I love movies, about as much as I love music [it's a even draw, with some exceptions] but unlike music, I am more critical of the list of movies that are at the top.

So with that, here’s the list, in order of good, better and best of the year, with a section at the end of the post of the movies that I wanted to like, and the list of movies I want to see that I haven’t yet.

8. 2012
   
   Sure, it’s a “blow up everything in sight” movie. And it’s based on an end of the world destruction plot. But for me, it worked very well. Not too many cheesy lines and visuals to endure through in this Roland Emmerich film. Plus, with John Cusack as the lead actor, it made it that much more enjoyable.
7. Michael Jackson’s This Is It
   
   One of the biggest shocks to the entertainment world this year was the death of The King Of Pop. Not only was he revered as one of the best musicians of our time, he was planning a come back set of concerts that would have been his final bow. But those were not to have happened. This is the footage of rehearsals leading up to the canceled dates. Viewing this footage showed everyone that Michael still had it.
6. The Soloist
   
   I’m a sucker for a feel good story. Robert Downey Jr. plays a journalist who decides to write a story on a homeless cello player, who is brilliantly played by Jamie Foxx. This movie had all the right elements that made me glad I didn’t let this one go unwatched.
5. We Live in Public
   
   We all know at least some of the stories of how the pioneers of the Internet and Web changed how we communicate today. What most of us don’t know is the back story and how these entrepreneurs carry out their personal lives. This is the story of Josh Harris, one of the early founders of online video production. Ondi Timoner directs this documentary in a way that makes you wish you had experienced just a glimpse of the over-the-top antics of Josh’s life.
4. Where The Wild Things Are
   
   I loved this book as a kid. But to make a 90 minute movie out of it? Impossible. Enter Spike Jonze, who takes this story and makes it odd, unique, entertaining and real. Seeing how life really is through a child’s visit to an imaginary world brought both smiles and tears to my face.
3. Star Trek
   
   How do you reboot a franchise that started out great, fizzled a bit, regained it’s greatness, only to fizzle out?. You tell the prequel story. This is what Star Trek did. It came forward and told how the original members of the Starship Enterprise got to be in their positions. J.J. Abrams is a genius, in my book.
2. Up
   
   I envy the storytellers at Pixar. They have all the freedom in the world to come up with an original story that everyone will enjoy. This one of a retired man who wants to journey to a remote part of South America, taking his physical house with him, was nothing short of amazing. The characters, including a talking dog and an energetic scout, come alive as we laugh, cry and cheer at what we see unfold on the screen.
1. Inglourious Basterds
   
   Quentin Tarantino. Love him or hate him. That’s pretty much it with most people and his movies. But this latest film of his took his movie making style to a new level. The story within a story. The movie within the movie. The rewriting of war history to make you sit in your seat in awe of both the acting – Christoph Waltz was incredible – and the dialogue – Brad Pitt’s southern drawl trying to be Italian. Without question, This ended up being my favorite movie of 2009.

What Should Have Been

There are some movies that I really have high hopes for, which then start to unravel once I’m actually viewing them. These are but a few that I liked parts of, but overall thought they needed more [or less in some cases].

• The Men Who Stare at Goats
  
  The story had promise. It worked well in book format. And the actors were great, including a lead role by George Clooney. I even enjoyed the inside joke for Ewen McGregor [has to do with his role in the Star Wars movies]. But overall, there were weak moments in the film that left me wondering why I didn’t save this movie for a DVD viewing at home.
• Brüno
  
  I laughed my ass off in Borat. It was original, it was funny, it was offensive. And I am glad I saw it in the theater. Which is why I was really looking forward to seeing Brüno. I missed it in the theater [it's first run was pretty short], so I waited to get it on DVD. I sat down to watch it and couldn’t wait for it to be over. The gags were too drawn out and I rarely found myself laughing enough. Only the ending was worth me leaving the movie in the DVD player.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  
  Let me explain this one. The movie was well done. It really was. And it told a good story [I haven't read this book yet, so this is going completely from the movie]. But it was a looooong movie. So long that I didn’t fully appreciate the movie until I watched it on DVD/Blu-ray and was able to concentrate better. Not sure if it could have been made shorter, but for me, that would have helped.

