Dir. Pascal Thomas.
I was lucky enough to catch this 2007 release at a screening of the 2009 Minneapolis Film Festival. Pascal Thomas, a French master whose works are largely unavailable in the US, is truly a filmmaker deserving of attention, and this comedic adaptation of an Agatha Christie novels stars some of France’s finest: Melvil Poupaud, Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux, and a scene stealing performance from Laura Smet.
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Yes, it’s getting a lot of attention, and it’s really quite good. Peter Sarsgaard is quite creepy and Carey Mulligan is quite the new discovery in a film that boasts some excellent supporting performance from Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams. And yeah, Sally Hawkins gets once scene.
Dir. Greg Mottola
Though I’ve grown to despise Kristen Stewart, she gives an understated and engaging performance here, alongside Jesse Eisenberg (who is in danger of being the next monotonously geeky Michael Cera) as two youngsters falling in love one summer working at an 80’s theme park. Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Wiig, and Wendie Malick.
Dir. Stephen Frears
Michelle Pfeiffer is stunning and amazing in her reunion with Frears. Kathy Bates is also entertaining as Pfeiffer’s frenemy/co-worker as Belle Epoque era French prostitutes.
Dir. Tim Allen
Technically a 2010 release, I have to mention it here because I’m sure no one will remember this film come December of 2010 and it’s really quite sad because Sigourney Weaver gives quite the fantastic turn as the pathological lying sister of ex-con Tim Allen in his directorial debut. Without her, the rest of the film is by the numbers.
Dir. Scott Sanders
Anybody who’s ever seen a blaxploitation flick will love this spoof, also written by its star, Michael Jai White, who gives a hilarious performance here. I hope Mr. White writes some more feature length screenplays.
Dir. Cherien Dabis
The immigrant experience is difficult subject matter, especially when you’re not trying to be condescending. The first feature length film from Dabis tells the touching and realistic tale of Muna (in an excellent performance by Nisreen Faour) and how she moves herself and her teenage son from Palestine to Illinois to live with her sister (the beautiful and talented Hiam Abbass).
Dir. Francois Ozon
If you’re a French actress, you know Ozon will give you a role to die for, and this time around Isabelle Carre gets to shine in a Ozon feature as a drugged out pregnant woman that goes sober when her lover (Melvil Poupaud) ODs. Carrying the child to term, she falls in love with said lover’s gay brother.
Dir. Jennifer Chambers Lynch
Yes, she gave us the tragic mess Boxing Helena (1993), but this being her first film since that stunningly awful debut, the daughter of David Lynch gave us the best thing she could---a Lynchian linear narrative. Bill Pullman, Julia Ormond and French Stewart also star in this tale tinged with “Twin Peaks” similarities.
Dir. Oren Peli
The little film that could. While it wasn’t nearly as terrifying as its marketing led you to believe, Paranormal Activity packed a lot of tension into nothing. While the two leads gave decent performances, their characters don’t always make the wisest decisions. While I didn’t shriek in terror, I truly enjoyed the experience.
Dir. Haim Tabakman
This sad little tale tells the story of Aaron the butcher (Zohar Shtrauss) an Orthodox Jewish father of four who falls in loved with Ezri, a male student of the faith. Heavy stuff, but worth the effort in this brave little drama from Israel.
Dir. Luca Guadagnino
Tilda Swinton is the driving force behind this epic melodrama in the tradition of Visconti as a woman married into the Italian bourgeoisie who lets passion and romance override her better judgment.
Dir. Jacques Audiard
Yes, it’s an excellent film from French master Audiard, with some gripping and amazing performances spanning the prison sentence of a young Arab (Tahar Rahim) who becomes affiliated with mafia, rising to power and prestige in the system. No, it wasn’t my favorite film of the year, but hey, I liked it.
