The joy of list-making continues today as I’m running down who I thought gave the best performances of the year plus what I thought were the best quotes and kills of 2009. Please keep in mind that regarding the performances, I haven’t seen a few key films that could have very well changed the winners and runners-up: Crazy Heart (Best Actor), The Last Station and Bright Star (Best Actress), and a few others. If you think there was someone who clearly should’ve won or been nominated, shout out in the comments section and I’ll let you know whether I saw the film or not.
With this disclaimer out of the way, I present to you my picks for the best performers, directors, quotes, and kills of 2009. Hit the jump to check them all out.
BEST ACTOR: Colin Firth as “George Falconer” in A Single Man
Runners-Up:
Sharlto Copley as “Wikus Van De Merwe” in District 9
Tom Hardy as “Charles Bronson” in Bronson
Max Records as “Max” in Where the Wild Things Are
Sam Rockwell as “Sam Bell” in Moon
BEST ACTRESS: Meryl Streep as “Julia Child” in Julie & Julia
Runners-Up:
Ellen Page as “Bliss Cavendar” in Whip It
Michelle Pfeiffer as “Lea de Lonval” in Chéri
Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe as “Clareece ‘Precious’ Jones” in Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Rachel Weisz as “Penelope” in The Brothers Bloom
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz as “Col. Hans Landa” in Inglourious Basterds
Runners-Up:
Peter Capaldi as “Malcolm Tucker” in In the Loop
Zach Galifianakis as “Alan” in The Hangover
Jackie Earle Haley as “Rorschach/Walter Kovacs” in Watchmen
Daryl Sabara as “Kyle” in World’s Greatest Dad
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mo’Nique as “Mary” in Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Runners-Up:
Anna Kendrick as “Natalie Keener” in Up in the Air
Rinko Kikuchi as “Bang Bang” in The Brothers Bloom
Mélanie Laurent as “Shosanna Dreyfus” in Inglourious Basterds
Helen Mirren as “Cameron Lynne” in State of Play
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE: Zach Galifianakis as “Alan” in The Hangover
(Awarded to the actor or actress whose career will most likely have a positive and dramatic change based on their performance in a film released this year)
Runners-Up:
Sharlto Copley as “Wikus Van De Merwe” in District 9
Mo’Nique as “Mary” in Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
A VERY GOOD YEAR: Stephen Lang for his performances in Avatar, The Men Who Stare at Goats, and Public Enemies
(Awarded to an actor or actress who had three or more excellent performances in films released this year)
Runners-Up:
Woody Harrelson for his performances in 2012, The Messenger, and Zombieland
Melanie Lynskey for her performances in Away We Go, The Informant!, and Up in the Air
BEST DIRECTOR: Spike Jonze - Where the Wild Things Are
Runners-Up:
Neill Blomkamp – District 9
Tom Ford – A Single Man
Rian Johnson – The Brothers Bloom
Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds
BEST QUOTE: “Fuckity-bye!” – Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), In The Loop
Runners-Up:
“That’s a bingo! Is that how you say it? ‘That’s a bingo?’” Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), Inglourious Basterds
“Why would I blow up the Chick-Fil-A? That shit is delicious!” Saddamn (Aziz Ansari), Observe and Report
“I was hiding under your porch because I love you.” Dug (Bob Peterson), Up
“That’s my new favorite camel.” Stephen Bloom (Mark Ruffalo), The Brothers Bloom
BEST KILL: The Fall of Abe Lincoln – The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Runners-Up:
Prawn Weapons Will Blow You Away – District 9
Hitler Can’t Face His Enemies – Inglourious Basterds
This Microwave Has a “Dillahunt” Setting – The Last House on the Left
I’ll have the Ribs – Watchmen
(Nothing will best my top kill of this year–I still laugh till I cry ever time I watch it–but keep in mind I don’t see a lot of horror movies so if you think there was a better kill than these five, just say so in the comments section. Just be sure to put a spoiler warning on it)
Tomorrow will be the last year-end list. It has to be (you know, with the year ending and all).
