After developing a list of thirty incredible films from 2009 that I enjoyed more than the rest, I was forced to choose only fifteen of those to call my “favorite films” of 2009. Like choosing fifteen orphans to take home and love and fifteen orphans to march off a cliff, I begrudgingly chose my fifteen favorite films of 2009. Staring at the list for what seemed like hours on end I ultimately decided to stop even trying to make a “final” decision and stick with my gut. Even if my gut immediately disagrees with my brain and vice-versa. As painful as it was to decide on these films and leave out so many other great ones, whether you agree with what is on my list or the order of my list is really not too important. What is important is that you see these films. 2009 was a great year for cinema. To only see the large films that had the budget to saturate your daily dose of advertising mania, no matter how great those films may be, would be a shame. 2009 proved the art of cinema is still alive and well, and we shouldn’t take it for granted. Don’t take my word for it — go see these films. You may not love them as much as I did, but joining in on the discussion, whether for or against, is all that really matters. So without further avoidance of the inevitable, This is my fifteen favorite films of 2009. I really enjoyed them and I hope you do too. Read the full story

This weekend the fourth installment of the Terminator franchise Terminator Salvation was released, but has received an extremely negative response. The film is currently tracking at 34 percent over at Rotten Tomatoes. Skeptics have been calling it “dumb” and they say it lacks “depth”. If you’ve read my review then you know that I rather enjoyed it and found many aspects of the film to be quite impressive, most notably and surprisingly McG’s direction. The lackluster response not just from critics, but also a few members of the fan-base comes off illogical and hypocritical.

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Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life has been kept very under wraps so far and there hasn’t been a release date announced yet, but it may  be coming to theaters in 2009. Screen Daily (via Hollywood Elsewhere) is reporting that the film has picked up distribution at Cannes and that it may be released this year. The film wrapped over a year ago and Malick is still apparently cutting the film. The film stars Brad Pitt and Sean Penn as brothers.

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Con-men films are often at times uninteresting and predictable. This is not one of those films. The Brothers Bloom is Rian Johnson’s follow up to his incredible directorial debut Brick, he has now crafted a welcome entry in the con-man genre and its for sure one of the year’s most delightful films.

The Brothers Bloom follows the con-men duo brothers Bloom (Adrein Brody) and Stephen (Mark Ruffalo). After pulling countless amounts of tricks in their life, Bloom wants to retire. After he  runs off to live a new life, Stephen eventually catches up with him offering him one last con. After accepting, Bloom finds himself battling the love he has for the mark of the con, the wealthy and beautiful Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz). Soon we see Bloom pulled into a con game, that may or may not be the perfect con.

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Angels & Demons surpasses the lackluster 2006 The Da Vinci Code in almost every way, and yet it still finds itself in the category of mediocrity. It’s a continuous escapade of non-stop explanations and blandness, and lacks the excitement it strives for.

After the murder of a physicist, professor Robert Langdon (Hanks) embarks on an adventure to uncover a terrorizing society, The Illuminati. With the help of scientist Vittoria Vetra (Zurer), they are lead all throughout Rome, trying to track down an assassin who works for the Illuminati and has kidnapped four cardinals. Robert and Vittoria also must hunt down a stolen device that could cause mass destruction to not just the vatican, but to the surrounding area of Rome.

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After a lackluster summer kick off with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a worthy summer movie has been delivered. Star Trek is a return to form for the beloved series, it makes up for Star Trek: Nemesis. This isn’t exactly “smart” entertainment and it does feature more than a few conveniances and plot wholes, but it still rises above the standard summer movie formula.

Star Trek shows the early days of Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew members. The film centers around James T. Kirk who starts out lost and without a path, but after being recruited by Captain Pike, after enlisting in star fleet and has found his true destiny. Starting off clashing with the uptight logical Spock, they soon must work together to strive through danger. As the romulan Nero threatens the future they know, they must band together to foil his plans.

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