Best Films of 2006 So Far?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 1:47pm

Inspired by both Ebert and Berardinelli who have recently made their mid-year lists, here are my picks for the best films of 2006 thus far:

5) CARS - Cars continues Pixar's incredible track record with its incredibly beautiful animation and extremely well-developed characters. While not as good as Finding Nemo or Incredibles, it is, nevertheless, a fine addition to the Pixar canon. Anyone who can make even LARRY THE CABLE GUY (!!!!) amusing is a definite genius.

4) THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - Comedy of the year so far. Aaron Eckhart hasn't been this good since IN THE COMPANY OF MEN. The opening scene where he's trying to give an arguement as to why the cigarette companies care for cancer victims is one of the most brilliant things I've seen in a long, long time. Perfectly funny movie and a good debut film by Jason Reitman. Can't wait to see what he does next.

3) PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION - While it feels a bit slight for an Altman film, it nevertheless is wonderful to see him in action still (At the age of 80, yo!). It's probably the most joyful and cheerful film about death since THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS, focusing not on impending gloom and doom but on good memories shared and good times had. Kevin Kline once again proves what an underrated comedian he is.

2) BUBBLE - A great experimental effort by Soderbergh and something of a milestone in movie history in that it was released in theaters, on DVD, and on cable on the same day. That's an absolutely perfect strategy for a small art film like this that wouldn't have been seen by a large audience anyway. Either way, it's still a brilliant film that hums with the authenticity of utter realism, all leading to a final shot that left me reeling as if Soderbergh had just swiftly kicked me in the testicals with jackboots.

1) UNITED 93 - Haunting. Brilliant. Incredible. Amazing. Greengrass is a ****ing genius. A truly honorable and beautiful memorial to the victims and their families. If you can stomach such an experience, please see it. You will gain a greater understanding of what happened, not only aboard the plane, but on the ground as well.

HONORABLE MENTION: THE LIBERTINE - Actually a 2005 film that was inexplicably released in March 2006, a brilliant film containing the most amazing Johnny Depp performance in years.

MOST DISSAPPOINTING: V FOR VENDETTA - V FOR VENDETTA does not understand that thinly-veiled allegories do not really work when nothing of note is being said. It wastes a perfect opportunity to delve into the mind of a psychotic who may or may not be a terrorist and instead shoots itself in the foot with its own symbolism. The anti-Bush imagery is so prevalent to the degree that it eventually eclipses the fundamentals: story, character, and plot. An utterly missed opportunity.
Updated On: 7/8/06 at 01:47 PM

[broadway86]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:08pm

Best movies, so far this year.

****
A Prairie Home Companion
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
United 93

***1/2
Akeelah and the Bee
The Devil Wears Prada
Hostel
Inside Man
Mission: Impossible III
Thank You for Smoking
V for Vendetta

***
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Brick
Cars
Eight Below
Friends with Money
Hard Candy
The Hills Have Eyes
Lucky Number Slevin
Nanny McPhee
Running Scared
Slither
Something New
Superman Returns
Updated On: 7/9/06 at 03:08 PM

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:19pm

I REAAAAAAALLY wanted to see Tristram Shandy but it never came here.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:12pm

Thank You For Smoking was Great


V for Vendetta was more than just disappointing, it was pretty terrible.

Also, X3 was really disappointing after a great second film.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:47pm

It's been a pretty lackluster year so far. The only films that I really loved were V for Vendetta, Thank You for Smoking, and A Prairie Home Companion.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:49pm

"only films that I really loved were V for Vendetta"


Clearly you saw a different movie than I did.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:51pm

Different strokes. I really liked it.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 11:08pm

As did most people.

V FOR VENDETTA was wonderful.

Best 5 of the year for me:

1. UNITED 93
2. A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION
3. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
4. V FOR VENDETTA
5. FRIENDS WITH MONEY

If you're counting documentaries, I thought AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH was marvelous.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 11:35pm

The Devil Wears Prada and Friends with Money have been my favorite so far. The Hills Have Eyes was also pretty good.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 11:39pm

Giving 3 stars to THE HILLS HAVE EYES is a JOKE.

