For Reels 2009

Based on a five-heart rating system, the best movies I watched (for the first time) in 2009 were:

Bridge to Terabithia
Hard Candy
Long Life, Happiness, and Prosperity
The Orphanage
Precious*
Quinceanera*
Rachel Getting Married*
Slumdog Millionaire
Volver
Walk the Line
The Wrestler*

Absolute favorites of the year are starred.

WORST movie of the year? Shrooms.

And all movies watched, in alphabetical order:

2LDK (2003) ♥♥1/2
Roommates fight to the death after one uses the other's shampoo without asking. In a nutshell.

Baby Mama (2008) ♥♥♥
Pretty much what you'd expect, plus one cheesy ending.

Boiler Room (2000) ♥♥♥
What's the catchy phrase for a dudes' movie? Like, instead of "chick flick"?

Bride Wars (2009) ♥♥1/2
I think they cast a blond and a brunette because the characters were otherwise so unmemorable.

Bridge to Terabithia (2007) ♥♥♥♥
Lovely retelling of the book, in spite of Leslie's portrayal as the Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

Dan in Real Life (2007) ♥♥♥1/2
Kind of odd pacing, but surprisingly thoughtful.

Dirty Deeds (2005) ♥♥
Extremely silly teen comedy, with Milo Ventimiglia and Lacey Chabert.

Fatal Attraction (1987) ♥♥♥1/2
Whoa. So much OMG.

The Hangover (2009) ♥♥♥
More entertaining than I would have expected.

Hard Candy (2005) ♥♥♥♥
Super provocative. Also, the dude behind the counter said, "it's hard to watch if you're a guy."

Hideous Kinky (1998) ♥♥♥
Wandering and melancholy. Kate Winslet's first movie after Titanic.

I Know Who Killed Me (2007) ♥♥
Really not good, yet somehow entertaining.

In the Land of Women (2007) ♥♥1/2
Just for Adam Brody and/or Meg Ryan fans. (Kinda doubt the overlap there...)

Les Poupees Russes / Russian Dolls (2005) ♥♥♥
Sequel to L'Auberge Espanole, aka The Spanish Apartment.

Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity (2002) ♥♥♥♥
The power of little girls and love potions. Excellent.



Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) ♥♥
Saw it with summer camp kids. Best part was realizing one of the voices belonged to Sacha Baron Cohen.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) ♥♥♥1/2
Cute and funny. My favorite part, though, was Delysia's glam apartment.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008) ♥♥♥1/2
I already knew I loved Mr. Cera—thumbs up for Ms. K Dennings, too!

Okie Noodling (2001) ♥♥♥
Documentary about fishermen who do it without a rod and reel. Dudes are crazy.

The Orphanage (2007) ♥♥♥♥
Imaginary friends have never been this creepy.

Paris, Je T'aime (2006) ♥♥♥1/2
Short films leave so much unsaid, but this has some goodies.

Penelope (2008) ♥♥♥1/2
Christina Ricci was adorable with that pig nose.

Precious (2009) ♥♥♥♥
Forced myself to the theater for this one. Heartbreaking/heartwarming.

The Princess Diaries (2001) ♥♥♥
Liked the book a whole lot better.

Quinceanera (2006) ♥♥♥♥
LOVED this one! Great cast & great script.



Rachel Getting Married (2008) ♥♥♥♥
Some tedious parts, but Anne Hathaway is amazing.


Ratatouille (2007) ♥♥♥
Who knew rodents could be likable? Cute, even.

The Road to Wellville (1994) ♥♥♥
Generally weird. Good cast, great costumes.

Rumble Fish (1983) ♥♥♥1/2
Rusty James + Motorcycle Boy = LUV.

Running With Scissors (2006) ♥♥♥
Depressing, with some funny moments mixed in.

St. Elmo's Fire (1985) ♥♥
Kind of a yawn, but I like Ally Sheedy.

Shrooms (2007) ♥1/2
A horror movie with unnecessary hallucinogens.

Single White Female (1992) ♥♥♥
Awesomely 90s, but overall, it could have been better.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008) ♥♥♥
Made me kind of teary-eyed, just like the first one.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) ♥♥♥♥
Surprised me by living up to the hype!

So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) ♥♥1/2
So I spent an hour and a half watching this silly movie.

Southland Tales (2006) ♥♥♥
To be filed under "so bad it's kind of good."

Super Size Me (2004) ♥♥♥
Spurlock annoys me, but man did this make me want a Big Mac.

Teeth (2007) ♥♥♥1/2
If you don't know what this is about, look it up.

Twilight (2008) ♥♥♥
Pretty much what I was expecting. Excited for the next one!

Valley Girl (1983) ♥♥1/2
Totally. Tublar.

Volver (2006) ♥♥♥♥
Penelope Cruz is A1 in this surprising story about mothers and daughters.

Walk the Line (2005) ♥♥♥♥
Please, Joaquin, don't quit acting. I like you.

Wilby Wonderful (2004) ♥♥♥1/2
Sandra Oh + Ellen Page + Canada + "Quirkiness" = liked it.

The Wrestler (2008) ♥♥♥♥
Gory and a bummer, but I loved it.

Ratings out of 5 hearts
♥ = did not like it
♥♥ = it was okay
♥♥♥ = liked it
♥♥♥♥ = really liked it
♥♥♥♥♥ = it was AWESOME