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Dreamlogic.net’s Favorite Entertainments of 2009

by Chris and Kris January 16, 2010

So we’re about halfway into January, but we’ve completed our list of our favorite entertainments of the year, including films released in 2009, films we didn’t see until 2009, and some of the games we enjoyed playing in 2009. Without further ado, Dreamlogic.net’s Favorite Entertainments of 2009.

Favorite 2009 Film Releases

Dreamlogic.net's Favorite Entertainments of 2009

The Box – Richard Kelly’s latest struck just the right balance of creepy and philosophical. The adaptation of Richard Matheson’s short-story meditation on ethics and altruism, ‘Button Button’, is as smart as it is engaging; more than making up for the lackluster Southland Tales. Definitely worth watching again.

Sherlock Holmes – An surprisingly smart script and an exceedingly talented cast (save Rachel McAdams) knock this adventure right out of the park. If you haven’t seen it yet, do. We’re checking this one out again next week.

Land of the Lost – Okay, this one’s nothing approaching smart, but it’s still some of the most fun I’ve had with a comedy this year. Although a Saturday morning show-adaptation, it is definitely not one for the kiddies. Still, it would make a perfect double feature with Galaxy Quest.

Moon – This film came out at roughly the same time as District 9, but we think, given the choice, it’s probably the one we’d be most eager to re-watch. Sam Rockwell gives the performance of his career. An intriguing sci-fi mystery concerning corporate greed, loneliness, and self preservation. Be sure to check out our review of the film.

Inglourious Basterds – Who knew Tarantino had it in him? Possibly his best script since True Romance, and his best directing job since Pulp Fiction. Awesome stuff. Be sure to check out our review of the film.

Up – The re-imagining of Russ Meyer’s boob-a-licious original totally delivers. Okay, so I jest, but who knew Pixar’s latest foray into epic-cuteness would present an adventure that was more thrilling than the last Indiana Jones? We’re not typically Pixar fans (Cars? Blech.) but this film totally delivers.

The Limits of Control – Jarmusch goes Lynch and Linklater. This tale of an assassin tasked with taking out the man in charge is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the brain. Seriously, it is one of the best shot films of the year. There’s only enough dialog to fill up roughly a quarter of the picture, so you’ll need to pay attention to other clues in order to figure out what’s going on. If you’re willing to invest the time, the film is completely rewarding.

Food, Inc. – This documentary on the food industry – rather, the handful of corporations that control the vast majority of the nation’s food supply, is depressing as it is hopeful, and one doc everyone should see.

Pandorum – Not at all the Event Horizon clone the trailers made it out to be. In fact, this one might even rival that film in its intensity. I won’t say much more in order to preserve the suspense. Just see it.

Five Minutes of Heaven – Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt deliver pitch perfect performances as two men coming to terms with crimes committed and suffered during the Irish conflict years. Neeson plays a young IRA member who assassinated the brother of Nesbitt

The Brothers Bloom — We loved Brick, but I think we might actually have had an even better time with The Brothers. An old-school con-flick, but with a modern twist. Watching it reminded me something of Lupin III crossed with The Sting… if that makes any sense. Check it out.

Trick ‘r Treat — The best horror anthology film in years. In fact, it might be one of the best I’ve ever seen. Check it out.

Films Screened in the SF during 2009 (but not technically 2009 releases)

Dreamlogic.net's Dreamlogic.net's Favorite Entertainments of 2009

Fine, Totally Fine – Hands down my favorite film we saw this year. This film had us in stitches from start to finish. The tale of two friends (a pushover and a prankster) who come to the realization that their journey into adulthood has seen them accomplish nothing in the way of meaningful human endeavors or personal growth, and set about doing something about it. Enter a girl similarly afflicted, who fails at near everything she puts her hands to, and the two discover something worth fighting for, even at the expense of their own friendship. What follows is a meditation on life, love, maturity and adulthood that as as heartfelt and real as it is jaw-droppingly hilarious. YosiYosi Arakawa (Survive Style 5+) does an amazing job as the lead, horror/prank obsessed Teuro Tohyama. Yoshino Kimura (Sukiyaki Western Django), likewise, is proving quite the chamelion, and in playing Akari Kinoshita, the film’s female klutz, delivers a performance that is as unlike any of hers before, and simultaneously her most engaging to date. This film deserves a full review, which we will deliver in the future, time permitting. In the mean time, track this one down. You won’t be sorry.

Funuke: Show Some Love, You Losers! – Eriko Sato blew my socks off. Seriously. She’s so convincingly evil in this film, you’d never believe it was the same girl who played Cutie Honey. The film is something like a better behaved Visitor Q, completely with the messed up family and pitch-black comedy. Here’s hoping it gets a decent DVD release here in the states. Be sure to check out our review of the film.

Sorasoi – Katsuhito Ishii and Nice Rainbow’s indie exercise was as fun as it was heartwarming. The tale of a young Dance Troupe’s stay at a country hostel was heartwarming and peaceful, almost like a virtual/cinematic vacation. Plus we got to meet Katsuhito Ishii in person! Be sure to check out our review of the film.

Honorable mentions

A Serious Man – The Coen Brothers deliver their best film since O Brother Where Art Thou. Blackly comic, cynical, ironic, but never quite mean. The film assaults its protagonist with a series of oppressively demoralizing developments which, surprisingly (or not, given that it is the Coen Bros), never fail to elicit knowing laughs from the viewers. Life sucks sometimes. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t funny.

District 9 – Halo movie begets alien apartheid film, and it’s actually good? You bet. We probably wouldn’t watch this again all that soon, but it was definitely powerful, visceral viewing.

Remaining lists have reviews linked directly.