This was a good year for women in film. Kathryn Bigelow may the first female Oscar winner for Best Director (The Hurt Locker). Lone Scherfig (An Education) and Jane Campion (Bright Star) will also be considered for their directorial accomplishments. Many films looked at life from the female perspective, including An Education, Precious, and My Sister's Keeper. It was also a very good year for female performances. Here are the 10 performances we at Reel Life thought were the best in 2009.
1) Mo'Nique in Precious - Her manipulative lost soul commanded the screen
with a great variety of the seven deadly sins.
2) Carey Mulligan in An Education - From discontented wide-eyed innocent
to back-on-track old soul, her performance Hepburned us in to this sleeper film.
3) Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia - This film sparkled when she was on screen and
snoozed when she was not - testimony to the talent that is Meryl.
4) Gabourey Sadibe in Precious - She made us believe that hope can emerge
from a devastating childhood and crippling homelife.
5) Samantha Morton in The Messenger - Even a hardened combat survivor could
not refrain from seeking to sooth her soft sadness and self loathing.
6) Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air - Clooney's character conversion doesn't work
without the convincing collapse of her paper-thin youthful bravado.
7) Zooey DeChanel in (500) Days of Summer - Her compelling character shows
heart and strength in the management of friends and lovers.
8) Rachel Weisz in The Brothers Bloom - Naiviety, wealth, and loneliness all
rolled into one believable target for a couple of sibling cons.
9) Felicity Huffman in Phoebe in Wonderland - Her simmering sadness unfolds
as she slowly understands the sad disabilities of her imperfect child.
10) Shosanna Dreyfus in Inglourious Basterds - Revenge plays so sweet for her
character that will never forgive and never forget.
Check out the Reel Life Top 10 Movies of 2009 and The Best 10 Performances by an Actor in 2009.
Check out The Ten Smartest Movie Quotes of 2009.