10 Best Films of 2009 by Kyle Kernan 6-10.

6. Coraline
This film has all the imagination and horror of say Pan’s Labyrinth, and it’s not even rated R, its PG. The meticulous 3-D stop motion is enchanting. As moments like a jumping mouse circus is so detailed and real, it will blow you away.

The story’s heroine, Coraline finds a passageway to ‘her other mother’ where she’s spoiled and receives anything her heart desires. If you’re experienced with this story you’ll know that everyone has buttons instead of eyes. This is an interesting symbol for human perspective. Some of us live out illusions and lead fake existences and we may not even realize it. Therefore it’s important to have our eyes open to distinguish the real from the illusion. It’s interesting however that many of the characters who surround Coraline’s family lead lives of illusion according to Coraline, and she finds them to be crazy. There’s a trapeze artist who is trying to train a mouse circus, and two women who still believe their actresses. Still the film teaches us that it’s what we believe in our imaginations sometimes that can be beneficial to us and not detrimental. As Coraline continues to visit this other world, although it becomes intoxicating for her she still has this unbreakable devotion to the genuine essence of her life. She realizes it’s not all perfect but still she realizes this other world is all an illusion. When she becomes trapped within this world, her perseverance to escape and to save others is something to admire and aspire to.

7. Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino. His attention for building suspense and conflict throughout each scene makes them stand up like they could be their own short films. His dialogue is so dense, snappy and beautiful as it graces French, German, and English. There were so many great moments in this film from the tavern scene, to Landa’s inquisition on the French man in the prologue, to the films glorious vision of ultimate revenge, this is a great reimagining of history that only Tarantino could do.

8. Star Trek
The moment in the beginning of this film where Kirk’s father has to sacrifice himself for his son and wife to survive was probably the greatest cinematic sequence this year. There was this profound, sense of immediate urgency constantly in Star Trek which kept the action reverberating until the closing credits. This movie really left me breathless. J.J. Abram’s like all great action directors understands how to build up action and tension and do it intelligently as well. The film’s premise of changing the order of time also made for an interesting thought provoking story that has more depth than any big summer film this year. Erica Bana’s scenery chewing is also memorable as the villain.

9. (500) Days of Summer
(500) Days of Summer is like the Annie Hall of our time, which chronicles the relationship between an attractive young man, and a supple little cutie. There have been some great dramatic romances this decade, like Before Sunset or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. However both of these were quite great but were kind of dry and melancholy for me. (500) Days is more comedic and fun, but still real and identifiable. These are two great actors. Joseph Gordon- Levitt and Zooey Deschanel maybe played themselves in this. Anyway seeing the rise the courtship, to eventual decay of the relationship between Tom and Summer is both real and insightful to watch.

The film calls on us to question how initial fondness and admiration for a human being can lead our minds down to degrading illusions after we fully get to know a person. The film also asks us how we put so much stress on relationships and human bonding. However I think the film’s message is: when it’s all said and done in a relationship it’s better to acknowledge what the relationship meant to you and how it made you a better person.

10. Watchmen
This film is sprawling and feels a little disorienting at times but it’s still visceral, raw, and intense. The film is a prolific hyperbole of our times. Through the groundbreaking graphic novel, director Zach Synder was able to capture this grany, distilled look of humanity through great tragic characters like The Comedian and Rorschach. But the film’s overall message of the futile pursuit to change things and how modern nations use fear tactics and formulate false situations possibly to spread fear for control is something scary to think about.