Roger Ebert's lists for the Top 10 Mainstream & Top 10 Independent Movies of 2009

With the coming to a close, everyone's Best of 2009 lists are being released. In order to avoid the "hell" he paid after releasing his list of Twenty Best last year, Roger Ebert opted this year to divide his list into two categories. He explained:

The lists are divided into Mainstream Films and Independent Films. This neatly sidesteps two frequent complaints: (1) "You name all those little films most people have never heard of," and (2) "You pick all blockbusters and ignore the indie pictures." Which is is my official Top Ten? They both are equal, and every film here is entitled to name itself "One of the Year's 10 Best!"

Considering I haven't gotten the chance to see any of the indie films on his list, I have to agree with the complaints! Unfortunately that means I can't give you some insight or opinion on those picks.

(In alphabetical order)

The Top 10 Mainstream Films:

- Bad Lieutenant
- Crazy Heart
- An Education
- The Hurt Locker
- Inglourious Basterds
- Knowing
- Precious
- A Serious Man
- Up in the Air
- The White Ribbon

Most notably missing from the list though is Avatar. But Ebert still tosses it a bone without officially naming it one of the best of 2009, saying:

Now you are thinking, hey, what about "Avatar?" Faithful readers know of my annual Special Jury Prize. This year it goes to James Cameron's ground-breaking epic. No, that doesn't mean it's the best film of the year. It means it won the Special Jury Prize.

The Top 10 Independent Films:

- Departures
- Disgrace
- Everlasting Moments
- Goodbye Solo
- Julia
- Silent Light
- Sin Nombre
- Skin
- Trucker
- You, the Living

Some great choices, I wish more people would give the Coen's  A Serious Man the same kind of love. I whole heartedly agree with are Inglourious Basterds and The Hurt Locker. But I'm more than a little surprised that Nic Cage made it on there twice!

So what do you think of Roger Ebert's picks for Best Movies of 2009?