Still Need To See

I try to see a lot of movies each year, but there are some that I never get around to seeing in the theater and on video. This is a few of the must-see movies that I want to view.

• Up In The Air
  
  George Clooney never ceases to amaze me. His string of movies that he’s been in is long. Very few of them have been duds [see above]. This is one I need to see in the theater before it leaves. The critics are raving about this being the best work he’s done. I need to see what all the rave is about for myself.
• Zombieland
  
  A cheesy plot and a screen filled with the undead. I like a good zombie movie and this one, with Woody Harrelson, escaped me this year. Going to have to wait for early 2010 to see it on DVD/Blu-ray.
• The Hurt Locker
  
  I like a good documentary, but too many that are based on war can be difficult to watch. But I’ve heard good about this movie and plan to watch it here soon. It’s gotten high marks from film buffs of all types. That’s good enough for me.
• The Hangover
  
  I’m probably the last person to have not seen this movie yet. It’s on DVD now and my Netflix list says “very long wait” so if I’m going to see this, I need to find someone that owns it so I can borrow it for a night.

How Does My List Compare

And there you have my best of movies list for 2009, including some that didn’t quite work and some I still need to see. What was your best movie of the year? Any changes you see in my list you’d like to make?

As with listing my favorite albums, there have been so many movies that I like that have been made, trying to narrow them down to just nine is extremely difficult, but I’ll give it my best shot.

9. True Romance [1993]
   
   If you’ve never seen this movie, and you like Tarantino movies, then rent it, buy it, borrow it – get a copy. It stars Christian Slater as Clarence, a Sonny Chiba fan trying to enjoy a movie marathon, when Alabama (Patricia Arquette) walks in and garners his attention. Before long, Clarence has involved himself into a mix of drugs, hookers, a restless pimp and a Hollywood crowd that change his life. The cast is stellar and full of stars like Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken and Gary Oldman. I actually like this Quentin Tarantino story better than the one he did for “Pulp Fiction,” [I felt Pulp Fiction was better directed - see below]. One viewing and you’ll may add this to your list of favorites, too.

 

8. Good Will Hunting [1997]
   
   A genius-level janitor working at MIT finds time to solve math problems in his “spare time.” As the clues unravel his identity, Will Hunting (Matt Damon) gets befriended by one of the psych professors (Robin Williams) who tries to delve deep into what drives this kid to be both intelligent and awkward. First-time Oscar winners Ben Affleck and Matt Damon knocked this Gus Van Sant-directed film out of the park. It was an instant favorite and has one of my favorite ending lines of dialogue in any film – “That son of a bitch, he stole my line”

 

7. Almost Famous [2000]
   
   Cameron Crowe is one of my favorite directors [as you will find out later in the list]. The story is based on Crowe’s rise up through the ranks as the youngest writer for Rolling Stone magazine and his life on the road with Rock N’ Roll. Kate Hudson as Penny Lane helps make this story come to life as a kid who wants to write gets his wish. The starring cast is incredible (Jason Lee, Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup, Philip Seymour Hoffman) and makes this movie shine that much more. It won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and if you’ve seen it, you will know why.

 

6. Rear Window [1954]
   
   Alfred Hitchcock latched onto James Stewart and held on to him. This movie has suspense on so many different levels, it puts any slasher and gore film to shame. The story of L.B. Jefferies, who breaks his leg, uses a pair of binoculars and a window to the apartment complex he lived in, paints a picture of thrill, intrigue, curiosity and murder. To film pretty much the entire movie from one room and one location, and have it turn out as a masterpiece of cinema, speaks volumes about Mr. Hitchcock’s genius. Special nods to Raymond Burr and Grace Kelly for their supporting roles.

