Best of 2009: Top 10 Performances by a Leading Actress

In most of my lists, I'm reasonably on track with the awards' lists, however with the leading females of 2009, I highly disagree with - particularly Oscar - the dominant 5 ladies given nominations (although most of them make the list of 10).

Half of the women on my list consist of actresses portraying the lives of real women - biopics, I suppose. Emily Blunt provided wispy innocence and entertaining rebellion to Queen Victoria in "The Young Victoria." She came forth as an actress desiring the praise she had a few years ago with "The Devil Wears Prada." In "The Last Station," Helen Mirren terrorized the characters in the film as the devilish siren Sofya Tolstoy (Leo's wife). She snagged an Oscar nomination for the role and was clearly the dominating force of the film.

Taking on the role of Gabrielle Chanel in "Coco Before Chanel," Audrey Tautou bewilders in so many ways - mostly how the hell she's never been nominated for an Oscar yet. Independence and creativity completely resounded from her throughout the French film. Incredible in "Stop-Loss" and proving herself again in "Bright Star" as the muse of famous British poet John Keats, Fanny Brawne, Abbie Cornish was simply what the title suggests - and she and the script counter this possible sappy side with moving scenes of grief, strife, and hardship. Cornish was perfect. Finally for the biopic roles, Meryl Streep brings comedy, drama, and cooking to the role of Julia Child in "Julie & Julia." She, of course, is brilliant. She, of course, should have won the Oscar over Sandra Bullock, who, while delivering the best performance of her career, should have had no chance against any of the ladies in this list of 10. It shows that the awards can be plagued by campaigns and money - clearly, since "The Blind Side" (yes, "The Blind Side") was nominated for Best Picture.

Two young ladies who we nominated this year take on bildungsroman-type roles: Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious" and Carey Mulligan in "An Education." One has to be careful with Sidibe; I'm not fond of critics and other talkative people who believe that a performances is so damn good because the role is so unlike/oppositional to the actress. This is the case with Sidibe. Did she completely embody her role? Yes. Did she deliver "the goods"? Of course. Does this make her worthy of top 5? Not necessarily. Carey Mulligan created an addictive allure to her Jenny in "An Education." The audience is moved to follow her on her journey of discovery. In a role that could be perceived as weak and completely naive, Mulligan adds early-gained independence and control of her character.

The last three actresses include roles that demand power, risk, control and - at times - the ability to let go. Aside from Christoph Waltz, the most memorable role would be that of Shoshana Dreyfus played by Melanie Laurent. It's Hamlet; it's Lysistrata; it's the incredible talent of Laurent mixed with the eye of Quentin Tarantino. Her shining scene is when she's stuck with Waltz in the restaurant. She's stone-cold, stoic; when he leaves, her release of emotion shoud've got her some sort of award. In the indie-film "Trucker," Michelle Monaghan shows a new side of her as an actress in a hugely underrated role as truck-driver Diane who has to learn how to be a mother. And finally for the tough babes, Tilda Swinton as the title role in "Julia" punches a whopping hole in what it means to be a great actress. She tears the screen up. She is unstopable. She doesn't give a damn, just like her character. I feel like she completely lived her role; I feel she IS Julia, the smoking, drinking, insane woman who decides it's a good idea to involve herself in a kidnapping with one of her crazy AA friends. Actually, it was her first day in AA. If you want a heart-pumping "what did this chick get herself into" kind of flick, watch Tilda in "Julia" and you'll see why it's one of the best performances, not only of 2009, but of the entire decade.

So, here are the Top 10 Performances by a Leading Actress for 2009:

10. Helen Mirren as Sofya Tolstoy in THE LAST STATION

9. Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria in THE YOUNG VICTORIA

8. Gabourey Sidibe as Precious in PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE

7. Audrey Tautou as Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in COCO BEFORE CHANEL

6. Carey Mulligan as Jenny in AN EDUCATION

5. Meryl Streep as Julia Child in JULIE & JULIA

4. Michelle Monaghan as Diana Ford in TRUCKER

3. Melanie Laurent as Shoshanna Dreyfus in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

2. Abbie Cornish as Fanny Brawne in BRIGHT STAR

1. Tilda Swinton as Julia in JULIA

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Starring Nicholas Cage, Justin Bartha, Helen Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, and Ed Harris

The first "National Treasure" didn't really woo, but it was exciting and entertaining to say the least. The villain was well developed and determined. The protagonist (Cage) was equally developed and determined. The love interest held our attention. However, all of these descent qualities went down the drain for "Book of Secrets."

Primarily, the excitement factor was on an all-time low. Cage, Bartha and Kruger's characters were dull, too intelligent, and hardly made mistakes. We knew, of course, that their goal would be accomplished the minute they "sang" the "I Want Song." Sure, there were many different locales all around the world, but it seemed forced and unattached.

Ed Harris is great. Yet, his role as the prime villain in "Book of Secrets" was his worst choice as an actor ever. This villain was a villain for maybe about 30 minutes of the film. Then he gained the Bugs Bunny "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy, only because Cage and his gang of nerds are way too smart for Harris' role. The last half hour or so was pointless. The writers tried to inflict terror in Harris' character by giving him a knife or setting him in power situations, but he was weak. The worst villain.

One aspect of the first "National Treasure" that was enjoyable was the beginning relationship between Cage and Kruger. It was childish and PG-rated, but was still a love connection. Beginning "Book of Secrets" with them separated could have been a wise choice, but it was inevitably predictable, and quite pointless. Oh, and what about Voight and Mirren? The best part of the film with their separated for years and rekindling their love, but not enough screen time! And, North Dakota?! And, how did everyone have just enough water bottles?! I digress.

If you want to see the blockbuster of December, go see "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," but you will be rewarded with a whole lot of pointlessness.

Grade: D+