In Cl’s year end issue, coming out on December 30^th, I will publish what I consider the top ten stories that rocked the Tampa Bay area in the aughts.

But until then, being the cinephile that I am, I’ve always made my own top 10 movie lists, but never had the opportunity to publish one anywhere. This won’t get in the paper, so it’s just me offering up my opinions here. Obviously, I’m basing this list only on films I’ve seen this year. So, there’s no “Up in the Air”, no “Avatar” no “A Single Man”, No “Crazy Heart”, etc.

1) Precious – A fictional story set in 1987 (presumably for some parts of the plot that were more critical then than now) , the film could have set in 2009, and nobody would question the premise. Mo’Nique is an absolute monster. She deserves some award for that performance.

2) Hurt Locker – I’m going to guess that most of you had never heard of Jeremy Renner before this Kathryn Bigelow film was released in the summer. Well, I didn't. It's always exciting in "big" American movies when relatively unknown actors break out- the fact that we aren't familiar with them, frankly makes them more believable. Renner came out of nowhere to star in this extremely suspenseful film about dismantling improvised explosive devices in Iraq. Co-star Anthony Mackie also deserves high praise.

3) Inglorious Basterds – Absolutely the most fun film of the year. Make no mistake about it, Quentin Tarantino’s first really good flick since his legendary 1994 Pulp Fiction. Great cast, though Brad (“Killin’ Nazi’s”) Pitt was more comic relief (though putting him at the top of the cast obviously helped procure funding) than anything else. The film is dominated by European actors that again most American audiences were unaware of. Special props to Melanie Laurant and Christophe Waltz as Colonel Hans Landa. David Bowie’s “Cat People” will never be listened to in the same way again. But I didn’t dig the ending.

4) An Education – One of the surprises of the year. Novelist Nick Hornby was on his game on this one, adapting the story from a memoir written by an English journalist. Great story.

5) Two Lovers – The ending of this film was visceral. I think I felt as bad as Joaquin Pheonix’s character did when Gwyneth Paltrow does what she does. The James Gray directed film deserved a bigger audience, but instead it had its star, Mr. Pheonix, go on shows like David Letterman making a complete buffoon of himself.

6) In the Loop – hyperarticulate British comedy. "Boffo", as Variety would say.

7) The Road – To me, a case of when the movie is actually better than the novel. This Cormac McCarthy novel frankly I thought was a bit overrated, and I found it extremely repetitive towards the end. I didn’t really want to see the film because of that, but so glad I did. A classic.

8) Invictus – Seriously inspiring. First half is way better than the 2^nd (the rugby game is exciting, but felt almost like it was in real time. It goes on way too long).

Actually, I think I'll end it there. Yes, I liked the Coen Brothers( A Serious Man) latest and some others, but not great enough to put on my list. Thanks for indulging me.

This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2009.