Moving Pictures

Favourite flicks of 2006

11 January 2007

Well, I did the books so now I’m turning my attention to the films. And in no particular order my top films of 2006 are:

  • The Departed[1]
    Violent and great. But must be call “The Depaaahrted” for proper effect. Both DiCaprio & Damon were great, but the whole supporting cast were fantastic.
  • Pan’s Labyrinth[2]
    I loved this film. Visually stunning, and with a great story as well. Brilliant.
  • Little Miss Sunshine[3]
    Just wonderful. Funny and touching and so watchable. And another film with a great child actor, Pan’s Labyrinth being the other.
  • United 93[4]
    This may be here because of subject matter rather then purely the film, but I still think it deserves a mention. Gripping both because of the drama/tension raised, but also because of what you know happened.
  • Severance[5]
    Because who doesn’t love a silly gore-filled comedy. Not quite in the same league as Shaun of the Dead but I loved it all the same.
  • Superman Returns[6]
    Not perfect, but pretty damn close. Let down by having Bosworth play Lois Lane, but I thought that Routh was perfection as Supes.
  • The Wind That Shakes The Barley[7]
    This is one that’ll feature in quite a few history classes over the coming years I’d guess. The Irish civil war in all its violence and brutality.
  • El Lobo[8]
    Another Spanish language film, this time set in the 1970’s, and involving terrorism. Didn’t know anything about it before going it, but thought it was a very good film.
  • Junebug[9]
    This was just lovely. Yes, it is a quirky independent film but don’t hold that against it.
  • The Proposition[10]
    Nick Cave writes a film, we’re all expecting darkness, and that is certainly present. Very violent and harsh, but a great film.
  • Mirrormask[11]
    It may be a little similar plotwise to films like Labyrinth but this is still a great film in its own right. Great visuals.
  • Merry Christmas aka Joyeux Noel[12]
    This came out in 2005, but I didn’t see it til Jan 2006, so it still makes my list. Set in the trenches of World War I this is a story based on the true-life unofficial truce between the opposing sides of that war, and it makes for a great film.

Linknotes:

  1. full review of The Departed ↩
  2. my review of Pans Labyrinth ↩
  3. full review of Little Miss Sunshine ↩
  4. review of United 93 ↩
  5. full review of Severance ↩
  6. review of Superman Returns ↩
  7. My review of TWTSTB ↩
  8. My review of El Lobo ↩
  9. review of Junebug ↩
  10. My review of The Proposition ↩
  11. review of Mirrormask ↩
  12. my review of Merry Christmas ↩

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8 Responses

  1. Carl V. says:
    12 January 2007 at 1:29 am

    Stellar list! Great films that I have seen and several that I want to see. I was excited to get an email today saying that Pan's Labyrinth will be here on the 19th! Nice to see Mirrormask on the list.

  2. forgottenmachine says:
    12 January 2007 at 8:19 am

    Great list indeed.

    Can't wait for Pan's Labyrinth, Mirrormask was amazing and thought Junebug was excellent. Disappointed by Superman, though.

  3. Fence says:
    12 January 2007 at 12:19 pm

    I can't believe it has taken so long for Pan to come out over there Carl, wonder is it because it is in Spanish.

    It's strange, I'd almost forgotten about Junebug until I went back through my archives to see what I'd watched this year. It was great though.

  4. john says:
    12 January 2007 at 4:49 pm

    hey fence

    a fine list – most of which made my own top ten of the year, with the exception of The Proposition, which I really enjoyed but completely forgot about when the time came to mark the card for 06. The one title I'd disagree with is Mirrormask, which I didn't get at all.

  5. Fence says:
    13 January 2007 at 10:14 pm

    I would have forgotten a whole heap only I used my 10/10 and 9/10 ratings to get a list. The Proposition was a class film that everyone should watch, although maybe not when in a fragile mood.

    I'll forgive you disagreeing about Mirrormask, it takes all sorts after all ;)

  6. Tom says:
    16 January 2007 at 3:11 pm

    Yep, definitive list, I think…really glad I went to see the Proposition, it probably won't win any of the awards but it was unflinching and the fierceness of the performances was unforgettable

  7. Tom says:
    16 January 2007 at 3:14 pm

    Actually was Good night and good luck released here last year..I went to see it in 2006 anyway…brilliant film

  8. Fence says:
    17 January 2007 at 12:59 am

    Tom I wasn't all that impressed with Good Night and Good Luck. It all looked great and stylish, but I found it very slow.
    Unflinching is probably a very good description of The Proposition, but maybe not of the people watching it.

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