ASHEBORO —
I thought 2009 was an extraordinarily good year for movies. I had 43 with at least seven stars (out of 10).
Most everyone knows about Hurt Locker, Avatar and Precious. I’m going to mention some very good movies that didn’t do much box office or win awards.
I absolutely loved Every Little Step; it was my number 1 movie of 2009. OK, you have to also love the play A Chorus Line (which I obviously do).
This is a sterling documentary about the try-outs for the revival of the play.
The stories of the dancers and the triumph and tragedy of the selections are riveting. By the way, the movie of A Chorus Line is not really very good.
I have long been an avid fan of Japanese anime director Hayao Mayazaki. His beautiful movies are just not like anything else.
Ponyo is the lovely story of a little girl who falls in love with a fish!
In this or any Mayazaki film, you could take any frame, freeze it and hang it on the wall.
Do yourself a favor and give this, or any of his films, a look.
Goodbye Solo was shot in Winston-Salem and Hanging Rock State Park.
It is the story of a somewhat shaky friendship between a Senegalese immigrant taxi driver and a mysterious passenger.
When the passenger engages the driver for a long trip in two weeks, the driver realizes the passenger plans to end his life.
His herculean efforts to change his mind will engage you to the very end.
Director Rahman Bahrani was born and raised in our state and Roger Ebert has called him the next great American director.
State of Play is an excellent political thriller with Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams as reporters investigating the mysterious death of the mistress of a Congressman (Ben Affleck). As the layers peel back, the suspense builds.
Earth is a documentary featuring three animal families. Elephants, whales and polar bears are followed through the course of a year.
The photography in this film is just amazing. It is a big step beyond the usual animal doc.
Although it would be better on the big screen, I think it will still be quite good on DVD.
All of the films in this column are available on DVD. All except Goodbye Solo and State of Play are fine for all audiences. Those two are for grownups.
Rusty Hammond has been writing the Mr. Movie column since 1996. It appears in several newspapers in North Carolina.
Rusty Hammond
Mr. Movie: 2009 sleepers
- Rusty Hammond
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Mr. Movie: Burgess Meredith
Burgess Meredith had an astonishing movie career of nearly 60 years. He appeared in over 55 films in his long professional life. Some are very good; some are real dogs.
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Mr. Movie: To 3-D or not to 3-D
Is 3-D really worth the clunky glasses? Sometimes yes, most times no.
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Mr. Movie: Atlantic City
It's called the Poor Man's Las Vegas. It was right much of a dump before the casinos arrived, and is still right much of a dump after. But Atlantic City has the lure of easy riches, and is a natural setting for movies.
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Mr. Movie: Richard Farnsworth
Richard Farnsworth worked right up until his death at 80. His face looked like it had worn out three or four bodies. His name may not ring a bell, but if you saw his picture, you would recognize him.
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Mr. Movie: Crimedies
What do you call a crime movie that’s also funny? How about “crimedies”? There are several entries in this somewhat off-beat category.
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Mr. Movie: Mel Brooks
The non-musical version of The Producers (1967) with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder kicked off a string of six tremendous films directed by Mel Brooks.
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Mr. Movie: Ring Lardner Jr.
Ring Lardner Jr., died in 2000 at the age of 85. He wrote great screenplays when they let him.
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Mr. Movie: Remakes
Hollywood seems obsessed with the idea that if something worked once, it will work again. Hence the remake.
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Mr. Movie: Sean Connery
With apologies to Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, et al., Sean Connery of course is James Bond. But there’s a lot more to him than that.
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Mr. Movie: Cliff Robertson
Cliff Robertson, who died recently at the good old age of 88, appeared in over 50 movies and even more TV shows.
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Mr. Movie: Burgess Meredith
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