BEST MOVIES OF 2009

For my last blog, I thought it would be appropriate to find a list of the best movies created this year. I found that a few weeks after the midpoint of 2009, the Chicago Tribune had an article of the best films of 2009. To read the article, click here. Below is the list...

1. Adventureland
2. Azur and Asmar
3. Coraline
4. The Hurt Locker
5. In the Loop
6. Of Time and the City
7. Sugar
8. Summer Hours
9. Up
10. Waltz with Bashir

TOP 20 GREATEST MOVIES

We all have those lists of movies that we have yet to see. Some may be new movies, or some older, famous films that always get the reaction "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT?!?" Well, a perfect list is simply a list of the greats. The American Film Institute released a new edition of the Top 100 Greatest Movies list in 2007. Below is the top 20 on that list. (Click here to view the official list.) So, if you have a chance, consider one of the best.

1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. The Godfather (1972)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Raging Bull (1980)
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
6. Gone with the Wind (1939)
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler's List (1993)
9. Vertigo (1958)
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Psycho (1960)
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
16. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
17. The Graduate (1967)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)
20. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

Yes, it's a little older, and in black and white. But, IT's A WONDERFUL LIFE is one of my family's holiday favorites. Watching the movie on Christmas Eve has been our tradition for as long as I can remember.

The 1946 film nominated for five oscars: Best Actor in a Leading Role for
James Stewart, Best Director for Frank Capra, Best Film Editing for William Hornbeck, Best Sound/Recording for John Aalberg, and Best Picture. It won a Cincema Writers Circle award in Spain for best foreign film. Frank Capra also won a Golden Globe for best motion picture director.

George Bailey is a businessman who has lost his purpose in life. He plans on commiting suicide on Christmas Eve, but an angel is sent to him to prevent him from such drastic measures. Most of the film is about George Bailey's life leading up to this point, starting with his childhood.

IT's A WONDERFUL LIFE is a great story about being thankful for what you have and focusing on what really matters when times are tough. It is funny, sad, and totaly original. There's no better old film to watch with family around the holidays.

My Grade: A+

SHATTERED GLASS (2003)

I recently watched SHATTERED GLASS in a class at school. The 2003 documentary was directed and written by Billy Ray, and it is a true story about a journalist who is caught for fabricating 27 of his 41 published articles for the "The New Republic" magazine. Click here to read some of those articles.

The documentary featured Hayden Christensen as Stephen Glass. It depicts him as a young and seemingly talented journalist rising to fame. After working at the magazing for three years, his editors start to notice some made-up sources, quotes, and eventually whole stories. It shows his career being shatterd and his whole life crumbling into pieces.

I found the film to be quite interesting actually, and a big step into the reality of journalism. The shocking tale of Glass' unusual career came to me as a huge surprise. I never thought that anyone at a professional job for a popular magazine could even think of fabricating their stories, let alone more than half of them.

One thing about SHATTERED GLASS that bothered me was the actors. Almost every one of them was annoying and their personalities were extremely irritating. I especially couldn't stand the character of Stephen Glass. The whole time i just wanted to say, "You are an idiot."

My Grade: C+

THE BLIND SIDE (2009)

Based on a true story, THE BLIND SIDE is a film currently in theatres. It stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron. It's an inspirational sports film about a family who adopts a boy named Michael Oher.

He was homeless and lost, with no family or anyone to look to. Michael was from a broken home, with a drugee mother and no-show father. When he's given a shot at a Christian school, a family (the Touhys) take him in and help him fulfill his potential as a football player.

The film was heart-warming and inspiring. It showed a genuinely kind family who wanted nothing more than to give some help. Bullock, who portrayed the mother, Leigh Anne Touhy, gave what may be her best performance ever. She is kind and gentle, but strong-willed and confident. Click here to watch an interview with the real Leigh Anne Touhy.

Oher ended up going to Mississippi University, and getting drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 draft. It's a truly happy story that will make you feel like a happier person. Whether or not you like football, you'll love THE BLIND SIDE.

My Grade: A+

ELF (2003)

As the Christmas season comes around the corner, it's time for those much loved Christmas movies to start airing again! ELF, a 2003 comedy (rated PG) is one of my favorites to watch around the holidays.

Starring Will Ferrell, this film is about an Elf named Buddy who goes to New York City in search of his birth father. When Buddy finds his father, he realizes that he is nothing like he expected (he's even on Santa's "Naughty List").

The film had seven wins and two nominations. One was a 2004 Golden Trailer award for Best Comedy. Will Ferrell was nominated for a Best Comedic Performance award at the 2004 MTV movie awards. He was also nominated for a Choice Movie Actor award at the Teen Choice Awards. Finally, it was nominated for another Teen Choice award for Choice Movie - Comedy.

ELF is an original story that definitely brings some laughs. Will Ferrell delivered a great performance, as always. The story is creative, but classic. It's not the greatest Christmas movie ever made, but on a night in during the Christmas season with your family? Why not?

My Grade: B+

THE WAITRESS (2007)

THE WAITRESS is one of my personal favorites. It stars Keri Russell as a pregnant waitress who is unhappily married to an abusive man named Earl.

The waitress, Jenna, has to deal with her disrespectful husband who takes all the money that she works hard for for himself. Jenna becomes determined to win a pie contest, which would enable her to free herself of Earl and live on her own with her baby. (She has a strange gift for making the most creative pies.) When she begins an affair with her new doctor, she starts to realize that she really does have a shot at happiness.

Unfortunately, the director of the film, Adrienne Shelly, was brutally murdered in her apartment by a construction worker before the movie was released. It was first suspected as a suicide, but it was later found that the constuction worker was intent on robbing her apartment, and ended up killing her.

Shelly's husband started a foundation in her name that gives a number of grants and film school scholarships, and also gives awards for films that oppose violence against women. Click here to read more about the foundation.


Some people say the only reason the film got attention was because of this, but it is truly a very original, different romantic comedy. It is heart-warming and inspiring, witty and clever. It's an empowering story for women about breaking free of abuse. Jenna doesn't realize her talents and abilities, but after she ends her abusive relationship, she gains more confidence, and truly becomes a happier person.

My Grade: A+