The 49 Films That Will Define 2009

Revolutionaries, robots, mutants... Monsters, aliens, in-betweeny human-aliens... From January to December and, umm, a little bit beyond... All the movies you'll be talking about in the final year of the noughties...

Che: The Argentine/The Guerrilla (Director: Steven Soderbergh, ETA: Jan/Feb)
What is it? Two-part biopic of revolutionary-cum-poster boy Che Guevara, starring Benicio Del Toro
Why we’re excited: Because this isn’t Ocean’s Fourteen, and because the last time Soderbergh strayed into such weighty territory he gave us Traffic. And the buzz around Del Toro is big – he picked up best actor at last year’s Cannes for the role.

[page-break]

Genova (Director: Michael Winterbottom, ETA: 27th March)
What is it? Disquieting drama about a father who moves his two daughters to Italy following the death of their mother.
Why we’re excited: There's something charged and classically continental in the mix of emotional distance, emerging sexuality and glimpses of the supernatural (see Don't Look Now ), and if anyone can pull off a classic modern-day Euro art film it’s Winterbottom.

[page-break]

Untitled Bruno Project (Director: Unknown, ETA: 29th May)
What is it? Sascha Baron Cohen’s latest satirical shock-doc, this time in the guise of fey fashionista Bruno.
Why we’re excited: Because after the blunt disappointment of the Ali G movie, Borat was an unexpected sensation, and because the approach of Bruno has been heralded by a rippling wave of semi-scandalous news stories – Bruno at the Prop 8 rally, Bruno at the Milan fashion show – which makes us more eager than ever to see the excruciating social humiliation play out.

[page-break]

2012 (Director: Roland Emmerich, ETA: 10th July)
What is it? End-of-the-world blockbuster set at the close of the Mayan calendar.
Why we’re excited: Because if there’s one thing that Roland Emmerich does well, it’s the apocalypse. From the trailer and description is sounds a lot like The Day After Tomorrow Mark II, but who cares? Big waves are awesome, and this time it’s got John Cusack in.

[page-break]

Chasing Ghosts: Beyond The Arcade (Director: Lincoln Ruchti, ETA: 2009)
What is it? Breathless, bittersweet doc on '80s videogame heroes. Think Dogtown And Z-Boys for the arcade-gaming generation.
Why we’re excited: Because, despite a tendency to sneer in places, Ruchti absolutely nails the likable naivety and sense of infinite possibility that propelled the elite gamers of the day. It's King Of Kong , cubed. Flynn would love it.

So which of those are you most excited about? And tell us which movie we missed. What should have been number 50?