l'enfant was GOOD but im not quite sure it is as good as people say. shame on you cannes

My Top 2006 Theatrical (Tab L. Uno)

1. Apocalypto (2006). Mel Gibson's intimate and visually stunning story telling of a family who is beset upon by Mayan's and their fight for survival. Gibson has recreated a fascinating and brilliant experience of a vicious episode with deeply resonate drama. Nine out of Ten. [Reviewed 12/16/06].

2. Bobby (2006). A series of fictional vignettes surrounding the day of Bobby Kennedy's assassination in 1968. A large cast of known actors present a strong liberal "Lost in Translation" technique to depicting the era's troubles and the hopeful message of unity. Eight out of Ten Stars. [Reviewed 12/28/06].

3. The Queen (2006). An Oscar-caliber performance by Helen Mirren for her portrayal of Queen of England and her interaction with Tony Blair, the newly elected prime minister during the aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death. Nine of out Ten Stars. Reviewed 1/28/07.

4. The King of Scotland (2006). Forest Whitaker offers up a brilliant performance as Uganda's Ida Amin as a tension-filled backdrop to a young doctor's growth experience in this brutal and mysterious country. 9/10. [Reviewed 2/4/07].

5. Edmond (2006 - released in 2005). A David Mamet screenplay based on his stage play has William H. Macy descending into a raw, brutal spiral of a dramatic hell and violence that is visceral and compelling. 8/10. [Reviewed 11/3/06].

6. Sweet Little Sunshine (2006). One of the best little surprises of 2006, this fun, entertaining R-rated family comedy-drama delights, saddens, and enlightens on a trip of a family to send a little girl to a beauty-talent show. [Reviewed 8/30/06].

7. United 93 (2006). The first feature length theatrical film to come out concerning 9/11 terrorist attack. A solid and stunning realistic portrayal of events concerning United flight 93 from the plane's occupant's, the FAA, and the military response. 9/10.

8. The Prestige (2006). Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johanssen, Michael Caine star in this murder-mystery-thriller that is character driven and plenty of twists and tight scriptwriting. 8/10 [Reviewed 10/22/06].

9. The Da Vinci Code (2006). An entertaining and intellectually stimulating movie regarding a religious conspiracy to cover up Jesus and his relationship with Mary of the Magdalene starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard. Reviewed 5/21/06. Eight out of Ten Stars.

10. The Good Shepard (2006). Matt Damon plays a young to older CIA agent and the dilemma he must face with his family and counter-intelligence intrique that is drama-based, not action-based for a change. Eight out of Ten Stars. Reviewed 1/6/07.

Honorable Mention

Akeelah and The Bee
Basic Instinct 2
Children of Men
Deja Vu
The Devil Wears Prada
Fearless
The Fountain
Hollywoodland
The Last Kiss
The Lake House
Stranger Then Fiction
Superman Returns

Have Seen But Did Not Make The List

Babel 5/10
Borat 3/10
The Departed 7/10
Dreamgirls 7/10
Inside Man 7/10
Letters from Iwo Jima 7/10
Lucky Number Slevin 7/10
Pan's Labyrinth 7/10
A Prairie Home Companion 7/10
A Scanner Darkly 7/10
A Science of Sleep 7/10
World Trade Center 8/10

Haven't Seen

All The King's Men (Nicholas Cage)
Blood Diamond (Leonardo DiCaprio)
Flags of our Fathers
The Good German (George Clooney)
Infamous (Capote movie)
Marie Antoinette
Miss Potter
The Pursuit of Happiness (Wil Smith)
Thank You for Not Smoking

Taking into consideration that for a lot of last year I was watching bootlegs in China, here is a list of filmic gems watched in 2006no particular order)
The Departed
Miami Vice
A Scanner darkly
Children of Men
L'Armee Des Ombres
Wallace and Gromit: Were-rabbit
V for Vendetta
Idiocracy
10 Canoes
The Prestige
there are other movies like Brokeback Mountain which I saw in 2006, because Im Australian and we often get a bit behind, but anyway, its all just idle list making. Lets hope for a great 2007.

Re my last post, I didnt make it clear that I meant theatrical releases are a bit behind in Oz. So, for me, for example, I saw Brokeback Mountain in the cinema in Feb.2006. Bloody annoying i can tell you.

My top 10:

1. Children of Men
2. Borat
3. Pan's Labyrinth
4. Letters from Iwo Jima
5. A Scanner Darkly
6. The Departed
7. Little Miss Sunshine
8. The Science of Sleep
9. Thank You For Smoking
10. Babel

I am desperate to see Inland Empire.

quote:

Originally posted by d.zeleniouk:
On a level of its own:

Inland Empire
Army of Shadows

REVISED TOP 15

1. A Scanner Darkly
2. Still Life
3. My Country, My Country
4. The Departed
5. A Prairie Home Companion
6. Little Miss Sunshine
7. The Good Shepherd
8. Little Children
9. Bobby
10. Red Road
--------------------------------------
11. The Queen
12. Half Nelson
13. Volver
14. Paris Je T’aime
15. For Your Consideration

d.zeleniouk, where did you see Paris, Je T'aime? I've been longing to see that film since I first heard about it years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Aristurtle:
d.zeleniouk, where did you see Paris, Je T'aime? I've been longing to see that film since I first heard about it years ago.

