2009: A year in movies

When it comes to predicting Oscar nominees for 2010, critics need look no further than two of the harshest, grittiest movies of 2009, both released toward the end of the year.

Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" has found both critical and commercial success... unlike nearly every other film that has dealt with the conflict in Iraq.

It follows the last month of a tour of duty in Iraq by three members of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal squad.

Jeremy Renner plays Sergeant William James, the squad's madcap leader who seems to have a death wish.

Jeremy Renner said, "Right when I read it, it wasn't about war to me. The character was written so wonderfully. And I couldn't wait to make him three-dimensional. And it was really fantastic. I was so curious."

"The Hurt Locker" will be hotly contested by "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire." The film, directed by Lee Daniels, was produced by Oprah Winfrey and follows the life of an abused, obese teenager, Precious, played by newcomer Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe.

As is traditional, some of the biggest blockbusters of the year were released at the very end of 2009. James Cameron's ground-breaking "Avatar" was more than a decade in the making, and one of the most expensive movies ever made, but has transformed 3-D cinema.

Then there's Rob Marshall's "Nine," with one of the most stellar line-ups ever seen in a film. It includes the talents of Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren.

And Robert Downey Jr. could be about to embark on another successful franchise to equal "Iron Man" with the release of "Sherlock Holmes." The re-imagining of the classic Victorian detective series by Guy Ritchie also stars Jude Law and Rachel McAdams.

Poster of "The Hurt Locker"