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2006: Good, Not Great
That
headline is probably a little misleading because there were some really great
movies this year, but this is the first year where there failed to be movies
that I absolutely adore from start to finish. This is also the first year
where a top 20 couldn't be mustered up. Now, that is due in part to the fact
that because of student teaching this semester I haven't been able to see
quite that many movies, but I saw a little over 30, and in those 30, Only
about 10 were really good to great. The rest are good, but I had a few
reservations about them. It's so weird doing these lists and awards this year
because you all have NO idea what I did and didn't like throughout the year
because of me quitting the site, but here is the list for you to all enjoy. I
hope you do just that.
| Honorable
mention goes to... |
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Stranger
Than Fiction
d: Marc Forster
w: Zach Helm
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This was a fun movie even if it
was trying a little too hard to be more important than it really ended up being
(this is no Eternal Sunshine). I was quite impressed with Farrell,
and when are Gyllenhaal and Thompson NOT good? Hardly ever. Even
though this was an interesting and well-written and directed movie, those three
really anchored the whole thing.
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The Departed
d: Martin Scorsese
w: William Monaghan
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Poor Marty movies. They never seem
to find a place into my top 10. BUT, this is the closest that he has come this
decade (don't get me started on the awfulness of the other two). I loved the
last half of this movie, and the whole cast is stellar, especially DiCaprio,
Damon, Nicholson, and Sheen. Unfortunately, the first half
isn't as strong. Still, good movie.
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#15
d: Sofia Coppola
w: Sofia Coppola
| I
wasn't expecting much from this movie. That is mainly due to the fact
that I didn't get the hype surrounding Lost in Translation three
years ago. I felt completely different about this movie, and it was one
of the best of the year. I think what Sofia Coppola succeeds at
most here is the innocent and naive portrayal of King Louis and the
title character. Kirsten Dunst helped with that as well because
she nailed this 'queen-too-early' character whose fate only meets death
in the end. I like how there wasn't overwhelming sympathy thrown at us
for these rulers, but it was still there. There wasn't a political
motive behind this movie. It is just simply the story of these two
rulers who became that way too early in life. The ensemble cast is
great, and this truly is one of the most gorgeous movies to look at. The
picture above proves that. Best scene: The storming of the
castle. |
#14
d: Stephen Frears
w: Peter Morgan
| I
really enjoyed the way Morgan and Frears portrayed the
many different layers of the royal family and the politics of England. I
think a lot of people (younger and more optimistic especially) can
remember where they were when Princess Diana was murdered, and this
movie also brought up those feelings of lost love and optimism that we
all felt when she met her fate. Not to mention the performance of Helen
Mirren. She is a revelation here. I thought there was better in her
category, but hers is a very well-deserved Oscar. I only wish the movie
didn't feel as boring as it did when I was watching it. That is the only
minor complaint about the movie itself. Best scene: (tie) At the
brook and the picture above |
#13
d: Davis Guggenheim
w: Al Gore
| I
thank God for this film and for Al Gore. He has done so much
regarding Global Warming (yes, it's real!) since way back before he was
even in politics. Even though this essentially was just a PowerPoint
presentation on film, it was still one of the most moving and effective
movies I have seen this decade. Startling facts, powerful images, and
disturbing instances, it is scary to think that people still believe
that this is a made-up prophecy. It's even sadder that the far right
(and ones on top of the business world) excessively turn it into a
political issue. One of the biggest things this movies tells and shows
its audience is that this is NOT a political or religious issue. It is a
MORAL issue, and it needs to be addressed. With this film and Gore's
contributions, there were a lot of people who had their eyes opened last
year, so that is a step in the right direction. I just hope it isn't too
late. Best scene: That freaking polar bear looking for a
patch of ice. Talk about effective. |
#12
d: Bill Condon
w: Bill Condon
| It's
hard to talk about this movie without discussing Jennifer Hudson,
who truly did carry this movie to greatness that probably wouldn't be
there without her, but this isn't a review of how great Hudson is. The
fact is, she is in the movie, and especially because of that (and other
things), this was one of the most entertaining and involving movies of
the year. It's something that I can't say for a lot of the movies from
this year. Although some aspects of the movie were weaker than others (Foxx
in particular and the choppy editing and cutting out of some of the
backstory that would make some of the musical numbers make more sense),
this was still a movie that had me cheering until the very last frame,
mainly because of the great performances from the already mentioned and
others like Beyonce, Eddie Murphy, and the adorable Anika
Noni Rose. With the minor quibbles mentioned being fixed (not to
mention that ending), this would have firmly placed in the top 10. Best scene: Must
you ask? "And I Am Telling You," of course. |
#11
d: Ryan Fleck
w: Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden
| This
is one of those rare movies where the interactions between two unlikely
individuals lead to a layered and astounding look at the human being and
all of our similarities as well as our differences. It's a great look at
life and how much we are all willing to sacrifice to be
"happy." Ryan Gosling gives a breakout performance for
the ages. Marlon Brando, anyone? I seriously think he has what it takes
to be that next great actor. I can't wait to see what he does next.
