films (Except perhaps Cars) they have made an animated film which deals with big life issues, in a way that can move, charm and thrill both young and old. This is genuinely one of those films were a four to an eighty-four old can sit together and enjoy it. It also has what is positively one of the best openings of the decade, a scene so magical that the rest of the film struggles to top it. While not their finest hour (Although their first Best Picture nomination, however that was more down to the expanded 10 film field than the film itself) Up is an example of why animated films need not be looked down at and why children's cinema can infact cover the darkest, as well as the lightest ground.
Watchmen
Writers: David Hayter and Alex Tse
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode and Malin Akerman
One of the most underrated films of the decade and like The Dark Knight, one of the finest superhero movies ever made. Watchmen suffered from the fact that it was based on not just one of the most celebrated graphic novels of all time, but one of the most celebrated novels of all time. Watchmen, like Up, has a superb opening, which in years to come no best movie openings of all time list will be complete without. Jackie Earle Haley gives a great performance and while everybody seems to enjoy criticizing Zack Snyder, he shoots this film beautifully and his style never got in the way of the story's inherent substance.
Writers: David Hayter and Alex Tse
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode and Malin Akerman
One of the most underrated films of the decade and like The Dark Knight, one of the finest superhero movies ever made. Watchmen suffered from the fact that it was based on not just one of the most celebrated graphic novels of all time, but one of the most celebrated novels of all time. Watchmen, like Up, has a superb opening, which in years to come no best movie openings of all time list will be complete without. Jackie Earle Haley gives a great performance and while everybody seems to enjoy criticizing Zack Snyder, he shoots this film beautifully and his style never got in the way of the story's inherent substance.
