10.
"Borat"
Sasha Baron Cohen has used his mockumentary film as a springboard for one of the funniest films I have ever witnessed. The movie although not quite serious, presents a drastic statement about America. Cohen is all but shy about exploting our culture in this extremely halarious film.(1 Viewing)
9.
"Half Nelson"
For God sakes I had to catch this small indie in Chicago of all places, glad that expierience took place. Ryan Gosling shines in his role of a History teacher, who is also a drug abuser. Gosling transforms his actions and movements into Dan Dunne, a character who dares us to like him, but begs us to feel sorry for him. Although Gosling is superb, the film is also shared by another brilliant performance, by youngster Shareeka Epps, who knows of Dunne's actions, but remains quite fond of him, as his student. A subtle relationship is shared, the film proves a strong script and solid acting can turn an indie into gold. (1 Viewing)
8.
"Blood Diamond"
Edward Zwick is a master craftsman when dealing with epics that have political messages. He creates another one of those here with this violent and moving take on conflict(blood) diamonds in the Sierra Leone' in the early 90's. Leonardo DiCaprio plays smuggler and schemer Danny Archer in a cunning performance. Djimon Hounsou is startling as a raging father searching for his stolent son, who has been transformed by the ruling gangs of Leone to kill at will. Also starring the lovely Jennifer Connelly, as a relentless reporter. Although "Blood Diamond" mixes violence and political messages all to often, it doesn't shy away from what it wants to say, which makes it brave, good acting helps also. (1 Viewing)
7.
"Apocalypto"
Mel Gibson is a great director period! This film from start to finish was made with precise and extreme precision. Gibson more than anyone, can build a culture on screen and fill it with his own little subtleties and truths. The films works well as a culture under the microscope, and also as a violent and blood soaked chase film, that is consistently shot well. With unknown actors, and spoken all in Mayan with subtitles Gibson creates a hidden world, that comes to an end in front of our eyes. (1 Viewing)
6.
"The Prestige"
Let's just say this movie mind fucked me for 2 hours. Christopher Nolan who is known for "Memento", and "Batman Begins" made this film for sheer entertainment values. It's extremely trippy with good performances from Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Michael Caine, also look for David Bowie in a small but important role. The movie takes places in the turn of the century, Bale and Jackman are rival magicians trying to make a name for one another, all the while trying to attack each other's acts due to a personal tragedy one of the men went through in the past. The film asks us to "watch closely" throughout, all of the entertainment takes your eyes off of the real trick at the end that blew my mind. (2 Viewings)
5.
"Children of Men"
Wow, I dont know where to start discussing this one, a completely ambitious and noteworthy film. Alfonso Cuaron, a visionary with a passion for being behind the camera. He directs Clive Owen in this futristic cautionary tale set in London. Infertility has taken full effect on the world, while Britain mourns over the loss of the youngest human being of 18 years, Clive Owen is sent on a mission. He must transport a pregnant black woman named Kee (key to the future) to the "Human Project" a so called group of scientists working towards bettering our society and discovering why infertility has taken place. Julianne Moore places Julian, her group of "fishes" rebels, or freedom fighters, summon Theo (Owen) for this task. He must travel through war ridden territories to get Kee to safety. The film is dark and bleak as it is brave and powerful. Clive Owen is a man who has expierienced pain and wants to help Kee badly. Also strong performances by Michael Caine as Jasper, the pot smoking comic relief of this dark drama, who in my eyes should be nominated for supporting actor. The film is extremely brilliant in it's vision of the future, also showing a dark side of humanity, as refugees are held captive in cages, ala Holocaust. "Children of Men" is an essential viewing for any film fan. (3 Viewings)
4.
