Top 3 Movies of 2009 (Karen's List)

Watching these movies make you feel like it's the so-called "Golden Age" in Hollywood again. I've seen the majority of the Oscar-contenders but these films top my list. All three are beautiful snapshots of human connection...

1. 500 Days of Summer - Refreshing, innovative and sweet! Marc Webb crafted a film that conveys the complexity of love and memory. Zooey Deschanel was perfectly cast as Summer, the object of Tom's affection and Joesph Gordon-Levitt (Tom) is the doe-eyed protagonist that you can't help fall in love with as he falls in love with Summer. It's the standout movie of the year!

2. Up in the Air - George Clooney exudes a Cary Grant kind of charm. Up in the Air brings out Clooney's magnetic leading man capabilities in full speed. Jason Reitman directs this masterpiece, sleek but full of heart. The dialogue is extremely clever and some of the scenes in the airport are undeniably impressive. Yet the film's strength rests with its supporting cast, without Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick in their award-worthy performances Up in the Air wouldn't be as poignant.

3. Treeless Mountain - It's the best movie that you probably haven't seen! So Yong Kim showcases a brilliant story about two sisters lost without their mother in Korea. The acting is raw, poetic and a little too real at times - how Kim captured those performances, those nuances is pure movie magic and the mark of a great director. Treeless Mountain played at several film festivals this year and is currently available on Netflix instant watch. It belongs on the top of your queue!