10 Best Actors of 2009

There were many great films in 2009 and this is a list of the ten best actors of 2009 for their amazing performances.

1. George Clooney for "Up In The Air" - Not only was this film moving, but Clooney's performance really had depth and made you think about your own life. This troubled character showed us many problems of life-changing decisions and their consequences. A very emotional performance that puts Clooney at the top of the list of best actors of 2009.

2. Jeff Bridges for "Crazy Heart"- The Oscar winning performance of Bridges cannot go unnoticed and is another very emotional ride with a charismatic character. "Bad" Blake really takes us into the spirit, similarly to how Mickey Rourke did in "The Wrestler." Bridges shows us the test of time on the human condition and the will to go on. He is one of the best actors of 2009 and didn't win an Oscar for nothing.

3. Joseph Gordon-Levitt for "(500) Days of Summer" - For Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hansen was more than just a typical role, this was a character piece that Gordon-Levitt nailed on the head. Throughout this film we are feeling exactly how we need to feel due to Gordon-Levitt's performance as he shows memorable acting talent as a top actor of 2009.

4. Jeremy Renner for "The Hurt Locker" - Winning best picture at the Academy Awards, it is no surprise that Jeremy Renner makes the list of top actors of 2009. His heart pounding role as a bomb expert in Iraq pushed the other characters limits and was completely reckless. War can cause someone to do the unthinkable and Renner showed exactly what kind of toll war can take on one person.

5. Sharlto Copley for "District 9" - This epic sci-fi masterpiece was nominated for Best Picture, but Sharlto Copley needs to be commended for his acting and improvisation for "District 9." Copley had to improvise much of his dialogue and with incredible finness. After this performance, expect Copley to appear in many more great roles to come.

6. Michael Stuhlbarg for "A Serious Man" - This character just couldn't win. Stuhlarg was this decades Lester Burnham. The character of Larry Gopnik could not have been portrayed any better. Larry was a fun character to watch all thanks to Stuhlbarg's great talent and gave reason to feel for Larry.

7. Viggo Mortensen for "The Road" - "The Road" was a very under appreciated film of the year that did not get much exposure. Viggo Mortensen played a very compelling father figure who would do anything for the love and respect of his son. This film showed the level of compassion that a character should show for any role and he made "The Road" a very heartfelt film.

8. Matt Damon for "The Informant" & "Invictus" - One of the squirreliest characters in history, Matt Damon's acting ability just shines in "The Informant." Matt Damon shows us that he has variety in his caliber of acting talent and proves that he is one of the best actors of 2009. The guy had to gain 30 pounds and pudge out to portray this role, and that is commitment. Showing more dedication to his acting he lost that fat and gained all his muscle back for his role as the hard caring leader of the South African rugby team in "Invictus."

9. Sam Rockwell for "Moon" - Rockwell's performance is one of the most underrated roles of all year as he proved to be an amazing actor for this low budget sci-fi mystery thriller. Proving he can act with very little help of a cast, Rockwell puts out a sensational performance and should be noted as one of the best actors of 2009.

10. Sam Worthington for "Avatar" & "Terminator Salvation" - Not being the greatest actor out of the bunch, but Worthington did make watching "Terminator Salvation" worth it and proved he was a force to be reckoned with. Being in two of the more epic movies of the year, Worthington's career just sky rocketed in 2009 and proved to be a great actor in that aspect. We will be seeing a lot more of Worthington in time.