"United 93" -"World Trade Center"
Both films are equally powerful in telling there own seperate stories about the most horrific day the US has ever dealt with. Paul Greengrass (93) and Oliver Stone (WTC) use there movies as storytelling, not political messages that hint agendas as us. They supply there answers through what the characters know in these 2 films. "United 93" is the story of the doomed passengers on that lonely flight who fough back in the face of adversity. "World Trade Center" focuses on two Port Authority cops who were buried under the endless rubble of the first tower that fell that day, and there journey towards survival. Both films rang true to me in light of there emotional and power and force, although many thought these films were rushed to make profits, both hold there own. Weighing in on this subject must have been rough to face, but these directors bring there talents onboard, not only to tell important stories of courage and hope, but to ultimately shed light on these events. "United 93" (2 Viewings) "WTC" (1 Viewing)
3.
"Little Children"
The most under-viewed film of 2006, telling adult tales of immaturity, and childness. Todd Field is brilliant in dealing with films all about dialogue and acting. This is one of those films, after reading the book in 2 days, I couldn't wait for the film. I had to watch it on the internet, which proves a theatre viewing could make it even more effective. Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson play 2 stay at home parents that attract to one another. There spouses are too busy to realize there boredom with life. Winslet's Sarah and Wilson's Brad crave excitement and lust. They are the little children, even though the film is filled with really young kids being used as excuses to see one another. Great performances turn this movie about a long summer in suburbia into a funny, moving, and truthful examination about married life, sex offenders, and adult angst, to recapture a past that flew by in a second. Jackie Earle Haley plays Ronald McCorvey, the local sex offender who now lives with him mom. We feel bad for him as he is dangerous as he is innocent in a way. We never know what his next move will be. The acting in this is extraordinary, it moves the story along with ease, when nothing much at some points is happening. Jennifer Connelly also is good in a supporting role, as is Noah Emmerich who badgers McCorvey the whole film. Todd Field who has done "In the Bedroom" knows how to make us care for these foolish characters in this tale of regret, envy, and suburbia boredom.
( 1 Viewing)
2.
"Babel"
"Babel" is an international , multi-cultural puzzle of a movie that is devastating to watch, as it is to think about, and would even be worse to expierience. This was my most anticipated film before it came out, I saw it and immediately didn't fall in love with it, I admit, it's not easy to watch and take in. We follow 4 stories of parents and there children in Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico, and Japan. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett plays a struggling married couple on vacation. We see 2 young children who are supposed to be protecting there fathers flock, but instead are toying around with his gun, when testing the gun, they shoot Pitt and Blanchett's bus, hitting Blanchett in the shoulder. All of this along with the couples children and there nanny's journey in the desert, along with a deaf-mute female in Japan's story of isolation all tie together to wield a powerful story of chance, coincidence, and tragedy. This sounds like "Crash" but I can assure you, it posesses it's own original feel. The films has it's messages about tragedy, and pain. This is the final film in the trilogy of director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and screenwriter Guilermo Arriaga who also made "Amores Perros" and "21 Grams." I MUST see this a few more times to fully digest it's themes and mesages. I admire it's bravery in stortelling and realistic situations. The score is also brilliant, as is the last scene which haunted me afterwards. Rinko Kikuchi is brillant as the deaf-mute teenager! (1 Viewing)
1.
"The Departed"
My #1 film of 2006 is "The Departed" the violent saga involving cops and criminals was powerful, funny, violent, entertaining, and mind-blowing. This could be the year Martin Scorsese gets his Oscar. This all star cast includes Jack Nicholson, Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, Mark Whalberg, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson, and Vera Farminga. To tell anything more would be spoiling the film, I will only say that Scorsese is consistenly brilliant in his portrayals of mobsters and there own little sick worlds. Acting is great, dialogue is clever and vicious. The violence is overwhelming, and the climax was totally suprising. An all around gem! (2 Viewings)
Honorable Mention
Inside Man
Little Miss Sunshine
The Descent
The Pursuit of Happyness
Have not seen
Pan's Labryinth
Notes on a Scandal
Dreamgirls
Letters from Iwo Jima
Flags of our Fathers
The Good Shepherd
The Last King of Scotland
(top 10 subject to change, after this viewings)
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