I’m about to make people mad.

    Apart from politics, religion and coffee choices, there’s nothing people hold more near and dear to their hearts than movie preferences. Sure, Americans love their pro sports teams, but nothing else seems to get as much dissent going as movie conversations. Everybody has an opinion. I gotta hand it to professionals who make their living discussing and critiquing movies. Roger Ebert must not be able to show his face in public for fear of some putz pelting him with an over-ripe fruit because Ebert liked Nicolas Cage in Knowing, (a film which the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave an apocalyptic 13%).

    This year I decided to do something different with my annual list. Since the Academy went all rogue and nominated 10 films for Best Picture, I figured that act alone unchained and allowed me to look at things a bit differently. Okay, that’s not really why, but just go with me on this. I thought I could do a far greater service by just sharing the movies I enjoyed the most this past year. Wow Rodney, how cataclysmic! You’re crazy demented.

    One of the advantages to being underemployed, apart from showering only when I feel like it, is cheap movies. I don’t think I paid full price to see any of these and many of them cost me only $4.00. And just as a quick note to my graphically adept friends, these picturess don’t flow in worth beans on this blog so look forward — like I’m doing — to the near future when we’ll get a much more photo-friendly platform.

    Anyway, I think there were big, important films this year that should win or carried great messages of hope, redemption and lots-o-latex, (Up and Watchmen, although radically different, contained two of the greatest uses of latex). But since this is my blog and I’ve proven time and again that I only do what I want to do here, I present you with:

The 2009 Films I Enjoyed Watching The Most

    I Love You, Man: If you’re a guy, which I’m guessing about 50% of you are, you really have to see this movie. Paul Rudd stars as a happily adjusted man in a committed relationship who goes in search of a buddy-pal. You’ve heard the term “bromance” before but this movie, with Jason Segel brilliantly playing the object of Rudd’s intentions, re-defines the genre. It’s hysterical yet thoughtful. Poignant yet not too caught up in proving a point. Of the literally scores of films I saw this year, I can’t shake this one from its top perch. My wife had to endure YouTube video after YouTube video of the band RUSH from the early 80s after I came home from this movie. I love you, babe.

    The Hangover: I can’t believe it, but this film was almost Number One. I saw it alone at first but then rented it with my family, (which I don’t recommend if   your kids can’t handle vastly inappropriate subject matter like my jaded daughters can). The  women-folk in my house loved it. Four guys going on a tear through Vegas? It doesn’t sound like a chick flick and it really isn’t. Ed Helms, (from The Office), and Zach Galifianakis, (from Between Two Ferns), steal their scenes and make this hilarious film ultimately meaningful. Well, meaningful in a sick, perverted, disgusting way that I wouldn’t recommend to everybody. And please, don’t watch the closing credits with anybody younger than 21. I think it may be illegal.

    Up in the Air:  Frequent visitors to this site know I got laid off twice in 2009. It’s no surprise that Up in the Air — about a guy who flies around the country laying people off — resonated on a certain  visceral level with me. George Clooney plays such a smooth dow nsizer that I almost wanted to star with him in my own bromance. Sure, I never really bought into the seminar he was teaching in the side-story but this film had a lot of heart mixed in with the angst and a cleverly downplayed emotional undertone which hit me hard in the gut.

    Avatar: Please, we all know this picture should win and probably will if Hurt Locker   doesn’t  booby trap it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this film even though the plot  is pretty shallow. It has great action, wonderful cinematography and even soldiers as aliens playing basketball. I love the environmental message underlying the movie and there’s certainly something to be said for its anti-war stance. Go see it on the big screen while it’s still around and if you can shell out the cash for 3D and the IMAX experience, you’ll be glad you did.

    It’s Complicated: Here’s where I go off the rails and most of you go searching for better, more informed sites. I loved this movie and I think it was one of those perfect Hollywood films that don’t pretend to be something they’re not. This is just a fun story about rich people losing love and finding it  again. Steve Martin is great and Alec Baldwin is tolerable as they both vie for Meryl Streep’s affections. Think Mama Mia meets Last Chance Harvey. Well, maybe not. Forget I mentioned that comparison.

