Looking back, without trying to think to hard about it, these are my
recommended movies from 2009 (titles are in alphabetical order within tiers).

Tier One:

Funny People

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

Julie & Julia (really just Julia, though)

A Serious Man

Up in the Air

Zombieland

Tier Two:

500 Days of Summer

Adventureland

Whip It

And here's a couple I really looked forward to and wanted to like more than I did:

Crazy Heart

Moon

Pictured: Kathryn Bigelow, director of 2009's best film.