While some have called 2009 as not being so great in terms of quality films, there have been others who think the year was a very good year for films from start to finish. Not all the best films of 2009 came out during the so-called “awards season” from October thru December. Some of the worst films, in my opinion, were released very late in the year and clearly done so to try and force its way into award contention. While the year of 2009 saw some very good films come out early in the year and, to my surprise, even during the popcorn and brainless season of the summer blockbusters.

My list consists of the 10 films I saw in 2009 which I believe to be the best of all them. Some people will probably agree with me on and some won’t. Some of my picks may have been little seen outside of independent arthouse theaters or film festivals but it doesn’t diminish just how much I think it deserves inclusion in a “best of” list. In the end, I thought these films doesn’t just celebrate what’s great about films but also celebrating those filmmakers who show that when given room to breathe and do things their way magic can still happen.

10. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans (dir. Werner Herzog)

9. The Messenger (dir. Oren Moverman)

8. Collapse (dir. Chris Smith)

7. Moon (dir. Duncan Jones)

6. Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (dir. Uli Edel)

5. Avatar (dir. James Cameron)

4. Up In The Air (dir. Jason Reitman)

3. District 9 (dir. Neill Blomkamp)

2. Inglourious Basterds (dir. Quentin Tarantino

1. The Hurt Locker (dir. Kathryn Bigelow)