2006 Top Ten Lists - Time to Throw Down!

Adam_S · 12-26-2006, 02:54 PM

Carrying on the tradition, here's the annual thread to collect your top ten films of 2006. Like last year, I'll keep track of the HTF tallies.

We suggest that you have seen at least 30 films from 2006 before posting a top ten list. If you'd like to link to the relevant post in the 2006 film list or the 2006 'track the films you watch' that'd be fantastic.
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Prior years
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

I'll start tracking lists on Janurary 2nd, after that, if folks update their lists, if they could send me a PM or post a notice to this thread, I'd much appreciate it.

Travis_S · 12-26-2006, 03:00 PM

Top 10 of 2006
(As of January 28th)

1. Pan's Labyrinth

2. Children of Men

3. United 93

4. The Descent

5. Casino Royale

6. The Departed

7. Miami Vice

8. The Prestige

9. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Bottom 5 of 2006
(As of January 6th)
1. Pulse
2. The Black Dahlia
3. Poseidon
4. The Da Vinci Code
5. Feast

(The list is subject to change)

Adam_S · 12-26-2006, 03:07 PM

My current top ten (7/10/07), a work in progress:

Stranger Than Fiction
The Departed
Joyeux Noel
When the Levees Broke: a Requiem in Four Acts
Borat
Perfume: Story of a Murderer
Children of Men
Dreamgirls
Monster House
The Devil Wears Prada
and my current worthy runners up:
Brick
The Queen
Babel
The Prestige
Apocalypto
Clerks II
Akeelah and the Bee
The Proposition
Letters from Iwo Jima
Pan's Labyrinth
Twelve and Holding
Flushed Away
Shut up and Sing
An Inconvenient Truth
Pursuit of Happyness
Little Miss Sunshine
Pirates of the Caribbean

Twelve and Holding would be higher if the adult actors weren't so blah. Pursuit of Happyness is too much of a feel bad film/story of Job for me to really get passionate about it. Flushed Away clicked for me in a way Wallace and Gromit never quite did. Pan's Labyrinth is thematically rich while playing with the classic 'three' tropes of fairy tales, but there's a slight frustration in moving between the two worlds I can't quite place my finger on. Proposition was so self assured and superb I wish I had been more into the film. I think I would like it better a second time. Letters from Iwo Jima I have a handful of issues, but now that I know the beats of the story I think the film will improve for me on a second viewing. Akeelah and the Bee was a delight and never took a single misstep. Clerks II sugar coated a lovely message about what it means to choose to not succeed, to choose to only drift along in the modern world. Toss in some interesting observations about relationships and love and despite the typical Smith coarse exterior you have quite a nice little movie.

Apocalypto was a great piece of pure action cinema. I was just confused by the end because I thought the film took place in 1000 AD not 1500 AD. I found it no more violent than Alien or Predator.

Devil Wears Prada has it all, fantastic script, great performances, wonderful editing. I'm especialy taken by Anne Hathaway whose generous performance graciously allows Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep to shine, but Hathaway still remains the beating heart of the film, our connection to that world. Hathaway's transformations are wonderful to watch. Because of her skill as performer we're willing to let her lead us completely down the road to the 'dark side' but still cheer in satisfaction when she comes back. yeah the movie is a bit fluffy, but so what? The film works.

Rocky Balboa is a writer's movie in many ways, there are several powerful speeches and quietly grand moments. I was surprised to see real character exploration going on. I think the film would have been stronger if it had been a three or five round exhibition, that way you don't need the injury for Rocky to realistically survive. The film hit my Dad much more strongly than it did me, and it was great to get to experience Rocky in the theatre with him again.

The Departed is so great and so entertaining it will probably rise to my top five on a second viewing. I love the dialogue. For pure entertainment this year, the film is second only to Borat. I'm so glad Mark Wahlberg is accumulating legitimate buzz for supporting. He had some of the best lines and moments of the movie. Waiting to look again at the ending. I do love that Rat though, perfectly captures the tone of the entire film.

Monster House took me back to the time I was ten. It so perfectly captured what it was for me to be that age, my friends and our neighborhood that I was instantly in love with the film from almost the first scene.

Brick has quietly moved up my list in the months since I've seen it. I'd have never expected to see it here right after watching it. But the film is so finely put together, so carefully crafted and honed, so sure of itself that I admire it more and more in retrospect. I'm really looking forward to a second viewing. I love the conceit of the film and Rian Johnson did a superb job.

