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Roger Ebert, Manohla Dargis And The New AT THE MOVIES Boys Weigh In!! Is THE HURT LOCKER The Film of the Year??

Published at:  Dec 22, 2009 7:43:05 PM CST

I am – Hercules!!

Since we stuck up the first wave of award winners a week ago, a lot more films have won a lot more awards, and a lot more critics have decided on their best movies of 2009.

I reckon we’re still waiting on lists from Harry, Capone and Quint but, as we look to Father Geek and beyond this site, “The Hurt Locker” seems to be the only movie on absolutely every critic’s short list.

Where we stand:

BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS
The Hurt Locker

CHICAGO FILM CRITICS
The Hurt Locker

HOUSTON FILM CRITICS
The Hurt Locker

LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS
The Hurt Locker
(runner-up: Up in the Air)

NEW YORK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE
The Hurt Locker

DETROIT FILM CRITICS
Up

ST. LOUIS FILM CRITICS
Up in the Air
(runner-up: The Hurt Locker)

WASHINGTON DC AREA FILM CRITICS
Up In The Air

FLORIDA FILM CRITICS
Up in the Air

INDIANA FILM JOURNALISTS
Up In The Air
(runner-up: Fantastic Mr. Fox)

NEW YORK FILM CRITICS ONLINE
(not to be confused with the New York Film Critics Circle)
Avatar



ROGER EBERT (THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES)
MAINSTREAM:
Bad Lieutenant
Crazy Heart
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Knowing
Precious
A Serious Man
Up In The Air
The White Ribbon

INDEPENDENT:
Departures
Disgrace
Everlasting Moments
Goodbye Solo
Julia
Silent Night
Sin Nombre
Skin
Trucker
You, The Living

(Special Jury Prize: Avatar)

MICHAEL PHILLIPS (THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE)
Up
Where The Wild Things Are
Waltz With Bashir
Of Time and the City
The Hurt Locker
A Serious Man
In The Loop
Sugar
Me and Orson Welles
A Single Man


MANOHLA DARGIS (THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Gomorrah
Tulpan
Summer Hours
The Hurt Locker
The Beaches of Agnes
Public Enemies
Beeswax
Ponyo
The Informant!
Where The Wild Things Are
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Avatar

RUNNERS-UP:
Of Time and the City
Frontier of Dawn
Tokyo Sonata
Sugar
Léon Morin: Priest
Julia
Star Trek
Anaglyph Tom
Séraphine
The English Surgeon
You, the Living
In the Loop
Import, Export
Lorna's Silence
A Perfect Getaway
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Big Fan
Unmade Beds
Crude
A Serious Man
Precious
The Messenger
Big River Man
35 Shots of Rum
Up in the Air
A Single Man
Invictus
Police, Adjective

A.O. SCOTT (THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Where The Wild Things Are
The Hurt Locker
In The Loop
Summer Hours
Of Time and the City
Up In The Air
Funny People
Bright Star
Medicine For Melancholy
Precious
Coraline
Avatar
District 9
A Serious Man
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Goodbye, Solo
Sugar
Gomorrah
The Baader Meinof Complex

RUNNERS-UP:
La Danse
24 City
Invictus
Extract
Tyson
The Beaches Of Agnes
Crazy Heart
Still Walking
Broken Embraces


KENNETH TURAN (THE LOS ANGELES TIMES)
Bright Star
The Hurt Locker
An Education
Avatar
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Julie & Julia
Up
Up in The Air

CHILDREN OF SUNDANCE:
Amreeka
Adventureland
Big Fan
Sergio

DOCUMENTARIES:
Afghan Star
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Soul Power
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
More Than A Game
Tyson
Unmistaken Child

JAY KNOWLES (AIN'T IT COOL NEWS)
Avatar (3-D)
Thirst
MicMacs
Up (3-D)
Lovely Bones
Me and Orson Welles
Where the Wild Things Are (IMAX)
The Hurt Locker
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Road
District 9
Kick Ass
Shutter Island
Sherlock Holmes
Inglourious Basterds
Solomon Kane
Star Trek (IMAX)
Invictus
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Coraline (3-D)
Men Who Stare at Goats

