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The Projectionist’s Top 12 Films of 2006

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I haven’t seen every movie in 2006, but I’ve seen most of the ones that were talked about.  As always, narrowing a list down to a certain amount means some good ones will be left off.  Also, it’s all a matter of opinion.  To say “Best” suggests facts, and evaluation of a film’s entertainment value or contribution to film is not a matter of cold, hard fact.

Drumroll please, The Projectionist has turned in his list.

12. Apocalypto

Mel Gibson’s Mayan adventure was on a fast track to awards season before his racist rant essentially derailed the film’s hopes.  But before all of that, Apocalypto was pushed back from a summer film to a end-of-year, for your consideration event.  Watch the film with an unbiased eye, and see one of the best action films of the year.  If you don’t like brutal violence, then shy away, but you can’t deny how well made it is.

11. Cars

Pixar’s movies have regularly hit my lists, but rarely outside of the top 10.  John Lasseter’s Cars probably ranks last among Pixar’s library, but it’s an amazing testament that one of their least still ranks as among the best in this given year.  The animation was spectacular, and once again Pixar puts more in one film than almost any other animated film this year.  They create worlds, not just foregrounds.

10. Volver

Pedro Almodovar’s intimate family drama, complete with a stunning Penelope Cruz, was well worth the hype that came before it hit the States.  But it wasn’t just Cruz who shined, it was the rest of the cast as well, namely Carmen Maura and Lola Duenas.

9. Letters from Iwo Jima

It might surprise some who read this site that Letters gets mention in my top 12 list.  After all, I did spend time arguing against its inclusion into the Best Film of 2006 talk.  That’s bias, ladies and gentlemen, and I’m sorry.  What I should mention is that Letters is a good movie, and it pulled an amazing trick by making its companion Flags of Our Fathers a better film.  Letters is a much tighter, better-told flick, even if it does meander at times.

8. Little Children

Little Children, complete with its hilarious, deadpan narration, is one of the most interesting films of the year.  Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson play good character studies, but it might be Jackie Earle Haley who steals this one as a child molester trying to live a normal life.  Todd Field makes a lot of uncomfortable subject matter feel so normal, it seems as harmless as a dream.

7. Flushed Away

The most underseen animated film of the year, and who could blame the public for the poor marketing, squaring this off with Santa Clause 3 and splitting the audience.  Also, having the title Flushed Away was a turnoff, as John Q Moviegoers prepared for a load of poo humor.  Surprisingly, it contains fewer (if any) of these type of jokes than Charlotte’s Web does.  Ingenious characterizations and that trademark Aardman humor made this one a big winner, and is certainly the best animated film of the year, no matter how many people love Happy Feet.

6. Inside Man

Spike Lee’s heist flick with surprises is his biggest hit ever.  Denzel Washington and Clive Owen square off in a series of mind games, one with a great ending.  Just for pure entertainment, it was one of the best of the year.

5. The Prestige

Speaking of entertainment, Christopher Nolan’s dueling-magician flick The Prestige constantly pulls off amazing tricks, a chilling ending, and a darker tone than you might be used to in a would-be blockbuster.  The Prestige wasn’t a huge hit, but it deserves mention.

4. Borat

Easily the funniest movie of the year, even if not everything was real.  There are very few scenes that absolutely fall flat, and his run-in with Pamela Anderson is one of the most memorable moments in film this year, even though she was in on the joke.

3. The Departed

Another review I might like to take back is The Departed, in which I focused a bit too much on the negative when there was so much more positive to be elaborated upon.  Scorsese has this jam-packed with suspenseful scenes, mostly involving Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio, perfect in their roles as a mole and a rat.  I still think Nicholson went over the lines as the main baddie, and Vera Farmiga sometimes looks too much like she’s acting instead of experiencing a scene, but The Departed, after a second look, is easily in the top 3 films this year.

2. Children of Men

Really, almost a tie for number 1 and there’s really no reason that it “drops” to number 2 other than pure feel.  Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men basically has gone undetected by the awards committees this season, and it’s a shame because it’s one of the best of the decade.  See how Cuaron weaves his way through a war-torn country and scenic safehouse areas, and you can’t deny his contribution is lesser than any of the directors who will be named over him when the Oscars are announced.

1. United 93

Paul Greengrass and this film will also likely not be recognized this year, one of the most intense experiences you’ll have watching a film ever.  It’s like watching the very end of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre without the noise.  It’s a 9/11 movie, and many of the comments you normally make about movies can’t really be properly expressed.  To say it’s breathtaking or white-knuckle might seem disrespectful.  Since I’ve already said it (I intend no disrespect), more action movies should be made like this.  Greengrass realizes that 9/11’s biggest emotions were fear, unease, and confusion.  It’s all there, with the most stunning visuals you will ever witness and an unforgettable last scene.

The Bottom 12 films of 2006.

Other Observations

Comments

Comment from KW
Time: January 2, 2007, 11:45 am

Wow. Good list. I’ve been reading your reviews for a long time now, and all those in your list felt like they were in the right order considering your reviews of each.

Wish I’d seen them all. But….United 93 was intense and gripping and just plain great, despite the fact that I will probably never watch it again. Loved Cars…just watched it yesterday, in fact.

I have had Prestige and Inside Man on my Must-Watch list for forever. Need to get off my butt and see some more of these films. Of course….it’s tough to do that when every other movie I see is my girlfriend dragging me to Eragon-type crap. Oh well. I’d rather be in love and see some crappy films than have total control over which films I see and yet have no girlfriend.

Comment from Brandon
Time: January 3, 2007, 5:20 pm

Nice list. Both ‘Volver’ and ‘Little Children’ have yet to come to town here and we’re getting ‘Children of Men’ tomorrow night (if it’s as good as everyone is saying I might have to alter my top ten, didn’t we have a discussion about that?!) Anyhow, you can check out my best and worst list on my site in my blog. myspace.com/roughcustomerfilms, both of our lists have a few things in common.

Comment from Lori
Time: January 7, 2007, 11:49 am

I don’t get out to see many movies anymore, but I have seen a few that you mentioned here and must agree. ‘Inside Man’ was great…I wish Spike would make more like it. My husband would agree with you on ‘Apocalypto’…he got to see it and thought it was very good also. And I’ll make sure I call the babysitter and grab some time to see ‘Children of Men’…I’ve been looking forward to that one.

And I’m totally with you on ‘The Prestige’ and ‘United 93′…both are amazing films that are now being totally ignored awards-wise in favor of the same old, same old. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by that.

Comment from The Projectionist
Time: January 7, 2007, 2:47 pm

Thanks again, Lori. Again, I can’t recommend Children of Men enough. How this one slipped through the cracks (and we’ll see how much on January 23) will remain a mystery to me for a long time. And I think the Academy, which on the whole is conservative, is going to choose not to recognize United 93 for political reasons.

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