2006 Top Ten Lists - Time to Throw Down! (1 Viewer)

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.

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.

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)

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

1. Stranger Than Fiction
2. The Departed
3. Joyeux Noel
4. When the Levees Broke: a Requiem in Four Acts
5. Borat
6. Perfume: Story of a Murderer
7. Children of Men
8. Dreamgirls
9. Monster House
10. The Devil Wears Prada
    and my current worthy runners up:
11. Brick
12. The Queen
13. Babel
14. The Prestige
15. Apocalypto
16. Clerks II
17. Akeelah and the Bee
18. The Proposition
19. Letters from Iwo Jima
20. Pan's Labyrinth
21. Twelve and Holding
22. Flushed Away
23. Shut up and Sing
24. An Inconvenient Truth
25. Pursuit of Happyness
26. Little Miss Sunshine
27. 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.

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, The Child (L'enfant), Mission: Impossible III, Little Miss Sunshine, Inside Man, Brick, Tsotsi

EDIT 1/06/11: Added The Child (L'enfant) to Honorable Mentions.

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

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...

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

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

Top 10:

1. The Prestige
2. The Fountain
3. The Departed
4. V For Vendetta
5. Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut
6. Thank You For Smoking
7. Stranger Than Fiction
8. The Proposition
9. Miami Vice
10. Casino Royale

Honorable Mentions:
Children of Men
The Good Sheperd
Borat

Worst:
1. The Descent
2. The Black Dahlia
3. Superman Returns

In progress, but as of 12/26/06:

1) Letters From Iwo Jima
2) United 93
3) The Proposition
4) Children Of Men
5)Borat
6) The Departed
7) Casino Royale
8) Half Nelson
9) The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
10) TIE: When the Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts and 13 Tzaimeti

I know that 'When the Levees Broke' was an HBO documentary, but it was just too good not to include on my year end list. However, if we must got by just theatrical releases, then '13 Tzaimeti' will be my number ten pick.

Placeholder

reserved

As of today:

(1) The Departed - Simply one of the most deftly crafted films I've seen in a while. It will be compared to it's counterpart (Infernal Affairs) but taken for what it is, it has fine touches that made it a treat to watch. Top notch acting.

(2) Children of Men - One of the best stories put to film I've seen. And Owen OWNS in it.

(3) Borat - People will easily dismiss this as just frat-type-humor; but this is far more then that, a great commentary on people. Coehn's performance is worthy of consideration.

(4) Little Miss Sunshine - So odd, so funny, and yet, all of the characters stay real.

(5) Dreamgirls - Hudson and Murphy are fantastic.

(6) Clerks II - Call it my Kevin Smith twist. But Clerks II is a real winner, while it has the traditional d*(& and fart jokes, the film has a real heart in showing us characters we knew before and how they grew up. One of the better male-friendship films out there (seriously!)

(7) Volver - I think a lot of people look at "The Queen" as the film of female roles. And it's good. But I think too many people will miss "Volver" which has some stunning performances and is a really challenging piece of work.

(8) Venus - Peter O'Toole should win Best Actor for his role. That's a hard thing to say since there are so many above who I like the performances of (Owen, Coehn, etc.) but O'Toole shows his chops in this feel-good film.

(9) Pursuit of Happyness - is there such a thing as a 'feel bad' film? This may be it. One of those films that beats the audience up so much that at a certain point it's almost brutal to follow along. You feel both bad for the guy and a bit sick and how much he goes through. This is NOT a feel good film. Even the end makes you question his determination. But it's well done and never felt cloying, and the further away I am from having seen it, the more I think about it and the performances.

(10) Apocolypto - I think a lot of people dropped this, ditched it, forgot about it, or just didn't want to pay attention because of the director, the mixed languages, whatever. But this is a deftly crafted piece of work and the camera work in it, as well as the score are fantastic. This is a film that exists as a piece of art. There are problems I have with the structure of the film, but it's so stunning that I can't keep it out of my top ten.

