It’s a bit past 2009, but not too late for a retrospective on the best movies I saw that year (most of which were foreign). Without further ado:
-
Yang Yang – 5 stars
This Taiwanese film is the second by virtuoso director and Ang Lee protégé Cheng Yu-Chieh, and is just about perfect. It is a gorgeous and subtle film—far and away the best movie I saw in 2009.
-
Heaven’s Heart – 5 stars
This was a Swedish movie actually made in 2008 that I saw in SFIFF 2009, and is drama at its finest. Intense and brilliant.
-
His Wedding – 5 stars
This radiant Korean short film made the best use of split screen I’ve ever seen and was poignant without descending into the melodrama so much of Korean cinema is prone to. I would love to see a feature-length project from this director.
-
Star Trek – 5 stars
This is the only Hollywood movie to make it onto my list. J.J. Abrams’ adaptation of the classic series is my favorite Star Trek movie of all time (yes, even better than the previous undisputed champion, The Wrath of Khan).
-
All Around Us – 4 stars
This one is from Japan, and was the clear standout of SFIAAFF 2009. It was distinguished by its smart script and terrific acting. Highly recommended.
Honorable mentions:
-
Can Go Through Skin – 4 stars
This Dutch movie is the art film, done right. Very high production value and an experimental but superbly effective sound design are the hallmarks of this film. Very highly recommended.
-
Claustrophobia – 4 stars
This movie, hailing from Hong Kong, was made by a screenwriter-turned-director, and it shows. The script is terrific. Make sure to see this one if you can.
What were some of your favorites?