Dir. Anna Melikyan
Also a 2007 screening I was lucky enough to attend at the Minneapolis 2009 Film Festival, Mermaid tells the story of a socially awkward young girl that believes she has the power to make her wishes to come true. She moves from the countryside to Moscow, and upon falling in love, we watch her try to navigate through the modern world.
Dir. Kevin Hamedani
A zombie parody with, get this, a gay hero, made this one of the funniest American comedies I’ve seen this year. Unfortunately, it only played the festival circuit and a remake is slated for 2011. Check out the DVD release when available.
Dir. Tom Gustafson
What seems like typical B-grade gay niche market material turned out to be quite a lovely film, and happens to showcase the now seldom seen Wendy Robie (everyone’s favorite creepy/crazy lady of the early 90’s) as a drama teacher every gay boy dreamed about.
Dir. Christian Petzold
One of the best directors to come out of Germany recently is Christian Petzold. Though my personal favorite of his still happens to be Yella (2007), this latest offering is a very compelling take on The Postman Always Rings Twice, and also stars Petzold’s beautiful muse, Nina Hoss.
Dir. Agnes Varda
It’s truly a treat to see a new Varda film, the only female director from the French New Wave. The most compelling aspect about Varda’s latest documentary/memoir is to hear her muse about her work in film and her marriage to the late director, Jacques Demy.
06. Mother – South Korea
Dir. Bong Joon-Ho
A strange tale about a mentally handicapped young man accused of murder and his mother who’s willing to anything to clear his name, South Korean auteur Joon-Ho’s latest offering explores one of the strangest and most universal human relationships, mother and child. Kim Hye-Ja gives one of the year’s most interesting performances as the female of the species.
Dir. Ole Bornedal
One of my favorite directors to come out of Denmark, Ole Bornedal gives us his Straw Dogs treatment with this latest offering. Beautiful cinematography, class and race relations makes this re-hash worth experiencing.
04. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee - US
Dir. Rebecca Miller
Any story that starts off with a woman being born with vestigial fur is going down as excellent in my book. While Miller’s latest work that documents the quiet breakdown of one woman sometimes meanders, this is still an excellent ensemble piece with beautiful work from Robin Wright Penn, Maria Bello, and Winona Ryder. Also stars Monica Bellucci, Blake Lively, Alan Arkin and Julianne Moore.
Dir. Jim Jarmusch
Though somewhat maligned (and at times, difficult to sit through) this slow and strange offering from Jarmusch was a pleasure to behold and comprehend. Isaach de Bankole is the arresting lead as the “lone man” who is sent on a mission to complete a mysterious and dangerous mission. Featuring interesting performances from Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Paz de la Huerta.
Dir. Jody Hill
One of 2009’s most misunderstood mainstream releases, Observe & Report is this generation’s Taxi Driver (1974), except only film buffs seemed to be wise enough to realize it. Seth Rogen stars as an extremely troubled and somewhat maladjusted mall cop, with an alcoholic mother (Celia Weston), and a crush on a kiosk girl (a brilliant Anna Faris). Also stars Ray Liotta. Weird, strange and wonderful, if you prefer Paul Blart to this film, you probably won’t like anything else I ever have to say.
Dir. Abdel Kechice
Actor turned director Abdel Kechiche gives us his moving tale about an immigrant family in a French port town struggling together and separately to open a fish couscous restaurant. Excellent supporting work from Hafsia Herzi, it won’t be a film you’re soon to forget.
Audiences are getting tired of indie quirk flicks. Fine, but give me Maya Rudolph in Away We Go over any of the moronically written clods in Juno (2007).
Kids are creepy, and I love Vera Farmiga and anything in The Bad Seed vein---plus I didn’t see the fun little twist coming.
Dir. Dennis Illiadis
This flick got a lot of flack, but does anyone remember the quality of the original? Granted, Monica Potter’s character is awful, but Tony Goldywn more than makes up for it in this entertaining picture.
So, yeah, heavy handed message about the treatment of women in Iran that's difficult to sit through. That doesn’t make this any less relevant or moving.