Jan 11 2007
Favourite flicks of 2006
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:
Tags: El Lobo, favfilms2006, Favourite films, Junebug, Little Miss Sunshine, Merry Christmas, Mirrormask, Pan's Labyrinth, Severance, Shaun of the Dead, Superman Returns, The Departed, The Proposition, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, United 93- full review of The Departed ↩
- my review of Pans Labyrinth ↩
- full review of Little Miss Sunshine ↩
- review of United 93 ↩
- full review of Severance ↩
- review of Superman Returns ↩
- My review of TWTSTB ↩
- My review of El Lobo ↩
- review of Junebug ↩
- My review of The Proposition ↩
- review of Mirrormask ↩
- my review of Merry Christmas ↩
The story revolves around Ofelia, an 11 year old girl whose mother has married Captain Vidal and is expecting his child. It is 1944, and Vidal is an officer in Franco’s army, hunting down guerillas in the mountains. Vidal is about as far from a nice chap as you can get, and throughout the film his actions are among the most violent and gruesome on screen. He has no humanity, only caring about ridding the world of the guerillas and cleansing Spain so his son can grow up in a new world. Franco has won the war and he intends to show those still fighting what that means, even if he has to kill every last one of them and their sympathisers.