The Princess and the Frog [2009] It's a return to classic Disney animation, and it feels right at home. While it might not quite have the same magic as the top tier Disney films, it is a solid entry. There is a feeling of familiarity while watching this that makes you smile. It may not be the best film of the year, but it's certainly better than most of the computer animated drivel that gets pumped out and it makes you yearn for more of this animation style.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Secret of Kells [2009] The film that came out of no where to get nominated for an Oscar for best animated feature amongst a tough crowd. The Irish film tells the story of a boy who is confined within the walls of his city in the ninth century and is exposed to the magical powers of the Book of Kells. It is a movie that is deeply rooted in fantasy, and one that I could never get into. The highlight was the beautiful use of classic 2D animation. It was a cute story, but it never really dug in emotionally.
Rating: 3/5
The Secret in Their Eyes [2009] The surprise winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar is also the rightful one. The Argentinean film, about a federal justice agent haunted by a case he let slip through his fingers, is gripping and manages to make what could have been a tired plot exciting and unexpected. As I watched, I at first thought it was a run of the mill crime drama, only to have the momentum continually build and draw me in. It's innovative approach and solid acting culminate in what is a solid crime drama.
Rating: 4/5
The Milk of Sorrow [2009] 'The Milk of Sorrow' is a brutally harsh examination the aftermath of Peru's violent period of the 80's and early 90's, especially dealing with women who were frequently raped at the hands of soldiers during the Maoist uprising. The children born as a result of these rapes, were believed to receive the trauma and grief of their mothers through their breast milk. Fausta(Magaly Solier), the lead in this film, is one of these children. Solier gives a great performance in a sensitive role. For the most part the film is an unrelenting barrage of bleakness, but given the theme, its hard to expect anything else. It's hard to enjoy a film that is so sad, and so disturbing, especially when there is little reprieve, but it is none the less successful telling a story that is that unfortunate and it deserves praise for that.
Rating: 3/5