Best Director
Neill BlomkampDistrict 9
Tom FordA Single Man
Greg MottolaAdventureland
Oren MovermanThe Messenger
Erick ZoncaJulia
And the Diva Cup Goes to: Neill Blomkamp, District 9
Best Picture/Top 10 Films of the Year
10. (500) Days of Summer
Directed by Marc Webb
The film wears its aspiration to be the new Annie Hall on its sleeve, but you'd be hard pressed to find a more charming or downright fun romantic comedy.
9. Precious
Directed by Lee Daniels
An uncompromising film which presents its ugliness as honestly as a Toni Morrison novel. A few flourishes distract, but Precious is raw, emotional cinema.
8. Jennifer's Body
Directed by Karyn Kusama
The most undervalued film of the year, not only because people didn't want to like it from the start but also because no one--not even the film's marketers--really understood what screenwriter Diablo Cody was aiming for. This isn't a straight horror film like the trailers want you to believe but, rather, a black horror comedy about the fairer sex getting their revenge on male oppressors.
7. [Rec]
Directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
Released in Spain in 2007, [Rec] made its US debut on DVD this year after the relative success of its American remake Quarantine. I have yet to see the remake, but I can't imagine wanting to be compared to this nightmare of a film. This is how all horror films should be: suspenseful, twisted and horrifically shocking. If that final scene in the locked apartment don't give you nightmares, you are the bravest person in the world.
6. The Brothers Bloom
Directed by Rian Johnson
A delicious con game of a film. Johnson does a masterful job masking his deception, keeping us guessing until the bitter end.
5. Adventureland
Directed by Greg Mottola
What could have been played for cheap laughs is handled with an unexpected maturity. Mottola gets the most out one of the most random ensembles ever assembled as they help turn Adventureland from Superbad Redux to something as smart as Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
4. A Single Man
Directed by Tom Ford
Where many found empty stylistics and visuals covering up an even emptier core, I found beautiful imagery used to amplify just how lonely and ugly George's, said "single man" of the film, world is. Call me crazy, but it works.
3. Julia
Directed by Erick Zonca
This is one film not afraid of its leading lady and her mammoth performance. Zonca and company matches Ms. Swinton every step of the (batshit crazy) way.
2. The Messenger
Directed by Oren Moverman
A quiet, keenly observed human drama about three regular people dealing with the Iraq War. There are no grand pronouncements nor are any "messages" spelled out as obviously as in this film's generic cousin Up in the Air; this is just a smart movie whose strengths lie in the underplayed.
1. District 9
Directed by Neill Blomkamp
I still think is the best decription for District 9 (from my post honoring my favorite films of the decade): "I wanted to vomit. I wanted to cry. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to hide. I'm pretty sure I felt every possible human emotion throughout the course of District 9. I loved every minute of it."
And the Diva Cup Goes to: District 9
10. (500) Days of SummerDirected by Marc Webb
The film wears its aspiration to be the new Annie Hall on its sleeve, but you'd be hard pressed to find a more charming or downright fun romantic comedy.
9. PreciousDirected by Lee Daniels
An uncompromising film which presents its ugliness as honestly as a Toni Morrison novel. A few flourishes distract, but Precious is raw, emotional cinema.
8. Jennifer's BodyDirected by Karyn Kusama
The most undervalued film of the year, not only because people didn't want to like it from the start but also because no one--not even the film's marketers--really understood what screenwriter Diablo Cody was aiming for. This isn't a straight horror film like the trailers want you to believe but, rather, a black horror comedy about the fairer sex getting their revenge on male oppressors.
7. [Rec]Directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
Released in Spain in 2007, [Rec] made its US debut on DVD this year after the relative success of its American remake Quarantine. I have yet to see the remake, but I can't imagine wanting to be compared to this nightmare of a film. This is how all horror films should be: suspenseful, twisted and horrifically shocking. If that final scene in the locked apartment don't give you nightmares, you are the bravest person in the world.
6. The Brothers BloomDirected by Rian Johnson
A delicious con game of a film. Johnson does a masterful job masking his deception, keeping us guessing until the bitter end.