 

5. Say Anything [1989]
   
   John Cuscak is one of my favorite actors, and not just because I look like him [no really, check out this photo from Say Anything] but because he’s just so versatile. This 1989 movie directed by Cameron Crowe [I'm not done yet...] is one of the greatest high school romantic comedies made. Cuscak stars as Lloyd Dobbler, a love-stricken teen with an interest in not only the girl of his dreams (played by Ione Skye), but in kickboxing (“sport of the future”) and making an impact in society. It’s not a chick flick, but it is a movie that tells a love story in a different light. It worked for me.

 

4. Back To The Future [1985]
   
   Most people think this trilogy of movies was directed by Steven Spielberg [they were directed by Robert Zemeckis], but it was Spielberg’s money that helped kick this story out of the gate. Starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly [yes, people did call me "McFly" soon after the movie made it big], a teen who knew a scientist that created a time machine. With a rushed situation early in the morning, Marty ends up in the time machine [disguised as a DeLorean] and going back in time instead of Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). And although some people may think this story isn’t all that, it scores big points for me. So much of a fan that I am of these movies, I try to watch the first movie on October 25, which is the day that Marty went back in time to 1955. Yeah, that’s geeky, but no apologies.

 

3. Pulp Fiction [1994]
   
   The first time I saw this movie, it struck me as something completely different. I had already seen “Reservoir Dogs” and liked “True Romance” [see above] and thought that Quentin Tarantino was making a huge impact into making movies. But it was the story of Vincent and Jules and the endless stream of clever dialogue that made this movie one of my all-time favorites to watch. It not only reinvigorated John Travolta’s career, but it propelled Tarantino’s movie style of comedic violence and blaxploitation into the mainstream, winning him and co-writer Roger Avary Oscars for Best Original Screenplay. Love him or hate him, you have to admit Tarantino is one talented filmmaker.

 

2. The Apartment [1960]
   
   Billy Wilder and a great cast made this Oscar willing movie a hit with me. C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) has always had an eye for Fran Kubelik (Shirley McClaine). He’s married mind you, and is trying to show he’s got the goods at work. Drama ensues and Miss Kubelik finds herself at Mr. Baxter’s apartment. Covering up and trying to reduce the attention, C.C. finds ways to make it look like everything is normal. But in the end, this romantic story shows that love can be quirky. This was Billy Wilder’s last great film, which also cast Fred MacMurry and Ray Walston in supporting roles.

 

1. Jerry Maguire [1996]
   
   I can see some of your jaws dropping as you end up here, wondering why a film like Jerry Maguire is my all-time favorite movie. And to some of you, jaws drop even further when you know that I’m not that fond of the current incarnations of both Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger. But as you read above at some of my top films, you’ll see that I’m a romantic at heart and given the right flow and chemistry, a romantic comedy with a twist is something that works for me, multiple times. Again, Cameron Crowe’s story about a sports agent who finds love and a conscience seals the deal for me. Sure, this movie is loaded with cliché’s and famous movie phrases (“Show Me The Money!”, “You had me at hello”), but the way it’s put together and told, it’s just a masterful piece of filmmaking history.

 
More Movies To Love

Ok, so now you’ve digested the list, placed your jaws back into place and want to tell me how good (or bad) my list is. Comment away. Tell me your favorite movie. State your case to me about why I need to add and/or remove any off the above list. I’ll try to compile the rest of the list (the top #10 through #25 films) soon so you can see that I do have more of diversity than comedic violence and romantic comedies.

And now to start things off, I give you the list of the top nine albums that I have listened to so many times, that if CDs and MP3s had grooves, I would have worn deep cuts in them. And back in the day, with the LP and cassette, I did wear out some after being played so much and so often. These albums also have some significant part of my life, where they just make me feel good and take me back to that time and place burned into memory.

9. Rush: Hemispheres
   
   I started buying albums late in the game. Sure I had my share of Disney 78′s and some 45′s here and there, but LPs were put off till I was 14. I missed out on some good albums, but in 1978, there was Rush’s Hemispheres, which I found on sale for $3.99. Upon first listen, it was so cool to have all of side 1 be a single song, broken up into multiple segments. But turning the record over, I found “The Trees” a song whose lyrics and message cemented my interest in politics. Even today, I steer people towards this album for it’s expert songs and thought-provoking messages.

