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In this blog series, George and Matt from the Monitor Audio team explore their favourite movies from the last 20 years.
Our selection of films may not be critically acclaimed or box office hits, but have stood the test of time as our favourite movies.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know your favourite movies from the year 2009 on Facebook and Twitter!
Dir: Duncan Jones | Sony Pictures Classics
A unique and thought-provoking sci-fi thriller from director Duncan Jones, following an isolated man's stint on the far side of the Moon.
After an oil crisis, the largest producer of fusion energy in the world, Lunar Industries, have made a fortune mining the alternative fuel helium-3 from lunar soil. Located on a facility on the Moon, Sarang Station only requires a single human to maintain operations. Nearing the end of his three-year contract, Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) has only his AI companion GERTY (Kevin Spacey) for comfort. When he left Earth, Sam left behind wife Tess, who was pregnant with his daughter Eve, but due to communication problems with Earth, he rarely has contact with them.
Whilst overseeing the harvesters, Sam has hallucinations and crashes his lunar rover, losing consciousness. He awakes to the sound of GERTY speaking to Lunar Industries management, but suspicious of the circumstances, he heads out to the rover, where he discovers his doppelgänger. After helping him, each Sam wonders if one is a clone of the other. Eventually GERTY confirms that they are in fact both clones of the original Sam Bell and all of their memories are implanted from the original. After accessing records, it’s proven that the clones start to become sick as their contracts expire. With a vault containing hundreds of hibernating clones, in order to avoid the cost, Lunar Industries is unethically cloning them, incinerating them upon their return to Earth.
Realising that they were deliberately jamming the live feed in order to prevent the clones from contacting Earth and finding out the truth, the older Sam ventures out past the interference radius and manages to communicate with Eve, who is now fifteen years old. Older Sam sacrifices himself, enabling communications to Earth and allowing the younger Sam to escape, in order to shed light on their immoral practises.
Rockwell is superb in this eerie science fiction classic that leaves behind the special effects. Both disturbing and moving, this dark story of solitude and paranoia is both intriguing and technically brilliant.
Dir: Quentin Tarantino | Universal Pictures
This sharp script from director Quentin Tarantino tells an alternative historic story to Nazi Germany's leadership and doesn’t hold back.
As Nazi parties travel across France searching for unaccounted Jewish families, farmer Perrier LaPadite soon encounters Colonel Landa (Christoph Waltz). The man dubbed the “Jew Hunter” kills the Dreyfus family, but their daughter Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent) escapes.
Killing German soldiers, the Basterds are an unofficial military force, led by Lieutenant Raine (Brad Pitt). A famed German sniper, Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Brühl), is starring in a Nazi propaganda film and encounters Shosanna, who is now living in Paris, running a cinema. Zoller convinces Nazi politician Joseph Goebbels, associate to Hitler, to hold the premiere of the film at her cinema, after taking a liking to her. Despite a brief confrontation with Landa, Shosanna pushes forward with plans to set the cinema ablaze during the premiere, with help from her lover Marcel.
Lieutenant Hicox (Michael Fassbender) meets with German film star Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger), an undercover Allied agent. Operation Kino is a plan to attack the premiere, alongside the Basterds, but after meeting at a tavern, their cover is soon blown, leading to multiple fatalities. Hammersmark is shot and after Landa investigates the aftermath, he realises Hammersmark was present. At the premiere, two of the Basterds take their seat and successfully plant bombs, making their way up to the opera box, containing Hitler and Goebbels. Landa kills Hammersmark and arrests Raine, but cuts a deal with him to allow the mission to kill Hitler go ahead, in exchange for a pardon. As Shosanna plants flammable nitrate film behind the screen, she locks the doors, and the Basterds kill Hitler and Goebbels, setting off the bombs, eventually killing everybody. Despite the deal, Raine carves a swastika into Landa’s forehead, ensuring everyone will know how he betrayed his country.
Typically, the dialogue is quick and the action is exhilarating. Inglourious Basterds is charismatic and gory with a spectacular and glorious finale.
Dir: John Hillcoat | Dimension Films
Director John Hillcoat provides possibly one of the bleakest and most realistic portrayals of a post-apocalyptic world and those who survive it.
A family of three, depicted as Man (Viggo Mortensen), Woman (Charlize Theron) and Boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) survive what is assumed to be a meteor strike, causing extinction across the globe. We first follow Man and Boy as they travel along the road to the coast, looking for any remaining supplies. A flashback follows the couple giving birth, but as supplies ran dangerously low, they lost hope. After an intruder is shot and killed, they are left with only two bullets. Woman believes that the bullets should be used to commit suicide, as a last resort and sacrifices herself, removing her clothing and walking deep into the woods.
