Avatar is not on critic Tricia Olszewski‘s list of the best films of the year. Nor is much of the 2009’s year-end Oscar bait. In terms of quality, Olszewski writes in our Arts in Review issue, it hasn’t been a terribly joyful holiday season, but 2009 still contained plenty of films to get excited about. She writes:

But after reaching far back and remembering some of the little guys, it was possible to cherry-pick 10 solid releases that entertained, instigated, informed, or pulled you so thoroughly into their grasp that you once again breathed easy only after the credits rolled. Or, in the case of Paranormal Activity, after the nightmares stopped.

But after reaching far back and remembering some of the little guys, it was possible to cherry-pick 10 solid releases that entertained, instigated, informed, or pulled you so thoroughly into their grasp that you once again breathed easy only after the credits rolled. Or, in the case of Paranormal Activity, after the nightmares stopped.

Read her full list here.