What Movies To See...Last Year

OK, I know it may seem a little strange to be posting my 'Top Ten Movies of 2006' at this point, well over 3 months into the year 2007, but I can explain. With the recent viewing of The Last King of Scotland (which did not end up making the list), I now feel as though I've seen a sufficient amount of 2006 movies to declare my list "closed" to any further changes. Moreover, considering that just about all of these movies have finally been released on DVD, it's now a perfect opportunity for you to bask in my infinite movie wisdom as you prepare your Netflix queue for the coming weeks.

As for the methodology used to create this list, it's really just my own informal consideration that is best summed up by the claim that these ten movies provide the best overall cinematic experience out of the pool of movies released in 2006. So, without further ado...

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10. Babel......It's the weakest of the Academy Award Best Picture nominees, but it still remains a very ambitious undertaking by a great director, namely Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

9. Casino Royale......A younger, edgier Bond mixed in with a good story, solid action, and a high-stakes Texas Hold'em poker game. Basically brings shame to all the Pierce Brosnan Bond movies.

8. Children of Men......One of the most visually stunning movies of the year, thanks to the film making genius that is Alfanso Cuaron. The story may not blow you away, but the camera work definitely will.

7. Borat......A redefinition of what can be accomplished in the comedy (and somewhat documentary) genre. One scene in particular is guaranteed to be like nothing you've ever seen on film.

6. An Inconvenient Truth......Any documentary that is able to successfully catapult its issue to the front of the national dialogue is an overwhelming success. When it also resuscitates the image of a great political figure, that's just amazing.

5. Letters From Iwo Jima......More than just a war film, this movie takes storytelling to a powerful level. The characters resonate, especially Ken Watanabe who should have easily been in the Best Actor race over Will Smith.

4. Little Miss Sunshine......Casting at it's finest, easily the best ensemble cast of the year. It's a one-two punch to the funny bone and to the heart.

3. The Queen......I couldn't believe how enthralled I was with yet another movie about a queen of England. Maybe it has something to do with Helen Mirren being so unbelievable, the script being so great, and the drama being so real.

2. Little Children......A stunning film that proves several things: 1) Kate Winslet has more acting talent that most of the actresses of her generation combined, 2) the use of voice-over in film can be an incredible tool in storytelling when employed appropriately, and 3) suburban life can get pretty intense.

1. The Departed......The top few movies here are rather close (and, on any given day, I feel as though I could argue them in any order), but it's The Departed that has one thing I'm just not sure the other movies have: it's destined to be a classic.

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