Top Movies of 2009

*Note: these are movies I saw for the first time in 2009, not that necessarily came out in 2009.

In no particular order:

• SlumDog Millionaire – an almost-fairy-tale set in India. The Brother’s Grim kind of fairy tale where eyes are gouged out and innocents are used and abused. Not for children. But uplifting and mind-opening nonetheless.
• Up – a poignant children’s movie. Makes one a little misty sometimes, but provides food for thought. And the kids liked it.
• Monsters Inc. – this is an old one that came out after I stopped watching kids movies with my family and before I had kids of my own. Cute and fun and the little girl “Boo” looked kind of like Monica in pigtails.
• Grand Turino – Not for children. An insane amount of language, brutality, violence.  But a good redemption through self-sacrifice story. Our pastor recommended it (with cautions).
• Julie and Julia – Mmmmm. Makes me want to cook. Reminds me again of what an incredible actress Meryl Streep is. Fun to see Amy Adams again, too.
• StarTrek – So I’m a Star Trek nerd. We all know that. But lots of other people liked this one, too!
• Duplicity – fun. I love Julia Roberts. It was a fairly clever heist movie.
• Night at the Museum – another old one I hadn’t seen. Lots of fun and familiar actors (Dick VanDyke, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson)
• In Good Company – enjoyable. The predicament of a middle-aged manager, whose wife is unexpectedly pregnant, suddenly finding himself with a 27 year old boss – who falls for his daughter – well, it’s funny and poignant.  
• The Nanny Diaries – an antidote to wishing you were a fabulously wealthy New York aristocratic type. A window into another world.

Movies I saw that didn’t meet my expectations:

• Ghosts of Girlfriends Past – too lewd. So over the top that one felt guilty enjoying it – possibly a good portrayal of the emptiness of the theoretically perfect free and single life. (wouldn’t know – never experienced it!)
• District 9 – OK, but why?

Movies I saw and DID NOT like:

• What Happens in Vegas – the way to build a successful marriage is to do what you want to do without regard to what your spouse wants. No wonder marriage is in such a sad state in America.

There should be more on the previous list, but I can’t remember them right now.

And finally, movies that I like to watch from time to time, not necessarily every year:

• White Christmas
• Star Trek IV (the one with the whales)
• Much Ado About Nothing
• Hitch
• Stranger than Fiction
• The original Star Wars trilogy
• The Mask of Zorro
• Jane Austen flicks, especially BBCs Pride and Prejudice and Emma Thompson’s Sense and Sensibility.