Best of 2009: Part II

Here's the second part of my review of the 2009 film year, including screenwriting categories, editing and directing.

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Original Screenplay

Just missed my final list: The Messenger (Alessandro Camon, Oren Moverman), Sugar (Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck), A Serious Man (Joel and Ethan Coen)

Finalists:

5- A Prophet (Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Abdel Raouf Dafri, Nicolas Peufaillit)

4- The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke)

3- About Elly (Asghar Farhadi)

2- Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)

Top Pick:

1- Mary and Max (Adam Elliot)

The ending might be a little predictable, but even that is written so intimately that it brings tears to our eyes. A universal and imaginative story of love, friendship and alienation.

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Adapted Screenplay

Just missed my final list: None Really, My five favorites were solid and I had no doubt in choosing them, but “Where the Wild Things are”, “Two Lovers” and “District 9” were in my 6-8 spots.

Finalists:

5- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (Geoffrey Fletcher)

4- An Education (Nick Hornby)

3- Fantastic Mr. Fox (Noah Baumbach, Wes Anderson)

Top Pick:

Tie!

Up in the Air (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)

In the Loop (Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, Ian Martin)

Up in the Air is a light hearted and accessible film yet a mature and thoughtful one, thanks to this smartly written screenplay. It has the perfect balance between tragedy and comedy, human drama and humor and the beauty of hope and the harshness of reality.

In the Loop is one of the funniest screenplays to come in a long long time. The movie’s strength comes from the wit and sharpness with which it captures the reality and vulgarity of the political world and the cultural differences on either side of the pond. (You can download this screenplay here and I suggest you do. It’s a funny read.)

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Editing

Just missed my final list: Up in the Air (Dana Glauberman), The Cove (Geoffrey Richman)

Finalists:

5- Avatar (James Cameron, Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua)

4- Inglourious Basterds (Sally Menke)

3- A Prophet (Juliette Welfing)

2- About Elly (Haydeh Safi Yari)

Top Pick:

1- The Hurt Locker (Chris Innis, Bob Murawski)

It’s the work of this editing team that keeps the tension high and the audience engaged throughout this superbly crafted war film. When it’s seemingly slow, the repetitive structure only serves to depict the reality of war. When it’s fast-paced and full of split-second cuts, it never feels forced or chaotic, but only suspenseful. A perfect example of how good editing can elevate the already brilliant work of a director. Bravo!

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Director

Just missed my final list: James Cameron (Avatar), Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank), Michael Haneke (The White Ribbon)

Finalists:

5- Adam Elliot (Mary and Max)

4- Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)

3- Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)

2- Jacques Audiard (A Prophet)

Top Pick:

1- Asghar Farhadi (About Elly)

Farhadi’s direction is so precise and so energetic, it even reaches far beyond the limits of his very powerful script. With true mastery of the craft, he manages to bring out the best in his actors and with an enormous amount of detail, he makes great use of the setting and sound work to never lose the sense of mystery and unease.

Next: Best of 2009: Part III

(Best Films)

Best of 2009: Part I

Late February is probably about a few weeks late for a best-of-the-year list to come along, but I guess better late than never!

2009 in my opinion, along with many other people and critics, was one of the greatest years of the decade for cinema. Some call it a banner year for animation, some for Sci-Fi, but the truth is that great films were produced in all forms and genres; by directors of different races, ages, sexual orientations and genders and in countries all around the world.

As hard as it was to cut everything down to just a few names and films, I finally made this list happen. I’m posting it in three different parts: Acting, Production and Best Pictures. Parts two and three will hopefully come by the end of the weekend.

Supporting Actress

Just missed my final list: Susanne Lothar and Leonie Benesch (The White Ribbon), Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds)

Finalists:

5- Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds)

4- Marion Cotillard (Nine)

3- Samantha Morton (The Messenger)

2- Taraneh Alidoosti (About Elly) (Already an accomplished actress in Iran, this star turn topped all her previous work in my opinion. The controlled and yet vague performance is more important to the film as a whole than that of anybody else in the ensemble and she nails it. Not to say the other ones don’t do their part!)