RUNNERS-UP:
Daybreakers
Bronson
Watchmen (IMAX)
Whip It


RICHARD CORLISS (TIME)
The Princess and the Frog
Up
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Hurt Locker
Up in the Air
The White Ribbon
A Single Man
Of Time and the City
District 9
Thirst

PETER TRAVERS (ROLLING STONE)
Precious
Up In The Air
The Hurt Locker
An Education
Up
Where the Wild Things Are
A Serious Man
District 9
(500) Days of Summer
The Messenger

TIED FOR 11TH:
Inglourious Basterds
Capitalism: A Love Story
In the Loop
The Cove
Invictus
Public Enemies
Fantastic Mr. Fox
A Single Man
Nine
Tyson


DAVID GERMAINE (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The Hurt Locker
Precious
The White Ribbon
Bad Lieutenant: Port of New Orleans
Up
An Education
(500) Days of Summer
Passing Strange
Anvil: The Story of Anvil
The Damned United

CHRISTY LEMIRE (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Moon
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Up
District 9
A Serious Man
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Sugar
Passing Strange
Drag Me To Hell

LISA SCHWARZBAUM (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY)
The Hurt Locker
Up
Coraline
Up in the Air
Where The Wild Things Are
Fantastic Mr. Fox
A Serious Man
Big Fan
District 9
Everlasting Moments

OWEN GLEIBERMAN (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY)
Up in the Air
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
I Love You, Man
Food, Inc.
(500) Days of Summer
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Girlfriend Experience
The Hurt Locker
Adventureland


AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
Coraline
The Hangover
The Hurt Locker
The Messenger
Precious
A Serious Man
A Single Man
Sugar
Up
Up in the Air



BROADCAST FILM CRITICS NOMINEES
Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Nine
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up In The Air

HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION NOMINEES
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine



THE NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
An Education
(500) Days of Summer
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Star Trek
Up
Where The Wild Things Are



If you’ve a mind to, feel free to forward anything else you think might belong on this page. My email is herculesAICN@yahoo.com.


    + Expand All

    Readers Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:04:56 AM CST

    Yes

    by macready452

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:06:36 AM CST

    but Nine will win everything due to

    by macready452

    rampant homosexuality throughout Hollywood, and AICN. queers.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:07:06 AM CST

    No

    by tallyrand

    A friend told me it was pants.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:10:00 AM CST

    Yes

    by intersect

    and not that he had any credibility left with me, but did anyone else catch "Knowing" in Ebert's top 10?!?!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:12:44 AM CST

    Well woop-dee-shit....

    by strongbadmonkey

    Does anyone give two turds about these lists... All these lists do is give people an excuse to over analyze films and take all enjoyment out of them....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:12:47 AM CST

    Avatar for me but think Hurt Locker

    by miyamoto_musashi

    would be a very worthy winner for the Oscar , any film prize, much more critical consensus on this movie, and a brilliant movie.
    For me Top 3 is Avatar, District 9 and Hurt Locker.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:16:42 AM CST

    Well, I loved THE HURT LOCKER

    by yackbacker

    So, it's comforting to see it lead so many lists. But looking at the others mentioned, this really was a lean year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:28:07 AM CST

    A year ago everyone was anticipating Watchmen

    by borock_a_boomer

    And it plopped down like one of Harry's taco turds.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:29:20 AM CST

    Knowing?

    by wonko

    Ebert put Knowing on his list? Is it just me, or was that movie an *especially* retarded bit of hollywood nonsense?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:29:32 AM CST

    The Hurt Locker was awesome

    by dukeroberts

    Jeremy Renner was great in it too. It deserves the heaps of praise it has gotten. It may have been a lean year, but there are several great films mentioned on these lists and I think The Hurt Locker would stand out in any year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:30:51 AM CST

    Ebert

    by dukeroberts

    The guy wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, okay? He has lapses in judgment and taste.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:31:53 AM CST

    Has anyone seen INVICTUS?

    by yackbacker

    It's not getting any serious traction with the critics, according to these lists.