 

8. Guns N’ Roses: Appetite For Destruction
   
   I hated this album when it first came out in the middle of 1987. My ex-wife’s nephew had this album and it was all I could do to avoid hearing anything from it. Fast forward 10 years, when I re-discovered this album on an Original Master Recording Gold CD. My hate went away instantly. This remains one of the records I turn to when I need to release some aggression. Songs like “Out Ta Get Me” and “It’s So Easy” get me in a mood that makes me wish I had those 10 “hate” years back.

 

7. Stone Temple Pilots: Purple
   
   In 1992, STP hit the scene with “Core”, which is a great album. But when a sophomore release exceeds all of your expectations, then it takes its place in your “best of” list. Lyrics like “If you die before me, ask if you can bring a friend” may be cleverly cheesy, they tend to stick with you, as do the hits “Big Empty” and “Interstate Love Song.” If you haven’t heard this album in years, put it back in your iPod and maybe you’ll find yourself getting tickets to this year’s reunion tour.

 

6. Radiohead: OK Computer
   
   Other than “Creep”, the mainstream audience may have written off Thom Yorke and Co. as an odd band that had even odder songs. But it’s hard to ignore this album from 1997, even if you find it hard to get into it upon the first few listens. Give it another 10 or more spins and you’ll be humming “Karma Police” in your sleep. For me, this album inspires me to be creative and think very much outside the box.

 

5. Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
   
   I heard my first Elton John song on the radio in 1970. “Your Song” was pretty mellow, and the piano was subtle, but it stuck to me enough to want to hear more. It wasn’t until two years after it’s 1975 release that I discovered “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, with it’s 11 minute opening opus, “Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”, not to mention “Benny and the Jets” being an oft-hummed tune. Even if you are not familiar with song titles like “Harmony” or “Grey Seal”, the tune will be familiar.

 

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Blood Sugar Sex Magik
   
   1992 was a powerful year in music and “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” stands as the album no one could avoid. “Give It Away” was trumped many times over by “Under The Bridge”, making Red Hot Chili Peppers a household name. I was already a fan, but this album guaranteed me following them for the foreseeable future. And who can’t enjoy a naughty little ditty like “Sir Psycho Sexy” with it’s “lady cop… trying to cop a feel” story line.

 

3. The Beatles: Revolver
   
   I have never really liked a lot of the early Beatles songs. I was always more into their experimental stage their last 4 years of recording. At the start of this stage, normally referred to as the ‘drug years’, “Revolver” kicked things off with “Taxman”, a slam against Brittan. And from that tune until “Tomorrow Never Knows”, it became one of the first albums that was good from start to finish. I’m surprised more people are not familiar with it when I talk about my favorite Fab Four release.

 

2. Mad Season: Above
   
   I’m sure there’s several of you out there that are saying, “Mad Season?? Isn’t that a Matchbox Twenty album??” But while it would be another year before Rob Thomas and his band mates would break out on the scene, a super group comprised of Layne Staley (Alice In Chains), Mike McCreedy (Pearl Jam), Barrett Martin and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) made a big noise with their only release “Above”. In the 13 years that I’ve owned this album, it has been played more than any other rock album I own. And with the guitar talent of Mike McCreedy on songs like “November Hotel”, it’s hard not to get into this entire album, which is meant to be played all the way through.

 

1. Depeche Mode: Violator
   
   My first experience with Depeche Mode was being on the 405 in Los Angeles on August 6, 1985 and hearing “People Are People” on the radio. From that 4 minute moment, they have been one of my favorite bands. And even after seeing them live eight times, my all-time favorite is, without question, 1990′s “Violator.” And you have to admit that no matter how many times you hear “Enjoy The Silence”, you never get tired of it. I know I never do.

 
So Many More

Picking a top list of anything for me is hard. And especially with music, one of my greatest loves in life. (along with writing) Then to try narrowing it down to the top nine is like asking me to pick between food or water. I will do another post soon with my honorable mentions, or those albums that just missed the cut off.

So what do you think of my list? Any suggestions? Rants? What The Fuck’s? Any favorites you have that I might like? Comment away.