    Angels & Demons: Okay, so now you wanna throw something rotten at me, eh? If It’s Complicated didn’t rile you, this one surely will. Say what you will about Dan Brown but his books are infinitely readable. I’m just finishing The Lost Symbol right now and at points I envision Tom Hanks already playing the lead. Look, Dan Brown’s story lines are always fun and fast-paced. Ron Howard brilliantly stuck to the story line except for the very ending, (thank goodness), and this film is simply the best intelligent action film of the year.

(500) Days of Summer: I know lots of folks loved this flick with the Indie feel, (although it was distributed by a Fox division). So I don’t feel too weird giving it a hearty and happy recommendation. It doesn’t play out the way normal love stories roll and the ending isn’t what you assume it will be. The acting is understated  and flows exactly like a normal un-scripted conversation would. It’s tough to describe this film as a romantic comedy and I think it does it a disservice to use that often maligned phrase. Rent this movie. Please. Everyone will like it on a Friday or Saturday night.

    Julie & Julia: I’ll admit it; I have a mild crush on Julia Child. Wait, no, I mean Amy Adams but who doesn’t?  It’s the feel-full movie of the year. Nothing objectionable here unless you’re a lobster’s rights advocate. Meryl Streep proves once again that she can star in several big movies at once and not confuse her accents. Eat a big dinner before watching this or be prepared to whip up some french toast, french fries or french guiana afterward.

   Capitalism: a Love Story: I first met Michael Moore back in 1987 when he was filming Roger & Me in Flint. Okay, that was the last time I met him, but I  sound cool and connected if I say “first time.” I’m a huge fan of the man who seems to track nearest to my liberal tendencies and makes no bones about his desire to help the little guy, (no jokes here, please!). Sure, I think his ideas are pretty far out there in this film but every movie he makes needs to be watched with an eye toward future policy.

    Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans: I don’t know the premise behind this movie, but I think they took Nicholas Cage aside ahead of time and said, “Okay man, act like all those guys who impersonate you.” It  was Nick Cage acting like Nick Cage. Remade from a 1992 film, the 2009 version’s about an over-the-top cop in down and out New Orleans. It’s grungy, drug-filled and has symbolic reptiles that apparently only we, and Cage can see. Don’t expect anything but to be entertained.

 Zombieland: A teen love story, an America ravaged by zombies who sprung from Mad Cow disease and a surprise appearance by Bill Murray — what better way to spend an evening?

State of Play: Yep, you feel a pit of pride down deep in your tummy as the newspapers roll off the press at the end of this movie, but only if you’re a newsie. Russell Crowe plays a  perfect newshound in this age of shrunken budgets and corporate idiocy.

Up: Pixar rules. No doubt about it. They don’t just wow us with great animation, they share a warm life story that truly defines the family movie.

He’s Just Not T hat into You: I think I run the risk of having my man card taken away but I liked  this movie more than I probably should have. It answers the question, “What do guys really think?” Rent other stuff first but if it’s between this and All About Steve, do yourself a favor and ignore that God-awful film and grab this.

The Hurt Locker:  Hey, just so you know, I liked Hurt Locker but by no stretch of the imagination can I say I enjoyed watching it. Like Precious, it was a very good film but the enjoyability quotient was about as high as the Tea Party’s tolerance for health care reform. Jeffrey Fieger’s newest revelation and lawsuit notwiths tanding, this powerful movie keeps you stapled to your sofa. But it seemed to base much of its dynamic on “will this explode or won’t it?” Enjoyable? No. Well done? Definitely.

    It’s quite possible I’ve missed something. I think there was some movie this past summer about Hannah Montana turning into a giant robot and attacking earth with GI Joe but I didn’t see it. If you agree with me, wonderful. If not, there’s always that comment section there on the right. I’d love to hear your favorites, (and honestly, get the web traffic).

    Breaking News: I just learned I was picked to attend an Oscars party in Los Angeles this Sunday so hopefully my choices won’t ruffle too many boa feathers. Well, actually I’m crashing on my brother’s couch on the outskirts of L.A. and we’re going over to his friend’s condo to watch the Academy Awards but still …

    Also: A few of my students love the movies as much or more than I do. One wants to review them for a living. You can tell your friends you caught his act before he hit the big time by checking out his Film Gazing blog. Unlike here at the Wanderer site, Carter’s actually giving stuff away for free. The winner of his Oscar Pool gets a DVD of their choosing. I should’ve thought of something creative like that.