    Reply to Talkback

  • about it, just that there were aliens at the end, and that aliens predicted all the disasters. It was just utterly forgettable. Just another Nick Cage paycheck, like Next, Wicker Man, etc. I can't for the life of me understand why Ebert would give it 4 STARS. But he is old, and allowed to be eccentric, I guess.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:36:07 AM CST

    The Hurt Locker is my best movie of the year

    by superfleish76

    for right now, but I'm holding off on any official announcements until I see Up In The Air. I know no one will get any sleep until the final decision is rendered. Avatar wouldn't even win for best Sci-Fi movie or best animated film in my book. Those would go to District 9 and Up respectively. Don't look for the full list, as I subscribe to the "opinions are like ass holes" theory of life...there are far too many of them around pissing me off.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:36:40 AM CST

    Really liked A Serious Man

    by ronald raygun

    It was one of my favorites of the year, couldn't stop thinking about it the whole day I saw it. But everyone here except AO Scott virtually ignored it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:38:41 AM CST

    Woops, nevermind...

    by ronald raygun

    For some reason the first time I scanned these lists, I didn't see A Serious Man but once. A second, closer look shows me pretty much everyone is praising it. Color me retarded.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:39:50 AM CST

    YackBacker

    by dukeroberts

    I saw Invictus. I liked it a lot, but it fell just short of great. I would call it really good. Morgan Freeman did a great job though. He will get a nomination out of it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:39:53 AM CST

    Shazzbot

    by harold-sherbort

    They were angels. That was the most underrated movie of the year in my opinion. These lists are so fucking obvious though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:42:30 AM CST

    A Serious Man

    by dukeroberts

    I am still waiting for it to come to Jacksonville. Will it ever go wide? I don't remember Moon ever coming here. I had to drive 40 miles, to another town, to see No Country for Old Men before it got its Oscar nominations. Is anyone else in a similar boat?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:42:39 AM CST

    Renner should get best actor

    by miyamoto_musashi

    Christop Walz best supporting actor, I am stumped on the actresses front.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:46:25 AM CST

    Best Actor

    by dukeroberts

    I think that Jeremy Renner, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman and George Clooney will all be nominated for best actor. I'm not sure who the 5th will be. For best actress I have only heard one name- that chick from Precious. No one else even comes to mind.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:48:21 AM CST

    Renner won't get an Oscar -- he isn't an A-lister

    by presidentleprechaun

    or a B or C-lister. George Clooney will receive his Oscar. And Jason Reitman will be coronated as the next King of Hollywood. Hollywood is bought and paid for people

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:55:48 AM CST

    Ebert hated Fast Times at Ridgmont High too

    by lock67ca

    Calling it sleazy, as I recall. So he even had lapses in judgment 27 years ago. He has a few head scratchers in his reviews every year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:59:14 AM CST

    Best Actor addendum

    by dukeroberts

    Jeff Bridges. That's five. Write those down. Renner will not win. Clooney could, but I'm thinking Jeff Bridges more, a la Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies. The Dude has been in the biz for nearly 40 years with nothing to show for it. Also, there is a good possibility for Morgan Freeman because he is playing a liberal icon.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:00:29 AM CST

    Okay, here's my stab at who I think the ten nominees for picture

    by heavenlykid

    Not my top ten, but who the academy will recognize. In no order it's...Hurt Locker, Up in the Air, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, Avatar, An Education, A single man, a serious man, Crazyheart and Star trek.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:02:07 AM CST

    The Hurt Locker is DEFINATELY the best film of the year

    by kirbymanly

    If it's playing in or near your town, check it out NOW!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:06:04 AM CST

