Best Movies 2006
While some of these I saw at the theatre and some I rented, all our worthy of your attention. No particular order:
Little Miss Sunshine. Quirky, subversive and fun. A slight exaggeration of a typical dysfunctional U.S. family who clink and clank their way to some kind of meaningful relationship. It feels like the word is out about this one, so I don't want to over-hype it.
Children of Men. A story about 20 tiny years into the future, when the racism against immigrants has gone to the worst extreme, and inexplicably, women can no longer get pregnant. A sort of 1984 ordinary man attempting to rise to the occasion crossed with a Christian nativity story. Clive Owen, give him credit for taking this role on.
Favela Rising. Deeply inspiring documentary about former drug outlaws in Brazil seizing life again through music and culture. Political, spiritual and all about redemption.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. are piss your pants funny. The dialogue is intricate, fast and witty, reminding me of fond memories of Bruce Willis & Cybill Shephard in Moonlighting. A smart hip movie – the best of the easy-on-the-brain category.
Hustle & Flow. Intimate with a subtle depth of the socio-economic issues around pimps, prostitutes and people forgotten, with a redemptive story about trying to carve out meaning in a life of shit.
The Agronomist. Documentary about Haitian radio/activist Jean Dominique, his form of resistance against the U.S. supported dictatorship, his exile, his return and how his spirit lives on. Bring a load of Kleenex and be prepared to be inspired by one man’s courage.
Joyeux Noel. Based on the true story of World War I soldiers in the trenches who, come Christmas time, refuse to fight eachother, sharing food, song, mass and protecting each other against artillery barrages. The generals on all sides flip out, having common enemy soldiers and officers become friends is not what war is supposed to be about!
After watching this film, I wondered if U.S. soldiers in Iraq could talk, share food, and song with Iraqi resistance fighters – might they find similarities? Might U.S. soldiers, a majority of whom already are against the U.S. invasion, consider more dramatic steps in refusing the orders of the psychotic generals and politicians in charge?
Over the Hedge. With the exception of the stereotypical bad-boy depiction of the grizzly bear (Nick Nolte's voice), this animated is spot-on in making you root for the anarchist foragers. Righteously critiquing middle class suburban emptiness, with witty dialogue and caricatures provided by Steve Carrell, Gary Shandling, Eugene Levy and others. And the soundtrack, by Ben Folds, is the best of any film this year. I'm no fan of award shows, but incrediby the Golden Globes ignored Over the Hedge, instead fronting Cars, Monster House, and Happy Feet.
Sir No Sir. See my description in the post above, "Why Hope?"
If anyone out there has a movie I really should see, please email me, dogbuckeye@yahoo.com
- Mark
Little Miss Sunshine. Quirky, subversive and fun. A slight exaggeration of a typical dysfunctional U.S. family who clink and clank their way to some kind of meaningful relationship. It feels like the word is out about this one, so I don't want to over-hype it.
Children of Men. A story about 20 tiny years into the future, when the racism against immigrants has gone to the worst extreme, and inexplicably, women can no longer get pregnant. A sort of 1984 ordinary man attempting to rise to the occasion crossed with a Christian nativity story. Clive Owen, give him credit for taking this role on.
Favela Rising. Deeply inspiring documentary about former drug outlaws in Brazil seizing life again through music and culture. Political, spiritual and all about redemption.Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. are piss your pants funny. The dialogue is intricate, fast and witty, reminding me of fond memories of Bruce Willis & Cybill Shephard in Moonlighting. A smart hip movie – the best of the easy-on-the-brain category.
Hustle & Flow. Intimate with a subtle depth of the socio-economic issues around pimps, prostitutes and people forgotten, with a redemptive story about trying to carve out meaning in a life of shit.
The Agronomist. Documentary about Haitian radio/activist Jean Dominique, his form of resistance against the U.S. supported dictatorship, his exile, his return and how his spirit lives on. Bring a load of Kleenex and be prepared to be inspired by one man’s courage.Joyeux Noel. Based on the true story of World War I soldiers in the trenches who, come Christmas time, refuse to fight eachother, sharing food, song, mass and protecting each other against artillery barrages. The generals on all sides flip out, having common enemy soldiers and officers become friends is not what war is supposed to be about!
After watching this film, I wondered if U.S. soldiers in Iraq could talk, share food, and song with Iraqi resistance fighters – might they find similarities? Might U.S. soldiers, a majority of whom already are against the U.S. invasion, consider more dramatic steps in refusing the orders of the psychotic generals and politicians in charge?
Over the Hedge. With the exception of the stereotypical bad-boy depiction of the grizzly bear (Nick Nolte's voice), this animated is spot-on in making you root for the anarchist foragers. Righteously critiquing middle class suburban emptiness, with witty dialogue and caricatures provided by Steve Carrell, Gary Shandling, Eugene Levy and others. And the soundtrack, by Ben Folds, is the best of any film this year. I'm no fan of award shows, but incrediby the Golden Globes ignored Over the Hedge, instead fronting Cars, Monster House, and Happy Feet.
Sir No Sir. See my description in the post above, "Why Hope?"
If anyone out there has a movie I really should see, please email me, dogbuckeye@yahoo.com
- Mark
posted by Val D. Phillips at 3:38 PM
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