Here Are My Best Movies of 2009

Here's the list of the best movies I saw in 2009 (and three that would be on the list if I'd seen them). There's no order to this, though if I had to pick a "best," it would be between "Everlasting Moments" and "Up in the Air" which share a strong common trait: great storytelling. Most of these movies involve good stories at the top of their list of accomplishments.

Here's the list:

• “Defiance” (I just love Daniel Craig’s work; he’s the best Bond and he’s great here in Edward Zwick’s fine film)
• “An Education” (Carey Mulligan’s coming out party)
• “Julie & Julia” (Merle Streep is marvelous)
• “Departures” (Yojiro Takita makes something beautiful—and funny—of death)
• “The Blind Side” (Sandra Bullock’s movie; thoroughly enjoyable)
• “Food Inc.” (Helped make me a vegetarian; you may never want to eat again)
• “State of Play” (OK, I’m a sucker for newspaper movies)
• “Star Trek” (Best one yet)
• “Last Chance Harvey” (Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson in an old-fashioned love story)
• “Avatar” (James Cameron is a technology genius; and, hey, I liked the story: Tarzan and Jane in blue paint)
• “The Informant” (Matt Damon is watchable, even if he’s reading the phone book)
• “Everlasting Moments” (Swede Jan Troell is a master filmmaker; simply a great story with Maria Heiskanen heartbreaking in the lead role)
• “Up in the Air” (Fine storytelling; intelligent and adult)

“Invictus,” “Me and Orson Welles” (great book!) and “Broken Embraces” would be on the list if I’d seen them.