By2009 proved to be a big year for film, both blockbuster and independent. James Cameron made a triumphant return to the cineplex with “Avatar,” and J.J. Abrams made “Star Trek” cool again, all while indie film festival attendance grew more than ever. With thousands of films released every year, lists like these can’t possibly be comprehensive. And as subjective an art form as film is, most of you are bound to find flaws anyway. So, with all the qualifiers out of the way, let’s take a look at the very best that 2009 had to offer:
10. Tyson (James Toback)
The Baddest Man on the Planet bares his soul, and every minute is riveting. Whether you love him or hate him, “Tyson” will give you a new perspective on one of the most polarizing athletes in history.
9. Silent Light (Carlos Reygadas)
A beautiful and heart-wrenching film about the tropes of love and lust. Alexis Zabe’s breathtaking cinematography accents the poignancy and drama in the excellent performances by actual residents of the Mennonite community.
8. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Werner Herzog)
Both Nicolas Cage and Werner Herzog are at their most bizarre and nonsensical in this hilarious tale of a good police lieutenant turned bad by the gnawing vice of addiction.
7. An Education (Lone Scherfig)
Carey Mulligan’s powerhouse performance anchors the brilliant ensemble cast in this gem of a coming-of-age drama.
6. Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson)
Wes Anderson’s brilliant return to form. His adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book is funny, endearing, witty, and incredibly creative. His best movie since “The Royal Tenenbaums” and the best animated film of the year.
5. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)
Tarantino pulls off the unthinkable — he makes a Tarantino movie out of the Holocaust…and it’s brilliant.
4. The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke)
A grim, gorgeous, gripping drama about the violence and malice that overtake a small German town as World War I approaches. Haneke’s best film to date.
3. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)
The psychology, drama, hate, fear, brotherhood, and addiction of war has rarely been captured with such authenticity.
2. A Serious Man (Coen bothers)
The Coens score another gem with this hilarious Job allegory that explores deep existential questions through Joel and Ethan’s unique style of comedy and sadism.
1. Goodbye Solo (Ramin Bahrani)
It’s beyond neo-realism. Bahrani’s work feels more real than, well… reality. It’s that good. Roger Ebert was right on the mark when anointed Bahrani, “the new great American director.”
