TOP 10 OF '09

10. Nord (North) - A hilarious and touching comedy from Norway depicting the (mis)adventures of a depressed alcoholic's journey to self discovery after his place of employment burns down and he's left with nothing but a Sno-Cat and the open road.

House of Films awards: Best advice on how to get the most out of a limited alcohol supply.

9. Zombieland - Ruben Fleischer's directorial debut is a wonderful time at the movies with laughs, gore, a banjo-wielding Woody Harrelson, a piano-wielding old lady and more laughs depicting the last surviving humans and their fight for survival.

House of Films awards: Best death-by-way-of-banjo scene

8. The Box - Richard Kelly's surreal sci-fi/horror film has thrills, spills and chills as the narrative's tension rises steadily throughout as a couple race against mysterious forces and a sinister Frank Langella after accepting an offer which includes a box, a million dollars and an untimely demise.

House of Films awards: Deadliest Santa, Best facial disfigurement.

7. Antichrist - Lars Von Trier's Antichrist is a powerful look at isolation, grief, loss and hatred. The true essence of a horror film all boiled down into a film so frightening you're left on the theater floor crying, only leaving when the janitor sweeps you out into a dumpster with your fellow audience.

House of Films awards: Best way to teach children not to play with scissors, Best porno stand-in in a non-porno movie.

6. District 9 - A chilling portrayal of prejudice in the world of sci-fi. The atmosphere and entertainment value are incredible with an action-packed ending that will be sure to please

House of Films awards: Best new racial slur (For the word 'prawn')

5. Drag Me To Hell - Sam Raimi's return to form in a horror film that combines laughs and screams so effectively a whole new bodily reaction is achieved (sclaughing?)
Probably the greatest horror film of the 2000's, with thrills so frequent you can barely handle them.

-House of Films awards: Best Visual Gag (Anvil scene), Best nosebleed, Best girl-on-girl action.


4. The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Werner Herzog's pseudo-remake of Abel Ferrara's gritty crime drama is a rollercoaster of "I can't believe what I'm seeing" laughs and pulse-pounding suspense resulting in one of Nicolas Cage's best and a great new effort from cinema master Herzog.

-House of Films awards: Best dance sequence, Best original soundtrack

3. Watchmen - Zack Snyder's adaption of Alan Moore's loved graphic novel is an amazing exercise in neo-noir, hyper-realism and genre bending. Exciting, beautiful, endearing and brutal, Watchmen just may be my new favorite superhero film (Letter bombs are not appreciated. I'm talking to you, Dark Knight fans!) and one of the year's best.

- House of Films awards: Special PETA award for depictions of humane animal treatment

2. Inglourious Basterds. - Quentin Tarantino's World War II epic is a spell-binding picture with delicious black humor and the most tense opening of any film this year. Not to mention the great visuals, playful historical inaccuracies and sharp dialogue which make this a treat for all Tarantino fans.

House of Films awards: Best use of an Eli Roth, Best villain

1. A Serious Man/ Avatar - I have just commited the most heinous cop-out of all top movie lists. The tie. One is an excellent black comedy which surely deserves to be called a modern classic and the other left me feeling so giddy that I was reduced to the mental state of a six year old.
So now that I have ascerted my own self-disgust let's get goin'!

A Serious Man, the latest effort from the Coen Brothers is an intelligent and hilarious black comedy with excellent performances all around, subtle yet hypnotic cinematography and a villain we all have to deal with - life itself. It's an absolute masterpiece and deserves to be grouped with the Coen Brothers' best efforts

House of Films awards: Best Jewish performance (All of them, including Bird in distance #3, expertly played by Moish Finkelstein)

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Avatar is James Cameron's return to the sci-fi/action genre with a no-holds-barred motion picture extravaganza worthy of being called one of his very best. It's a great throwback to the action films of the late 80's/early 90's yet new, fresh and exciting making it a timeless and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

House of Films awards: Best use of the color blue as an acceptable skin tone.
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So, that's my list. Agree with me or not, I hope you enjoyed reading it.

Thank you!