WWW 475 Top Films of 2009

·1 hr 58 min·5 clips

Emmet argues the 2009 Star Trek reboot revitalized the franchise by making it feel big and impactful for the first time.

In episode 475 of What We've Watched Podcast, hosts Chris and Emmet wrap up their year-long project of ranking the top five films for each year of the 2000s, focusing on 2009. They open by reflecting on the series' timeline, noting it started in early 2025 with episode 420. Chris shares that many 2009 films he liked were seen years later, while Emmet saw most at release. The hosts then reveal their top five lists, with Emmet having a tie for fifth place between The Brothers Bloom and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Chris places Star Trek at number five, praising its reboot for making the franchise feel important again despite disagreements with some choices. Both hosts rank Watchmen at number four, critiquing Zack Snyder's changes but admiring its visual style and world-building. Emmet's number three is Fantastic Mr. Fox, a Wes Anderson stop-motion film he finds clever and fun, while Chris's three is Drag Me to Hell, celebrating Sam Raimi's return to horror-comedy. For number two, Chris picks Moon, a sci-fi film starring Sam Rockwell, and Emmet chooses Inglourious Basterds, noting it marked a new level for Tarantino. Chris's number one is The Road, a bleak post-apocalyptic film he praises for its atmosphere, while Emmet's is implied but not stated. Throughout, they discuss themes like franchise reboots, director styles, and actor retirements, with tangents on films like Warcraft and explorers.

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