    2009 Oscars

    by dukeroberts

    Up in the Air will probably win for best picture, but I don't think that Jason Reitman will win. The Academy doesn't typically award young directors. Kathryn Bigelow has a tremendous shot at being the first woman to win best director. Those Hollywood folks salivate over the possibility of a woman winning, I'll bet. She may also deserve to win it. She may have directed the best movie ever directed by a woman, if you ask me. Uh oh! I fear the backlash of that statement. Sorry. Movies directed by women typically feel like they are directed by women. Movies by Kathryn Bigelow sometimes feel like she has a swingin' pair.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:09:50 AM CST

    Oscars are dull this year. No Ledger. Dark Knight

    by saber12

    Or Depp. Or Pitt. Who would've thought Jeff Bridges would be nominated for Best Actor?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:12:10 AM CST

    heavenlykid

    by dukeroberts

    I might replace one of those choices, probably Star Trek, with Up. Avatar may siphon off votes that might have gone to Star Trek, a pure popcorn movie, while Avatar was directed by a "true artist" like James Cameron. Politics.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:13:34 AM CST

    Jeff Bridges was nominated for Starman

    by dukeroberts

    Why not for Crazy Heart?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:20:49 AM CST

    Will they persist with a seperate animated list

    by miyamoto_musashi

    Even with 10 nominees ?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:22:29 AM CST

    how the fuck

    by justanothermoviefan

    is Avatar topping some lists?! It wasn't awful, but it was hardly a great film.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:25:15 AM CST

    Oh, I forgot about Jeff for Starman.

    by saber12

    I'm not saying Jeff is a bad actor, cause he's not, obviously, but I'm saying that there's not a lot of movies nominated the public actually saw.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:33:27 AM CST

    And that's why...

    by dukeroberts

    They expanded the number of best picture nominees to 10. Why would people tune in to watch the Oscars when movies they didn't care about, like Milk and The Reader were nominated? Slumdog Millionaire did about half of its business after it won best picture. I'm sure they will keep the best animated feature around. It took them long enough to start giving one out.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:45:05 AM CST

    As much as it traumatized me...

    by dannyglovers_dickblo0d

    ...my pick for film of the year was still My Sister's Keeper. Such a moving picture, and easily the first one that comes to mind when I think of 2009 movies that will stay with me forever.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:53:32 AM CST

    ebert chose one of his 900 4 star reviews from 2009

    by haterofcrap

    i wonder if it was a tough call for him, or if he just sorta picked one at random.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:54:33 AM CST

    Here's mine...

    by skyway moaters

    ... 'course they don't mean too much as this list represents about 80% of the films I saw this year. Sort of in order: A Serious Man Up The Hurt Locker Moon Ponyo District 9 Avatar Where The Wild Things Are An Education The Road Did I mention that I'm an animation hound? Honorable mentions: Up In The Air Fantastic Mr. Fox Bright Star And: FREAKIN' THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PERNASSUS!!! "sight unseen" - I'm a Terry Gilliam freak, so it's pretty much "a given". How many of these lists are as honest I wonder?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:05:45 AM CST

    Animation hound honorable mention:

    by skyway moaters

    "The Princess and The Frog"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:06:39 AM CST

    Oversight addition...

    by skyway moaters

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:09:53 AM CST

    Wow, guess they all hated District 9.

    by saber12

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:31:39 AM CST

    ? Sabre12

    by skyway moaters

    District 9 appears on five of these lists. Do mean no District 9 number ones?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:44:55 AM CST

    Knowing was a great movie.

    by dailysportspages

    Ive taken soo much flack for liking that movie, but imo its seriously misunderstood by most people.
    Sure it has a few facetopalm moments... but i think they really tried to something with this movie that most people simply did not get.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:56:38 AM CST

    Knowing

    by bellam

    The movie they tried to sell was not the movie they had. I went into it thinking it was a Nic Cage Saves the World, not a Yep We're Fucked. Surprising and creepy and far more clever than people deserved.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:04:07 AM CST

    Ebert

    by kwisatzhaderach

    really has lost his mind if he put Knowing on his list. Poor guy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:04:55 AM CST

    Avatar will win Best Picture

    by kwisatzhaderach

    Kathryn Bigelow will win Best Director. Up in the Air will get screenplay. Everybody happy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:06:27 AM CST

    My top 10 enjoyable movies of the year.

    by estacado1

    d9
    up
    watchmen
    basterds
    fired up
    cloudy meatballs
    2012
    transformers 2
    star trek
    avatar

    Sherlock may have a chance of bumping avatar out of the top 10 when I go see it.