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 12:05am

I'm adding my vote on V for Vendetta. I really enjoyed it.

I can't say that I've seen a truly incredible, unforgettable, classic-in-the-making movie yet this year. I liked Cars, but thought it was too long, thus losing the re-watchability factor other Pixar movies have had. I thought Superman was VERY well done, but the story needed more tweaking. Prairie Home Companion and Thank You For Smoking were both good, and I suppose that puts them at the top of my list so far, but in most other years I don't think either would make it.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I think Click may have been one of the biggest suprises for me. I liked it WAY more than I thought I would.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 12:08am

I couldn't disagree with you more, jason. Click's easily the worst film of the year for me.

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 12:20am

I realize people are going to hate it -- I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. I know it's not a "great" film, but I had a good time at it. That's pretty much what I'm expecting Pirates 2 to be like. I'm sure by the end of the year I won't be saying Click was the best movie, or probably even top five, but for me it goes in the positive category rather than the negative.

For me, the worst movie I've seen this year was Nacho Libre, hands down.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 12:23am

Ugh. Nacho Libre looks even worse than Napoleon Dynamite.

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 12:38am

I'm in the camp of people who loved Napoleon Dynamite. I saw it before it got all the hype it did, and my friend and I spent the entire movie laughing our heads off. It's not the best made movie, certainly, but it's easily one of the most quotable films of the past decade.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 12:39am

Well I haven't seen much, but my favorite so far has been Devil Wears Prada. Anne Hathaway was surprisingly lackluster in it but Meryl Streep and the woman who played Emily were really great.

Is Nanny McPhee considered 2006? I forget when it came out exactly. Because I saw it..today actually, and I thought it was going to be bad and it turned out to be one of the best movies I have ever seen. I cried. It was SOO good.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 1:08am

SALLY! YOU'RE ALIIIIIIIIIVE!

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 2:04am

Pirates 2. hands down. i'm one of those few who don't mind how effing frustrated i am at the ending. i've seen it twice already. and it just came out yesterday :). i'm proud of myself.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 2:10am

I agree on Pirates 2 and An Inconvenient Truth.

I also agree that The Hills Have Eyes getting three stars...total joke. I'd rather watch the origional.

I also enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, not one of the best movies of the year so far. Its still good!

-EM

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 2:40am

I didn't like the first Pirates movie so i won't be paying money to see the second.

Nacho Libre is definately not worth my money.

I'm way over Adam Sandler so I'll pass on Click.

V for Vendetta was definately the worst movie of the year for me.

I didn't get a chance to see Friends with Money and have yet to see Devil Wears and Praire Home but want to see all three.

X3 was the biggest let down, but was a better film than Vendetta.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 2:57am

While I know everyone disagrees with me, I really enjoyed Silent Hill (I'm sure you'd never guess). Then again I didn't see too many movies this year...
Updated On: 7/9/06 at 02:57 AM

[TheBoyfromChi]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 3:01am

I loved Friends with Money and Akeelah and the Bee was such a great surprise, I didn't expect to like it as much as I do.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 1:20pm

I haven't seen a few of the ones that would possibly be on my list (Prairie, Thank You For Smoking, Inside Man or Friends With Money).

1. United 93
2. The Devil Wears Prada
3. Cars
4. Superman Returns
5. An Inconvenient Truth
6. Mission Impossible 3
7. V For Vendetta
8. Pirates 2

[meggsison]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 2:46pm

Inside Man was excellent. I also liked The Devil Wears Prada and Pirates 2. And Cars was good too. I still have to see An Inconvenient Truth and I don't think I really want to see United 93, but I'm sure they are great also.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 2:48pm

I'll admit the very small minority, but I would never include UNITED 93. (I found it anything but an artful take on those events, lacking a point of view other than "never forget." I said I'm in the minority...) I also will be very suprised if it doesn't end up with a slew of Golden Globes and even Oscar nominations.

Other than FRIENDS WITH MONEY, nothing's come out this year so far I'd want to put in my DVD collection, which is my own barometer.