Top Pick:

Mo’Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)

What to say about this performance? It fully speaks for itself. It’s difficult to create the horrendous monster that is Mary and make the audience feel for you at the end, but Mo’Nique has done it. Her performance, the best of the year in any acting category in my opinion, is detailed, emotional, challenging and above all, unforgettable.
(Best Scene: Her final scene.)

Supporting Actor

Just missed my final list: Peiman Moadi (About Elly), Paul Schneider (Bright Star), Niels Arestrup (A Prophet)

Finalists:

5- Peter Capaldi (In the Loop)

4- Alfred Molina (An Education)

3- Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)

2- Saber Abar (About Elly)

Top Pick:

1- Christoph Waltz
The energy of the performance, much like the charisma of the character, overpowers his scene partners’, but elevates them at the same time. Diane Kruger and Melanie Laurent both have their best scenes in their duos with Waltz, not to mention Denis Menochet’s great work in the opening scene. Quentin Tarantino has always been great with his actors; it’s difficult to pick one as the best in his filmography but Colonel Landa might just be the one. That’s a Bingo!

(Best Scene: It’s very hard to pick one. Every scene has it’s own tone and energy and they all work well. Maybe Bridget’s interrogation? Maybe the film premier? Maybe Aldo and Utivich’s interrogation?)

Actress

Just missed my final list: Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire), Charlotte Gainsbourg (Antichrist), Penelope Cruz (Broken Embraces)

Finalists:

5- Meryl Streep (Julie and Julia)

4- Tilda Swinton (Julia)

3- Golshifteh Farahani (About Elly)

2- Carey Mulligan (An Education)

Top Pick:

1- Abbie Cornish (Bright Star)

Fanny is a well realized character. Abbie Cornish artfully manages to avoid overplaying the gestures of grief. It’s because of her balanced performance that we feel Fanny’s love for John, we sympathize with her at his loss and we share her passion for fashion.

(Best Scene: When she’s informed of the death of John’s brother. So subtle, so perfect!)

Actor

Just missed my final list: Colin Firth (A Single Man), Robin Williams (World’s Greatest Dad), Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man), Shahab Hosseini (About Elly), Joaquin Phoenix (Two Lovers)

Finalists:

5- Ben Foster (The Messenger)

4- George Clooney (Up in the Air)

3- Jeff Bridges (Crazy H­eart)

2- Tahar Rahim (A Prophet)

Top Pick:

1- Sam Rockwell (Moon)

He fights himself, he hates himself, he befriends himself, he talks to himself and he does all of it with absolute control. It’s hard to create a boundary between the two Sam Bells and yet, they’re entirely different characters, each played to perfection.

(Best Scene: Video call with her daughter. Give him an Oscar just for that one scene.)

Ensemble Cast

Just missed my final list:

A Prophet, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, Up in the Air, The Hurt Locker,

Finalists:

5- An Education: Even when Jenny's two very different worlds come in touch, the performances don't lose their rythm. Everybody's so comfortable and in tune.

4- The Messenger: The three main members of the cast are flawless, but every single grieving family member shines as brightly.

3- Inglourious Basterds: The geographical and linguistic differences never take away the coherence of the performances… give or take Eli Roth.

2- The White Ribbon: The atmosphere of the film and the village is unfriendly, distant and dark; and the haunting performances manage to capture every nuance of that stark reality.

Top Pick:

1- About Elly

Not one single performance is out of place here. The actors are so in sync, it's hard to believe that it’s only their characters that have known each other for so long, not themselves. The friendships, the hints at the past relationships, the marital problems, the arguments and their shared concern are all acted out superbly.

Next: Best of 2009: Part II

(Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Directing)

Let's Begin!

I decided, finally, that it was time I put my many cinematic thoughts on (virtual) paper and share it with anybody who's interested.
I will be writing reviews on new and old movies, articles about films and filmmakers that I like and random news and bits that I find interesting.

I thought it would be nice to begin with one of my favorite movie openings of all time, with my most favorite actor of all time.
The opening scene to Blake Edwards' 1968 comedy, 'The Party' starring the brilliant Peter Sellers:



If you like Peter Sellers as much as I do, here's another bit you'll definitely enjoy:



It is taken from the 1962 Comedy 'Road to Hong Kong' starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

Next up, I will be posting the list of my favorites from 2009; so tune back in!