The experts’ 3 Perfect movies of 2009
Here are the 3 best movies of 2009 that got our adrenaline pumping and the dynamite exploding. We love good movies and have seen hundreds in our time.
- The Messenger. You know that gut-wrenching moment in any war-related film where a mother or father or wife opens the door to find two military men on the doorstep, and their presence alone signifies that inconceivable tragedy? Oren Moverman’s powerful debut is full of them — making this drama starring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson (in career-best performances) one of the year’s hardest films to watch. But download The Messenger also one of the most rewarding, an insightful character study that’ll leave you moved.
- Zombieland. The Bill Murray cameo alone is worth the price of admission to this undead-ridden action-comedy, but it’s the dysfunctional Butch-Sundance dynamic between zombie slayers Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg that makes this flick so bloody fun to watch. That, and the incredibly inventive ways it concocts to off the undead. Our favorite: death by banjo in Zombieland movie
- Up. Everyone knew Pixar’s latest was going to be good (it’s Pixar, duh!), but nothing about “an old man attaches balloons to his house and flies away” prepared us for the heartbreaking sadness, the meltingly tender love story, the wondrous journey and the irrepressible sense of fun that permeated this truly exquisite film. It’s no small thing to say this, but watch pixar Up might just be the best movie Pixar’s ever made.