At the Vancouver Film Festival.

It belongs to the ensemble list of movies that reminscent Robert Altman.

quote:

I have a few questions for you... How is Little Children? It never came to my town, so I never got a chance to watch it. How was Inland Empire? same as Little Children.

Little Children is the finest American film of '06 to tackle the morals of life. Similar to it--in themes and substance--are Fight Club, catered to the ultra-feminists, machismos, and confused University studs. American Beauty, catered to the mid-40's sexually languishing men, and Eyes Wide Shut catered to the dulled, wealthy aristocrats. I would suggest a reading of A.O. Scott’s critique in the Times; his is the most thorough view of “what” the movie is about, as his review even motivated me to watch it.

Though not viewable in BC (next step is LA) Inland Empire's divine experience is equivalent to spending a night at a European Opera theatre: bodacious, joshing, dismal in mood, and yet exultant.

1. The Departed
2. Little Miss Sunshine
3. Stranger Than Fiction
4. Thank You For Smoking
5. The Prestige
6. Dave Chappelle's Block Party
7. An Inconvenient Truth
8. Casino Royale
9. Borat
10. Children of Men

The Final Top Ten:
10. (Tie) Fateless- A beautiful film about a boy and his journey into a Nazi Hell (The Holocaust). ****/*****

Babel- Rinko Kikuchi definitely deserves Best Supporting Actress. I personally don't understand the "Crash" comparisons. ****/*****

9. Flags of Our Fathers- Clint Eastwood directs this great movie more about the aftermath of the war, than the war itself. ****/*****

8. Borat- I was crying, It was that funny. Borat is a crude look at racism, sex, and pop culture. ****1/2/*****

7. Little Miss Sunshine- A cute film about a very awkward family. ****1/2/*****

6.The Departed- Scorcese's Year! The Departed is a humorous and violent look at Irish American history. Jack Nicholson is absolutely phenomenal. ****1/2/*****

The Big 5

5. [/I]Children of Men[/I]- A film of great power and depth. Cuaron deserves a Best Picture/Director Nomination. ****1/2/*****

4. (Tie)United 93 - I was balling, This film is so sad but so meaningful. *****/*****

L'Enfant- The Dardenne Brothers create a painful and realistic world where a father will sell his child. ****1/2/*****

3.Pan's Labyrinth- Everyone needs to see this film, A Foreign Film nomination is not enough. *****/*****

2. Volver- Almodovar makes another masterpiece, this time it's about feminism.

1. (Tie)Letters From Iwo Jima & The Queen

quote:

The Final Top Ten:
10. (Tie) Fateless- A beautiful film about a boy and his journey into a Nazi Hell (The Holocaust). ****/*****

Babel- Rinko Kikuchi definitely deserves Best Supporting Actress. I personally don't understand the "Crash" comparisons. ****/*****

9. Flags of Our Fathers- Clint Eastwood directs this great movie more about the aftermath of the war, than the war itself. ****/*****

. . .

4. (Tie)United 93 - I was balling, This film is so sad but so meaningful. *****/*****

L'Enfant- The Dardenne Brothers create a painful and realistic world where a father will sell his child. ****1/2/*****

3.Pan's Labyrinth- Everyone needs to see this film, A Foreign Film nomination is not enough. *****/*****

2. Volver- Almodovar makes another masterpiece, this time it's about feminism.

1. (Tie)Letters From Iwo Jima & The Queen

Just so you know, that looks suspiciously like a Top 13. Ties usually push the movie behind them back one spot.


I really can't choose my favorite movie of 2006. These are from the small minority of movies I got around to seeing. This is about what the order is, but don't quote me on that.

First Tier:
United 93
Babel
The Departed
Little Miss Sunshine

Second Tier:
Borat
V for Vendetta
World Trade Center
Thank You for Smoking
Apocalypto (yes, I actually kind of liked it)
Clerks II

Movies I still need to see:
The Queen
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters from Iwo Jima
Children of Men
Last King of Scotland (seeing it today)
Pan's Labyrinth

Last King of Scotland should easily bump somebody off, as should many of the others on the above list.

1. Rocky Balboa
2. V For Vendetta
3. Borat
4. Cars
5. Tenacious D
6. Little Miss Sunshine
7. Talledega Nights
8. Happy Feet
9. Barnyard
10. Over The Hedge

In no particulat order:

1. Letters From Iwo Jima
2. The Queen
3. Blood Diamond
4. Rocky Balboa
5. Volver
6. Notes on a Scandal
7. The Departed
8. The Prestige
9. Happy Feet and Cars (sorry, they tied for me)
10.Pan's Labyrinth

Here's my list!


