Our Top Pick for Best Film of 2009

ARMAND: I was rooting for Inglourious Basterds, then A Serious Man, but now, after seeing this French-made film twice, I have a new winner for the best film of 2009: Jacques Audiard's A Prophet. I can't say the guy's name.

OLIVER: "[Laughing loudly] That's 'cause he's French!"

ARMAND: Did I over-hype this movie when I told you it was the best film of 2009?

OLIVER: "No, not at all."

ARMAND: I was bugging you for over a month while I was waiting for it to arrive on home video. I kept saying, "It's the best, man. I'm serious."

But why should we consider this movie "the best of the 2009?" (Maybe I'm biased because I love prison dramas and mafia stories.)

OLIVER: "No, no, no. I honestly believe this movie is truly ground-breaking. There's no way this film could have been made anywhere else. The settings are perfect. If they tried to make this movie in America, it wouldn't have the same impact that it had on me. That's what really makes this movie so beautiful. It's an unbelievable journey. It's an experience - something you need to watch 'cause it'll never be done again.

To sum it all up...this is the most 'gangsta-shit' that's ever been put onto film. Nothing comes close. You think Scarface (1983) is gangsta? Let me tell you something: Scarface is like The Lion King (1994) compared to A Prophet."

ARMAND: Wow. That's - So...for you...this is better than every other gangster movie you've ever seen?

OLIVER: "Yeah."

ARMAND: That's a quick judgment. The Godfather (1972), Goodfellas (1990), Pulp Fiction (1994) - These are top-tier films. And now, A Prophet joins the party.

And you know, it's so much more than a "prison drama" or a "gangster picture" - to call it such is simply unjust. Like you said, "it's an unbelievable journey." The protagonist's journey is unbelievable, unforgettable.

OLIVER: "I see what you're saying; you're right. It's more than [a gangster picture]."

ARMAND: It's about evolution or transformation, not crime or punishment. It's profound; like Al Pacino's character in the Godfather films.

OLIVER: "I thought the biggest crime in Oscar history was Kevin Spacey winning the 'Best Actor' award over Denzel Washington in The Hurricane (1999). The fact that A Prophet didn't win - either for 'Best Foreign Language Film' or for 'Best Picture' - is a travesty. Period."

ARMAND: Agreed.

OLIVER: "And anyone who thinks different doesn't know their ass from their elbow. What do yousay to that, people?"

ARMAND: Well...I can tell you what the people will say to that: they'll say, "Wait a minute. A Prophet? That's a French film? Is it in English? Do I have to read the subtitles?"

And the answer is "Yes, it's French...so you have to read the subtitles. But hey, it's worth it." It's well worth your time.

OLIVER: "When my main man, my partner-in-crime, Armand, told me that [A Prophet] was his favorite movie of 2009...some flick from some Frenchie-foo mo-fo...I said, 'That's it. He's lost it.' How can a French movie be gangsta - and on top of that, how can it be the best movie of 2009, when its competing with Inglouroius Basterds?

Believe me, folks. I said, 'There's no way this movie's gonna be that good.' But damn it...it was and it is."

ARMAND: I was amazed when I saw it, and moreover, I was amazed that you were amazed.

OLIVER: "Ladies and gentlemen: If you see one foreign movie, see A Prophet."

ARMAND: Definitely. This is the best film - domestic or foreign - of 2009. Time will tell if it surpasses some of the greatest films of its genre.

A Disagreement Over A Serious Man

ARMAND: Well, for starters, A Serious Man was my favorite film of 2009 (until I saw A Prophet (2009) about a month ago). (We're gonna post somethin' on that next week, by the way.)

Don't get me wrong: I loved District 9, and of course, Inglourious Basterds, but the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man affected me in so many different ways: I laughed, I winced, but mostly, I was altogether perplexed.

