10: "9" directed by Shane Acker
Based on the 2005 Oscar nominated short of the same name, Shane Acker gets the financial and namesake support of Tim Burton for this feature length computer animated film more aimed at teenagers and adults than any typical American family. This dark and gritty post-apocalyptic film is most visually stunning among everything else.
9. "Adventureland" directed by Greg Mottola
While not a straight up comedy like Greg Mottola's previous film, "Superbad" this is all and all a better movie. While it's nostalgic look back at the 1980's, it's also a nostalgic look at growing up in general for any generation.
8. "Coraline" directed by Henry Selick
Stop motion is a far more impressive medium than CG, and Henry Selick's (Nightmare Before Christmas) Coraline is a prime example of this statement.
7. "Bruno" directed by Larry Charles
Sacha Baron Cohen is a genius and more daring than any other comedian! Who else would risk their life in real life situations and wave their wang in front of the camera? The brilliance isn't in the wang waving but in the expose of real life people's ignorance and intolerance. More than half the time we're laughing AT the people and with Cohen.
6. "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" directed by Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson (The Royal Tennenbaums) has a very distinct style and he has successfully combined that with the world of Roald Dahl (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory). If films were tangible artwork for sale, you'd find this one on Etsy.com. While not the slick stop motion style of "Coraline" or "Corpse Bride" of recent years, this film was purposely done to showcase the handmade aspect of the medium reminiscent to the stop motion TV specials of the 1960's (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer). Some hipsters have grown up and have kids, this is the film the whole hipster family can love for years to come!
5. "Where The Wild Things Are" directed by Spike Jonze
I stand by my previous statement, this is a film that appeals as much to adults and teenagers in the know as much as it does to kids. This is Spike Jonze's (Being John Malkovich) long awaited return to film after a 7 year gap since 2002's Adaptation. In this adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved childrens' book, Spike has created a surreal but real world inhabited by Jim Henson Creature shop animatronics with CG facial features. This is one that kids of today will be proud of enjoying when they're teenagers. (Think merchandise boost 10 years from now ala Nightmare Before Christmas)
4. "Food Inc" directed by Robert Kenner
I urge every consumer of food to watch this film. Open up your mind before you open up your mouth. The food industry is responsible for some of America's biggest health problems including obesity and diabetes most of which affect the majority of children who don't really have a say in what is fed to them.
3. "Capitalism: A Love Story" directed by Michael Moore
This film in my opinion is Michael Moore's best film. It's at times funny, depressing, and enraging. Say what you will about the outspoken man himself, but the content of this film about America's obsession with corporations and their greed is too powerful to pass up.
2. "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil" directed by Sacha Gersavi
This rock documentary is the story of a once successful metal band whose coherts including Metallica, Anthrax, and Pantera went onto superstardom while they went into obsecurity. This film is both hilarious and sad with a happy ending including a real life comeback as a result of this film.
1. "The Cove" directed by Louie Psihoyos
This should win best documentary for every awards show out there. Not is it only the best documentary of the year, I'd say it's the best film of the year. A group of activists risk their lives in Japan to expose the slaughter of thousands of dolphins as a result of the dolphin entertainment industry including places like Sea World and dolphin swim resorts. (Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ is also a participant in these kind of "shows") Richard O'Barry, the man responsible for the whole dolphin training industry as a result of his work on the "Flipper" TV show tries to bring down the very industry he created. This film exposes Japan's fisherman' inhumanity at its worst through hidden hi-def cameras.
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