Films of 2009.

Here is part 2/4 of my top 10s of 2009. Films. There were a bunch of films I didn't get a chance to see that I wanted to see. They kind of snuck up on me and it's just too expensive to see everything in the theater. So here we go. Possible spoilers, but I will keep them to a minimum, if any.

10. Fantastic Mr. Fox



Taking up the end of the list is this animated gem that I found myself enjoying more than the kids I took to see it. I had wanted to see it, but thought of it as a two-birds-with-one-stone situation. I loved the not-so-smooth stop animation as a welcomed break from the shiny and clean pixar-esque films this year. This film also kept me laughing all through out which is rare for a "family" film.


9. The Hangover



A piss-and-fart-joke comedy that took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting too much when I walked into the theaters to see this bad boy, but I found myself laughing more at this movie than any other comedy this year. Upon watching it a second time, I was still in stitches. I loved all the characters and almost how episodic it was.


8. (500) Days of Summer



Just recently watched this on our new HDTV. I had wanted to see this since before it came out so I had an inclination that I would enjoy this film, but not to this extent. I'm emotional and enjoy a good romantic story, which this was. But I wouldn't say it's a love story because that would insinuate a happy ending...at least to me it would. I love their love for The Smiths. It also has an amazing cameo by a certain someone from the Star Wars trilogy.


7. District 9



Here is another movie I went into with mediocre expectations which were exceeded almost immediately. The way the material was handled was clever in the sense that they fused the mockumentary style with sci-fi narrative. The central character is another main reason for my love of this film. He is flawed and viewed pretty much as a racist, but he has such...charm, I guess, that we are rooting for him anyway. Also had an awesome and unique ad campaign. This film is incredibly fun.


6. The Road



Having read the book of the same name by author Cormac McCarthy and it being in my top 5 books of all time, I was somewhat skeptic about this film. Also, the fact that it was shelved for almost a year due to sub par reviews and some reconstruction of story elements did not help either. That said, Viggo and John Hillcoat (the director who also did 2005's The Proposition which was an excellent jaunt back into the western genre) were two reasons I was willing to still give it a shot. Whatever they did in that year of down time worked, because the film, while straying a little bit from the book managed to have the same dark tones and themes while keeping the majority of the emotion that the book had.


5. The Hurt Locker



This film had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath from the first scene. About an Army bomb squad unit, Jeremy Renner plays a good smart-ass-tough-guy with the sensitive guy on the inside character. An interesting look into an occupation we so rarely get to see. Beautifully shot and gripping all the way through. I can't wait to see this again since I saw it earlier this year.


4. Where The Wild Things Are



A book that I didn't have when I was a kid and one I didn't read until in my 20's, Where The Wild Things Are came and kicked my heart my chest and handed it back politely when it was finished. Everything from the costumes and sets, to the boy Max who played Max and Karen O and the Kid's heart warming soundtrack, this is the kind of film that you want to live inside with all your friends. I feel like this is a kid's film made for adults and can't wait to watch it on blu-ray under my covers in the confines of my own home.


3. Up In The Air



This film has more heart than most people I know. I guess ultimately this film can be categorized as a "romantic comedy" which it is to some extent, but it's also so much more than that. This is the role that George Clooney was born to play. I'm sure I read that somewhere, but that's because it's true. He's also surrounded by an excellent comedic cast who don't try and steal screen time, but instead compliment Clooney's performance. Overall, this movie had me from the get go. I did not want this movie to end.

2. Moon



Some will say District 9 was THE science fiction film of the year. Others will say Avatar (which I have yet to see) is it. For me though, this quiet space story directed by David Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, grabbed this spot. It's lack of special effects as well as Sam Rockwell's performance shaped this film to be out of this world (pun intended). The drab colors and the space station's calming celebrity voice instantly reminded me of Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey in only the best of ways.


1. Inglourious Basterds



This years number one film for me was Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (spelled differently for his own unknown reasons). Being an avid Tarantino fan and it being about scalping Nazis, I thought I was in heaven. A simple misunderstanding though. Brad Pitt's accent and delivery of his lines had just the right amount of humor in it, while Christoph Waltz playing the die hard Nazi hunter will almost for certain win an Oscar. Completed with voice cameos by Tarantino favorites Samuel L. Jackson and Harvey Keitel, this film delivers 110%. While I'm still up in the air about this being QT's masterpiece, I would definitely say it is one of my top 3 QT films.


So close...

Drag Me To Hell
The Watchmen
Zombieland
Up
The Cove


There are a number of films I have yet to see that just might or might not influence this list. Those are:

Avatar
A Serious Man
A Single Man
An Education
The White Ribbon
Precious
The Informant!
Ponyo
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Nine
Anvil
Crazy Heart
Food Inc.
The Messanger
Invictus
Anti Christ
This Side of the Truth

Always the same old taste just new injury.

2009. Turn of the decade. This was probably one of the best years of my life. That being said, I will begin this list-ful blog with a list of my top five moments from this year. I'll jump right in...


10. Thorns of Life



Thorns of Life was a short lived band fronted by Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker fame. A pop punk band that just killed it at Gilman in Berkeley in late January. It didn't hurt that we were waiting in line to get in directly behind Davey from A.F.I.

9. Rafting!



Kim and her family invited me to go rafting down the Sacramento river the week before we left for Europe (later in the list). I've only been once when I went to Costa Rica after graduating high school and I had a blast so of course I was in. We went up in the mountains and camped on their site (sleeping on tables because we weren't about to sleep with ants and other insects...not that big a camper). It was an all day excursion led by a great guide (his name escapes me at the moment) who couldn't have been more catered to us as a group. Thanks again for inviting me!