I've seen A Serious Man four or five times now...and I'm still not sure why I like it so much. Like I said...I was "altogether perplexed" (but that's a good thing). I just can't put my finger on it.

Now...I know you don't feel the same way about this film. But how do you feel about this movie?

OLIVER: "You know...in many ways, I feel the same way you do. This movie does a lot of things to you. There are many scenes that were very painful. I mean...many scenes are just painful to watch because the performances are so realistic. There's times you wanna laugh; times you wanna cry. You're watching the screen and you're saying 'What the f---?'"

ARMAND: I remember you saying that you liked the performances. The performances are authentic, and yes, painful.

OLIVER: "You watch this man's life unravel and you think, 'Man, when is this gonna end?' But then again, that's the Coen Brothers. They try and get into the cerebral cortex of your brain...and tap-dance like Sammy Davis, Jr. on crack."

ARMAND: I didn't know Sammy Davis, Jr. was famous for tap-dancing.

[Moments later.] It's funny that you and I don't agree on which Coen Brothers movies are better than others.

OLIVER: "Yeah. You like this one more than I do."

ARMAND: You didn't hate though-

OLIVER: "No, I didn't hate this movie - which is what people might think. But if I had to give it a rating, I'd give it two and a half stars - strictly because of the performances and the writing. I mean...the dialog is amazing."

ARMAND: I never really find reality in the Coens' work. It's always a skewed reality. This one's hard to recommend.

OLIVER: "I'd recommend it to anyone over the age of 25 - 25 and up."

ARMAND: I'm 25.

OLIVER: "If you know the Coen Brothers and you're a fan of their work, you'll love this movie, but it may not be one of your favorites."

ARMAND: Well, like I said, it's one of my favorites...even if I can't explain why. [After a long pause.] Wow. We're gettin' kind-of serious here. But that's the name of the movie.

OLIVER: "No. That's cool. It's a serious movie. And the subject-matter is serious."

ARMAND: What was your biggest gripe about it? Why two and a half stars?

OLIVER: "The ending. I got so caught up, or involved in this man's life and in his family's lives, that I wanted a conclusion."

ARMAND: Don't give anything away now-

OLIVER: "I wanted a more satisfactory conclusion. I mean...I felt like a man who just had sex with Halle Berry for an hour and forty minutes, but I didn't get my 'fortune cookie' at the end of the 'experience' (if you know what I mean)."

ARMAND: Well...I...kind-of-sort-of know what you mean...but here's where you and I disagree: I loved the ending.

OLIVER: "I will say this: some people will love the ending - but I'm not one of them."

ARMAND: This one will divide audiences.

Well...we both loved the performances and the dialog, but being a thinking man's movie, it's difficult to recommend A Serious Man to everyone.

Who is Salt?

ARMAND: I don't know what to say about Salt (2010), but I know I liked it. What'd you like about it?

OLIVER: "Everything. I liked what you said after we saw it - you said you had 'no idea what was gonna happen.'"

ARMAND: I think that's the movie's biggest strength. It was never predictable or clichéd.

OLIVER: Going into this picture...I didn't have high expectations. It was just business - just another movie with my trusted com-padre, Armand. But I was surprised, you know?

ARMAND: It didn't have any humorous scenes or one-liners...but it didn't need 'em. It was too good for cheap-shots.

OLIVER: "It was an action movie with intelligence and meaning. It made you think. And of course, lookin' at Angelina Jolie's lips is always a plus. You know...this movie makes Angelina Jolie the first, legitimate, female action star. First, she was in Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), then Wanted (2008) and now this...and I'd like to see her in the genre for the next five to eight years.

ARMAND: I liked the practical effects. I'm almost tired of computer-generated special effects. They look too fake and the effects in Salt were very convincing.

OLIVER: "There was a really cool 'gadget element' to the film. The 'spider thing' was cool."

ARMAND: I see what you're saying. Was the action ever repetitive for you?

OLIVER: "Not at all."