Equally great and important to this story's succes is Shareeka Epps,
who also gives one of the best performances of the year. They are
co-leads, and they work off of each other, and thank God they do. The
way they both get, understand, and are frustrated with each other is
more proof of the greatness of this depiction of two lost souls looking
for their purposes in life. Best scene: The nosebleed |
| OscarSights
Top 10 Movies of 2006 |
#10
d: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
w: Guillermo Arriaga
| I
was a bigger fan of 2003's 21 Grams than most people, so going in
to see this movie, I was expecting good. What I got was a movie that was
even better than the director's last film already mentioned. A lot of
people don't like the intertwining of these stories, and some like the
stories on their own but think that there are too many stories going on
in the movie. I thought everything meshed together quite well. It's led
up by the great Inarritu. The cast makes this a special movie
too, especially performances from Brad Pitt, Rinko Kikuchi,
and especially Adriana Barraza. I was quite impressed with how
all of the actors held their own, and the way all these tragedies and
layered looks at the individual and their lives clash is something that Crash
could only dream of accomplishing. Best scene:
Amelia's interrogation. |
#09
d: John Cameron Mitchell
w: John Cameron Mitchell
| This
is the one movie of the year that I was most curious about because of
all of the things I had been hearing about it from everyone on the west
and east coast who had the privilege of seeing it in theaters. I heard
it was porn, but quality porn with an actual intriguing and
three-dimensional script. I kept hearing it was terrible, and according
to some, it was great. Well, count me in on the "great" side.
I first watched this film (which I had to buy from B&N because I
couldn't find it anywhere to rent) when I was stinking drunk, and it was
pretty good then. I thought though that it would be one of those movies
that is on crack that you watch when you are in a similar state and it
will be good, but it won't be otherwise. I watched it sober, and even
though there were still some slower moments in the movie, the ensemble
cast (most notably Paul Dawson, Yook Sin-Lee, PJ DeBoy,
and the fantastic Justin Bond) and in-your-face but honest
happenings of this group of people make this one of the year's best.
This film brilliantly shows how sexuality is such a huge part of our
culture today, and John Cameron Mitchell did a fantastic job with
both the direction and writing of this movie. I am so glad I took a ride
on the shortbus. Twice. Best scene: "In
the End," a stellar finale to this sexuality-driven movie. |
#08
d: Paul Greengrass
w: Paul Greengrass
| Much
like with the children of the Kennedy era, our generation will forever
remember where we were and what we were doing the day that the world
stood still: September 11, 2001. Many people have been skeptical about a
movie being made about the fateful day (and for good reason), but in the
hands of Paul Greengrass, such a controversial and bold move
could be accomplished. He took this subject and handled with fragility
and care, and what emerges is one of the best of the year. I liked how
we saw how the ground air traffic controlling works in this movie, but
the heart of this movie is, of course, those passenger and crew members
of the flight that fought back. Watching this movie is a harrowing
experience. I watched, but I didn't want to. Even though I knew all
along that the plane wouldn't make it, up until that last moment before
the plane crashes in the Pennsylvania field, I believed that the people
on that plane would be heroes without being martyrs. Regardless, they
are still heroes, and Greengrass' accomplishments here are pretty heroic
in and of themselves. Best scene: The
final 20 minutes that will haunt me and last in my mind forever. |
#07
d: Robert Altman
w: Garrison Keillor
| I
saw this with my father, and it was one of the funnest and greatest
movie experiences I have spent with him. This is the perfect movie to
see when you are down. Sure, parts of the movie are rather depressing
what with a lot of talk of both physical and legendary death, but
Nathaniel at TFE sums the end (and somewhat meaning) of this movie up
best when he states that "one day we will all give our final
performance." He was, of course, talking about the great Meryl
Streep, but I think one of the points of this movie is to make sure
you are giving your greatest performance all day every day because it
may be your last. How fitting that this sweet tale of these country and
folk-loving entertainers ended up being Robert Altman's last.
This is one of those movies where you can't really talk about how good
it is as a whole without talking about every scene that makes up the
film. There were so many great scenes in this one, but if I had to??
