Top 10 Films of 2009 (UK)

So, it's almost halfway through January so I'm probably overdue with my list of the 10 best films out of the 54 I saw in 2009.

As for how I'm classifying "best", well, that's a bit hazy to be honest. After all, a film can be artistically superb but not be as entertaining as a no-brain summer blockbuster, and of course my general mood both when watching a film and now when I look back on it can have a big effect on my opinion. In general I've simply asked myself "Which films would I most like to watch again?" - but there are some exceptions to that.

One slightly confusing aspect to the list - this list is based purely on films released in the UK during 2009, hence the presence of some of last year's Oscar contenders (and the potential absence of some of this year's likely nominees). In a few months I will hopefully have caught up with the rest of the US 2009 releases and can post a second top 10 that will match up with the Oscars better.

Anyway, on to the list:

1. District 9
2. Watchmen
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Star Trek
5. Revolutionary Road
6. Moon
7. The Wrestler
8. The Hangover
9. Frost/Nixon
10. Inglourious Basterds

Honourable Mention: In The Loop - a film I didn't review as I saw it on Blu-Ray, made it to number 11 on my list.

As you can tell, I like my sci-fi films. My review of Watchmen may not have indicated that I liked it as much as it's number 2 position implies, but a second viewing left me with a much improved opinion. The Hangover clinging on in number 8 may not hold up to a second viewing, however...

And while I'm at it, here's my list of the Top (Bottom) 5 Worst Films of 2009:

1. Repo! The Genetic Opera
2. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
3. Where The Wild Things Are
4. The Spirit
5. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

It's actually debatable whether or not Repo! counts as it never actually got a real cinema release, only a special one-off screening I had the misfortune of attending. In which case, G.I. Joe would be worst film and the crushingly dull A Christmas Carol would slot in at number 5.