In the present, Man and Boy come across a man in the forest, but after he threatens to call to his group, Man kills him with a single shot, before they escape. They come across a large house in the woods, which is seemingly empty, but they soon realise they are once again in the midst of a gang of cannibals. After discovering people locked in the basement, imprisoned as food for their captors, they flee. Walking towards another house, Man discovers an underground shelter. Climbing down the ladder, they soon realise they have uncovered a bunker, filled with food and drink. During the day, they use the facilities in the house to bathe and at night, they feast. After becoming paranoid, due to a dog barking at night, they become worried that it will pick up their scent and move on, bringing as many supplies as they can carry.
They come across Ely (Robert Duvall), an old man, whom they share their food with, before making their way to the beach, to scavenge an abandoned ship. After their belongings are temporarily stolen, they track the thief (Michael Kenneth Williams) and retain their supplies. Man and Boy finally make their way to the coast, but after a confrontation with some ambushers and a lack of medicine, Man’s health rapidly deteriorates, leaving Boy to fend alone. A Veteran (Guy Pearce) and his family approach Boy and take him under their protection.
This harrowing tale of despair is uncompromising and chilling. The Road is as relentless as it is captivating, offering just a glimmer of hope.
Dir: Pete Docter | Walt Disney Studios
Pixar offers up another masterpiece, with a compelling, but mature coming-of-old-age story, timeless, full of colour and genuine warmth.
Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), a famous explorer, fabricates a story about a new species of giant bird, but when archaeologists discover that he concocted the story to deceive them, Charles vows to clear his name and prove them wrong, leaving for Paradise Falls, to find a specimen. We first meet Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) in 1940, as a young boy, as he meets fellow aspiring explorer Ellie, who dreams of living by Paradise Falls. We watch them grow and get married, but their hopes of saving up for a trip to Paradise Falls fade. Eventually, in their old age, Carl buys tickets for the trip, but Ellie falls ill and passes away.
As the land around Carl’s house is sold off to a construction company, to build luxury apartments, he refuses to sell the house that he and Ellie grew up in. After the courts decide to move him to a retirement home, stubborn, he attaches hundreds of balloons to his house and to everyone’s surprise, lifts off, setting his sites on Paradise Falls. In an attempt to earn his final scout badge for "Assisting the Elderly", Russell (Jordan Nagai) gets caught up, hundreds of feet in the air, on Carl’s porch. After a storm pushes them all the way to South America, the house lands high in the mountains, with Paradise Falls in the distance. As balloons slowly start to deflate, Carl and Russell pull the house along, before bumping into a tall colourful bird, which Russell names Kevin. Then, in the middle of nowhere, they befriend a Golden Retriever named Dug. They then encounter Muntz, aboard his zeppelin, but after realising he is controlling Dug and looking to capture Kevin, they escape.
Muntz soon gets hold of Kevin, but after he begins to pop balloons atop of Carl’s house, they leave without him. Carl and Russell finally reach Paradise Falls, but when Russell disappears to rescue Kevin, Carl removes the entire contents of his house in order to follow him. Together, they defeat Muntz, rescue and return Kevin to his family and get back in time for Russell’s Wilderness Explorer presentation.
Pixar once again manage to exceed our expectations, providing a beautifully crafted adventure, enchanting viewers of all ages.
Dir: John Lee Hancock | Warner Bros. Pictures
Director John Lee Hancock brings us a story based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, about NFL star Michael Oher.
The story starts with a seventeen year old Michael (Quinton Aaron) being investigated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and a flashback then recites his teenage years. Michael’s mother is a drug addict, unable to care for him, leaving Michael in and out of foster care for the majority of his childhood. After sleeping on his friends couch, coach Cotton helps to enrol him at the Wingate Christian School, befriending student, S.J (Jae Head). He is kicked out of his friend’s house, before being notified of his father’s death. Without a place to live or any food to eat, Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) and Sean (Tim McGraw) Tuohy, notice him at their daughter Collins (Lily Collins) volleyball game. The wealthy Tuohy family invite him into their home and slowly begin to integrate him as part of their family.
Despite her friend’s negative thoughts about Michael staying, Leigh Anne and Sean push to become Michael’s legal guardian. They fail in their attempt to find Michael’s mother, learning that he was taken into care when he was seven. Michael begins to train to be an offensive lineman for the football team, with help from the family. As his game improves, so do his grades, after Miss Sue (Kathy Bates), a private tutor, is hired. As he meets the grade point average required to play, Leigh-Anne finally meets and receives Michael’s mothers blessing to adopt him. As word of his abilities spread, many prestigious schools get in contact with the Tuohy’s, all vying for Michael’s attention. He decides on University of Mississippi, where Leigh Anne and Sean both attended.
