An interesting list. He separates it into 10 films that his readers are likely to have seen and 10 that they may not have. I'm guessing the Nic Cage vehicle Knowing is not going to show up on many other folks' year-end lists. It's also nice to see him give a nod to Stellet Licht/Silent Light, which is surely not for everybody but is utterly unlike any film I've seen recently, which is saying a lot in this day and age.

The full list with blurbs on each is here:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009...s_of_2009.html

Top 10 Mainstream Films of 2009 (alphabetical)
Bad Lieutenant
Crazy Heart
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Knowing
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up in the Air
The White Ribbon
special mention for Avatar

Top 10 Independent Films of 2009 (alphabetical)
Departures
Disgrace
Everlasting Moments
Goodbye Solo
Julia
Silent Light
Sin Nombre
Skin
Trucker
You, the Living

-Coop