8. Sunny Day reunion tour



Sunny Day Real Estate has been one of my favorite bands since early high school. I had a chance to see them about 10 years ago, but it was after they released How It Feels To Be Something On so needless to say, they played the majority of that album. I do like that album, but it's not my favorite. When I heard about their reunion tour and them playing at the Fillmore, I had to go. While working at Quest this summer, Kim and I met Patrick who also was really into Sunny Day and going to the show. We met up with him while there and enjoyed the hell out of the show. They played only songs off of Diary and LP2 excluding one new song (!!!!) and the track How It Feels... To top it all off, The Fillmore was handing out posters after the show!

7. Tin Can girls and 19.



Tattoos. I was really excited to get these. The girls with tin cans and strings are from the Far album Tin Cans With Strings To You... and the significance of that album is it reminds me of the time period around early high school. I had a specific set of friends who are all still friends today. It's kind of for them and the times we had...as cheesy as it sounds. As for the 19, well it's just one of those things. You know...THOSE things?

6. Finishing The Dark Tower series/reading in general.



The Dark Tower series, if you don't know, is an epic spanning 7 books (soon to be 8!!!), one short story, and 3+ graphic novels. All of which I've read and have fallen in love with. I honestly feel like I know Roland, Eddie, Detta, Odetta, Susannah, Jake, and adorable little Oy and am part of their ka. I love that sensation that reading gives you introducing you to these people and moments in their life; real or not. Every time I look at my bookshelf I get excited with all the adventures I've yet to have.


5. Far/Hottub at Slim's.



Far, one of my favorite bands, played their first show in 10 years in the bay area earlier this year. With a new album coming out on Vagrant records early next year and hopefully another tour shortly following that, they don't seem to seem to be slowing down any. Kim and I got to lend our shouting vocals for a track on their upcoming album At Night We Live via a youtube video and Jonah mentioned in various places about two tracks he's released previously that will most likely be redone for the album, but I digress, their energy that night was through the roof. Hottub was a surprising opener consisting of 3 girls being part of a hip hop act who really got the audience all riled up, including me being a part of a game of paddycake with 2/3 of the mc's. Once Far came out, it was like they didn't take a 10 year hiatus. It felt so natural on all accounts. One of the most emotionally filling shows I've ever been to.

4. Ampersand!



Kim and I recently rescued a kitten from the euthanasia line and she is adorable. Her name is Ampersand (see Y: The Last Man) and she likes to cuddle.

3. NIN's second to last show/Backstage and soundcheck at the Shoreline.



It's hard only posting two pictures because there are so many good ones. Kim and I donated money to be able to go to NIN's soundcheck as well as Street Sweeper Social Club's soundcheck. NIN played songs they didn't play that night including a cover of David Bowie's I'm Afraid of Americans, The Good Soldier, Meet Your Master, and Joy Division's Dead Souls. After the soundchecks, we were able to go back stage and meet NIN and talk with them for a little bit as well as get some autographs and photos. As for NIN's second to last show in LA, a 3 hour show filled with special guests was well worth the drive. Incredible!

2. Europe!



Paris. Walking. Duner! The Little Prince. Space invaders. Girlfriend in a Coma. Gypsies. Cemeteries. Good views. Amelie. Berlin. Slaughterhouse Five. Strawberry crepes. Monopoly. Fish. Playgrounds. Slides. Spider bites. Art. More cemeteries. Ketchup pasta. Bunkers. More Duner. Grass covered cars. Nazis Auf Maul! Tuttlingen. Rain. Old castles. Cherry Jam. Apple water. Cola mix. Tubingen. Stupid showers. Stuttgart. Zurich. Jens. Giger bar. Dwarfed.

1. Jonah playing my bday party / dating Kim (tie...go hand in hand)



Hands down the best moment of the year...possibly even my life! Everyone met at Ocean beach in San Francisco and we were all just talking and what not. Kim said she has to go up to get something out of her car and a few minutes later, I heard someone strumming a guitar lightly behind me. I turned around to the left and then to the right, both times Jonah ducking behind me. Finally, he steped and went into 14-41. I started to tear up a bit. Not gonna lie. Then Jonah said "Happy birthday, Miles" and continued playing. He ended up playing for a little over an hour. He played the following all at my request :)

14-41
Every Mistake
Are You Sure?
Stay
Man Overboard
Yr Letter
Smile
Purple Rain
Crush On Everyone
Wings
Halo
Livin' Small

In between some of these songs, Jonah said some of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I wish I had recorded it so not only would I have the performance, but also what he said. I'm really happy my mom was there to witness this so she could see Jonah and even meet him. Kim set the bar pretty damn high and every time I think of that night my eyes float a little bit. I can't thank her enough and will never forget that night. Ever since Kim and I started dating, I've been so happy. She is so easy to talk to and I'm so comfortable when I'm around her which is pretty much why she and her actions top the list. I'm sure 2010 will be even better!

Runner ups:

-Wondercon '09 / The Walking Dead




Wondercon this year was a blast. It usually is, but accompanied by Daniel (and his various cousins) and Kim, made it fun as ever. One of my favorite combinations of people. Anyway, with the upcoming release of The Watchmen and Terminator: Salvation, the panels promised a wide variety of celebrities. Also, my getting back into reading graphic novels made it all the more exciting. This is also where I was introduced to The Walking Dead. That itself should earn a spot on here with how incredible it is. I highly suggest you read it. Now. Seriously. If you want to live.





Top ten films, books, albums in the next blog