The Best of 2006

Since I can't sleep, I might as well blog. And what better post to write at 5 in the morning than one that's almost half a year late?

Disclaimer: Only films seen in 2006 are included in this list - it is not representative of the films that were released in 2006. We often get films, especially arthouse films, released much later here than in the US. Films which were released more than a year back and now screened as retrospectives, etc. in festivals are also banned from the Top 10.


Top 10 for 2006 (in alphabetical order)

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Quite possibly the funniest movie all year, and a damn sharp satire to boot. Did I mention that Sacha Baron Cohen is a freakin' genius? Also wins the Most Hilarious Display of Male Genitalia Award.





Brokeback Mountain
I don't really have to write anything about this movie anymore, do I?










Capote
A stunning performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman simply makes the movie.









The Constant Gardener
At its heart, it's a wrenching love story, beautifully told. Oh yeah, and there's lots of dying people in Africa too.









Little Miss Sunshine
Funny as hell, with lots of heart, love for its characters and situations that are completely absurd yet never seem forced.









The Prestige
Mindfuckery entertainment at its best. Chris Nolan does it again.










千里走單騎
(Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles)
Simple, moving story of a father's quest to do right by his son.









Shooting Dogs (a.k.a. Beyond the Gates)
Visceral and moving portrait of (yes, again) strife-ridden Rwanda, which strikes out against the impotency of "aid". I dare you to sit through the closing credits without shedding a tear.







Syriana
The world is fucked up by power-hungry governments and evil corporations. We all know that, but Syriana shows us exactly how it's done, and we feel like killing ourselves afterwards because there is no hope, and no escape.






Whole New Thing
It's a pity this is only now showing in the US, and probably will never make it to the rest of the world. A sensitive teenager falls for his English teacher, who, by the way, is also a male. Melodramatic clichés immediately come to mind, but the excellent script sidesteps all of them neatly, and presents a sensitive, moving, but still very funny coming of age tale.




Close, But No Cigar (or, the best of the rest)

父子 (After This Our Exile) - Patrick Tam returns with a measured, moving father-and-son tale. Aaron Kwok shows he can actually act, and rather well too.
Broken Flowers - Bill Murray works his magic again.
Caché - Nail-bitingly tense mindfuck of a movie where very little actually happens, but you're still on edge all the same. I Heart Haneke.
黑社會: 以和為貴 (Election 2, a.k.a. Triad Election) - Politics and gangsterism get ground up together (those who've seen this will recognize the phrase as an awful joke) in this darker and more brutal sequel by Johnnie To.
Good Night, and Good Luck - They don't make journalists like they used to.
Match Point - Lotsa fun from Woody, and Scarlett is lovely.
Me and You and Everyone We Know - Quirky and lovable little indie.
The New World - Gorgeous and evocative. Yay, Malick.
美滿人間 (Singapore Dreaming) - The Singapore Dream examined, dissected, and found sorely lacking.
Thank You for Smoking - A witty satire (and there are very few of those around) with sharp dialogue, perfect acting (except maybe from the kid) and assured direction from a newcomer.


Top-Notch Entertainment Top 10

Casino Royale
瘋狂的石頭 (Crazy Stone)
放逐 (Exiled)
Inside Man
Miami Vice
Mission: Impossible III
Severance
Slither
Superman Returns
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

The Devil Wears Prada, unfortunately, fails to make the grade because it's only entertaining when Meryl Streep is onscreen.


Damn, there were a lotta good movies last year - a whole bunch I really liked couldn't even make the list due to lack of space. So far this year looks pretty shitty in comparison. Good night, and good luck.