ARMAND: I was too busy guessing, trying to figure out Salt's true intentions, so I didn't find it repetitive either. Also, the visuals were beautiful and the sound was top-notch. You could actually see the action and the sound was never overblown.

OLIVER: "I liked seeing the German actor from Inglourious Basterds (2009) - you know; the guy who gets his Nazi balls blown off in that awesome basement scene."

"And you know what else I liked about it? They didn't try to 'sexify' Angelina."

ARMAND: Yeah, she wasn't just a piece of meat in this movie.

OLIVER: "That's true. She's a real, strong female character - like Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill (2004)."

ARMAND: Definitely. In fact, Salt kind-of, sort-of reminded me of Jodie Foster's character in The Silence of the Lambs (1990). We need more characters like Clarice Starling and Salt.

OLIVER: "And you know...I'm gonna keep an eye on Kurt Wimmer, the screenwriter."

ARMAND: That's a good idea. Wimmer wrote a great script; we need to keep an eye on him. Just like William Monahan, who wrote The Departed (2006) and Body of Lies (2008). Great writers deserve our patronage.

Should everybody see it?

OLIVER: "Yes. Absolutely. Everybody should see this film."

ARMAND: Well...I think...if you're looking for a serious action movie and a deadly leading-lady, then you'll probably enjoy Salt.

What the hell is an "Inception"?

ARMAND: An "inception" is a start, a beginning, a commencement. And now, Inception (2010) is Christopher Nolan's most complicated, but also his most rewarding film.

OLIVER: "Well...I'm not as eloquent as my esteemed colleague, Armand. But I'll say this: I'm gonna keep it 'gangsta' and say, 'This movie [Inception] was the shit.'"

ARMAND: [Laughing] Okay...but what do you mean by that? I mean...I said it was his "most complicated," but also his "most rewarding film." What do you think?

OLIVER: "Well...when I say 'the shit,' that means something very simple. You can't go wrong watching this film. For the first time, in a long time, you get to see a movie that has a perfect cast, no wasted scenes, and an excellent pace. The movie was two and a half hours and it felt short to me - 'cause it felt like an hour. And you know very well, my friend, that The Dark Knight (2008) was, and is, Christopher Nolan's finest film. But...when I say this movie is 'the shit,' it's one hell-of-a-compliment."

ARMAND: Did you think it was Nolan's most complicated film?

OLIVER: "Okay...on this level, my sexy friend, I agree with you - 100 percent. Some of Nolan's films are very complicated. Memento (2000) was one of the most underrated films that year, and of his career, and it was complicated. But Inception just blows that out of the water. And I would even dare you, or anyone else out there for that matter, to find something more complicated."

ARMAND: Okay. I see what you're saying. Did you think it was his most rewarding film?

OLIVER: "No. That title belongs to The Dark Knight."

ARMAND: I was always playing "catch-up" while watching the movie. You and I saw a late showing, and I was tired, but a lesser movie would have put me to sleep. I mean...I was always trying to figure out what I was seeing and I was constantly making mental notes.

OLIVER: "Yeah; me too."

ARMAND: Should everybody see it?

OLIVER: "Oh, boy. [Thinking] Once again, my well-educated and esteemed colleague, Armand, has thrown me a real doozy. I'm gonna say...yes, because I want everyone to form their own opinion of this film. It warrants multiple viewings. You gotta form your own opinion, you know what I mean?"

ARMAND: Yeah; definitely. Blink and you'll miss something.

Okay. Let's switch gears, Oliver. Let's list Nolan's films, starting with his best film at the top of the list.

OLIVER: "Okay...here goes:

1. The Dark Knight (and hopefully it's dismissed to the number-two spot after his next Batman film)
2A. Inception
2B. Batman Begins
3. The Prestige
4. Insomnia
5. Memento
6. Following

ARMAND: Nice. I agree.

See this movie, folks. Oliver and I give Inception our highest recommendation.