Top Movies of 2009

2010 is here and we have gone past 2009 - Good year for cinema. So just started blogging today and have lot of movies in mind to review. Wanted to start of with my top movies of 2009. It covers a lot of languages . I have made a list of about 11 movies . Many of you might have seen some i haven't ,so i am open to alternatives and suggestions.



No 11 : The Blind Side




Release Date : 20 November 2009
Cast : Sandra Bullock,Tim McGraw
Director : John Lee Hancock

A true story about how a star was born in the American Football league due to a family's role and caring. Sandra Bullock's great performance is the highlight of the film . Sandra Bullock can be ready to accept the a series of awards for the best actress in this film.

Plot : The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.

The emotional view of this film is very interesting and is a great watch



No 10 :Taken



Release Date : 30 January 2009
Cast : Liam Neeson,Maggie Grace,Leland Orser
Director : Pierre Morel


One of the earlier releases of 2009. This movie set the trend for 2009 with a action packed thriller. Liam Neeson plays a cop to perfection with great attitude. The storyline is very simple and is inspired from a 1994 Kamal Haasan flick "Mahanadhi". This movie is of a totally different genre than its original and has excelled in the technical department.

Plot : A former spy relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been forced into the slave trade.

Watch this movie for Liam Neeson and its great stunt sequences.



No 9 : (500) Days of Summer





Release Date : 2 September 2009 (UK)
Cast : Joseph Gordon-Levitt,Zooey Deschanel
Director : Marc Webb

This romantic comedy is the usual Boy meets Girl and falls in love story but is not the usual happy ending movie. So what is new about this romantic comedy? Its the narration and the realism in it. It shows how cruel women are in life sometimes and how fate and destiny plays a role in it.

Plot : An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her.

Performance by Joseph Gordon as Tom is simply heart warming and exceptional to say the least. Zooey is also great but some of her expressions are irritating at times. Marc Webb has shown great promise in his debut film .

I recommend this movie to all viewers particularly teenagers..




No 8 :Entre les murs





Release Date :24 September 2008 (France)
Cast :François Bégaudeau,Agame Malembo-Emene
Director :Laurent Cantet

Entre Les Murs (The Class) is a interesting and intelligent movie. The movie portrays life in Parsian Neighbourhood with racially mixed children. Francois delivers a great performace as the class teacher. This movie is like a mirror in today's world and is a movie to be closely watched.

Plot : Teacher and novelist François Bégaudeau plays a version of himself as he negotiates a year with his racially mixed students from a tough Parisian neighborhood.

The Class is a definite nominee for the best foreign film for the academy awards this year ...





No 7 : Up



Release Date : 29 May 2009
Cast : Voices by Edward Asner,Christopher Plummer
Director : Pete Docter


If it was Wall-e last year it is Up this year. This animation flick from Pixar and Disney is truly great. This movie is just below Toy Story as it is not as ground breaking but has a even better storyline.

Plot : By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Pixar has given another great animation film and watch this with friends and family .




No 6 : Naan kadavul



Release Date : 6 February 2009 (India)
Cast : Arya ,Pooja
Director : Bala

Naan kadavul (I am God) is a Tamil movie from India and the reason it is one of the best of 2009 is for its great direction and power packed performances. With bollywood movies like 3 idiots being promoted from India a great film like naan kadavul has been overseen. All cinema fans need to watch this movie to understand the realistic world of poverty in India.

Summary : For astrological reasons, a father leaves his son Rudran (Arya) in Kasi. Years later, repenting his act he goes with his daughter in search of him. He finds him there but is shocked to learn that he has become an Aghori. Nevertheless he brings him back to Tamil Nadu. The story takes a turn here and introduces us to the world of physically and mentally challenged beggars. A world controlled by the cruel Thandavan (Rajendran). Hamsavalli (Pooja Umashankar) a blind girl is forcefully separated from her troop and made to join the beggars. Soon she becomes another victim of Thandavan's cruelty. The story spins to a fitting finale.


Director Bala is known for his realistic portrayal in all his films and naan kadavul is no different. The cinematography and stunt sequences are exceptional .

Its a personal request from me to u guys to watch this great flick .





No 5 : The Hurt Locker

Release Date :10 October 2008
Cast :Jeremy Renner,Anthony Mackie
Director :Kathryn Bigelow





Although the release date says 2008 got to watch this movie only in 2009. In a year filled with movies of visual effects , Hurt Locker stands out as a emotional and engaging thriller. The movie takes place in Iraq during war where everyone is a target and a suspect.

Plot : Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb.


Performances from everyone is great and is a definite nominee for the Oscar for best Picture. Miss this movie at your own risk !!!





No 4 : Star Trek





Release Date : 8 May 2009
Cast : Chris Pine,Zachary Quinto,Zoe Saldana
Director : J.J. Abrams

One of the most expected movies of 2009 doesn't disappoint to star trek fans all around the world. JJ Abrams has maintained the star trek fame or even made it bigger. The job of keeping up to expectations is very difficult but he has achieved it.

Plot : A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.

Chris Pine and Zachary show great on screen chemistry and have delivered power packed performances. Zoe Saldana of Avatar fame has done her limited job well. Again another movie in 2009 with great visual effects and is a strong contender for the Oscars in sound effects this year.

Watch this movie even if your not a star trek fan.





No 3 : District 9



Release Date :14 August 2009
Cast :Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope
Director :Neill Blomkamp


A sci-fi movie about Aliens , what is new ?? The answer is almost everything. District 9 is a different kind of sci-fi movie with a lot of emotional and sensitive content. The detail shown in the aliens(Prawns) is great and even the CGI of the mother ship and other alien weapons was extraordinary.

Plot : An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.

Shartlo Copley as Van de Merwe is perfect and has given a awesome performance. He brings about every emotion perfectly and does his job as a government official and a civilian almost flawlessly.

The concept is new and shows human mentality point blank . A great movie to cherish





No 2 : Avatar



Release Date : 18 December 2009
Cast :Sam Worthington,Zoe Saldana,Sigourney Weaver
Director :James Cameron


The Most expensive film ever made is turning out to be the most grossed film in history. This record breaking director is none other than James cameron overtaking his previous highest grosser Titanic. Avatar is the most visually brilliant film ever made with lot of hardwork and effort gone into executing it.

Plot : A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.


The movie lacks strong character development and a repeated storyline which is the only reason why it is not my best film in 2009. It still is a landmark in film making and James Cameron has matured as a director. The second half of the movie has the best action sequences ever seen in cinema . Watch this movie in theatres only and in 3-D to enjoy it to the fullest .

Although this movie comes towards the end of 2009 it still is the most entertaining film of this year and probably this decade.




No 1 : Inglorious Basterds




Release Date : 21 August 2009
Cast : Brad Pitt , Mélanie Laurent , Christoph Waltz
Director : Quentin Tarantino

Very rarely does a year go when the best film of the year hasn't come from Quentin Tarantino and 2009 is no different. The movie is just great cinema with a different view about the Nazi's and some great performances.

Plot : In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.

The very first scene of the movie is the most powerful one where Christoph Waltz as Col. Landa kills a jew family staying under the floor of a farmer's ranch.
Brad Pitt along with the other "Basterds" give great performances but the best performance comes from Christoph Waltz.

This is my favorite movie of 2009 and its a definite watch



Waiting for yr opinions and inputs !!!!