Notables: The Good Shepherd (unfortunately not as good as I wish it was, though Matt Damon is great in it), Dave Chapelle's Block Party (rarely has a film made me feel so good about people in general), Jonestown: The Life and Death of People's Temple (one of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time - very riveting)

Still yet to see: Pan's Labrynth, all of the Queen (didn't get to catch it all), Babel, Half Nelson.. I'm sure there are more..

This list has a long way to go, as I have so many more films I want to see. Here's version 1.2:

1. Letters From Iwo Jima
2. Superman Returns
3. Thank You For Smoking
4. Brick
5. Casino Royale
6. The Prestige
7. The Departed
8. Stranger Than Fiction
9. Miami Vice
10. Inside Man

Edit: Letters From Iwo Jima goes in at number 1. What a wonderful film. Clint Eastwood's big risk project pays off in spades. Little Miss Sunshine drops out.

As of today.......

1. United 93
2. Pan's Labyrinth
3. The Departed
4. Superman Returns
5. Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut
6. Children Of Men
7. A Inconvenient Truth
8. Casino Royale
9. Miami Vice
10. Clerks 2


Still Have to see:
Letters From Iwa Jima,Children Of Men, The Good Shepard, Blood Diamond,Deliver Us From Evil, many more

Are really 2005 and dont qualify:
The Proposition, The Descent (suprisingly good)

Biggest Suprises:
Rocky Balboa
Clerks2

Most Overrated:
Borat
Babel (Very disappointing)

I'll let you know when I start tallying, probably January 2nd, cause that's when I get back to my work computer. 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.

I use academy eligilibility, otherwise Joyeux Noel would be my number one for 2006 as well.

I've already updated my list putting in Rocky Balboa at number 8

Adam

1- Children of Men
I was expecting a lot, and it blew me away nonetheless. Absolutely stellar production value, incredible camerawork.


2- The Departed
My best movie of the year by far. Excellent acting by the leads, and an hilarious performance by Whalberg.


3- V For Vendetta
This year's Batman Begins. V is the most interesting character I've seen in years.


4- Jet Li's Fearless
As far as I'm concerned, this is the kung-fu movie I've enjoyed the most. I rarely am compelled by non-fight scenes, but this one grabbed me every single frame.


5- Babel
Strong and subtle performance, and beautifully filmed.


6- Little Miss Sunshine
Hilarious and strangely moving.


7- Pan's Labyrinth
Would have liked a bit more of the fantastical world, but still an excellent movie.


8- United 93
Gripping, fluff-free and respectful.


9- Thank You For Smoking
Cynicism at its best.


10- X-men 3
Not many people seem to like this one, which I thought was really well made, action packed, and tragic.

Worst movie I saw everybody hated: The Black Dahlia

Worst movie I saw everybody loved: Stranger than Fiction
Best Movie I saw everybody hated: Dead Man's chest

Surprise of the year: Little Miss Sunshine

Left to see: Casino Royale, Babel, The Queen, The Fountain

10. Superman Returns

9.Rocky Balboa

8. Letters from Iwo Jima

7. Marie-Antoinette

6. Lady Vengeance

5. Casino Royale

4. Little Miss Sunshine

3. Kingdom of Heaven (The Real Cut)

2. The Fountain

1. The Departed

As of 02/04/07
06 films seen: 105


1. Little Miss Sunshine
2. The Prestige
3. Akeelah and the Bee
4. The Departed
5. Marie Antoinette
6. Brick
7. Children of Men
8. L'Enfant
9. The Proposition
10. Thank You For Smoking

1. Sweet Land
2. Letters From Iwo Jima
3. Inside Man
4. Shortbus
5. Thank You For Smoking
6. Kekexili: Mountain Patrol
7. Manderlay
8. Babel

2006 films watched

Unable to come up with a solid ten, I'm leaving it at eight. Poor year for imports, and very few worthy docs, all in all a disappointing year. Don't anticipate any changes upcoming, having seen virtually all I intend on seeing for the year