Year in Review – Best Films of 2009
I saw fewer new movies this year than in any other since I started putting together my top ten lists. That’s not bad news. I just cut out a lot of… well… crap. No, I didn’t see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and no, I didn’t see Sherlock Holmes. I love movies, but what’s the point in watching all the bad when there’s so much good out there. (That doesn’t explain how I ended up seeing Nine, though. Ugh.) The good, in fact, was so good that I could have chosen any one of the 11 pictures on my top 10 list to be the best movie of the year. That’s a testament to the quality of all the pictures listed below. All the films on my list, from Tarantino, Reitman, the Coen brothers, Bigelow and more, may very...
Read MoreCIFF Quickie: Goodbye Solo
Goodbye Solo (2009)–**** Quick Review A Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina befriends an old man who wants to be driven to an area in the mountains where he plans to commit suicide. Another stunning film about people in the oft ignored corners of society, this quiet drama compels the audience to be aware of the selflessness and dignity of all people. Red West’s performance as the old man is deceptively understated, while Souleymane Sy Savane constructs a moving portrayal of a man discovering the ultimate meaning of friendship. The Blowing Rock mountain sequence is overwhelmingly affecting–physically, intellectually, and spiritually. A masterpiece from a filmmaker the world needs right now. Directed by Ramin Bahrani and beautifully shot by Michael Simmonds. This film was screened at the 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival. More at...
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