    Bottm 5:
    pink panther 2
    ghost of gf past
    year 1
    chun li
    race witch mountain


    I didn't go see New Moon.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:09:00 AM CST

    My Top 5 of the Year

    by kwisatzhaderach

    1: Avatar 3D



    2: Inglouious Basterds



    3: The Hurt Locker



    4: Public Enemies



    5: District 9

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:55:49 AM CST

    Knowing was great

    by syn_flood

    Not sure it was better than most, but still a very intelligent film.

    The fact that Moon only features on one critic's list is the reason I don't care for critics' opinions in the first place. Fucking Nine got more mentions >:(

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:57:07 AM CST

    knowing

    by rajium32

    I think Knowing was underratted, particularly due to the fact, it used common myth and magic suggestions through out the film (if I remember correctly)and then turned around and became sci-fi. I personally can't stand religious/spiritual BS and found the ending refreshing. I am not saying it's worthy of some top 10 list, but I am not a big fan of lists anyway.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:58:53 AM CST

    ><

    by rajium32

    sorry, for the misuse, of commas.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 4:01:27 AM CST

    Dear Michael Phillips...schmuck.

    by the_patriot

    "Waltz With Bashir" came out *last* year. It was even nominated for an Academy Award and won 23 other prestigious awards. LAST year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 4:04:17 AM CST

    Don't understand the antipathy towards "Knowing"

    by rocco curioso

    I like it quite a bit. Alex Proyas excels with this kind of material, and IMO he certainly hit the mark here. Sombre, creepy, and with a terrific sense of foreboding that pulsed though the whole movie. Nicolas Cage (who I don't much care for these days) managed to reel it in (but that scene where he breaks down after the aliens take his son away was pisspoorly done).kwisatzhaderach... methinks you will be proven correct, sir. The Academy has a tendency to spread it around on occasion, and I think that will be the case at next year's Oscars. But PLEASE, in the name of all that is holy... no Cloondawg for Best Actor. Give that one to Morgan Freeman or Jeremy Renner. I'd rather see Renner win it, but the Academy does have a fondness for Mr. Freeman. Plus it would be a nod of the head to Clint Eastwood without having to give him a THIRD Best Director Award (they ain't gonna make your day this time, punk). Kathryn Bigelow deserves that one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 4:12:59 AM CST

    Hurt Locker was good, but it was no Star Trek

    by drsambeckett1984

    Also, I didnt love UP that much.

    Coraline is probably up there for me, what a scary ass movie that was! For kid my arse!

    1. Star Trek

    2. Inglorious Basterds

    3. District 9

    4. The Hangover

    5. Coraline

    6. Moon

    7. The Informant

    8. The Men Who Stare At Goats

    9.GI Joe ( It was simple fun)

    I cant actually think of a tenth. Those were the films i enjoyed the most this year.

    Sherlock Holmes will probably enter the top 5, but Im not seeing that until Sunday! And The Road, but that technically isnt out till 2010.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 4:21:55 AM CST

    THE HURT LOCKER

    by tippida

    Deserves to WIN FUCKING EVERYTHING its nominated for.
    That movie was made of win. A couple of mates over in the MEAO on deployment sent me the DVD and wouldn't tell me where they got it (considering the film doesn't even get a theatrical release where I am until January 2010). I can see why it is loved by those guys. I fucking loved it too.I'm gonna go watch it again.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 5:33:06 AM CST

    Not too surprised to see Knowing in Eberts top ten

    by pax256

    Hes a huge fan of Proyas's Dark City (I think it was on his top ten of that decade) and I think that great film colors his view of Proyas' work. Knowing had a great first and second act. Then I dont think he knew what to do in the third or he had to cut it short and simple for studio/budget reasons. Ive been scratching my head on how I would redo it myself. Its extremely hard to meld sci fi-fantasy and religious-spiritual themes. They do seem to overlap in some places but to make it be cool in our cynical age is damn difficult. Im not sure I would have taken up the challenge if offered.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 7:37:51 AM CST

    A PERFECT GETAWAY?!

    by darkman

    Note to self: I like Manohla Dargis.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 7:38:27 AM CST

    The Hurt Locker

    by elitestance

    By most standards of judgment was the best film in a pretty good year.

