Remember that New Year's Eve we were frightened by a firework?
Happy New Year! One thing I've noticed about New Year's is that although I suffer heavily from the January Blues, I will always be among the crowds jumping up and down (like Bernard Black after too much Children's Booze) when the New Year arrives. Of course this year that may or may not have had something to do with a bottle of cheap white wine and the musical stylings of Kafka - which when sober I am underwhelmed by, but after the Woodford wine, a good night was had by all.
As is customary at the end of each year, I agonise about what my favourite films, TV shows and songs/albums of the year have been. The resulting top 10 lists rarely finish at 10, and have an average lifespan of 2 minutes, before I get nostalgic about a certain album/film/etc. and decide to amend the list. But here are the lists as of 4.28pm on 3.1.07.
Top 10 Films of 2006
1. Little Miss Sunshine: I'm not quite sure why I liked this film so much; maybe because I saw more than a few very brilliant but depressing films this year, and it is nice now and then to leave the cinema not thinking that the world is a terrible place. Plus, what a cast! Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Steve Carell!
2. Children of Men: Alfonso Cuaron is director of the year for me. This film was so incredibly affecting for me, and I don't even like kids! But seriously, I think if I had had the opportunity to see this film again closer to the end of the year, it would be number 1. Also, a great tagline: "The Last One To Die Please Turn Out The Light."
3. Jarhead: The most underrated film of the year for me; the lack of response to this film just baffles me. It was accused of being "apolitical" but for me (and anyone living, you know, in the world) this film contained some of the most meaningful political and social commentary of the year. Also, points for Jake Gyllenhaal running around in naught but a santa hat.
4. Tristram Shandy - A Cock And Bull Story: Laurence Stern was lightyears ahead of his time with 'The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman' - as one reviewer put it, "He was postmodern before there was a modern." This film is so incredibly layered, and of course, hilarious, and directed by the very prolific Michael Winterbottom, so there was really no chance that I wouldn't love it. Plus, Dylan Moran as Dr. Slop? Priceless.
5. Brokeback Mountain: I thought at the start of the year that it was all downhill from this film. I was wrong, but this film remains a definite high point of the year, and the injustice of it being beaten in the Oscar race by Crash, of all things, is still a sore spot.
6. The Secret Life Of Words: This was my favourite film of the Brisbane International Film Festival this year, and is another film that had I the chance to see it again before making this list, it would have been vying for the top spot. A very moving film, with perfect performances by Tim Robbins and Sarah Polley.
7. A History Of Violence: Another film that spoke volumes about our society, and finally gave Viggo Mortensen a real meaty leading role, so many points for that!
8. Babel: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu manages to make me cry, again, but thankfully I didn't leave the cinema wanting to kill myself. (Anyone remember 21 Grams?) There aren't enough superlatives in the world for his films.
9. Marie Antoinette: Deeply flawed though it may be, I found it a very personal and moving experience. With an exceptional soundtrack. And did you see those cakes & pastries? *dies*
10. Pirates of the Carribbean - Dead Man's Chest: Don't judge me! I like to swash, and I like to buckle, there's no shame in that!
I give special mentions to An Inconvenient Truth, which really belongs at the top of the list, and Snakes on a Plane, which excludes itself from the realms of top 10 lists, but was arguably the best/worst film of the year.
Other Honourable Mentions: Brick, Slither, Whole New Thing, Thank You For Smoking, United 93, Fast Food Nation, Junebug, The Road to Guantanamo, Rampage, Hidden (Cache), Water, Happy Feet, Borat, Casino Royale, A Prairie Home Companion (RIP Robert Altman, but it was a fitting last film in many ways.), Friends with Money, Breakfast on Pluto, Confetti, Jindabyne, Hard Candy, Candy, Syriana, Match Point, Walk the Line, Munich, Capote and of course, the Squid and the Whale, which I wish I could fit into my top 10.
Worst film I saw this year? Without a doubt, the Da Vinci Code.
That took longer than anticipated...I'm going to take an intermission. The rest of the lists may or may not be completed at some point.
As is customary at the end of each year, I agonise about what my favourite films, TV shows and songs/albums of the year have been. The resulting top 10 lists rarely finish at 10, and have an average lifespan of 2 minutes, before I get nostalgic about a certain album/film/etc. and decide to amend the list. But here are the lists as of 4.28pm on 3.1.07.
Top 10 Films of 2006
1. Little Miss Sunshine: I'm not quite sure why I liked this film so much; maybe because I saw more than a few very brilliant but depressing films this year, and it is nice now and then to leave the cinema not thinking that the world is a terrible place. Plus, what a cast! Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Steve Carell!
2. Children of Men: Alfonso Cuaron is director of the year for me. This film was so incredibly affecting for me, and I don't even like kids! But seriously, I think if I had had the opportunity to see this film again closer to the end of the year, it would be number 1. Also, a great tagline: "The Last One To Die Please Turn Out The Light."
3. Jarhead: The most underrated film of the year for me; the lack of response to this film just baffles me. It was accused of being "apolitical" but for me (and anyone living, you know, in the world) this film contained some of the most meaningful political and social commentary of the year. Also, points for Jake Gyllenhaal running around in naught but a santa hat.
4. Tristram Shandy - A Cock And Bull Story: Laurence Stern was lightyears ahead of his time with 'The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman' - as one reviewer put it, "He was postmodern before there was a modern." This film is so incredibly layered, and of course, hilarious, and directed by the very prolific Michael Winterbottom, so there was really no chance that I wouldn't love it. Plus, Dylan Moran as Dr. Slop? Priceless.
5. Brokeback Mountain: I thought at the start of the year that it was all downhill from this film. I was wrong, but this film remains a definite high point of the year, and the injustice of it being beaten in the Oscar race by Crash, of all things, is still a sore spot.
6. The Secret Life Of Words: This was my favourite film of the Brisbane International Film Festival this year, and is another film that had I the chance to see it again before making this list, it would have been vying for the top spot. A very moving film, with perfect performances by Tim Robbins and Sarah Polley.
7. A History Of Violence: Another film that spoke volumes about our society, and finally gave Viggo Mortensen a real meaty leading role, so many points for that!
8. Babel: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu manages to make me cry, again, but thankfully I didn't leave the cinema wanting to kill myself. (Anyone remember 21 Grams?) There aren't enough superlatives in the world for his films.
9. Marie Antoinette: Deeply flawed though it may be, I found it a very personal and moving experience. With an exceptional soundtrack. And did you see those cakes & pastries? *dies*
10. Pirates of the Carribbean - Dead Man's Chest: Don't judge me! I like to swash, and I like to buckle, there's no shame in that!
I give special mentions to An Inconvenient Truth, which really belongs at the top of the list, and Snakes on a Plane, which excludes itself from the realms of top 10 lists, but was arguably the best/worst film of the year.
Other Honourable Mentions: Brick, Slither, Whole New Thing, Thank You For Smoking, United 93, Fast Food Nation, Junebug, The Road to Guantanamo, Rampage, Hidden (Cache), Water, Happy Feet, Borat, Casino Royale, A Prairie Home Companion (RIP Robert Altman, but it was a fitting last film in many ways.), Friends with Money, Breakfast on Pluto, Confetti, Jindabyne, Hard Candy, Candy, Syriana, Match Point, Walk the Line, Munich, Capote and of course, the Squid and the Whale, which I wish I could fit into my top 10.
Worst film I saw this year? Without a doubt, the Da Vinci Code.
That took longer than anticipated...I'm going to take an intermission. The rest of the lists may or may not be completed at some point.