The 2009 Matties: Bullock in 2012

I’m gonna have to give the first Matty to Sandra Bullock for pulling off not one, but two great movies this year. Hold on, film snobs - those of you swearing that “Precious” and “A Single Man” are like cinematic manna sent to feed the starving masses - hear me out. Sandy gave us two very different characters in this year's “The Proposal” and “The Blind Side,” the latter of which is so good that I honestly forgot it was her halfway through the movie.

Sure, both are very formulaic, but so what? Not everything has to be independent and nouveau – I’m looking at you, Tarantino – and mainstream movies have the potential to be just as compelling as those made outside the studio system.

Yes, Bullock also starred in this-failure-that-shall-not-be-named, but she transcended it with aplomb so I bestow upon her this inaugural Matty for Best Movie Star of 2009.

Also, apropos of nothing, I loved everything about "(500) Days of Summer," and so will you if you aren’t made of stone, so go get it when it comes out on DVD. That is all.