Best of the Year, etc.

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My favorite eleven films of 2006, in descending order: 1. Children of Men (Universal); 2. The Lives of Others (Sony Pictures Classics); 3. The Departed (Warner Bros.); 4. United 93 (Universal); 5. Little Miss Sunshine (Fox Searchlight); 6. Volver (Sony Pictures Classics); 7. Babel (Paramount Vantage); 8. Pan's Labyrinth (Picturehouse); 9. Letters From Iwo Jima (Warner Bros.); 10. The Queen (Miramax); (11) Notes on a Scandal (Fox Searchlight).

Rotely & Unexceptionally Worthy...Almost Boringly So: The Pursuit of Happyness.

Most Agreeable Stylistic Exercise (if it weren't for that slight sense of stagnation): The Good German.

Most Agreeably Diverting "Entertainment" In Spurts (despite an almost profound lack of substance and connective-tissue movie-osity): Dreamgirls

Most Unpleasantly, Obsessively Violent Film of the Year: Apocalypto.

Most Defiantly Unlikeable "Quality" Movie of the Year: The Good Shepherd

Most Engagingly Modest and Respectable Character Study/Metaphor Movie of the Year, Even If It Isn't a Home Run: Venus.

Best David Mamet Movie Since Things Change: Edmond.

Efficiently Entertaining But Overshadowed by Star's (Ongoing) Public Implosion, and Didn't Take Enough Advantage of Phillip Seymour Hoffman: Mission Impossible 3.

Best Sex Scene: Jude Law going down on Juliette Binoche and sending her over the falls in Breaking and Entering,

Not Necessarily The Year's Funniest Comedy (For Me), but Definitely The Most Astonishing: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Lightly Enjoyable Mood Piece That Had a Predictable Plot, Yes, But Excessively Bad-Rapped All The Same: A Good Year.

Non-Profound, Studio-Stamped Comedy Drama That Gets Better With Each Successive Viewing: The Break-up.

Best Romantic LSD/Mescaline/Peyote Button Movie in Years: The Fountain.

Well-Made, Affecting, Under-Appreciated: Harsh Times.

Best 007 Film in 43 Years: Casino Royale.

Movies That Delivered, Meant, Epitomized and/or Amounted to Either Very Little or Nothing: For Your Consideration, Bobby, Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People's Temple, Marie Antoinette, The Prestige, Infamous, Hollywoodland, The Black Dahlia, All the King's Men, Art School Conifdential, The U.S. vs. John Lennon, Snakes on a Plane, Shadowboxer, Lady in the Water, Scoop, The Oh in Ohio, You, Me and Dupree, Wassup Rockers, The Proposition, The DaVinci Code, Poseidon....I could go on and on.

Hard-Luck Good Movies of the Year: Sketches of Frank Gehry (not enough love), Miami Vice, Catch a Fire, Superman Returns (which could have been so much better with a little editing-room discipline) .

Note: This is just a first stab. There are tons more movies that fit the various categories above, or warrant their own categories. Part 2 will follow tomorrow. This is Christmas Eve day and I'm going to hang back a bit, but I know there's a good number out there who are just as movie-obsessive as myself so....

Weekend finishers<< previous | next >>"Don's Plum" lawsuit dismissed

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 24, 2006 at 9:41 AM

comment #1

thevisceral says ...

Children of Men didn't do it for me. I was just too aware of how worked-out all the shots felt. It's more an exercise in logistics than anything.

I liked The Prestige. A lot of people didn't apparently. I don't care.

Posted by thevisceral at December 24, 2006 11:42 AM

comment #2

Mike Schaefer says ...

I saw Pursuit of Happyness 2 days ago and was surprised at how much I liked it. How often do big studios release movies that are *really* about poor people (who aren't saints, just average folks) and how they struggle to barely get by? POH doesn't hit you over the head with the race/class aspects of the story but they're right there in front of you. Impressive.

But then, my "Most Defiantly Unlikeable 'Quality' Movie of the Year" would be Babel.

Posted by Mike Schaefer at December 24, 2006 11:48 AM

comment #3

actionman says ...

my favorites of 2006:

1. The Departed
2. The Good Shepherd
3. Miami Vice
4. United 93
5. Apocalypto
6. Letters from Iwo Jima
7. World Trade Center
8. The Prestige
9. Borat
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
11. Running Scared

still haven't seen Children of Men, Perfume, Dreamgirls, Curse of Golden Flower, Venus, and a few others I'm sure.

also really liked Fast Food Nation, Deja Vu, Flags of Our Fathers, Little Miss Sunshine (to a certain degree, need to see it again I think), Mission Impossible 3 (had some of the best, cleanest looking action scenes in a long, long time), Sympathy for Lady Vengenance, Thank You For Smoking, and lots of others.

