So here at Top10Films HQ we went for Ken Loach’s diversion to happier trails with the uplifting, heartwarming and funny “Looking For Eric” as our pick for the best movie of 2009. But did anyone agree with us?

It’s time to peer at the blogosphere and see what other online writers are picking for their favourite films of last year. While we do that, we’ll also check out which films the biggest names in the critic world have gone for in their own top 10s.

To kick off lets quickly remind ourselves of who won what at the major awards ceremonies held over the last couple of months. “The Hurt Locker” swept the board at the Academy Awards taking Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing (there was a rather illuminating short film about the wonders of sound editing shown on Oscar night if you’re wondering what the hell sound editing entails!). “The Hurt Locker” also won several other notable awards including the Bafta for Best Picture. Top10Films.co.uk placed the film at number 3 in our list of best movies from 2009.

The other big winner last year was James Cameron, whose return to film after a 12 year hiatus when he spent most of his time talking about and filming the real Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, provided the world with “Avatar”. “Avatar” took the top awards at the Ricky Gervais-fronted Golden Globes prompting many to think it would do the same at the Oscars. But the film’s defining quality will be the dollar sign. “Avatar” might be one of the most expensive films ever made, but it is also one of the most lucrative taking in, at the last count, over $730m at the US box office alone. We ranked “Avatar” at number 10 in our 2009 list.

Yep – “Looking For Eric” was largely ignored at the major awards ceremonies (although it was nominated for the top prize at Cannes). This little British film from acclaimed filmmaker Ken Loach was dismissed by many as being Loach-lite, while others criticised its sentimental story and claimed it was inconsistent in tone. Top10Films.co.uk found none of that. Yes, it’s a largely happy tale with some overt moments of kitchen sink drama. But it is the perfect antidote to the constant doom reported and perpetuated by the media in our current fragile political and economic climate. Well, some things never change.

Anyway, the awards went to “The Hurt Locker” and “Avatar” but who would the critics have sent their Top Film medals to? Toptenreviews.com liked Pixar’s brilliant “Up” (ranked by us at number 2 in our list), while Guardian writers Xan Brooks and Jason Solomons went for “Let The Right One In” and “A Serious Man” respectively (we rated “Let The Right One In” at number 9 but couldn’t find a place for “A Serious Man”). Vanity Fair ranked their choices alphabetically – the cheats! – but, interestingly, failed to recognise “Avatar”. Roger Ebert also went the easy alphabetical route but the rumour is he quite liked “Avatar” saying in his review: “It takes a hell of a lot of nerve for a man to stand up at the Oscarcast and proclaim himself King of the World. James Cameron just got re-elected.”

Meanwhile, James Berardinelli – one of Top10Films’ favourite critics – put together a list similar to our own but rated “Avatar” at number 1.

But how did these films do in the blogosphere?

Over at The Lamb – a collective of hundreds of film bloggers from around the world – not one voted for “Looking For Eric”. “The Hurt Locker” did seem to be consistent throughout the lists though – viewable HERE.

Our friends over Fandango Groovers opted for “Let The Right One in” at number 1 with “The Hurt Locker” at number 2. The Movie Mobsters didn’t like Kathryn Bigelow’s bomb-disposal nerve-tingler, going for “Avatar” at number 1. NorthShoreMovies liked many films we did adding “Invictus”, “In the Loop”, and “Me and Orson Welles” into the mix, while Cinema Passions loved “Duplicity” so much it rated it the best film of 2009. 1MoreFilmBlog ignored the mainstream movies in favour of more ecletic, arthouse stuff such as “An Education” and intersting number 1 “Lourdes”. Cinephilia decided Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds” was the best film of 2009, with Film Diatribe agreeing.

The Top Films of 2009 from around the internet:
NB. if a list is alphabetical I will post whether or not it features “The Hurt Locker” or “Avatar”

The Times: alphabetical featuring “The Hurt Locker”
Roger Ebert: no order but features “The Hurt Locker” and mentions “Avatar”
New Yorker: no order but features “The Hurt Locker”
Vanity Fair: another nod to “The Hurt Locker”
James Berardinelli: “Avatar”
Xan Brooks: “Let The Right One In”
Jason Solomons: “A Serious Man”
Mark Kermode: “Let The Right One In”
Chicago Film Critics: “The Hurt Locker”
Quentin Tarantino: “Star Trek”
Time Out: five of their writers chose top 10s with “The White Ribbon” topping two, “District 9″, “Wendy and Lucy”, and “Up” topping the others
Sight and Sound: “A Prophet” with “The Hurt Locker” second.
Lisa Schwarzbaum: “The Hurt Locker”
The Movie Retriever: “This Side of the Truth”
Moviefone: “Up In The Air”
Toronto Film Critics: “Inglorious Basterds”
Indiana Film Critics: “Up In The Air”
Phoenix Film Critics: “Inglorious Basterds”
Sandiego Film Critics: “Inglorious Basterds”
E! Online: Three critics, three choices – “Inglorious Basterds”, “The Hurt Locker” and “Antichrist”

Bloggers:
Fandango Groovers: “Let The Right One In”
Foolish Blatherings: “The Hurt Locker”
Cinematic Passions: “Duplicity”
1MoreFilmBlog: “Lourdes”
Movie Mobsters: “Avatar”
Film Diatribe: “Inglorious Basterds”
North Shore Movies: “Avatar”
Chas’ Movie Blog: “Avatar”
Filavolitic: “Away We Go”
Three Cheers For Darkened Years: “The White Ribbon”
Insight Into Entertainment: “The Hurt Locker”
Flick Chick Canada: “The Hurt Locker”
Never Mind Pop Film: “A Serious Man”
The Dark of the Matinee: “The Hurt Locker”
Tom Clift’s Movie Blog: “Up”
Marshall and the Movies: “Up In The Air”
Cut The Crap Movie Reviews: “Up”
Korova Theatre: “The Hurt Locker”
The Movie Encyclopedia: “The Hurt Locker”
Film Forager: “Moon”
Detailed Criticisms: “(500) Days Of Summer
Movie Dearest: “The Messenger”
Encore Entertainment: “An Education”
Rachels Reel Reviews: “Inglorious Basterds”
The Scorecard Review: “Inglorious Basterds”
Franz Patrick: “Up In The Air”

So what is the best film of 2009? The year will be remembered for “The Hurt Locker” and “Avatar” but as all these lists prove, the year was a rather good one. There are lots of films to enjoy and re-enjoy.

What were your favourite films of 2009. If you have a blog, provide the link in the comments below.