2009 was a good year for film and an even better one for mainstream film. It’s rare that we get movies that have equal parts depth and action. In fact only a few films on my list were released in the fall. This has to be some sort of record. I for one hope this trend continues. Because as much as I love a nice hard drama, I love explosions more. Well…unless they’re in a Michael Bay movie.

1. Inglorious Basterds Tarantino’s WW2 epic was a film I’d been hoping to see for 10 years and it was well worth the wait. Here’s hoping he returns to that world.

2. Avatar 2001, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, The Matrix and now…Avatar. Films that fixate the 10 year old in all of us. Welcome back Mr. Cameron.

3. The Hurt Locker Kathryn Bigelow has made the only film about Iraq worth seeing. It’s only political agenda is to put you right in the middle of the action.

4. Up in the Air Jason Reitman’s best work so far. It’s timely, funny, hard hitting, and easy to connect with. Also features Clonney’s best performance.

5. District 9 You know a film is good when you feel for creatures that are visually disgusting. Thanks to Peter Jackson for finding Director Neill Blomkamp.

6. Up and The Fantastic Mr. Fox 2009 was a great year for animated work as Pixar continues it streak and Wes Anderson found his niche with stop-motion.

7. Star Trek If only Lucas had time traveled though a black hole and seen this film before he wrote the script to The Phantom Menace…

8. Public Enemies Mann’s film is my kind of biopic. No cheesy back story or overdone clichés. We learn who Dillinger is through the sound of his Tommy gun.

9. The Brothers Bloom Rian Johnson’s 2nd film may be my favorite con movie. It’s both fun and moving. I hope it finds the audience it deserves on DVD.

10. Knowing This Alex Proyas film features grand Sci-Fi ideas and top notch suspense scenes that elevate it above the typical Nic Cage hair piece flick.

Honorable Mentions

Moon, 500 Days of Summer, An Education, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, A Serious Man, Drag Me to Hell, Adventureland, Where the Wild Things Are, and Away we Go.

Yet Unseen

In the Loop, Broken Embraces, The Lovely Bones, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The Princess and the Frog, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.