As we find ourselves back at the offices of the NCAA, they suggest that the reason the Tuohy’s adopted Michael, was to ensure he would play football for Mississippi. His initial confusion and fears are allayed, as he realises the good intentions of the family and realises that he made the choice, with his future and his family very much in mind.
The Blind Side is a true crowd pleaser. Uplifting and inspirational, a fascinating story about the touching life of Michael Oher.
Dir: Kathryn Bigelow | Summit Entertainment
In a brutal dramatisation of the Iraq War, director Kathryn Bigelow tells the story of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, battling the elements.
The intro depicts a recent event, involving Staff Sergeant Thompson (Guy Pearce), showing just how devastating an IED is, as he is killed attempting to disarm it. Set in Baghdad 2004, we are introduced to his replacement, Sergeant First Class James (Jeremy Renner), who joins the Bravo Company EOD unit, including Sergeant Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Eldridge (Brian Geraghty), who are part of his team. Many of the Iraqi residents work outside the camp and as the soldiers patrol; James takes a liking to an Iraqi youth, who pesters him for money.
Sanborn and Eldridge question James’ reckless method and attitude, after witnessing a lack of care for his own safety when disarming the IED’s. As tensions arise, they encounter a group of British mercenaries on their way back to Camp Victory, who have captured Iraqi prisoners. Soon the whole group come under fire and the prisoners are killed as they try to escape. Snipers kill the leader (Ralph Fiennes) of the group, but Sanborn and James patiently wait, before firing back. They later raid a warehouse, where a young Iraqi that James befriended has been violently killed, and a bomb surgically implanted. After disarming the bomb from the young boys body, another is detonated just outside. James sneaks out of the camp to look for the rebels responsible for the young boys death. Sanborn and Eldridge reluctantly agree to help, but the insurgents escape after Eldridge is shot and airlifted for surgery.
In their final mission, after a bomb is strapped to an innocent civilian, James and Sanborn are unable to stop it detonating. A distressed Sanborn leaves army life behind for good. Bored of the routine back home, addicted to the intensity, James starts another tour of duty.
With superb handheld camerawork, the nail-biting sequences are expertly directed. The Hurt Locker is an engrossing film, which portrays the harrowing reality of day-to-day life during the Iraq War.
Dir: Todd Phillips | Warner Bros. Pictures
Entertaining comedy from director Todd Philips, following the aftermath of the bachelor party from hell, a group of friends retrace their steps.
Doug (Justin Bartha) is soon to be married and after some persuasion from friends Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms), they set out for Vegas in a vintage Mercedes, borrowed from Doug’s new father in-law. Unfortunately for them, Doug’s new brother Alan (Zach Galifianakis), who suffers from ADHD, joins them on their trip. After a few drinks atop the Caesars Palace roof, they toast to a memorable night.
With no memory of the night before, Phil, Stu, and Alan awaken to find their room trashed. Stu, missing a tooth, discovers a tiger in the bathroom. Unable to find Doug, they make their way downstairs, but not before picking up an abandoned baby left in the closet. When the valet delivers them a police car, they realise that something went seriously wrong and after seeing Doug’s mattress on the roof, they retrace their steps. A doctor confirms they took Rohypnol and after clues lead them to a chapel, Stu discovers he got married. Gangsters attack them, but when they flee, police pick them up in their stolen car. They find themselves volunteers for a taser demonstration, as a plea bargain from the police. Upon collecting their car, a naked man named Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) jumps out of the trunk. Alan confirms he drugged the group and when they reach their room, Mike Tyson knocks Alan out, as revenge for stealing his tiger, which they then have to return.
Chow contacts the group and confirms he has Doug, telling them that they must pay $80,000. Alan card counts playing blackjack to win the money, but when they are presented with another man called Doug, they realise that their Doug is on the roof of the casino. After a frantic road trip back, they make the wedding just in time, before discovering a digital camera containing all the evidence from the night before.
With outrageous gags and a ludicrous plot, The Hangover is hilarious, with idiotic but charming performances, its laugh-out-loud until the end.
Dir: Greg Mottola | Miramax Films
A graduate, on his summer vacation, begins to work at a run-down amusement park in this comedy-drama from director Greg Mottola.
Set in 1987, recent graduate James (Jesse Eisenberg) is persuaded to find a part-time job by his parents, who have run into money troubles, rather than travel around Europe. With just a few months until starting at Columbia University, realising that his parents cannot support him, he manages to get a job at a local amusement park in his hometown. After meeting his co-workers, only one stands out, games worker Emily (Kristen Stewart). After learning the ropes, James finds himself on the wrong end of an angry customer, before Emily comes to the rescue.
