During the next days, Random Types will turn into a list mayhem, compiling my preferences of 2009 in albums and songs. But first, let's kick things off with the 5 movies that, one way or another, made the most impressive marks on me. Needless to say, there were many more which I simply didn't see, but even so, these ones had something really special about them...
5. Milk (dir. Gus Van Sant) / Were The World Mine (dir. Tom Gustafson)
Two ambitious movies that celebrate the difference, showing some possible ways to deal with it. One, Milk, in a more serious approach, ends up being an historical soap-opera that reflects a whole period in time. The other, Were The World Mine, is more light-hearted and could take place anywhere in time, creating an artificial world where all excuses are good to start flamboyant musical numbers. And in completely anthagonic ways, both ended with hugely touching images.
4. Afterschool (dir. Antonio Campos)
A whole thesis could be written about the new perspectives opened by this radical movie, with its approach towards a generation commanded by youtube and immersed in so many different kinds of images without owners. Paradoxically, in a movie with an unusual openness regarding new visual codes and formats (amateur video?), its action happens in a claustrophobic space, an internal college which seems reminiscent of a classic, white and closed spaceship.
3. Zombieland (dir. Ruben Fleischer)
An "end of the world" scenario, in which a plague has turned all population into zombies, and an improbable quartet of survivors with enough practical sense (and light spirits) to actually be a zombie's worst nightmare. Add to this a trashy attitude and a very twisted sense of humour and you don't need much more to have guaranteed fun. Not to mention the unbelievable cameo of Bill Murray starring as himself. And on a side note, Jesse Eisenberg is turning into one of my current favourite actors.
2. Inglourious Basterds (dir. Quentin Tarantino)
History re-written in an hallucinating way, where basically anything goes, including killing Hitler in at least 3 different ways. And a classic Tarantino touch does the best, with brilliant dialogues in 2.5 hours that are also a love-letter to cinema as a complete art-form... as well as a secret weapon to win World War 2.
1. Låt Den Rätte Komma In (dir. Tomas Alfredson)
Cold, austere, minimal... these were vampires as we had never seen them before. But, on the other hand, with a sensitive view towards the minds of two teen outsiders (one of them happening to be a vampire), this was also an immensely beautiful and touching story. And the fusion of red (blood) with white (snow) is the most symbolic image of this unique movie, staying also as one of the most powerful of the year.
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