Posted by actionman at December 24, 2006 12:10 PM

comment #4

actionman says ...

and Harsh Times was certainly one of the more underrated movies of the year. As well as Hard Candy--incredible.

Posted by actionman at December 24, 2006 12:11 PM

comment #5

Chris Molanphy says ...

Just wanted to say "Word!" on your assessment of 'Superman Returns': a somewhat underrated, three-star movie that would've been a four-star if it'd been a half-hour shorter (and, in my dream world, kept all of the supporting actors and dumped the two leads).

Posted by Chris Molanphy at December 24, 2006 12:15 PM

comment #6

Hallick says ...

"I liked The Prestige. A lot of people didn't apparently. I don't care."

I thought The Prestige was an enormously underrated knockout; like a wave that slowly builds itself up to bone crusher status. The two magicians are really unlikeable several times over, but the implications of their decisions (especially what Jackman's character ultimately chose to do for his art) got me caring a lot for both of them by the conclusion.

The screenplay definitely deserves an Oscar nomination, but it isn't going to happen.

Posted by Hallick at December 24, 2006 12:20 PM

comment #7

actionman says ...

i agree with all that Hallick--it's a beautifully layered movie that gets more and more rewarding on multiple viewings. and the hand-held, natural light cinematography was beautiful and interesting all the time.

Posted by actionman at December 24, 2006 12:21 PM

comment #8

PanTheFaun says ...

Most incomprehensibly directed film that's garnering inexplicable praise because of its legendary star, even though he doesn't do much in it besides dodder around: "Venus"

Most defiantly unlikeable 'quality' film of the year: "Letters from Iwo Jima"

oh, and my top 10:
1. Pan's Labyrinth
2. Children of Men
3. Babel
4. The Fountain
5. United 93
6. The Departed
7. Little Miss Sunshine
8. Borat
9. Dreamgirls
10. Volver

Posted by PanTheFaun at December 24, 2006 12:22 PM

comment #9

JD says ...

The Prestige was first-rate cinema all the way, as were Marie Antoinette and The Proposition. Still, your lists are surprisinly reasonable, Jeff. But why didn't Miami Vice crack the top 11? And how the hell can you keep praising Babel? You know it's a giant step back for all involved.

Most overlooked (and arguably best) movies of the year: Neil Young Heart of Gold and Down in the Valley.

Posted by JD at December 24, 2006 12:30 PM

comment #10

EDouglas says ...

I would hope that Children of Men would be #1 with all the ads I've seen using your quote all over the place (newspapers, internet, maybe even TV)! Not a bad list... I'm just finishing my write-up so my Top 10 will probably be up on Tuesday.

Posted by EDouglas at December 24, 2006 12:36 PM

comment #11

actionman says ...

really want to see Down in the Valley. I also really dug The Fountain and The Proposition.

Posted by actionman at December 24, 2006 12:36 PM

comment #12

lawnorder says ...

My favorites:

1. Casino Royale
2. United 93
3. The Lives of Others
4. The Prestige
5. Running Scared
6. Brick
7. The Pursuit of Happyness
8. The Aura
9. The Queen
10. Babel
11. Little Children
12. Marie Antoinette
13. The Devil Wears Prada
14. Dreamgirls
15. Children of Men
16. Harsh Times
17. Tzameti (Thirteen)
18. The Inside Man
19. The Proposition
20. The Descent

Least favorite/most disappointing (in no particular order)

1. Running With Scissors
2. The Fountain
3. Superman Returns
4. The DaVinci Code
5. World Trade Center
6. The History Boys
7. The Blood Diamond
8. The Departed (preferred the original in every way)
9. The Black Dahlia
10. The Good German
11. The Wicker Man
12. Lady in the Water

Haven't seen: Apocalypto, The Good Shepard, Rocky Balboa

Posted by lawnorder at December 24, 2006 12:42 PM

comment #13

EveHarrington says ...

Thank God someone finally mentioned HARSH TIMES which to me is easily one of the best most overlooked films of the year. Seek it out -- it's gritty, truthful, beautiful, scary, intense. Best film of its particular oevre in a LONG TIME! YAY!! OK, Jeff, most of your other other choices are very meh! to me but you get points for Harsh Times's inclusion in this list.

Posted by EveHarrington at December 24, 2006 2:01 PM

comment #14

le corbeau says ...