1. Children of Men
2. Dave Chappelle's Block Party
3. United93
4. L'Enfant
5. Inland Empire
6. The Prestige
7. The Queen
8. Marie Antoinette
9. Thank You For Smoking
10.The Descent

Runners-Up: Little Children, Casino Royale, Pan's Labyrinth, Volver, Half Nelson

I gotta ask, is The Descent actually that good to make it on to some peoples top of 06'? I haven't seen it yet, but I've been hearing good things.

quote:

Originally posted by Brian:
I gotta ask, is The Descent actually that good to make it on to some peoples top of 06'? I haven't seen it yet, but I've been hearing good things.

I loved it, but it's all in the eye of the beholder. It scared the crap outta me the first time around, but my brother thought it was the stupidest movie he's ever seen. I won't be doing a top 10 of a certain year, 'cuz I can't keep track exactly what year most movies come out in, but if I did make a list for last year, it'd be on it!

Great list....what about Chilren of Men???

1.The Departed
2.Borat
3.Little Miss Sunshine
4.Blood Diamond
5.V for Vendetta
6.Pursuit of Happyness
7.Pans Lybrith
8.Casino Royale
9.Inside Man
10.Mission Impossible III

Here's my top 16 list, in countdown order from worst to best (and by worst I mean worst of these 16, not of the year).

16.) Prarie Home Companion--Funny and sweet; not a masterpiece, but I live in MN, so I have some emotional ties

15.) Snakes on a Plane--YES! I love this movie!

14.) The Descent--One of the best horror movies made for a long, long time...scary as heck. But I only saw it in my living room; I wish I'd gotten a chance to watch in in theaters.

13.) The Lives of Others--A really thrilling and touching movie, but it's still WAY overrated, and nowhere NEAR as good as "Pan's Labyrinth", which totally deserves the Foreign Film Oscar back...a total outrage...

12.) Letters From Iwo Jima--Tense and harrowing. It's a cliche to say this, but it was cool to see Iwo Jima from a point of view that we've never gotten before.

11.) Notes on a Scandal--I don't have much to say; it was just good.

10.) The Illusionist--I probably should've seen the twist ending coming but I didn't, the movie entranced me that much.

9.) Casino Royale--Brought Bond back with a bang (too many B's in one sentence)--the best Bond movie since "For Your Eyes Only" and one of the best action movies of the year.

8.) The Departed--Exciting and thrilling, but not the best movie of the year...sorry, Academy.

7.) Stranger Than Fiction--Way underrated and over-ignored...it was touching, funny, and more original than 95% of the rest of this year's movies.

6.) Cars--Sweet, funny, and also underrated. Everyone says this is one of Pixar's weakest movies, but I think it's one of their best. It's also a lot better than Happy Feet; I don't care what the Osccars say.

5.) Borat (sorry, I'm not in the mood to list the whole title)--Hilarious

4.) Babel--Emotional...exciting...heart-breaking...ingenious

3.) Children of Men--I agree, it definately deserved to get nominated for Best Picture. I haven't seen "Blade Runner", but so far, it's gotta be one of the best bleak, dystopian-future movies ever made.

2.) Little Miss Sunshine--By far the best of the 5 Oscar nominees. Not only was it hilarious, but it was heart-warming and uplifting, something that we definately need, between almost every character getting his head blown off in "The Departed" to the end of mankind in "Children of Men".

1.) Pan's Labyrinth--Words cannot describe how good this movie is, so let me just say this: It's a masterpiece. It's the best movie made since "Schindler's List" in 1993. There is no justice in this world where overrated, run-of-the-mill thrillers like "The Lives of Others" can beat it in Best Foreign Film and pointless, talkly, excrutiatingly boring drivel like "The Queen" can oust it out of a Best Picture Nomination.


That's my list, so far, but to be fair, I haven't seen...

United 93
Venus
Volver
The Last King of Scotland
Dreamgirls
Flags of Our Fathers

10. Half Nelson
9. Casino Royale
8. Borat
7. L'Enfant
6. A Scanner Darkly
5. The Descent
4. The Departed
3. United 93
2. Pan's Labyrinth
1. Children of Men

Also, I'm not counting Army of Shadows, which would have likely taken the third spot.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: unKeMPt,

Didn't see enough movies in 06 to make an informed top ten, but I did see enough to make a top 5 so...

5. Children of Men ****
4. Little Miss Sunshine ****
3. Casino Royale ****
2. Half Nelson *****
1. Brick ****************

Brick might just be my favorite movie of the last 5 years, truly an excellent film. Also the biggest dissapointment for me had to be "The Good German" what crap!