or The Good Shepherd
, Hollywoodland
, Little Children
, This Film is Not Yet Rated
, A Prairie Home Companion
or even Letters from Iwo Jima
, that's why they're not here. Dare I say 2006 is the best year since 2000?20. Goya's Ghosts
(drama)Natalie Portman plays both a prostitute and crazy woman in the same movie. And they're not the same character. It's a Spanish Inquisition tale as well, so you know it's brutal.
19. The Queen
(drama)Until she writes an autobiography, we will never really know what really goes on with the Queen of England. It's got to be pretty accurate. I understand she was a big fan of Helen Mirren's performance.
18. Mini's First Time
(comedy/crime)
(comedy/crime)One part "The Graduate", 2 parts murder cover up. Somewhat predictable, but overall very interesting. Pretty good cast too.
17. God Grew Tired of Us
(documentary)
There's been plenty of fiction comedies that use the "fish out of water" theme for a setup. It's different to see grown men in the modern world struggle with the 20th century technology, let alone 21st.
16. Friends With Money
(drama)
It reminds me of all the lost/confused wealthy people I see in Santa Monica/Brentwood and their inability to relate to people who don't have.
15. An Inconvenient Truth
(documentary)
I never thought I'd see a Keynote/PowerPoint presentation made interesting or relevant. Maybe I should try making my next movie this way.
14. Cars
(animation)
Pixar just keeps rolling along - literally. Paul Newman's last performance and it's a goodie.
13. The Last King of Scotland
(drama)
How do you humanize a man known as being a murderous and crazy dictator in Africa? You get Forrest Whittaker and a great adapted screenplay.
12. Thank You for Smoking
(comedy)
It's almost a running gag that you would imagine in a stand up routine. Only it manages to stay funny for two hours.
11. Little Miss Sunshine
(comedy)
Your prototypical indie comedy film with a heart. Nothing wrong with it when you've got a great cast and you throw the beauty pageant world upside down.
10. Idiocracy
(comedy)
Should have been seen as the next great cult movie after Office Space
. Unfortunately it's so hard hitting in it's thesis, it scared the studio into burying this classic. A must watch.
9. Borat
(comedy)
To me, this movie came out of nowhere kind of how Sacha Cohen's character ambushes his real-world subjects that he blends into his marvelously absurd fictional story.
8. Stranger Than Fiction
(comedy)
What happens when you cross Adaptation
with The Neverending Story
? I'm not sure, but this seems pretty close to it.
7. Priceless
(foreign comedy)
What can I say? I love Audrey Tautou ever since Amelie
. This just reminded me of why.
6. Flags Of Our Fathers
(war/drama)
The story that made one of the most iconic images in American history. And how it's all fake. Clint Eastwood has a knack of making his point with seemingly no effort.
5. Casino Royale
(action/suspense)
Best Bond film ever. I'm not a Bond fan whatsoever and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the movie.
4. Talladega Nights
(sports comedy)
I liked Will Ferrell before this. I loved Will Farrell because of this. Possibly the best sports comedy of all time.
3. The Prestige
(suspense drama)
What do you do with the principle cast and crew from the Batman franchise between movies? Only make a most excellent tale of jealousy and revenge.
2. Jesus Camp
(documentary)
One of the most frighteningly disturbing and scary movies of the year. Or possibly the most honest look at the passion some wonderful people have for their love of God. It all depends which side you want to take.
1. The Departed
(crime drama)
No surprise here. This is a great bookend to Goodfellas
without being a rehash. Not to mention the cast is loaded with great actors giving great performances. No way you're disappointed.
17. God Grew Tired of Us
(documentary)There's been plenty of fiction comedies that use the "fish out of water" theme for a setup. It's different to see grown men in the modern world struggle with the 20th century technology, let alone 21st.
16. Friends With Money
(drama)It reminds me of all the lost/confused wealthy people I see in Santa Monica/Brentwood and their inability to relate to people who don't have.
15. An Inconvenient Truth
(documentary)I never thought I'd see a Keynote/PowerPoint presentation made interesting or relevant. Maybe I should try making my next movie this way.
14. Cars
(animation)Pixar just keeps rolling along - literally. Paul Newman's last performance and it's a goodie.
13. The Last King of Scotland
(drama)How do you humanize a man known as being a murderous and crazy dictator in Africa? You get Forrest Whittaker and a great adapted screenplay.
12. Thank You for Smoking
(comedy)It's almost a running gag that you would imagine in a stand up routine. Only it manages to stay funny for two hours.
11. Little Miss Sunshine
(comedy)Your prototypical indie comedy film with a heart. Nothing wrong with it when you've got a great cast and you throw the beauty pageant world upside down.
10. Idiocracy
(comedy)Should have been seen as the next great cult movie after Office Space
. Unfortunately it's so hard hitting in it's thesis, it scared the studio into burying this classic. A must watch.9. Borat
(comedy)To me, this movie came out of nowhere kind of how Sacha Cohen's character ambushes his real-world subjects that he blends into his marvelously absurd fictional story.
8. Stranger Than Fiction
(comedy)What happens when you cross Adaptation
with The Neverending Story? I'm not sure, but this seems pretty close to it.7. Priceless
(foreign comedy)What can I say? I love Audrey Tautou ever since Amelie
. This just reminded me of why.6. Flags Of Our Fathers
(war/drama)The story that made one of the most iconic images in American history. And how it's all fake. Clint Eastwood has a knack of making his point with seemingly no effort.
5. Casino Royale
(action/suspense)Best Bond film ever. I'm not a Bond fan whatsoever and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the movie.
4. Talladega Nights
(sports comedy)I liked Will Ferrell before this. I loved Will Farrell because of this. Possibly the best sports comedy of all time.
3. The Prestige
(suspense drama)What do you do with the principle cast and crew from the Batman franchise between movies? Only make a most excellent tale of jealousy and revenge.
2. Jesus Camp
(documentary)One of the most frighteningly disturbing and scary movies of the year. Or possibly the most honest look at the passion some wonderful people have for their love of God. It all depends which side you want to take.
1. The Departed
(crime drama)No surprise here. This is a great bookend to Goodfellas
without being a rehash. Not to mention the cast is loaded with great actors giving great performances. No way you're disappointed.