    I'd love to see Bridges get best actor, the guy is so overdue one.

    Up In The Air was very good, but just didn't quite have that special something I think The Hurt Locker had.


    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 8:11:04 AM CST

    Peter Picaldi and Mimi Kennedy need notice

    by mjgtexas

    They made In The Loop.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 8:18:49 AM CST

    THe Dude deserves his Oscar.

    by r2hunter

    Give it to him NOW.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 8:27:39 AM CST

    Manohla Dargis

    by david19

    Ugh. Cant stand her. All her reviews are pretentious dribble.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 8:48:55 AM CST

    Hurt Locker, Moon, District 9, Funny People, and...

    by killdozer

    Coraline are my top 5.Haven't seen Basterds, A Serious Man, The Road or Mr Fox yet.I really didn't like Up and Public Enemies which is surprising since I usually love Mann and Pixar.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:08:41 AM CST

    Too bad The Hurt Locker is from 2008

    by ricarleite2

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:27:56 AM CST

    Hah! yeah OCTOBER 08

    by anything but tangerines

    wow. Probably didn't play in L.A. in time last year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:33:49 AM CST

    Coraline

    by cz

    I love that you put your dad up there. And I fully support all the love for Coraline.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:36:46 AM CST

    Up In The Air blew ass

    by series7

    Seriously its a decent film, nothing special. How come World's Greatest Dad isn't on any of these list? That movie was amazing? Do critics hate VOD as well?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:40:23 AM CST

    D9 and World's Greatest Dad

    by series7

    For best movies of the year. And its a tie for best actor between Robin and the Shart.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:41:34 AM CST

    No love

    by series7

    For Black Dynamite? The movie was fucking better the Up in The Air.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:42:52 AM CST

    What surprised me about Ebert

    by series7

    Is that he loved Knowing, but doesn't much care for D9. I loved both those films. I even watched Knowing two times in a row, pissed I skipped it in theaters.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 11:07:18 AM CST

    Bridges was also nominated for The Contender...

    by jedirob

    ...and I think a few other things too if I recall. There is no clear front-runner for now so I guess he could have a good shot. He's great in Crazy Heart and it would be a reward for his body of work as well.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 11:10:31 AM CST

    where the fuck is MOON

    by animas

    MOON kicked the shit out of Avatar.
    Hurt Locker is the best tho, yes.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 11:11:03 AM CST

    The Hurt Locker was good...

    by peter franks

    but as far as I'm concerned, District 9 was the film of the year. With 10 nominations for Best Picture at the Oscars this time, we'll see if even gets the love it deserves with a nod.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 11:34:17 AM CST

    I'm surprised no one's mentioned...

    by wookie1972

    That Hurt Locker was directed by Cameron's ex...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:06:03 PM CST

    JediRob

    by series7

    There is a clear front runner. Its Robin Williams in World's Greatest Dad. Too bad the way it was released doesn't allow it to be nominated.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:18:28 PM CST

    Summit botched Hurt Locker's release just like Astro Boy's

    by feralangel

    Hurt Locker is a box-office flop, as is Astro Boy, and both can thank Summit's crappy marketing and scheduling. Yeah, Hurt Locker might be good, pity nobody watched it. Only Twilight has done well for Summit, DESPITE its bungling. Anyway, I don't really care about critics' opinions anymore. Grew out of that after seeing American Beauty, which critics raved about and was about the most godawful afternoon at the movies I ever spent. So will I ever see Hurt Locker? Take a guess.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 12:24:22 PM CST

    HURT LOCKER BEST PICTURE? WAS IT EVER IN DOUBT?

