The Top 10 Films of 2009

1) Freeing Silvia Baraldini (Directed by Margot Pelletier and Lisa Thomas)

2) Sugar (directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck)

3) Against the Current (Directed by Peter Callahan)

4) Mighty Uke (Directed by Tony Coleman)

5) Trimpin: The Sound of Invention (Directed by Peter Esmonde)

6) Afghan Star (Directed by Havana Marking)

7) Paris 36 (Directed by Christophe Barratier)

8) Coco avant Chanel (Directed by Anne Fontaine)

9) Into the Storm (Directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan)

10) Sherlock Holmes (directed by Guy Ritchie)

This list IS in order.  I saw films 3, 4 and 5 at the Woodstock Film Festival, and number 6 at the Teaneck International Film Festival.  "Sugar" and "Paris 36" were actually made in 2008, but I saw them last year -- in a real movie theater!  "Mighty Uke " documents the worldwide Ukulele Revival. "Trimpin: The Sound of Invention" tells the story of Trimpin, a German artist/composer who lives in Seattle.  "Afghan Star" is a documentary about the Afghani version of "American Idol."  "Into the Storm" is a biography of Winston Churchill.  "Sherlock Holmes" is last, because it was released on Christmas (which struck me as hubristic) and was therefore the last movie of 2009 that I saw.  Also, it should cling to the very bottom of a Top 10 list.