"Movies That Delivered, Meant, Epitomized and/or Amounted to Either Very Little or Nothing:"

Wow, it's amazing how quickly I forgot some of those movies even existed. (Marie Antoinette! There WAS a movie about her, wasn't there!)

By the same token, I try to remember what the big blockbuster movies of the summer were... and all I can think is Superman Returns, and there was another Pirates of the Caribbean which I didn't see.

I saw a lot of silent movies this year. In fact, I could probably make a ten best out of them. I won't be that self-indulgent on Jeffrey's nickel, but I will say, the most grownup, the most modern, and in many ways the most interesting drama of the year for me was Mauritz Stiller's Erotikon, new on DVD from Kino. It was made in 1920.

Posted by le corbeau at December 24, 2006 2:54 PM

comment #15

Doghouse Reilly says ...

1. Children of Men
2. Volver
3. Tristram Shandy
4. Dave Chappelle's Block Party
5. Little Miss Sunshine
6. Jackass 2
7. Half Nelson
8. The War Tapes
9. Marie Antoinette
10. Brick

Least favorite films / biggest disappointments: The Departed, The Black Dahlia, The Prestige

Posted by Doghouse Reilly at December 24, 2006 2:57 PM

comment #16

York "Budd" Durden says ...

No top ten list since I haven't seen many of the year-enders yet, but I did finally catch Little Miss Sunshine upon its DVd release. I enjoyed it but found its flaws egregious enough to warrant a headshake at all the attention and praise. The suicidal gay man just happens to run into his ex-lover and professional rival at a gas station halfway to the Pacific Ocean from ABQ? A stunning contrivance that took me right out of the picture. Moderately forgivable, I suppose--but still.

Also I am on Kinnear's side during the breakfast scene. It is irresponsible to allow an already overweight child to order ice cream for breakfast. Period. Does she want to be a winner or not?

This gets me to thinking. Did the little girl put on weight for the part? Perhaps a DeNiro/Clooney style Academy acting nod is in order.

Posted by York "Budd" Durden at December 24, 2006 3:20 PM

comment #17

bipedalist says ...

Great list. I am having a hard time picking a number one. There was a famous saying a friend's old, alcoholic stepfather used to say after drinking too much yet again: "I just want to sit here and f*&k." My redux of that famous phrase (which we once thought would make a very popular t-shirt) would be: "I just want to sit here and watch The Departed." Honestly. I've seen it twice and could watch it at least three more times without getting bored. So the shocker of the year it will probably be my no. 1.

Posted by bipedalist at December 24, 2006 4:06 PM

comment #18

T. S. Idiot says ...

Jeff, earlier you said The Aura "floored" you, yet it's missing from your list. Why?

Posted by T. S. Idiot at December 24, 2006 4:11 PM

comment #19

Ford_Fletcher says ...

The Aura is missing and so are a lot of other films Jeff liked better than the last three or four on his list. A separate listing for Casino Royale? What a bunch of bullshit. Jeff didn't even like The Queen, someone's kowtowing to critical consensus

Posted by Ford_Fletcher at December 24, 2006 7:21 PM

comment #20

Melquiades says ...

I have yet to see Chlidren of Men, The Lives of Others, Dreamgirls and Pan's Labyrinth.

So far, my top ten are:

1. Volver

2. Babel

3. The Departed

4. United 93

5. Casino Royale

6. Wordplay

7. The Queen

8. Borat

9. Little Miss Sunshine

10. The Pursuit of Happyness

Posted by Melquiades at December 24, 2006 7:37 PM

comment #21

MovieBob says ...

"The Prestige's" day will come when it gets to DVD and the same hardcore film geeks that worshipped "Fight Club" and it's ilk can watch it to memorization and become evangelists on it's behalf. The mainline critical press was NEVER going to give it it's due after it committs the unforgivable sin of diving into a genre they despise at midpoint. In a year's time, this will be a classic.

Posted by MovieBob at December 24, 2006 7:50 PM

comment #22

Ian Sinclair says ...

1. Casino Royale
2. Kingdom of Heaven (Extended Version)
3. The Departed
4. The Prestige
5. Apocalypto
6. The Queen
7. Letters From Iwo Jima
8. Pan's Labyrinth
9. Borat
10. Brick

Posted by Ian Sinclair at December 24, 2006 8:31 PM

comment #23

gruver1 says ...

Wells to T.S. Idiot: As good and curiously original as I thought "The Aura" was, I ranked it below #11. Call it #12. That still means it's pretty damn good, of course.