    by bringingsexyback

    I mean, (500) Days of Summer could've easily taken it if only Zooey dismantled some bombs in addition to being the bomb.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 1:02:58 PM CST

    No love for "Away We Go"?

    by scoobysnack

    I'm stunned that this film has been completely ignored by *everyone* during awards season. Maya Rudolph gave one of the great performances this year, and the script was thoughtful, moving, and very, very funny. AWG is as timely as "Up in the Air" but not as self-indulgent as "(500) Days of Summer," which is incredibly overrated. With AWG's writing and directing pedigree, I'm just shocked.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:15:16 PM CST

    I HOPE....

    by tippida

    Hurt Locked gets Best Picture.
    Katheryn Bigalow gets Best Directress :P
    Sam Rockwell gets best Actor for MOON... "M-O-O-N.. that spells OSCAR"If that happened (and sadly it wont in Rockwells case, The Dude will probably get it, although stranger things have happened *cough*Mickey Rourke*cough*), a little bit of my faith in the Academy would be restored.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:22:05 PM CST

    How come Avatar isn't number one ?

    by trannyformers_apologist

    I thought Avatar was the greatest movie of all time ? How could some no name directors beat "The King Of The World" ?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:23:30 PM CST

    Agreed on Away We Go, ScoobySnack

    by the garbage man

    I loved it, too, and I'm very surprised it's not on any lists. Maybe because it was such a small movie? It seemed have been barely in theaters and in terms of plot and style it was rather unassuming and... quiet, in a way. Hell, I mostly forgot about it myself. Still, it does seem strange for a Mendes film to be treated that way, especially one with some seriously great writing and acting.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:30:52 PM CST

    Does The Hurt Locker even have a chance at the Oscars?

    by bbbbeeeennnn

    I thought oscar campaigns cost around fifty million dollars and Hurt Locker's 16 mill worldwide gross barely covered its production costs. Where will it get the cash?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:39:12 PM CST

    It's still going to be a dull Oscars

    by saber12

    How will Steve Martin make fun of Hurt Locker?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 2:45:44 PM CST

    Yeah I'm gonna be sick of seeing that clip

    by series7

    Of Clooney telling us to pretend that this back pack is your life bull shit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:33:39 PM CST

    Is ebert completely senile?

    by the_ritty

    First off - Hurt Locker was dull and boring. Not bad, just nowhere near as good as everyone said. (Best part - "Hey was that David Morse?") Basterds was Quentin just masturbating on screen AGAIN, Bad Lt was some SHITE!!!! and KNOWING!? That movie was just plain retarded...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 3:42:33 PM CST

    Way to be decisive, New York Times

    by adelai niska

    Rather than pick a best movie, they just made a list of every movie made this year...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 4:14:25 PM CST

    The Hurt Locker hands down

    by centilope

    Excellent acting, direction, script. All worthy of at least a nomination. Bad Lieutenant wasn't a good movie, it was an AWESOME movie, entertaining as hell thanks to Nic Cage's brilliant, batshit insane performance. Time for another Oscar for this guy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 4:32:18 PM CST

    Bridges was robbed in 1993

    by centilope

    He deserved an Oscar for his performance in FEARLESS, a brilliant, and surprisingly not too well known movie made by Peter Weir. I swear to God, that movie is perfect, or damn close at least.
    Brilliant from start to finish.
    If you haven't heard of it until now, do yourself a favour and watch it. You can thank me later.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 4:42:23 PM CST

    The Hurt Locker's Oscar campaign

    by i am_notreal

    could be financed by some of Lionsgate's filthy lucre from the Twilight series. That would be paying it back for sure. But it probably won't matter. Voters will wuss out and go for the more commercially popular Up In the Air for Best Pic. However, giving Bigelow the directing trophy would be enough and they can still do that, SO DO IT Academy!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 5:25:50 PM CST

    The Hurt Locker sounds like a movie similar to

    by estacado1

    SAW. That's why I never bothered to look it up.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 6:12:13 PM CST

