HURT LOCKER - Finally, one of the most underrated action directors in Hollywood, Kathryn Bigelow (Near Dark, Point Break), is getting recognized for her fine work. It's been cool watching her upstage ex-husband James Cameron (Avatar) at some of the awards shows this month. Hurt Locker, one of the best war movies ever, focuses on the work of three men in a unit that disarms roadside bombs in Iraq. Gripping stuff.
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Quentin Tarantino's latest is a revenge fantasy in which French Jews and Jewish-American soldiers in WWII take out Hitler and the rest of the Nazi command structure. Climactic scene in a Paris cinema is something only QT could envision. Two long, talky scenes (the farmhouse and the tavern) are classic Tarantino, building the tension and suspense to a fever pitch. Don't miss.A SERIOUS MAN - The Coen Brothers' new film is set in their home state of Minnesota like their Fargo, but this one focuses not on the Lutheran world of Garrison Keillor, but the the Coen's own Jewish culture. This movie features an opening sequence in Yiddish with subtitles. Very funny in that dark Coen Bros way. I don't think any movie has ever made me feel like more of a goy.
ZOMBIELAND - A horror movie, yes, but one with a definite attitude and lots of humor. Special guest appearance by Bill Murray makes it worth the price of a rental.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE - This Spike Jonez-directed feature was a surprise treat for me this year. I didn't grow up with the book, so went into the film with no real expectations. Maybe a bit overlong, but a fine children's movie for adults. Reminded me quite a lot of The Wizard of Oz.
UP IN THE AIR - George Clooney stars in this comedy/drama about a man who has long kept emotional connections at bay, but who finally considers opening up and letting someone else into his life. His journey, culminating in a heart-breaking scene where Clooney takes a phone call while riding in an airport shuttle, proves one of our biggest movie stars is also one of our finest actors.
AN EDUCATION - A slight British romantic comedy set in the 1960s in which a 16-year old girl falls for a 30ish man. Not as creepy as it sounds. Newcomer Carey Mulligan as the teen is the best reason to see this one.
GOODBYE SOLO - A fine independent film about an odd couple of sorts. Souleymane Sy Savane stars as an immigrant cab driver who befriends a customer (played by former Elvis posse member Red West) who may or may not be suicidal. Sweet, funny, ultimately a little spiritual.
BIG FAN - Former Onion editor Robert Siegel, who wrote last year's wonderful The Wrestler, makes his directorial debut with this strange little character study. Comedian Patton Oswalt stars as a sad, middle-aged man who lives with his mom, works as a cashier in a parking garage and devotes his entire life to the NY Giants. He calls a sports-talk radio show every night to rant about the team and spends his Sunday's watching the Giants play on a tiny TV as he and a buddy tailgate in the parking lot outside the stadium (NFL tix are costly, after all). When he finally meets his favorite player in real life, things don't go as expected. A surprisingly excellent late entry on this list. I credit Terry Gross of NPR's Fresh Air (a "big fan" of this film) for hipping me to it.
MOON - Best science fiction film in years, Moon is the feature-length debut by director Duncan Jones, once known as Zowie Bowie. (Yes, he's the son of Ziggy Stardust.) Sam Rockwell is excellent as a man wrapping up a three-year solo tour on the moon, where he works for a mining company. As the time nears for his return to Earth, Rockwell's character begins to unravel. A smart, thought-provoking movie reminiscent of Kubrick's 2001. A must see. I can't believe Moon didn't make a bigger splash in 2009, and that Rockwell is not nominated for a boatload of acting awards.
Here's the trailer:
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