Posted by gruver1 at December 24, 2006 8:49 PM

comment #24

quizkid82 says ...

My top ten:

1. The Fountain
2. The Departed
3. V for Vendetta
4. Little Miss Sunshine
5. Brick
6. A Prairie Home Companion
7. The Notorious Bettie Page
8. United 93
9. World Trade Center
10. Apocalypto
(11. Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut)

Special award for the most insulting, exploitive, supposedly "meaningful" film: Blood Diamond

The most hateful, annoying mainstream "comedies": The Break-Up and The Devil Wears Prada

The movie I couldn't bring myself to see for months, and probably won't see even after it gets nominated for a bajillion Oscars: Babel

Biggest letdown with the world's most obvious plot twists: The Prestige

People who will see the light in about 10 years: Those who said The Fountain was no good

Posted by quizkid82 at December 24, 2006 9:15 PM

comment #25

Craig Kennedy says ...

I haven't seen Pan's Labyrinth yet so here's my top 9 in the order I saw them with the hope that Pan will become #10:

The Notorious Bettie Page
Lady Vengeance
Edmond
The Departed
Volver
Casino Royale
The Good German
Children of Men
Inland Empire

There are 13 runners up I won't bore you with.

I don't want to waste much time on the movies I hated beyond what I wasted watching them in the first place but the best reviewed movie I hated the most: The Intruder.

All in all it was a great year at the movies. Nothing effected me quite the way The New World did last year, but I had many great evenings at the theater.

I enjoyed all your lists, even if not all of the choices would have been my own. I love it that people love movies and I've enjoyed sharing and arguing opinions with all of you in 2006.

Happy Holidays everyone. I raise a Manhattan to 2007 at the movies.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at December 24, 2006 9:29 PM

comment #26

Rob says ...

I have yet to sse Pan's Labyrinth, Children of Men, Letters from Iwo Jima, Days of Glory and The Lives of Others, but otherwise...

1. Little Children
2. Friends with Money
3. Deliver Us from Evil
4. The Proposition
5. L'Enfant
6. Jesus Camp
7. The Departed
8. Borat
9. Fast Food Nation
10. Inland Empire

Posted by Rob at December 24, 2006 10:05 PM

comment #27

dobbsy says ...

1) THE LIVES OF OTHERS

2) APOCALYPTO

3) PAN'S LABYRINTH

4) VENUS

5) THE DEPARTED

6) LITTLE CHILDREN

7) VOLVER

8) UNITED 93

9) NOTES ON A SCANDAL

10) LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

Posted by dobbsy at December 24, 2006 10:33 PM

comment #28

Breedlove says ...

haven't come anywhere near seeing everything yet, but so far i'd say the best of the year are 'miami vice,' 'a prairie home companion,' united 93,' and 'apocolypto.'

Posted by Breedlove at December 24, 2006 10:48 PM

comment #29

ydgmdlu says ...

Wait a minute, Jeff, I thought that you didn't like The Queen?

Posted by ydgmdlu at December 24, 2006 10:49 PM

comment #30

Breedlove says ...

actionman, finally got around to seeing 'deja vu' and it may have been the worst movie i saw all year. are you serious? unwatchable. agreed on MI:3 though. really good.

i wish more people were talking about 'a prarie home companion,' which was such an elegant and thoughtful and charming film that really kind of touched me and made me think while entertaining me. what a note for the old warhorse to go out on.

most anticipated for next year is definitely the return of PTA. cannot wait.

Posted by Breedlove at December 24, 2006 10:56 PM

comment #31

ligaya says ...

A snippet on Reelz channel said that Abigail Breslin wore a fat suit.

Posted by ligaya at December 24, 2006 11:39 PM

comment #32

MathewM says ...

I haven't seen enough films this year to put together a top list. However I just watched Superman Returns for a second time (in HD no less): What became most glaring on the second viewing is how drawn out the third act is. The pacing is pretty good up to when Lois decides to investigate Luthor's mansion and then it's flat footed till the end. It also doesn't help that Routh is pretty bland to watch. Like I said before he really looks and acts like a mannequin. They could of CGI'd him for the whole film and nobody would of known the difference. Kevin Spacey is pretty one-note too and the film really needed a lighter tone. Right after the great opening titles the movie hits a speed bump with the dying woman signing over her fortune to Lex scene. Oh well, at least Singer promises to go all "Wrath of Khan" on the potential sequel.

One last thing; where's the love for Art School Confidential? Was I the only one to love this movie and feel it's a worthy follow up to Ghost World?

Posted by MathewM at December 24, 2006 11:49 PM

comment #33