Fredo, I have yet to see any of the films you mention, aside from Lymelife. I suppose I’ll have to check those out.
These are my four favourite, all of which I expect to fall by the wayside by the end of the year.
1. Adventureland
2. Revanche
3. Pontypool
4. The Girlfriend Experience
Nice list Adam. Pontypool is the only one on your list I haven’t seen. I saw the trailer for it the other day and it looks interesting (I think it’s coming out next week?).
As it is a Canadian film, it had its run here earlier this year.
Damn you Canadians! You get all the breaks! :)
Ha ha, I doubt that is the case.
Revanche
Three Monkeys
Goodbye Solo
There’s a ton I’m looking forward to for the rest of the year, though.
Tetro
Goodbye Solo is very good.
I haven’t seen a single film in 2009 that’s even worth mentioning. There are some important films coming out that I’m highly interested in but have yet to be released.
Lemon Tree
Just for pure fun, Rudo Y Cursi is definitely a great film. It’s definitely not the crazy gritty Mexican cinema that’s been established earlier this decade, although it definitely has some elements of it. It’s a great diversion.
I’ve only heard of two of the movies in this thread. I suck.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil. It’s a sly cautionary tale about how not to get ahead in life if you’re a middle-aged man who insists on calling himself “Lips.”
Oh man, Anvil! Those poor guys! At least this film has given them some publicity.
Shotzi, don’t feel bad. I tried to note films that maybe people hadn’t heard of, so maybe people would seek them out. If it makes you feel better, I also enjoyed Duplicity and State of Play (which are more mainstream films).
Medicine for Melancholy really stands out for me. It’s an assured debut by Barry Jenkins about a one night stand, bikes, being black, San Francisco and has an apt indie soundtrack. The film couldn’t have been made anywhere else but San Francisco, I guess this film could be added to the city as a character thread. And it has wonderful desaturated cinematography, too.
But yeah, there’s still more to come this year, just seeing the press for all the Cannes films, I already feel this going to be a better year for films than last year.
Don’t get your hopes up that all the films from Cannes will even get a theatrical release this year. Gomorrah, The Class, Il Divo, Three Monkeys were all at Cannes last year but didn’t get released until 2009 (and the year before that both My Blueberry Nights and Paranoid Park took nearly a year after their Cannes premiere to find theatrical distribution).
Fredo, that’s true, and The Man From London still hasn’t gotten a proper release here and that was from Cannes in 2007. I guess that’s why when I make a list of my favorite films I just categorize them in the year I saw them, not the year they were made or released.
If the AFI Fest programmers work their magic again I hope they’re able to get some films shown in Cannes. Just hoping.
Granted I haven’t seen much I think will be on my year end list…
1. Watchmen
2. Knowing
3. Three Monkeys
4. Star Trek
5. Revanche
I don’t think I’ve seen anything out this year really worth mentioning as “best films…” yet. But for entertainment’s sake Terminator Salvation, Star Trek, Watchmen, and maybe even Obsessed were good enough that I wouldn’t rule out cheap theatre re-runs. Or lest we forget, Friday The 13th and My Bloody Valentine re-makes. Yuk yuk.
Jake – I love that you have the balls to include a list that includes Three Monkeys and Revanche with Knowing and Watchmen. Nobody can accuse you of being a snob!
That’s the taste I like!!
As for me, Coraline all the way, is going to be on my end of the year list.
I haven’t seen a ton of movies from this year yet, but my number one so far is Pontypool. I probably saw it in the same run at the Cinematheque that Adam Cook did, and it’s a wonderful film.
I thought it was the best horror film I had seen since The Blair Witch Project. It genuinely frightened me which does not happen often.
For me it’s the Rec of this year. It’ll find its way onto my year-end list and I doubt there’ll be anything to rival it, horror-wise. And I spend a lot of time watching horror films.
“Sydney Briar is alive.”
I have a feeling Drag Me to Hell will give it a run for its money
I’m excited for Drag Me to Hell but am wary of its PG 13 rating. I have faith but I won’t be surprised if it doesn’t live up to my expectations.
Not to say that all PG 13 Horror films are bad, just that it can hinder an otherwise palatable film.
1. Moon
2. The Girlfriend Experience
3. Accidents Happen
4. North
I couldn’t think of a fifth
Moon is one of the most exciting prospects of the year. Where did you see it?
I live in Orlando, Florida, where they don’t show good movies. Reading the above lists makes me want to move to America.
Fredo
I know this is a lazy post but I’m curious to hear what people’s favorite films has been so far this year. Since the good films usually start getting released in the summer and fall, are there any good films you’ve seen that that are even worth mentioning? Occasionally a good movie will pop up early in the year (Zodiac, Fargo) and I’m always really excited when I see a good movie in February or March (because it’s so unexpected).
I’ll list my top five but if you’ve got more than five, feel free to list them. And these are the top films that have been released in theaters this year, not DVDs or older films you’ve seen this year that you liked.
1. Julia
2. Three Monkeys
3. 12
4. Lymelife
5. Rudo y Cursi