Sunday: Top 10 Films of 2009
Monday: Worst 5 Films of 2009
Tuesday: Top 10 Trailers of 2009
Wednesday: Top Performers, Directors, Quotes, and Kills of 2009
Thursday: Top 20 Films of the 2000s
Mondo’s CEO Justin Ishmael Talks Future Gallery Shows, Drew Struzan’s DARK TOWER, HBO, Alex Ross, Olly Moss’ SPIRITED AWAY, Future Projects, and More
24 Hi-Res Images from STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS
Legendary Pictures CEO Thomas Tull Says MAN OF STEEL Is “the Superman Movie I’ve Always Wanted to See”
First TV Spot for Zack Snyder’s MAN OF STEEL
Sony Shows the New Trailer from Neill Blomkamp’s ELYSIUM Plus 10 Minutes of Footage; Watch Our Spoiler-Free Video Blog Recap
Hmm, what is the appropriate response here? Ahhh… oh yeah: “who gives a shit?”
Hmm, what is the appropriate response here? Ahhh… oh yeah: “who gives a shit?”
nNark – Then why even bother replying? I’ll never understand…
Like a lot of these lists, it should’ve been titled Top American (or, I suppose, English-language)…of 2009, but hey, common mistake.
Given that criteria, though, pretty great list here, in that I can’t really fault any of your choices even if they wouldn’t have necessarily been mine. The one exception though is calling attention to Tom Ford, whose direction of A SINGLE MAN was more incompetent, aimless, and overwrought than nearly any other film this year (STAR TREK certainly outdid it). It’s a shame, too, given that the cast was just knocking it out of the park, but I found it hard to substantiate almost any decision made in the film.
Especially given this was the year of Kathryn Bigelow, the Coen Brothers, Oren Moverman…hell, even Drew Barrymore had a more sure hand than Tom Ford. And, again, that’s just on the English-language side.
Oh, and no Carey Mulligan? Okay, that’s all…
nNark – Then why even bother replying? I’ll never understand…
Like a lot of these lists, it should’ve been titled Top American (or, I suppose, English-language)…of 2009, but hey, common mistake.
Given that criteria, though, pretty great list here, in that I can’t really fault any of your choices even if they wouldn’t have necessarily been mine. The one exception though is calling attention to Tom Ford, whose direction of A SINGLE MAN was more incompetent, aimless, and overwrought than nearly any other film this year (STAR TREK certainly outdid it). It’s a shame, too, given that the cast was just knocking it out of the park, but I found it hard to substantiate almost any decision made in the film.
Especially given this was the year of Kathryn Bigelow, the Coen Brothers, Oren Moverman…hell, even Drew Barrymore had a more sure hand than Tom Ford. And, again, that’s just on the English-language side.
Oh, and no Carey Mulligan? Okay, that’s all…
In the Loop was English, as was Bronson(you could also argue District 9 was foreign). This wasn’t Top American at all.
Yes, which is why I clarified it and said “English-language.”
In the Loop was English, as was Bronson(you could also argue District 9 was foreign). This wasn’t Top American at all.
Yes, which is why I clarified it and said “English-language.”
I was also very pleased with Zach Galifianakis’ performance in “The Hangover” … surprisingly good acting
I was also very pleased with Zach Galifianakis’ performance in “The Hangover” … surprisingly good acting
Oscar for Michelle Pffeifer¡¡ She is terrific in Cheri¡¡¡
Thanks for your web Matt¡¡
Oscar for Michelle Pffeifer¡¡ She is terrific in Cheri¡¡¡
Thanks for your web Matt¡¡
Stephen Lang had an awesome year! Loved him in Public Enemies and had a blast seeing him in Avatar! (I need to see his scene from Men Who Stare At Goats because I heard it’s hilarious). Stephen deserves an Oscar nomination for Avatar and he’s getting the attention he should have had years ago!
Stephen Lang had an awesome year! Loved him in Public Enemies and had a blast seeing him in Avatar! (I need to see his scene from Men Who Stare At Goats because I heard it’s hilarious). Stephen deserves an Oscar nomination for Avatar and he’s getting the attention he should have had years ago!
Stephen Lang had an awesome year! Loved him in Public Enemies and had a blast seeing him in Avatar! (I need to see his scene from Men Who Stare At Goats because I heard it’s hilarious). Stephen deserves an Oscar nomination for Avatar and he’s getting the attention he should have had years ago!
No mention of Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road? Best performance of the year, male or female, and certainly better than Weisz.
No mention of Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road? Best performance of the year, male or female, and certainly better than Weisz.
No mention of Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road? Best performance of the year, male or female, and certainly better than Weisz.
we have a bingo
we have a bingo
we have a bingo
Then why are you reading it asshole?
That was released in 2008.
Then why are you reading it asshole?
That was released in 2008.
I’m perplexed completely which whole looked at this subject scares me i want to be my pea brain around it before I advance once you know the reason.