Rusty Hammond
Special to The Randolph Guide
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.