Best scene: "Sweetly & Tenderly,"
Streep and Tomlin singing from the heart. |
#06
d: David Frankel
w: Aline Brosh McKenna
| I
saw this in the theaters, and I liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked
it. I then bought it on DVD because of all of the Streep
nominations, and I completely fell in love with it. I understand that a
lot of this movie is different from the book, but I love it just the
same. Streep sunk her teeth into this role, and what emerged is one of
the greatest performances of the year. Emily Blunt is equally
fascinatingly hilarious as assistant to the devil herself ("I'm one
stomach flu away from reaching my goal weight!" lol), and poor Anne
Hathaway. She gives yet another fresh, layered, and impressive
performance but is upstaged by everyone else in the cast. This is the
most quotable movie of the year, and it's definitely the one that I can
and will watch over and over and over and over again. That's all. Best scene:
Andy's transformation, but any line delivered by Streep is gold
too. |
#05
d: Todd Field
w: Todd Field and Tom Perrotta
| Ever
since Desperate Housewives, it's been so cool to make a parody
out of suburbia and the individuals who consist of the communities. I
read this book about a year ago, and I absolutely loved it (save the
disappointing ending). When the cast and director was announced for the
movie, I was especially excited for the transfer. Todd Field did
a great job getting in the minds of these individuals and the
communities that they live in. I love it, too, that Tom Perrotta
took part in adapting the screenplay. What emerges is one of the best
films of the year with standout performances from Kate Winslet, Jackie
Earle Haley, and Phylis Somerville. I also thought Patrick
Wilson did a fantastic job, and his looks are an added bonus. I love
how literary the movie is as well, and I tremendously relate to Sarah
Pierce, especially. The last lines of the movie are the perfect way to
end this commentary. "You can't change the past, but the future is
a different story." That's really the motto and moral of this
story. Best scene: The ending of the movie which is the way the
disappointed ending of the book should have been. |
#04
d: Pedro Almodovar
w: Pedro Almodovar
| It
seems that a resonating theme this year was the past and how we deal
with it to pave the way for the future. That is a resonating theme in
this movie, and the amazing Pedro Almodovar is at the helm, so of
course the material is handled very carefully and meaningfully. I don't
know how he does it, but he knows how to get inside the mind of women
and their demeanor, not to mention their interactions with each other. I
also love how we get to see parts of the Spanish culture here as well as
far as tradition and such goes. The heart of this movie is facing your
ghosts (real or imaginary) head on, and admitting the hold it has over
you as well as moving on from there and building a better and healthy
future for yourself. The lead performance from Penelope Cruz is
one of the best of the year, and she works wonderfully with Almodovar.
It's so hard to believe that she delivered this performance after her
track record with English-speaking films. There is a lot here-- family,
mystery, comedy, drama, relationships. That makes it one of the best of
the year. Best scene:
Raimunda and Irene talking on the bench (pictured above). |
#03
d: Guillermo del Toro
w: Guillermo del Toro
| When
I heard about this movie being coined as an "adult fairy
tale," I gotta admit that I was a little skeptical in seeing it. In
the hands of Guillermo del Toro, however, after I saw it, I
didn't know why I ever doubted the potential of the film. This is really
a compelling look at WWII through the eyes of a young and imaginative
Spanish girl who feels she can trust no one or nothing in life. To
escape, in creating her own world, she starts to find herself and the
potential for being a better person to herself and to those around her.
Sadly, however, her evil step-father is standing in her way in her going
through that journey. The parallelism between the real world and
Ofelia's world is a sight to see, and in seeing it, one of the best
films of the year is being viewed.
Best
scene: Eating
the grapes and awaking the Pale Man. |
#02
d: Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton
w: Michael Arndt
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I
saw this film when it originally came out, and I didn't see what the big
deal was. I then watched it again when it came out on DVD, and I don't
know what was different, but I absolutely fell in love with it. The cast
is unbelievable, especially the great Steve Carell, but the
simplicity of this family story is what makes it so great. Each of these
characters has their flaws, and in helping each other through their
journeys, they also help themselves in becoming better individuals as
well. There's quirk here, for sure, but the best moments of this film
are captured in the tender and sweet family moments of great dialogue
created by Michael Arndt which give that realistic and moving
touch at these people and their lives. In showing us the journey of the
Hoover family, one of the funnest rides of the year emerged. It's cute,
serious, funny, touching, and the runner-up of the year for best film. Best scene: Frank and Dwayne on the pier.
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#01
d: Alfonso Cuaron
w: Alfonso Cuaron, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, and Hawk Ostby
| I
took a course called Literature and Culture last Fall, and ever since
then, I have been somewhat obsessed with Utopic/Dystopic literature and
films. When this came out a few weeks after my obsession began...well,
my obsession became worse. I actually think obsessive is a stretch with
this movie because I can't watch this movie over and over again. I don't
know how he did it, but Alfonso Cuaron created a world that is so
chillingly real and feels so eerily possible that it makes the audience
question the current situation in our own realities in the current day.
This futuristic look at a world sans fertility is moving, haunting, sad,
tragic, and ultimately hopeful. I don't know how anyone can watch the
scene pictured above and not get chills. It all rests in the hands of
the film makers, especially Cuaron and cinematographer Emmanual
Lubezki. Fantastic performances from Clive Owen, Clare-Hope
Ashitey, Julianne Moore, and Michael Caine make it
even better, and ith all of those ingredients, it's pretty impossible to
not have a truly compelling and near perfect movie to emerge. Best
scene: Walking
among the sodliers. |
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