Films Of The Year: 2006 December 31, 2006
Posted by gproject in : Articles , trackbackI’m putting forward this list of ‘top films’ from 2006 only provisionally, since I find myself consistently about twelve months behind when it comes to watching new movies. I was worried that I might have only seen ten films from 2006 at this point, and while that turned out not to be the case, I’ll probably see many more during next year which will completely change this list.
Also, you might think that some of these films came out in 2005, and you’d be right, but I’m using the date of their UK theatrical release as a basis for what counts as ‘this year’.
So with that, I bring you my top films of 2006:
1) Casino Royale
Fantastically entertaining and a real revival for the franchise. Bond will never be the same again. [Review]
2) Brick
Rian Johnson’s wonderful detective noir set in high school plays it straight, and makes for one of the most original films of the year. [Review]
3) Borat
No substance, but undeniably funny. Sacha Baron Cohen’s character offends everyone and comes out smiling. [Review]
4) Hard Candy
Even if the premise doesn’t creep you out, the actual film still might. Original thriller from David Slade that dares to tread where others wouldn’t. [Review]
5) The Matador
A wonderful turn from Pierce Brosnan, coming off the bond franchise and into this comedy about a burnt-out hit man. Great fun from start to finish.
6) Superman Returns
An entertaining but flawed return for the man of steel doesn’t hit Batman Begins highs, but is solid enough for repeat viewings. [Review]
7) Inside Man
Spike Lee creates a stylish and enjoyable crime thriller, with a great cast and some interesting turns.
8) Cars
Pixar’s seventh feature release, proving that even a lesser outing from the CG maestros still blows all their competition out of the water. [Review]
9) Find Me Guilty
Vin Diesel puts in a great performance as the gagster gangster in this unusually funny courtroom drama based on real events. [Review]
10) Miami Vice
While it may not be Michael Mann’s greatest work, the unique visuals help pull this television update above the standard blockbuster fare. [Review]
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There are of course, other films that I enjoyed this year but which didn’t quite make the cut. These all fall in the 11-20 region, and are given in no particular order.
First off, Walk The Line which showcased excellent performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon in this moving Johnny Cash biopic. World Trade Centre [Review] was a movie I didn’t want to even see, but turned out to be a heartfelt piece of filmmaking. On the action front there was Mission: Impossible 3, the J.J. Abrams instalment with a fantastic pre-credit sequence that showed M:I-2 up for the vapid nonsense it was. Alternatively there was the adaptation of Frank Miller’s novel V for Vendetta which while not perfect in execution, was a break from standard flash-bang comic book movies. Also, the surprisingly brutal Running Scared [Review] showed me something I didn’t think I’d ever see: an impressive Paul Walker movie.
And on the (slightly) lighter side of things there was the quick-fire exchanges of Lucky Number Slevin [Review], even if some of the plot points and characters were slightly stereotypical. Also worth a mention are two low-budget offerings: Shopgirl based on Steve Martin’s novella and starring himself alongside Jason Swartzman, as they fight for the innocent Clare Danes. And Waiting, a kind of Clerks for the restaurant trade, which introduces some realistic characters as well as playing off the horrors of the food service industry. Finally, the newly released Night At The Museum [Review] got my approval on Boxing Day, as an entertaining fantasy adventure for the whole family.
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Not Yet Seen
As mentioned earlier, I’ve barely scratched the surface of movies from 2006 at this point, so I’ve probably missed out your personal favourite of the year. Off the top of my head, I can think of these movies which I’m excited about in some way, but I’ve yet to see:
The Departed, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Little Miss Sunshine, Children Of Men, Clerks 2, Thank You For Smoking, A Scanner Darkly and The Prestige.
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One Year On: 2005
And for the sake of completeness, here’s my full 2005 list:
1) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
2) Batman Begins
3) Crash
4) 40 Year Old Virgin
5) In Good Company
6) Sin City
7) My Date With Drew
8) Wedding Crashers
9) Jarhead
10) Unleashed (Danny The Dog)
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11) Lord of War
12) Constantine
13) Elizabethtown
14) The Descent
15) Team America: World Police
16) Everything Is Illuminated
17) Thumbsucker
18) The Weather Man
19) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
20) Green Street (Hooligans)With honourable mentions going to: The Constant Gardener, Corpse Bride, Serenity, A History of Violence, Ladder 49 and Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire.
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