2009 in movies

Here is my list of the Top ten movies of 2009
The list is strictly alphabetical and not by rank.

Hindi

3 Idiots

Superbly entertaining movie. Even though the characters were inspired from a book, the movie presented them in a fresh new way. And ofcourse the funniest speech ever in movies. Aamir khan proves again that he can really pull off everything.

Ajab prem ki ghazab kahani

Reminded me of Andaz Apna Apna. Thats reason enough.

Delhi-6

A preachy ending notwithstanding, a very nicely made movie. The movie makes all the more sense when viewed from "outside". Also the director's ploy of drawing parallels to Ramayan was a nice touch. And genda phool.

Dev D

Quite simply the best Devdas version ever. There is a certain sadistic pleasure in self-destruction and it was never depicted better. The music is awesome; the cinematography, especially the stoned parts, was excellent. A landmark hindi movie. The Yash Chopra's candyfloss franchise(with the universe conspiring to unite the lovers) will never understand the true concept of love - In the real world.. love fails, you despair and the world doesnt give a damn.

Kaminey

An ode to Quentin Tarantino, this movie is a classic. Amazing performances, great music and superbly directed. Vishal Bharadwaj is the director to look out for (remember.. Maqbool and Omkara?).

Love aaj kal

The most gheesa-peeta story presented in a refreshingly new way. The 70's love story was certainly the best part of the movie. And Harleen a.k.a. Giselle Monteiro.

Quick gun murugun

Clint Eastwood meets Rajnikanth meets MGR. Amazing dialogues and a well-crafted screenplay. Watch it, I say.

Rocket Singh

A movie that believes (atleast in hindsight) that honesty and integrity are still relevant. The movie or the protagonist maybe a bit hypocrite in following their own advise but it still manages to get the message across. Ranbir Kapoor proves he has talent after all.

English

(500) Days of Summer

The movie starts with the disclaimer - "Any resemblance to people living or dead is purely accidental ... Especially you, Jenny Beckman ... Bitch." And.. you know this movie is different. The narrator begins with the announcement that this is not a love story. And it definitely isn't one. Of course they meet. Of course they fall for each other. Of course there are problems. It sounds cliché but what's remarkable about 500 Days is how the film explores new ways to tell the story. Its a rare movie that begins by telling us how it will end and is about how the hero has no idea why.

Avatar

It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's amazing imagination and his expertise for details. Splendid visuals. Mind-blowing special effects. Forget all the crap about racism, nature-worship, white-american-saves-the-day and all that controversy. Enjoy the grandeur of Pandora.

District 9

Its the most exciting science fiction movie to come along in ages; Aliens who are a million times better than those of the brainless Transformers. The documentary-style structure of the movie makes it all the more compelling. By referencing to racism, xenophobia and South Africa's history of apartheid, the movie makes you think of the inherent fear in "humanity" for other races and species.

Inglourious Basterds

Now this is how history should have been. You can cringe about the fact that it is not; but doesnt matter.. this movie is not made by History channel. Its made by one of the best directors ever .. Quentin Tarantino. Starting with western cowboy music to black-n-white discovery footage to an almost fetishist admiration of Soshanaa.. this movie breaks all rules. Apart from Pulp Fiction (also by QT) no movie has such delightful passages of long stretched out dialogues. Its not about what its about.. rather its about how its about it!! A Tarantino film resists categorization. “Inglourious Basterds” is no more about war than “Pulp Fiction” is about — what the hell was it about? Of course nothing in the movie is possible, except that it’s so bloody entertaining. He’s a master at bringing performances as far as they can go toward iconographic exaggeration.

Invictus

"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul" These lines fit no other personality like it fits Nelson Mandela. Its amazing to notice how many things could have wrong in this kind of a movie and how nothing of it ever goes wrong. Yeah its not exactly a documentary on Mandela's life, rather its just an episode. His personal forgiveness of white South Africa was the beacon that illuminated that nation's Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, one of the very few examples in history of people who really had much to forgive, and forgave it. Compared to that, does it really matter that an underdog Springbok team, all white with one exception, won the World Cup in rugby in the first year of Mandela's rule? For Mandela it certainly did.

Paranormal Activity

In the year of billion dollar movie, came this movie made with a single hand-held camera. It is an ingenious little horror film, so well made it's truly scary.It illustrates that silence and waiting can be more entertaining than frantic fast-cutting and berserk CGI. For extended periods here, nothing at all is happening, and believe me, you won't be bored.

The Hangover

It is a funny movie, flat out, all the way through. Its setup is funny. Every situation is funny. Most of the dialogue is funny almost line by line. How in the hell do you wake up in a $4,200-a-night suite with a tiger, a chicken, a crying baby, a missing tooth and a belly button pierced for a diamond dangle? And when you give your parking check to the doorman, why does he bring around a police car? And where is the fourth guy? Here is a movie that deserves every letter of its R rating. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, especially after you throw up. BTW... there is never an explanation for the chicken.

Up

Pixar is great in making animated movies that somehow feel more realistic and sensible than most of the so called live action movies. Considering Pixar's standard this movie is good and enjoyable in most parts as expected. But what makes this movie really stand out is the initial small love story. Its amazing how much can be communicated with some slides of silent characters. Watch out for the first 15 mins.

Up in the air

"Ladki ka chakkar, Baabu bhaiya.. Ladki ka chakkar". Ever felt that you have thrown away a better life for a more successful life? Guess thats most of us. But have you gone to the extent of really liking the sad life more than your happy life? Sounds impossible. But sadly its not. We have an amazing tendency of accepting things and making that our comfort zone. And its all OK. Its my life.. I'll live the hell out of it anyway I like. And then comes the girl. She changes everything.. makes you want more out of life.. and so you risk it all.. but is she really her or pretending to be her? Find out from the movie. P.S. - This isnt a traditional kind of review. And maybe I made it sound like a sad movie. So, for the records, its a very funny and entertaining movie.

Watchmen

Did Superman ever cry for his lost planet? Have Batman felt guilty about breaking bones of a thug? Was Spiderman ever happy in his "normal" life? Watchmen is a movie about super-heros who, you realize soon enough, are not so super-heroic without the mask after all. It doesnt have the characters I mentioned above for copyright reasons.. but thats not the point. This movie could have been about any super hero and still relevant ( well... as relevant as a super hero movie can be). And it has one of the best super villians ever.. one who never even appeared on screen or delivered any dialogue.. Richard Nixon .. thats right .. the ex-president of US. They can very well make a sequel with George W Bush.

P.S. - Its strange how many movies say they are about something but are really about something else. Like Avatar says its about environment and anti-war but its really about visuals and special effects. But it was still very good. Sadly not Paa - A movie which pretends to be about a 13 year old but its really about promoting Abhishek Bachchan. Compare that to Taare Zammen Par and the differences gnaws at you. The most disappointing movie of the year. Just think... how much they could have achieved if only they had given Amitabh Bachchan a full role to work on!!

P.P.S. - I feel sad that the Top ten hindi movies list doesnt even have 10 movies.