The Queen was at the very top of my list for quite a while. Like Brick, the film is so well made, and never misses a step. Wonderful dialogue and incredible performances (Blair's wife is annoying though) and superb editing keep this film a constantly quiet delight.

Dreamgirls is almost as perfectly entertaining as Departed and Borat. It's a completely satisfying experience with superb songs and terrific performances. I'm getting tired of people slamming Jamie Foxx. Slam the way the role is written (likewise for Beyonce, but to a lesser degree) rather than the performer. Foxx's performance carries and stabilizes the entirety of the dramatic sections of the film. I truly don't understand some of the criticisms, where others see flat, I see nuance and a terrific quiet portrayal of a vile, vindictive, and ruthless man.

Perfume just connected straight into my brain. I work in post and the editing and sound design of the film took my breath away. The way they communicated the concept of scent through the cut is possibly my favorite cinematic experience of 2006. The script was excellent too, despite being light on the dialogue. Alan Rickman was either a bit over the top or miscast. I had a hard time believing him in the film. on the other hand Dustin Hoffman was a delight. and what a ballsy ending. I don't quite like the final coda, I think the film could have ended a little earlier but I understand it's necessity for the themes and character, but the rhythm of the film got a bit muddled following the big finale.

Borat - What can I say? Movies are about entertainment and Borat succeeds here better than any film in recent memory. the memory of my roomate literally bouncing in her seat because she was so overcome with laughter will be with me a long time. Having trouble breathing because I was laughing so hard is another. Add to that the film says a lot about our culture and negotiates our absurd race class and social boundaries and I'm hooked. This film is the reason I still try to see everything in the theater.

Brian.L · 12-26-2006, 05:28 PM

Top Ten of 2006

1. Children of Men

2. United 93

3. Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

4. The Departed

5. Lady Vengeance (Chinjeolhan Geumjassi)

6. Monster House

7. Casino Royale

8. The Science of Sleep (La Science des Rêves)

9. Little Children

10. Half Nelson

Honorable Mentions (in order of ranking): Letters From Iwo Jima, Stranger Than Fiction, Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno), Thank You For Smoking, The Prestige, Mission: Impossible III, Little Miss Sunshine, Inside Man, Brick, Tsotsi

EDIT 1/26/07: The Prestige added at #9, LMS moved off list.
EDIT 2/02/07: The Science of Sleep added at #8, MI:III moved off list.
EDIT 2/08/07: Half Nelson added at #9, The Prestige moved off list.
EDIT 2/22/07: Stranger Than Fiction added at #10, Thank You For Smoking moved off list.
EDIT 4/08/07: Letters From Iwo Jima added at #10, Stranger Than Fiction moved off list, honorable mentions shifted around and cleaned up a bit.
EDIT 4/29/07: Letters knocked off the list to make room for Little Children at #9.

Elizabeth S · 12-26-2006, 06:09 PM

Adam, since most of our lists will be "in progress", when will you start tallying? Can we just edit our original posts for changes?

My tentative Top 10 (as I'm sure I'll be seeing more eligible films):
(I use the U.S. release date for 2006 eligibility)

1. Joyeux Noël
2. Babel
3. The History Boys
4. Little Miss Sunshine
5. Clerks II
6. The Departed
7. Casino Royale
8. The Queen
9. United 93
10. Rocky Balboa

**HTF Ads**

Justin_S · 12-26-2006, 07:44 PM

1: The Fountain

2: Children of Men

3: The King

4: The Departed

5: Apocalypto

6: A Scanner Darkly

7: The Prestige

8: Down in the Valley

9: Art School Confidential

10: The Proposition

Honorable mention - Bubble

Haven't seen, but want to - Pan's Labyrinth, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Painted Veil...

Chuck Mayer · 12-26-2006, 08:53 PM

Also reserved...I need to see The Queen, Babel, and Dreamgirls to really close out the year (and some of those won't be seen until Netflix), but I'll have a list on here soon. Thanks...always a favorite thread

I know the top ten finally, even though I am missing some of the supposed biggies

1) The Fountain
2) Pan's Labyrinth
3) The Departed
4) United 93
5) Children of Men
6) Casino Royale
7) Letters from Iwo Jima
8) The Proposition
9) V for Vendetta
10) Slither (just for fun)

Tally me up

Jake Yenor · 12-26-2006, 09:21 PM

1. Casino Royale

2. The Prestige

3. Little Miss Sunshine

4. Children of Men

5. An Inconvenient Truth

6. Clerks II

7. Borat

8. Superman Returns

9. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

10. V For Vendetta

2005:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...5&postcount=37