Everybody seems to be out with their Top Ten. This year it's a two-fer. You can go with "Top Ten of 2009" or "Top Ten of the Decade."
I say go for the Top Ten of the Last Ten. Now, keep in mind that virtually everybody is going to see this differently and no one will agree. That's the fun. My criteria, in scanning the films from the past decade, was not about what was "important" or "critically acclaimed" or even "big box office." I just asked myself which films I enjoyed watching the most and, if a friend was over and wanted to see one of them again on the home theater's big screen, could I truly enjoy seeing it again?
I even ranked them, although that was a little bit harder. And, I'll state this in advance, I know you're going to freak out when you get to #1 but, like I say, this is subjective, it's my list, and sometimes it's just about how a movie hits you. That's the magic. The films are different. We're different. Everybody likes things differently than the next guy. Here goes...

#10 - Little Miss Sunshine
This is the small film that re-defined the "road picture" and touched a lot of people's hearts in the process. You ended up caring about all the characters, the performances were authentic, and the story was quirky and unexpected. And, of course, there was the van...
#9 - Up in the Air
It's possible that this film won't wear as well as I think it will. Maybe it's a slight little trifle that only reflects its moment in time. But when I saw it recently, I found it substantial, moving and surprising. It made the list and not just because Clooney's at his best.
#8 - Almost Famous
The music is powerfully evocative, the moment-in-time quality is fantastic, and the script is wonderful. If you didn't happen to live through the 70s, this will remind you that there was life before disco. And, yes, we did listen to "Tiny Dancer" and it was as good then as it is now.
#7 - Avatar

The story goes into stereotyped action overdrive in the third act and that's a shame because there is so much going on inside this film that is so wonderful. It's more than eye-candy, though, it's a film event that actually delivers an extremely credible alien landscape, inhabitants and culture. Great film and a piece of history.
#6 - Downfall
I love a good World War II film (although I did not share anyone's enthusiasm for "Inglourious Basterds"). This film, made by Germans, dares to go places that nobody has gone to, specifically seeing Hitler as a real dude. That made him exceptionally scary to me.
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