This is not a list.  The following is a wide range of great films that came out in the year 2009.  We strongly urge every Citizen to check out these titles.  Sorry to the Twilight fans; your movie is still arse.  Stay tuned for our most anticipated movies of 2010.  With the exception of ‘The Single Best Movie of the Year’, the rest are in no particular order.

The Single Best Movie of 2009

It was either between this or Funny People; it came down to which one made me laugh more.  It’s not that my main genre is comedy because Observe and Report gave me so much more than laughs as well.  This movie was a delight in every way.  I was happy to see someone make a film with such a dark style and manage to make it hilarious and even kind of touching.  Jody Hill is that person, director of one of my favorites, Eastbound & Down and another genius film; The Foot Fist Way.  He likes to work with his group of regulars including Danny McBride who makes a brief appearance in Observe.  The star however of this show is Seth Rogen (in his last fat role perhaps).  The man put on a terrific performance working alongside Ray Liotta, Michael Pena, and Anna Faris.  Rogen and writer-director Jody Hill created a scary-funny character study about a warped man and his twisted sense of what it means to be a hero.  The great cast met with an great script was just the right ingredients this movie needed to be perfect, and it was.  [Trailer]

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER – [Trailer]
Some might call it this generations Annie Hall, charming yet brutally honest.  Annie Hall being one of my favorite movies of all time certainly holds well over more than twenty years; as will Summer.  This is not a love story, so said the trailer, poster and narration at the top of the film.  And by the end you finally get what it all means.  This is a story that most people can probably relate to, unless you are one of those never to have loved at all…and lost.  I have seen most of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s work, even since his days on 3rd Rock and further back to Angles in the Outfield.  The man does great work, and this might be his best to date.  Watch for him all over the place.

AVATAR - [Trailer] [CoF Review]
I now know what it must have felt like in 1977 after people walked out of Star Wars; something had changed forever.  Will film making and theater going change because of Avatar?  Hard to tell.  All I know is that I had a hell of a time and thoroughly enjoyed myself for three hours.  James Cameron’s visuals are the story and I am not one for 3D or any digital effects for that matter.  I like it old school.  This movie captured both an old school story telling with a new way to provide it.  Well done Sir.

FUNNY PEOPLE – [Trailer]
My brother Paul may be the biggest Sandler fan I know; so he must know better than others the sadness felt from seeing (or avoiding) Adam Sandler’s few past years of work.  This might just be apology Paul has been waiting for. Sandler plays a jaded man who has forgotten why he does what he does and let past loves (both career and a woman) pass him by.  This is a generous, goodhearted, enjoyable movie, loaded with memorable characters and genuine wit.  Apatow certainly cleansed a lot of personal life into this movie, and it’s shared well.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS – [Trailer] [CoF Review]
Quentin Tarantino might be the last great director hanging on to a lost world of moviemaking and storytelling, and we love him for it.  He must have a blast making films for himself and his audience, it definitely shows in Basterds.  Tarantino’s visual style and flare for the fantasy make for an intriguing and colorful World War II drama, one that is not in the history books.  You can also just watch it for Waltz’s Oscar caliber performance as well.

MOON – [Trailer]
Not being a huge fan of newer sci-fi movies, I found this to be exactly what the doctor ordered; a timely reminder that science fiction can be intelligent and thoughtful.  Sam Rockwell gave the best performance of his career in this film and he should be nominated for a best actor award for what he did in this movie, he worked incredibly hard – or at least made me think that.  While there are shades of Kubrick’s 2001, Moon has enough that’s original and surprising to make it a new classic.

PRECIOUS – [Trailer] [CoF Review]
Hopeful, heartbreaking and thought-provoking, Precious is one of the best movies of the year.   The film looks unflinchingly into desperate lives and finds little hope.  The film is not heartwarming and won’t leave you with much hope for humankind.  It’s like slowing down at a car crash only to get a glimpse of something shocking. What did you except?  The holy sh*t performance of Mo’Nique should have people talking for a long time; it was seriously something to behold.  We need more movies that don’t necessarily cater to a built in audience, check this one out.

THE HURT LOCKER – [Trailer]
After this film, I felt like I suffered from post-traumatic stress, in the best way possible.  This could be the new definite war movie.  I have Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now and Platoon in the back of my mind; and now The Hurt Locker.  The hand-held camera style and p.o.v shots make this film seem so live; an intense film that deserves more recognition than it has so far.  Come on Oscar, get some!

THE BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS – [Trailer]
Nicolas Cage is out of his mind in The Bad Lieutenant, think if his character from Leaving Las Vegas – a child compared to this.  Cage is so over-the-top as the troubled cop that you will either be repulsed or fascinated by his performance and the movie itself.  Director Werner Herzog speaking about Cage’s performance is quoted as saying, “You will see something extraordinary when you see him on screen. It’s the best he’s ever done.” Yes all I talked about in this snippet was Cage’s performance, so see it.

SHERLOCK HOLMES – [Trailer]
The last movie I saw in 2009, and one of the best; lucky for Guy Ritchie.  Is there anything Robert Downey Jr. can’t do?  He continues his hot streak of performances in one of his best roles ever he makes a stuffy old detective into a badass and charming fellow.   Arthur Conan Doyle should be proud of this fun and witty action movie.  There’s a lot to love about this reimagining of Sherlock Holmes‎, case closed.

UP – [Trailer]
Another masterful work of art from Pixar, Up is an exciting, hilarious, and heartfelt adventure told with wit and depth.  Pure joy and one of the best films of the year. You must have a good story, and this one is a gem. It even made me shed a few tears.  Those Pixar people seemingly know what the heck is up.  Ten for ten! This movie was better than I had expected and I went in with some pretty heavy expectations.  I wasn’t the biggest fan of Wall-E and still think that Nemo is dramatically overrated.  UP was something special, one of the best for years to come.  Funny and full of action, it genuinely surprised me for what it turned out to be.

WATCHMEN – [Trailer] [CoF Review]
In a time where I need another superhero movie like I need an ass on my elbow, enter Watchmen.  One of the ballsiest (hehe blue balls) movies I have ever seen.  It took chances, it took an R rating, and it had a running time akin to a shitty school play.  Alas this movie was inspiring and controversial; what else do you need?  Gritty and visually striking, Watchmen is a faithful adaptation of Alan Moore’s graphic novel, Zack Snyder his crew obviously went to great pains to re-create the novel, it’s a shame this wasn’t as popular as Avatar.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE – [Trailer] [CoF Review]
Some may find WTWTA too dark and off-putting, but Spike Jonze’s heartfelt adaptation of the classic children’s book is as beautiful as it is uncompromising.  Years in the making, and stuck in development hell, we finally got to see it, and it was well worth it.  With its darkness, loneliness, and wonder, it might be the most honest kids’ film of the year.