5. AdventurelandDirected by Greg Mottola
What could have been played for cheap laughs is handled with an unexpected maturity. Mottola gets the most out one of the most random ensembles ever assembled as they help turn Adventureland from Superbad Redux to something as smart as Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
4. A Single ManDirected by Tom Ford
Where many found empty stylistics and visuals covering up an even emptier core, I found beautiful imagery used to amplify just how lonely and ugly George's, said "single man" of the film, world is. Call me crazy, but it works.
3. JuliaDirected by Erick Zonca
This is one film not afraid of its leading lady and her mammoth performance. Zonca and company matches Ms. Swinton every step of the (batshit crazy) way.
2. The MessengerDirected by Oren Moverman
A quiet, keenly observed human drama about three regular people dealing with the Iraq War. There are no grand pronouncements nor are any "messages" spelled out as obviously as in this film's generic cousin Up in the Air; this is just a smart movie whose strengths lie in the underplayed.
1. District 9Directed by Neill Blomkamp
I still think is the best decription for District 9 (from my post honoring my favorite films of the decade): "I wanted to vomit. I wanted to cry. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to hide. I'm pretty sure I felt every possible human emotion throughout the course of District 9. I loved every minute of it."
And the Diva Cup Goes to: District 9
Nomination Tally:
9 Nominations
District 9
A Single Man
8 Nominations
Precious
7 Nominations
The Brothers Bloom
The Messenger
6 Nominations
(500) Days of Summer
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Star Trek
5 Nominations
Adventureland
4 Nominations
An Education
In the Loop
The Informant!
Julia
3 Nominations
Away We Go
The Box
Jennifer's Body
Obsessed
[Rec]
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself
2 Nominations
17 Again
Antichrist
Avatar
Drag Me to Hell
The Headless Woman
The Lovely Bones
Sunshine Cleaning
Twilight Saga: New Moon
Up
1 Nomination
La Belle Personne
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Funny People
Grey Gardens
Julie & Julia
Moon
Ponyo
Win Tally:
4 Wins
District 9
3 Wins
The Brothers Bloom
Precious
2 Wins
Jennifer's Body
Obsessed
1 Win
Adventureland
Avatar
Drag Me to Hell
An Education
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Headless Woman
The Informant!
Julia
The Messenger
Nine
[Rec]
Twilight Saga: New Moon
9 Nominations
District 9
A Single Man
8 Nominations
Precious
7 Nominations
The Brothers Bloom
The Messenger
6 Nominations
(500) Days of Summer
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Star Trek
5 Nominations
Adventureland
4 Nominations
An Education
In the Loop
The Informant!
Julia
3 Nominations
Away We Go
The Box
Jennifer's Body
Obsessed
[Rec]
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself
2 Nominations
17 Again
Antichrist
Avatar
Drag Me to Hell
The Headless Woman
The Lovely Bones
Sunshine Cleaning
Twilight Saga: New Moon
Up
1 Nomination
La Belle Personne
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Funny People
Grey Gardens
Julie & Julia
Moon
Ponyo
Win Tally:
4 Wins
District 9
3 Wins
The Brothers Bloom
Precious
2 Wins
Jennifer's Body
Obsessed
1 Win
Adventureland
Avatar
Drag Me to Hell
An Education
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Headless Woman
The Informant!
Julia
The Messenger
Nine
[Rec]
Twilight Saga: New Moon
3 comments:
That must be the most attractive lineup of directors ever conceived.
Not a single one I wouldn't go out with.
And no women! On the year of Fish Tank, Bright Star, The Hurt Locker etc. You chauvinist!
Well, there aren't any trolls like Peter Jackson, but I'd hardly say I'd do any of these directors except for Tom Ford obviously.
There are no women because I hated Bright Star, The Hurt Locker was good but not great and Fish Tank is a 2010 film in the US (and I think you can expect Arnold to give the men a run for their money).
You need to see [REC] 2, it's so fun. It's not as scary as the first one and it kinda amps up the camp factor, and yet it still comes out as a very entertaining movie.
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