Sydney Film Critics Rank 2009

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The indefatigable Matt Ravier has compiled the Sydney Film Critics: Best of 2009 over at Last Night with Riviera. Asked to rank our top 10 theatrically released films (nb. Australian release dates), our top 10 unreleased films and a short blurb on the year in review, it's great to see what everyone came up with. However, much to my chagrin, Let the Right One In - a film I have yet to see - took out first prize. Must rent ASAP.

See how the top 20s rounded out here.

As for my picks, I did make a few changes from my Rotten Tomatoes list (told you I was fickle). I wouldn't have thought Anti Christ would make my top 10, but somehow the beauty of the film has really stayed with me. For all it's confronting themes and horrifying moments, von Trier captures some truly gorgeous images.

See how I ranked my top 10s below.

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BEST RELEASED

1. Up (Peter Docter, USA)
2. Bright Star (Jane Campion, Australia)
3. Moon (Duncan Jones, UK)
4. An Education (Lone Scherfig, UK)
5. Gomorrah (Mattero Garrone, Italy)
6. District 9 (Neil Blomkamp, USA / New Zealand)
7. Louise-Michel (Gustave de Kervern, Benoît Delépine, France)
8. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, USA)
9. Balibo (Robert Connolly, Australia)
10. Anti Christ (Lars Von Trier, Denmark)

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BEST UNRELEASED

1. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, USA)
2. Altiplano (Peter Brosens, Jessica Hope Woodworth, Belgium)
3. 5 Minutes of Heaven (Oliver Hirschbiegel, UK)
4. The Maid (Sebastian Silva, Chile)
5. 35 Shots of Rum (Claire Denis, France)
6. Missing Water (Khoa Do, Australia)
7. Burma VJ (Anders Østergaard, Denmark)
8. The Road (John Hillcoat, Australia / USA)
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson, USA)
10. The Missing Person (Noah Buschel, USA)

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And as for my year in review (a rant by any other name):

To me, cinema means undivided attention. This era of DVDs and downloads is synonymous with distraction; the ability to pause breaks the spell a film and indelibly dilutes its magic. And so this year in review champions the adventure into a cavernous theatre: 2009s spate of 3D seems to demand that you make the trip (though Up transcends the 3D spectacle with its visionary beauty), while Tarantino’s bloodlust is a journey back to WWII best attempted as a group. District 9 made a meal of the big screen and big sound, and though comparatively silent, there is something utterly transportive about Moon. Cinema also sees thematic polar opposites like Bright Star and Anti Christ share a visual poetry and transfixing storytelling that captivates, right to the end of the credits. We shouldn’t need Avatar to remind us what cinema is all about. As a cultural (and social) experience and a celebration of an art form… it’s something truly precious.*

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Be sure to check out what other local critics had to say over at Last Night with Riviera.

*I hope a few Australian readers picked up on my little 'precious egg' in-joke :)