2009 has been a relatively good year for film. Action, adventure, comedy, drama, horror, and sci-fi have each been duly and honorably represented. And with the Academy’s recent announcement that the number of Best Picture noms has been increased from five to 10, under-appreciated films from the first half of the year may just have a shot at glory. So, as of the second week of July, here are the best films of 2009…so far.

1. The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow’s spellbinding thriller is the first Iraq War film to deliver a penetrating, gripping study of heroism without falling into the trappings of either nationalism or cynical condescension.

The psychology, drama, hate, fear, brotherhood, and addiction of war has rarely been captured with such authenticity.

This gem is not only Bigelow’s best effort to date, but the best war film since Terry Malick’s 1998 masterpiece, “The Thin Red Line.”

2. The girlfriend Experience
A timely and poignant indictment of unfettered capitalism.

Steven Soderbergh presents a virtuoso, non-linear telling of this tale of depression, greed, consumerism, and the longing for truth and meaning inherent in all relationship endeavors.

Adult film star, Sasha Grey, proves she can carry a Hollywood production and will likely show up in many more in the coming years.

3. Up
Disney/Pixar weaves a touching tale of love, loss, adventure, peril, redemption, and friendship that holds up against any of the studio’s previous work.

One of the few movies that will make you laugh and cry within the first five minutes.

The master storytellers at Pixar find a way to make the elderly appeal to children without sacrificing sophistication, subtlety, or pacing.  Though it may lose a little steam towards the end, its opening scenes are strong enough to vault this one into the pantheon.

4. Star Trek

Finally, a reboot worth watching.  J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” typifies what it means to reboot an ailing franchise. It’s smart, action-packed, and full of juicy summer fare for both die-hard loyalists and those discovering “Trek” for the first time.

Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto anchor this, the prime example of the power of perfect casting.

It could have been a disaster, but if you can handle an unhealthy dosage of lens flare, there’s little else to dislike.

5. Tyson – James Toback’s fascinating study of The Baddest Man on the Planet is not the expose some had hoped for. Instead, it’s a subtle but gripping revelation of true nature of Mike Tyson — a smart, caring, but terrified and broken child that’s just as human as you or me.

It also revisits Tyson’s glory days when no other fighter could touch him, and proves that in his prime, he was the greatest that ever lived–including Ali.  Tyson, Toback’s best film, is the best documentary of the year, so far.

Honorable mentions: Drag Me to Hell, Sugar, Sin Nombre, The Great Buck Howard, Home, Earth, Five Minutes of Heaven