Top Ten Films Of 2006

10. United 93

Paul Greengrass' docudrama depicting the awful events of September 11th and the powerful events on flight United 93 is one of the years most astonishing efforts. Taking an unknown cast (some of them were playing themselves), and a seemingly camera-in-hand view point, Greengrass was able to create a disturbingly real account of the flight that fought back, giving us chills at almost every scene. The precision of direction, brilliant nuance and reality of the screenplay, and the prowess of the ensemble give this film a reason to be seen, despite the fears that keep many of us from seeing it.

9. Brick

Bringing an entire genre back to life is nearly impossible, and doing it well is unheard of. Rian Johnson's feature is one of the finest indie efforts of the year, as it brings the horror of high school to a whole new level. Brick brings back film noir with scary ease: placing the story in a modern high school, but still supplying the ever needed drug scandals, gang wars, a dame who has trouble written all over her, and of course, one hell of a mystery. Joseph Gordon Levitt is powerful as hell with his disturbingly emotional, yet detached portrayal that makes us forget about that little sitcom he used to be in. After last year's Mysterious Skin, and now this, I can't wait to see what he does next

8. Dreamgirls

This year's Oscar frontrunner deserves the acclaim. Dreamgirls has the power of Chicago without the cynicism. Jennifer Hudson steals the show as Effie White and proves that you can change that ever sticking prefix of "American Idoler"...to "Oscar Winner." Beyonce holds her own, and lets the glitz and glamour of the movie take power. With one of the most entertaining films of the year, Bill Condon has crafted campy fun that gets stuck in your head and just won't leave. Which is maybe why I have been listening to the Soundtrack as much as I have. The film has it all with its bitchy humor, angry drama, and of course, Beyonce saying "fuck." The only thing I don't like about this movie is the fact that Anika Noni Rose hasn't gotten more appraisal.

7. Superman Returns

When Bryan Singer left the X-Man series, many were confused. Especially when they heard he left it for Superman. But when X-3 released and disappointed, but Superman Returns released and thrilled, no one was surprised anymore. This year's Batman Begins, Superman Returns is the best popcorn flick of the year. Adding depth and intelligence to what was thought to be a dead series is never easy, but on the shoulders of new-comer Brandon Routh, it is a task all too easy for Superman. Routh portrays the humanity of Superman, never letting the giant "S" on his chest turn him into a caricature, and ultimately proves that audiences don't love superheroes just being superheroes, but rather...superheroes being human.

6. The Queen

Helen Mirren is having quite a royal year. Winning multiple awards for her dual performances as Queen Elizabeth I in the HBO miniseries, and Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, she has cemented her role as Oscar Frontrunner. Carrying this film like Philip Seymour Hoffman carried Capote, Helen Mirren delivers the performance of a lifetime. Showing power in restraint like we have never seen before, Mirren deserves all the accolades she receives. But Mirren doesn't carry the entire film. A flawless screenplay that integrates real life footage with possibly fictional events, The Queen paints a picture we can't help but believe, and love. Delving into the themes of hope, despair, and ultimately responsibility, the multiple layers to The Queen are phenomenal.

5. Half Nelson

At the end of Sundance last year, there was no doubt that Little Miss Sunshine and Half Nelson had major Oscar potential. Ryan Gosling delivers a haunting performance as a crack addicted teacher who has his secret addiction discovered by one his students played by Shareeka Epps. Epps delivers the best acting of year by someone under the age of 15. Yes, even better than Abigail Breslin. Epps carries a silent power and judgement that commands the screen. This teacher-student drama flips the black and white expectations of this over-used genre by switching the roles of what is expected, thus giving viewers an unexpectedly realistic version of the real drama between an afflicted teacher and his pupils. Gosling delivers the performance of the year with subtlety and regret, creating an atmosphere of despair and tangled responsibility. Half Nelson is a beautiful effort with more complexity than one would expect.

4. Shortbus

The so-called "hardcore" film of the year, Shortbus is a beautiful gem of a film exploring the interlinking lives of the sexually frustrated in New York City. Delving into personal troubles felt worldwide, Shortbus can be admired by anyone who has ever felt anything for anybody. The film has been railed for being near pornographic, but a film that has a central theme of openness and acceptance of one's body and its sexually capabilities certainly wouldn't take the hypocritical stance of being prudish with the topic of sex now would it? It is a beautiful medley of strange, wonderful, lonely, and ultimately fulfillment.

3. The Departed

Martin Scorsese is back, ladies and gentleman. For the first time since Goodfellas, I actually liked Scorsese. This high-speed, high-tension film is so intense that it's almost too much to handle sometimes. If you find a way to relax during the last thirty minutes of the movie, you are not human. But The Departed is not just a high energy joy ride, it is the stuff of real life. With surprising moments of drama, tension, and pain, The Departed transcends the realm of crime thriller and becomes something by itself all together, without a category to exist in. Vera Farmiga delivers the most under appreciated performance of the year, and acts as the sole female to bring conscience to such a violent and heavy headed film. From its unexpected hilarity to its very expected violence, The Departed has it all, and is not afraid to show it.

2. Little Children

Little Children is proof that brilliant film making will be unrecognized if the campaign isn't right. This powerhouse satirical melodrama, mostly recognized for acting and its screenplay, is one of the defining films of 2006. In a time where more and more adults are acting foolishly, and thus regretting the decisions that make up their lives, Little Children seems much more important than other films. With a bone chilling performance, Jackie Earle Haley keeps this movie from being the adultery-filled will-he-leave-her-or-wont-he movie audiences have seen for years. Little Children tosses together a medley of characters with such a degree of self-involvement , that by the end of the movie the difference between the actual children who play on the playground and the adults is entirely clear, and it does so beautifully. Teaching us, with glorified satire, that life is responsibility, not entitlement.

1. Children Of Men

2006's best film is, without question, Children Of Men. Clive Owen stars in this sci-fi thinker set in 2027, 18 years after the last child was born on Earth. The world is in shambles, but the pregnancy of one young girl brings hope and power into the hands of the protagonists. At first, Children Of Men is simply intriguing, but soon becomes so much more. With the subtle inter-play of all-too-real war zones, we are forced to visualize a future where destruction and chaos is not only prevalent, it is the norm. Children Of Men, is the powerful political force that other films like V For Vendetta tried to be. It teaches us to be human and enjoy that humanity because our actions might one day, for the first time in history, bring an era where the future is not endless. By creating a world where disarray and misconduct are caused supernaturally, Children Of Men makes the War we wage today seem not only pointless, but ridiculous simply because it is a path that was chosen and taken knowingly.With a beautiful score, haunting screenplay, an creepy art direction/cinematography, Children Of Men is an aching achievement of film that never becomes preachy, but just strives to show the importance of life inside the microcosm of sterility. Brilliant.