I have to admit, 2009 was a particularly difficult year to pick the 10 best films of the year. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I am sure a convincing argument could be made for any one of these 10 films could be at the top of this list. But the overall quality was so good, I couldn't find one that stood clearly head and shoulders above the rest.
I particularly like it when there is no clear favorite. Then it paves the way for lesser-known films like "Slumdog Millionaire" to get some well-deserved recognition. There were slightly fewer films released in 2009 than in previous years, especially in the last quarter of the year when studios release the films they think have a chance at prestigious awards. That could have been a sign of a struggling economy in the wake of the economic crash of 2008. Perhaps studios found it difficult to secure funding for releases. But the overall quality wasn't diminished.
If you haven't seen many of these films, give them a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.
10. Inglorious Basterds -- This is a fun if sometimes gruesome rewriting of World War II history in which a small team of American soldiers ruthlessly go through some of Adolph Hitler's most decorated units. It has that unique Quentin Tarantino style.
9. Broken Embraces -- Pedro Almodova produces this film noirsh feature in which Penelope Cruz stars as an aspiring actress faced with staying with her meal-ticket husband or pursue love with the director she adores. Her situation is further complicated when the director is involved in a car accident and loses his sight.
8. The Damned United -- This is not your typical sports story in which a soccer team that has no chance of winning a championship manages to pull off the impossible. It is quite the opposite, detailing the rough 44-day reign of Brian Cloughas manager of English soccer club Leeds United. This is a refreshing departure from typical sports movies.
7. The Young Victoria -- England's Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt), rises to the throne at too young an age and is forced to swim with sharks. This illustrates her first few turbulent years on the throne and how she manages to thrive with the help and love of Prince Albert.
6. The Road -- Based on the novel of the same title by Cormac McCarthy, "The Road" takes us to a post-apocalyptic setting in which a man does everything he can to see that his son survives the harsh elements. The rapport between the nameless father (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is outstanding.
5. Bright Star -- How fast the flame of poet John Keats was burned out because of his tuberculosis. The film illustrates the brief but powerful romance between Keats and Fanny Brawne. Abbie Cornish as Brawne really established herself as an upcoming star.
4. The Stoning of Soraya M. -- The film takes place in 1980s Iran after the clerics took control of the country. A woman is accused of infidelity when she will not grant her husband a divorce. The film is disturbing, but riveting.
3. The Messenger -- Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson play Marines who are responsible for informing families when their loved ones have been killed in combat. Their characters are a study in contrasts, as one plays it by the book and the other has a more instinctive approach. This film handles the subject matter deftly and expertly.
2. Up In The Air -- George Clooney plays a corporate guy who is happy collecting frequent-flyer miles while doing his job and keeping everyone around him at an arms distance. This is until he meets a woman much like himself, who could possibly put him in a deliriously happy tailspin. Crafted superbly with not a wasted word of dialogue.
1. The Hurt Locker -- Jeremy Renner plays Staff Sgt. William James, a demolitions expert sent to diffuse bombs in Iraq. He's unorthodox and marches to his own beat, but he is so good at what he does, he can afford to do it that way. With this film we see how good a director Kathryn Bigelow is.
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