The RyMickey Awards - Best Films of 2009

I saw 200 movies in 2009.  Here's the Top 20...and the longest post ever on the blog...(Although this'll be my first time using that annoying blog staple "the click here for more" button)

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)

• Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Clever, witty, and filled with some great one-liners, this would be movie #21 on the list.
• Humpday - The things people will do when they're drunk...
• In the Loop - A political comedy in the documentary-style of "The Office" filled with hilariously nasty characters
• Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation - A look at the insane Australian film industry from the 1960s-80s...plus more nudity than I've seen in any movie this year.
• Star Trek - A great reboot of a dying franchise
• Whatever Works - Woody Allen has shied away from comedy in recent years, but this is a return to form.
• Zombieland - Zombies.  Amusement Parks.  Twinkies.  What's not to like?

And the Best Movies of 2009 Are...

#20 - Crank: High Voltage

If the screengrab above doesn't tell you what you're in for with Crank: High Voltage, I don't know what will.   I mean, sure, it's not as odd as the line "I'm gonna go floss my teeth with some pubes" which is uttered during the film's quick running time, but a guy with first-degree burns essentially throwing out a "F@$% You" to the paying movie-going audience is something you don't see every day in cinema.

Certainly, Crank: High Voltage is no Citizen Kane, but it's one hell of an enjoyable ride.  It's an equal opportunity offender and it doesn't hold back a thing.  At moments, that "balls-to-the-wall" attitude is a detriment (the film does go over the top a few too many times), but, for the most part, you're in for a crazy funhouse of a film.

The rest of the Top 20 is after the jump...(seriously...I spent some time on this, so click on that darn tiny "read more" link below [can't figure out a way to make it bolder] and read on...and feel free to leave a comment!)

The Year in Review - Film

This post is really just a placeholder for the time being. Not being in NYC or LA, I certainly haven't seen all the buzz-worthy, end-of-the-year awards contenders yet. Fortunately, they're gradually making their way to Philly. So, by the time the Academy Awards roll around in March, I'll update this with a 2009 Year in Review, including my picks for the Oscar categories (which you can follow along with here), along with some other categories not recognized by Oscar (Best Ensemble, Best Body of Work, etc.).

Obviously, you can see my current Top Ten to the right-hand side of the blog -- an impressive crop of films, all of which I still can say I'm genuinely happy to have in a Top Ten list.

So, for now, the Year in Film recap will just have to wait a few more weeks.

The Year in Review - Live Events

I managed to go to quite a few concerts and theater performances in 2009 (and with a New Year's resolution with a friend to try and see all the live theater University of Delaware has to offer, this aspect of entertainment will likely continue into the new decade).

Concerts

Little Big Town

Paul McCartney

The Moody Blues

My Friends

The Swell Season

Maroon 5

I enjoyed all of the above for various reasons, but the two that stand out the most are Paul McCartney (seriously, he's a frickin' legend) and The Swell Season (lead vocalist Glen Hansard was spectacular).

Theater

The Lion King (Broadway - musical)

Of Mice and Men (Professional @ UD - play)

Hay Fever (Professional @ UD - play)

The Little Mermaid (Broadway - musical)

I Am My Own Wife (Professional @ UD - play/one-man show)

Oleanna (Broadway - play/two-person show)

South Pacific (Broadway - musical)

Unlike the concerts, there were certainly some busts here. The Little Mermaid was the worst thing I've seen on Broadway, and although Oleanna boasted some good performances from Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, the play itself was incredibly weak. However, The Lion King is an amazing experience, South Pacific was filled with stellar vocalists, and I Am My Own Wife was surprisingly engaging (with a nifty set).

The Year in Review - Books

So, I achieved last year's New Year's resolution -- to read 52 books in 2009, one for each week. I'm definitely on a reading kick now and hopefully it will continue into 2010.

All the books that I read can be found via this link: Book a Week

Here's just a quick run-down of a few things "book-related" in 2009.

• Favorite Author: John Steinbeck -- I hadn't read a book by him prior to this year, but I'm now thrilled to say that I have an actual "favorite author." Time to tackle Grapes of Wrath this year.
• Favorite Nonfiction - The Great Deluge - Riveting stuff about Hurricane Katrina. I should really read more nonfiction...
• Oldest Book - Pride and Prejudice - (Jane Austen) - First published in 1813
• Most Recent Book - Handle with Care - (Jodi Piccoult) - Published in 2009

Top Ten Books of 2009

1. The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien
2. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
3. Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton
4. East of Eden - John Steinbeck
5. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
6. Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates
7. The Postman Always Rings Twice - James M. Cain
8. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
9. Mother Night - Kurt Vonnegut
10. The Alchemist - Paolo Coelho
    

The (Personal) Year in Review

Quite a year 2009 has been for me. I'll be posting some other year-end wrap-ups soon, but first, just a little personal note on my year in general.

If you've been following along, I'm sure you've seen my Year of Firsts posts. If not, here's a link to all of them. Not that there's anything too exciting on there, but I expanded my horizons a little (even if some things [like those MRIs and arterial ultrasounds] I'd prefer I hadn't experienced).

And that's what I take away from this year...probably the first year in a really long time where I feel like I did things. Sitting at home wasn't really on my agenda this year and I had a great time not being there.

True, it hasn't always been sunshine and lollipops, and it may be ending on a note that I'd prefer it didn't (not that things can't change...time heals all [maybe?], so I've heard), but I had a great time this year.

For those that made this such a memorable year for me (I'm sure you know who you are), I can say nothing but a truly genuine and heartfelt "thank you." I had a fun year and I couldn't ask for anything more than that.

Thanks for taking this sheltered 29 year-old guy and showing him that there are things outside of the four walls of his house and his job.

Thanks for allowing me into your life as well. Lord knows I'm not without faults and I wholeheartedly appreciate your willingness to (sometimes) look past them.

I'm a better person because of 2009 and I can't really ask for anything more than that.

Here's to 2010 being just as promising.

3...2..1...

...And it begins.

The Blog...2009

A big thanks to those of you reading and posting here on the blog during its first year. Let me tell you, there's an odd sensation you get as a "blogger" when you see that someone's commented on something you've written. It's a sense of validation (even if it's a disagreement). Sure, it's entirely self-aggrandizing and egotistical, but it is what it is.

I've thoroughly enjoyed blogging in '09 and will continue to do so into the new decade. I'm debating on what to focus on in the new year and I've narrowed it down to either delving into a particular director's repertoire each month or doing a retrospective of Best Picture Oscar winners (focusing on a particular year every two weeks or so, watching all five Best Picture nominees, and then determining which one I would choose as the winner). I'm probably leaning towards the latter at the moment (although I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to complete the task in one year).

That being said, I've got a few things planned for 2010-- a Hitchcock-fest next October, the Christmas-Movie-a-Day bit in December, a look-back at every Disney full-length animated movie throughout the year.

So, once again, thanks for reading my inane ramblings.