Best And Worst of 2006

THE BEST

10) 13 Tzameti- Excellent yet disturbing film commenting on the decadence of man and how low we can go.
9) Little Children- Desperate Housewives meets Happiness. Strong work from Kate Winslet and a heartbreaking Jackie Earl Haley.
8) The Departed- Excellent crime drama from Martin Scorsese. Great work from a great cast and an American version of a Asian hit that actually worked.
7) The Queen- Helen Mirren is brilliant as Queen Elizabeth dealing with the death of Princess Diana and Britain's complicated relationship with the royal family.
6) Babel- Terrific human drama connected by a single element dealing with both intimate and global issues.
5) Apocalypto- Say what you want about Mel Gibson, he’s a great filmmaker. This is a well crafted, exciting, powerful adventure and a wild ride.
4) The Proposition- Gritty and realistic Australian western with beautiful cinematography and great acting by Guy Pearce, Danny Houston and Ray Winstone. It recalls early Sam Peckinpah.
3) Crime Novel- Brilliant Italian film about three friends who become notorious gangsters in Rome during the 70’s.
2) Flags of Our Fathers/Letters From Iwo Jima- Excellent individual films examining themes from the same battle from American and Japanese perspectives. Taken together, a masterpiece on the futility of war.
1) Pan’s Labyrinth- Simply amazing. A perfect blend of fantasy and reality creates a captivating and remarkable adult fairy tale.

Honorable Mention

Man Push Cart
Little Miss Sunshine
The Illusionist
Casino Royale
The Last King of Scotland
United 93
Inside Man
Volver


THE WORST

10) The Fountain- Full of leaks. A metaphysical mess.
9) Poseidon- Used the wave from "The Perfect Storm" to do a lame remake.
8) All The King’s Men- Sean Penn tries to keep it interesting but dull and miscast remake.
7) Crank- Bad live action road runner cartoon.
6) V For Vendetta- P for Pretentious.
5) Running With Scissors- Some strong acting but depressing story and non-likable characters. Good 70’s soundtrack though.
4) Kettle of Fish- terrible comedy with miscast Gina Gershon and Matthew Modine.
3) The Omen- Shot for shot remake without the suspense. Rent the original.
2) The Wicker Man- Lame, lame, lame remake of the British cult thriller. Rent the original.
1) Lady In The Water- The worst movie of the year. What were actors like Paul Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright thinking? Shyamalan sinks to new depths.