    From Left Field

    by cobbio

    I think Neil Blomkamp should get Best Director and Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" should get Best Film.
    Blomkamp did BY FAR the best directing I saw this year. $30 million, are you kidding me? Unbelievable, the work he did with no-name actors and utterly groundbreaking effects, aka no green screens were EVER used. He's the director I'd vote for.
    But "The Hurt Locker" wins Best Film. That story had a pulse-pounding intensity the likes of which I'd never seen in my entire life. Add in wonderful, haunting acting performances, WTF drama, and dirty wartime politics and it's the film I most think about months after I saw it in the theater. It was an amazing experience to watch that film. I think it deserves its due.
    "Avatar," "Up," and a few others were great too. Glad I'm not in the Academy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 6:23:01 PM CST

    Only Jay Knowles listed The Road.

    by breotan

    Guess it's time to drop Jay as a qualified opinion.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 8:06:13 PM CST

    Damn... looks like a lot of critics watched

    by gotilk

    the same masterpiece I did. The Hurt Locker deserves all this attention and I never for a second thought that it would. Avatar is an achievement, maybe the kind not seen since The Jazz Singer (Jolson not Diamond), but The Hurt Locker was just a damned great film overall.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:04:46 PM CST

    Kathryn Bigelow

    by swanstep

    Nothing capable of being nominated is clearly better than Hurt Locker, and Bigelow has a lot of people cheering for her both on quasi-feminist grounds and on geek/genre grounds that, hey, she kicked our asses long ago with Point Break and Near Dark. It's her year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 9:18:16 PM CST

    My Top 5

    by _lizarkeo

    1. Watchmen
    2. (500) Days of Summer
    3. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
    4. An Education
    5. Avatar (gotta see again to be sure!)

    Waiting to see:
    1. Hurt Locker
    2. Moon
    3. Me and Orson Welles
    4. Sherlock Holmes
    5. The Men Who Stare at Goats

    Cheers!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 10:07:27 PM CST

    I'm really happy that it's gotten so many critics awards

    by cherryvalance

    I hope that translate into Oscar glory although it doesn't necessarily. I've been down that road before. So I try not to get my hopes up too much. I hope District 9 at least gets nominated. That looks like a possibility. It's shown up on a several lists and pretty high up on a couple of them.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 10:10:46 PM CST

    PresidentLeprechaun

    by cherryvalance

    Renner could win in an Adrien Brody type scenario. He was a surprise win against veterans. Clooney and Freeman already have Oscars and I can't help but think the Academy'd rather go with someone who doesn't already have one. So at the very least, it'll be Bridges. But I'm still rooting for Renner all the way.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 22, 2009 10:55:43 PM CST

    _Lizarkeo

    by saber12

    Watchmen number one? Really?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 23, 2009 3:02:38 AM CST

    I'm split between Hurt Locker and Avatar at the moment...

    by thewaqman

    I really enjoyed both a lot. With 'The Road' and 'The White Ribbon' behind.

    Reply to Talkback

  • ...they don't stand a chance because it's too intelligent to Academy voters. It's a very important film. I would also, having seen it the other day, apply this to 'The Messenger'. Woody Harrelson for best supporting actor.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 23, 2009 9:14:32 AM CST

    best actor

    by tgmee

    Haven't seen Crazy Heart yet but I'm betting it's Jeff Bridges year. Jeremy Renner will get a welcome to the A list nom.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 23, 2009 7:58:06 PM CST

    Gomorrah

    by henry fool

    Gomorrah was a truly a startling, brilliant film. I think it deserves bot the foreign and best picture oscar for its amazing portrayal of Naples organized crime (the Comorrah). It's one of the few films about the subject of crime and its effects on people living in poverty that takes it on without glorifying the violence. It's the best film I've scene since "City of God", which is one of my favorite films.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Dec 24, 2009 7:55:07 AM CST

    I'm saving A Prophet and Police Adj for next year

    by reflecto

    Also, Imaginarium and A Single Man may not make it onto my year-end list. Fucking family visits taking up my movie-watching t ime.

    Reply to Talkback

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