If I was a Vodka man, I’d be hard pressed not to drink Absolut Vodka. These guys are marketing in a way that only a filmmaker can truly admire. As a follow up to their sponsorship of a comedy short by Zack Galifianakis (with Tim and Eric of Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!), Absolut has gifted us with a new short film from director Spike Jonze (Were the Wild Things Are, Being John Malkovitch, Adaptation) called “I’m Here.”

The short film has remarkably high production value; the kind that makes you break the tenth commandment. And if that wasn’t enough, it is being presented in a spectacular way. Each day, limited screenings take place in a virtual online theater, making views feel so exclusive that you’re not likely to turn it off half-way through. If there’s any way to get an audience to sit through a half-hour short film, this may be the best way I’ve seen yet…but being Spike Jonze doesn’t hurt either.

Gorilla is not only a collection of some of best, brightest, and most reasonably attractive folks working in the Grand Rapids film production community, but it’s also an assortment of diverse filmmakers with differing cinematic tastes. While I personally lean towards the artistic flare of “G.I. Joe,” the outrageous comedy of “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” or the classic romanticism of “Miss March,”  there are others here who would disagree. Vocally. And that’s what it’s all about; loving film production so much that when you are not making movies your watching them (or animations in Nate Vander Plas’ case). So without further ado, I give you 2009′s top ten films ranked opinionated by Gorilla.

——-

[NATE VANDER PLAS]

5. Up 4. Coraline 3. The Informant! 2. Where the Wild Things Are 1. Avatar

-

[SCOTT BROOKENS]

10. Away We Go/Where the Wild Things Are (draw) 9. State of Play 8.Up in the Air 7. Star Trek 6. Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince 5. District 9 4. 500 Days of Summer 3. Up 2. Inglorious Bastards 1. Avatar

-

[AARON B. SMITH]

5. Avatar (begrudgingly) 4. The Hangover  3. District 9  2. Where the Wild Things Are 1. Inglorious Basterds

-

[ERIC JOHNSON]

10. Avatar 9. Drag Me To Hell 8. Zombieland 7. Adventureland 6. Star Trek 5. An Education 4. Moon 3. Up 2. Inglorious Bastards 1. Hurtlocker

-

[ERIC MACHIELA]

10. Zombieland 9. Adventureland 8. Drag Me To Hell  7. A Serious Man 6. Avatar 5. Inglorious Bastards 4. Star Trek 3. Up 2. Up in the Air 1. Hurtlocker

——

Agree? Disagree? Post your own list and opinions below!