Top 10 Films of 2006

Chosen for a variety of reasons, here are my ten favorite films released in 2006.




The Departed
Though I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, I loved the rest of the movie. Having seen most of Scorsese's work, it certainly seems a bit of a departure for him. Though not my favorite of his movies, it has not suprisingly become his biggest commercial success. Great acting, great direction. Just another reason to no longer dislike Leonardo DiCaprio.

V for Vendetta
I rarely encounter anyone who liked this as much as I did. The type of stylized action, without so much CGI, is right up my alley. Combine that with good writing, dialouge, acting and a fictional plot that touches upon the past, present and future, and you've got yourself one good film.

The Prestige
Neither Christopher Nolan nor Christian Bale has ever done me wrong, and this film is no exception. I absolutely loved it. As usual it was mostly overlooked by the Academy and critics, and had only decent commercial success. It's got layers upon layers, and a story that is self-reflectively designed around the subject matter in a unique way that promotes additional viewings.

The Good Shepherd
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I thought that it was well written and directed. Matt Damon did a superb job, though portraying a character largely devoid of emotion, he didn't get much recognition.

Inside Man
A solid film from Spike Lee, as with The Departed for Scorsese, this has become not suprisingly his biggest commercial success. At the time this and V for Vendetta stood out like sore thumbs amongst a hand full of less than stellar Hollywood offerings.

Casino Royale
The latest James Bond offering really got my blood pumping. I loved the film and Daniel Craig's portrayal of the 00 agent. Having seen almost all of the franchise's previous films, and having read quite a few of the novels, I was not disappointed. Although I could have gone without some of the elements of the "dark remake" lifted from Batman Begins it didn't hurt this franchise half as much as I felt it did the latest Superman offering.

Bobby
Another film I thoroughly enjoyed. The directing by Emilio Estevez was good and the story was interesting. The acting was mostly good. The message was well received, having been a fan of the Kennedy boys (the two of them) for a long time. Only serves to make you wonder all the more what happened to the political incarnates that were to come. I can't wait for Estevez's sophomore project.

Thank You For Smoking
Though there is conflict over when this was officially made, IMDB lists its release date as 2006. Aaron Eckhart was brilliant, and although you could debate the politics, as with many films, this one's well worth seeing.

Clerks II
I was admittedly hesitant about this one, especially after Jersey Girl (which I did like, but certainly falls to the bottom of this director's list). There's no remaking Clerks, they'll never be anything like it. Kevin Smith still fails to recapture that lightning in a bottle that was his first outing, and what came to fruition in Chasing Amy, but this is still a funny, likable movie. There's one part that had me laughing almost as hard as I did the first time I heard the $100 bill bit in Amy.

A Prairie Home Companion
I can understand, for once, why this was overlooked by film critics and award shows alike. It doesn't do a lot technically, or with script, story or cinematography, that hasn't been done before. Especially considering Robert Altman directed it. Though the real driving force here, is the actual show's creator, Garrison Keillor. But it does have a solid message, and its funny and entertaining. Plus I'm a sucker for good music.

Top 10 Films That Didn't Make the Top 10 List
Or other films I enjoyed this year, that didn't quite cut it.

1. Borat
2. Superman Returns
3. Hard Candy
4. Pursuit of Happyness
5. Nacho Libre
6. A Scanner Darkly
7. Dreamgirls
8. Half Nelson
9. 16 Blocks
10. Babel


Most Overrated Films of the Year
Yes, I did like these movies - just not as much as most people I guess. They were good, both technically and in regard to acting and cinematography. I just wasn't "wowed." Some had higher entertainment value than others, and some had a more important message, or greater artistic merit.

1. Little Miss Sunshine
2. Babel


2006 Films I Didn't Get to See (Yet)
Or movies I wanted to see, that might have made the top ten, but I wouldn't know because I didn't get to watch them.

1. For Your Consideration
2. The Queen
3. The Notorious Bettie Page
4. Harsh Times
5. Blood Diamond
6. Fast Food Nation
7. Lucky Number Slevin


Top 10 Films I Watched in 2006
These are films that came out in previous years, many of which I had wanted to watch for some time, that for whatever reason, I did not get to until this year.

1. The Machinist (2004)
2. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
3. Syriana (2005)
4. The Big Kahuna (2000)
5. Amores Perros (2000)
6. 21 Grams (2003)
7. The Pianist (2003)
8. Shine (1996)
9. Romper Stomper (1992)
10. Kids (1995)

Although this is a little late, I wanted to wait until after the Oscars (which were coincidentally on my birthday this year).