Despite developing feelings for her, Emily is having a secret relationship with Connell (Ryan Reynolds), a maintenance man, who is in fact married and a serial cheater. James continues to spend time with Emily and after sharing their first kiss, James confides in Connell, who then tells Emily that James has feelings for her. After Emily tells James she wants to slow down, Connell persuades James to accept a date with Lisa (Margarita Levieva), one of the ride operators, known for being seductive. On their date, they kiss, but feeling guilty, James confesses to Emily and expresses his true feelings toward her, leading her to end it with Connell. Later, James friends and co-workers tell him that they saw Connell with a girl and suspecting its Emily, James arrives and catches her, leaving him heartbroken.
After James lets slip that Connell is having an affair with Emily, it spreads throughout the park, causing Emily to quit. James drunkenly crashes his father's car and has to use all of his summer earnings to repair it. After discovering that his friend Eric, who he had planned to live with at Colombia, will now be attending a different university, James heads to New York to seek out Emily.
Delightful cast, with believable characters and a wonderfully written script, Advertureland is wise, funny and bittersweet.
Dir: Lee Daniels | Lionsgate
Based on the incredible book ‘Push’ by Sapphire, Precious follows the 16 year old titular illiterate young woman struggling against poverty and abuse in late 80s Harlem, directed by Lee Daniels.
Living with her mother Mary (Mo’Nique) in a deprived neighbourhood in Harlem, New York, Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) not only has to survive on welfare payments but is also subjected to her mother’s mental and physical abuse. Precious has also been raped repeatedly by her now-absent father, which results in two pregnancies. Precious’ first child Mongo has Down's syndrome and is cared for by Precious’ grandmother, but Mary pretends she lives with them to receive extra welfare payments.
Whilst at school, the headmistress expels Precious for being pregnant, but arranges to her attend an ‘alternative school’, hoping this will better suit Precious to change her direction in life. Her worries of attending her new school are subsided by the introduction of new teacher Blu Rain (Paula Patton) who shows kindness and understanding to Precious as she learns to read and write. She also meets with her new social worker Ms. Weiss (Mariah Carey), who learns more and more about Precious’ home environment with every visit. After giving birth to her second child Abdul, she returns home to show her new child to her mother. When her back is turned, Mary drops Abdul purposely on the ground to attack Precious. She flees with Abdul from her mother’s abuse once more, breaking into the school for refuge.
Ms. Rain arranges a place for Precious and Abdul at a halfway house, whilst she continues her schooling, however her happiness is short-lived when Mary appears with the news of her father’s death from AIDS. Precious later learns that she is HIV-positive but Abdul is not. In her next social worker meeting, Ms. Weiss invites Mary and confronts her about Precious’ abuse. Mary reveals that she’s always hated Precious for ‘stealing her man’ by ‘letting her abuse her’ and for his eventual departure. Precious tells her mother that she’ll never see her and her grandchildren again. Precious sets out a new outlook, ready to complete her education and start a new life.
Achieving countless award nominations and awards mainly for Mo’Nique’s portrayal of Precious’ mother Mary, Precious delivers a truly harrowing tale of abuse and poverty that we’ve rarely ever seen on the big screen.
Dir: Tom Ford | Lantern Entertainment
In his directorial debut, fashion designer Tom Ford directs an Oscar nominated performance for the portrayal of a depressed university professor racked with grief over his partner’s death in early 60s California.
Haunted by the death of his partner Jim in a fatal car accident eight months earlier, university professor George Falconer (Colin Firth) deals with loneliness and depression, contemplating taking his own life that evening. George receives a call from his close friend Charley (Julianne Moore) inviting him to come for dinner later in the day.
George goes about putting his affairs in order and meanders through the day focusing on isolated events believing he is seeing them for the last time. During the day George comes in contact with student Kenny (Nicholas Hoult), who takes an interest in George and their discussion pushes the boundaries of student-teacher discussion.
Later that day, George goes to Charley’s for dinner. Following a few drinks they reminisce and dance, however it’s discovered that Charley desires a deeper relationship with George, failing to understand George and Jim’s relationship. Angered, George leaves Charley and goes to a bar. Kenny appears at the bar after following George, and following a round of drinks, they go skinny dipping, then return to George's home. After passing out, George wakes to find Kenny in the next room holding the gun that George was going to use to commit suicide. After coming to terms with his grief, George suffers a fatal heart attack, where he is reunited with Jim.
Dripping with 1960s style, A Single Man portrayals an emotionally realistic view of a persons last day, with a BAFTA award-winning performance by Colin Firth.
District 9
Dir: Neill Blomkamp | Sony Pictures Releasing
Zombieland
Dir: Ruben Fleischer | Sony Pictures Releasing
Sherlock Holmes
Dir: Guy Ritchie | Warner Bros. Pictures
Bronson
Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn | Magnet Releasing
Let the Right One In
Dir: Tomas Alfredson | Sandrew Metronome
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