10 Movies We Wish We'd Seen This Year
By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 21, 2009 5:20PM
In 2009 we watched approximately 215 movies. If only we'd made time for 225. Here are 10 that got away from us.
- The Box Oh gosh, what is it about Richard Kelly? Southland Tales is such a jaw-droppingly terrible mess. But we have to admit that it fails in ways that no other movie has even dared to dream. Based on a story by Richard Matheson, one of our favorite authors, and featuring Frank Langella, one of our favorite actors, The Box might just have the necessary ingredients to be a guilty pleasure. Bonus selection in the "so bad it might be good" category: The Informers (what the hell are Mickey Rourke, Chris Isaak, and the late Brad Renfro doing in the same movie?)
- District 9 Frankly we were pretty disappointed in Star Trek. This reboot of a franchise known for its philosophical overtones had about as much intellectual content as a box of Donette Gems. In this summer's season of popcorn movies, we would have much rather given District 9 a chance. This'll go in our queue for sure.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox We've always thought that Wes Anderson's meticulous stylization seemed ideal for animation, so we're looking forward to catching up with this one soon. And Bill Murray's hilarious Letterman appearance clinched the deal.
- The Hurt Locker The previews made this movie look unbearably suspenseful, and we can be wusses when it comes to cinematic high tension. But it's been racking up year-end acclaim right and left. We have a definite feeling this might be getting a re-release if gets some Oscar nominations.
- In the Loop Alas we missed this political satire when it was at the Landmark, but with a most impressive 95% fresh rating we're eager to seek it out now. There's nothing like a vicious, profane comedy to make you proud to be an American.
- Lorna's Silence We've loved each and every movie by the Dardenne Brothers, but their latest whipped through Chicago this year with a single week-long run at Piper's Alley. Of course it's already on DVD (and in our queue) but we would have loved to see this on the big screen; their resolutely small scale character studies are even more involving when you see them projected larger than life.
- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire A winner in our CIFF Choose our Adventure poll, we never got a chance to see it at the festival. Every screening was absolutely mobbed. But since this is likely to be nominated for a gazillion different Oscars, it'll be around for awhile. The next time we're feeling overly jaunty, this'll be our go-to movie.
- Tokyo! Any triptych film set in Tokyo and directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Leos Carax (Pola X), and Joon-ho Bong (The Host, Mother) has got to be worth a look.
- World's Greatest Dad Nathan Rabin called it a "savagely funny, unexpectedly touching exploration of the human need to idealize and romanticize the dead," while J.R. Jones concludes that its director "can legitimately be compared to Lenny Bruce." That director? Bobcat Goldthwait. Oh, and it stars Robin Williams. That combination is too volatile to resist.
- Zombieland Zombies. Jesse Eisenberg. Comedy. What's not to like? It's now the highest-grossing zombie movie ever made.
Check back next Tuesday when we present our list of the best movies we saw this year. In the meanwhile, which movies will you try to catch up with in 2010?