It seems like Roger Ebert has come under fire recently for being too soft on films, but if you look back through his lifetime of reviewing movies he hasn’t changed all that much. Then again, who doesn’t change their opinions as they get older. While some 14-year-olds out there may believe certain blockbusters are their favorite films right now, ten years down the line they may look at those films and wonder “What was I thinking?” People change over time, but the one thing you can be sure of when it comes to Ebert is that no matter what his opinion of a film is, after you get done reading his review you will know exactly why he has come to his conclusion.
So, today when he revealed his top ten films of 2009 along with his top ten independent films of 2009 it gives good reason to take notice. His inclusion of Bad Lieutenant is no surprise considering his love for Werner Herzog. His inclusion of Knowing is another pick that doesn’t catch me off guard considering his theolgical views. Our very own David Frank even discussed Roger’s take on that film earlier this year (read here). To say we are admirers of the man around these parts is an understatement.
With that said, here’s a note from Ebert’s post followed by his list. For the full rundown click here:
The lists are divided into Mainstream Films and Independent Films. This neatly sidesteps two frequent complaints: (1) “You name all those little films most people have never heard of,” and (2) “You pick all blockbusters and ignore the indie pictures.” Which is is my official Top Ten? They both are equal, and every film here is entitled to name itself “One of the Year’s 10 Best!”
I put an asterisk (*) next to the films I am currently considering for my top ten… We’ll see…
Special Jury Prize
- Avatar *
The Top 10 Mainstream Films
- Bad Lieutenant
- Crazy Heart
- An Education *
- The Hurt Locker *
- Inglourious Basterds *
- Knowing
- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire *
- A Serious Man
- Up in the Air
- The White Ribbon *
The Top Ten Independent Films
- Departures
- Disgrace
- Everlasting Moments
- Goodbye Solo
- Julia
- Silent Light
- Sin Nombre
- Skin
- Trucker
- You, the Living
