Best of 2009

Understated, deeply felt tale of a father and daughter of African descent living in Paris captures that moment when he realizes, a) she's a mature, independent woman and, b) their close relationship needs to evolve in order to survive. BEAU TRAVAIL director Claire Denis is in no hurry to peel off the layers of this complex, lovingly rendered familial bond, but her naturalistic --and, to her detractors, navel-gazing -- approach results in a film of rare delicacy and beauty. One of the year's best.

Remember the climax of TOY STORY, when Buzz tells Woody, "This isn't flying; it's falling with style"? Then you know exactly how I feel about this year's front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar. A way-too-slick first act with some of that JUNO preciousness gives way to a gangbusters middle section that strikes a delicate balance between laughs and melancholy...then the heavy-handed ironies in Act 3 make you wonder how a film of such ebullience can end up feeling like a Public Service Announcement for The Way We Live Now. Clooney and Farmiga are both in fine shape here, but the real standout is Kendrick, who just about knocked my socks off during the "hotel lobby" scene (you'll know it when you see it).

The most emotionally rewarding entry in the series benefits from Steve Kloves's skillfully structured script and "Amelie" cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel's evocative chiaroscuro look. The real star here, though, is "Order of the Phoenix" director David Yates, who continues to favor character development over incident. While he devotes too much screen time to the characters' romantic entanglements, Yates's confident, unhurried work manages to incorporate most of J.K. Rowling's sixth volume without feeling as if he tried to cram in as much as he could. It's quite the balancing act he pulls off here. Many neat references to choose from, ranging from Tolkien to J-horror, and even if those looking for more wizarding action might come away disappointed, I say enjoy this touching, leisurely paced respite before the big plunge into the Deathly Hallows. There's a lot of love in it.