Ten best films of the year 2009

Might as well get it out now, since I do this annually. Here we go.

1. UP IN THE AIR

dir. Jason Reitman (USA, Paramount Pictures)


2. STILL WALKING
dir. Hirokazu Koreeda (Japan, IFC Films)


3. IN THE LOOP
dir. Armando Iannucci (UK, IFC Films)


4. FANTASTIC MR. FOX
dir. Wes Anderson (USA, 20th Centry Fox)


5. AN EDUCATION
dir. Lone Scherfig (UK, Sony Picture Classics)


6. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
dir. Quentin Tarantino (USA/Germany, Universal Studios/Weinstein Company)


7. THE HURT LOCKER
dir. Kathryn Bigelow (USA, Summit Entertainment)


8. UP
dirs. Pete Docter & Bob Peterson (USA, Pixar Studios/Walt Disney Pictures)


9. SUMMER HOURS
dir. Olivier Assayas (France, IFC Films)


10. DISTRICT 9
dir. Neill Blomkamp (USA, TriStar Pictures)

IFC Films makes three appearances and Jason Reitman tops my list for the second time since 2007 (JUNO). THANK YOU FOR SMOKING retroactively makes the top ten for films released in 2005. Where were Fox Searchlight and Focus Features this year? Distributing pseudo-indie-hipster-pandering clichés like (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and AWAY WE GO? Sure.

5 Least favorite: Bruno, Watchmen, Humpday, Invictus, Antichrist -- in that order.

Soon, the 2010 releases I highly anticipate!