BEST OF THE BEST in 2006

THE BEST OF FILM in 2006

305 Proudly Invites You to another year of the best in film!

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2006

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#10 HARD CANDY

An independent film kicks off our Year in Review list and a controversial one at that. Critics were mixed with feelings on how to attack this movie, whether with praise or shocking distaste. I, for one, found the story well drawn and acting superb. Films in which only two actors share more than 95% of the entire movie have to show strong performances and Hard Candy was no disappointment. Rather unknown Ellen Page portrays an innocent, young teenager who literally turns the tables on "would be or would not be" pedophile and the shocking revelations carry on from the confides of the guy's house. Strong movie and pleasing surprises puts this film at the beginning of this years best. Not necessarily a can't miss, b/c obviously some people may not take kindly to the film's raunchy plot. However, a different film that wasn't widely popularized in 2006 and deserves at the very least, a look by film buffs.

#9 RUNNING SCARED

Paul Walker fines himself in a situation he isn't too used to. Not just a gritty, dark, nose-bleed, gorefest of an action-thriller, but actually a solid movie where he acts, for the very first time (go figure). I didn't have much expectations going into Running Scared. For one, its an action movie and two, its tag line was something along the lines of "if you thought kill bill was bloody, wait till you see this" or something like that I remember reading. So I'm like, here we go, I'm ready for anything. I actually snuck into a midnight showing for this movie after paying to see something else b/c I didnt quite expect this film to satisfy. Turns out the free ticket was to one of the 9 best films of the year. Walker is like an atomic bomb waiting to go off in this vulgar-driven, action thrill ride. There's actually a solid story to backup the nonsense action, but that's besides the point. This was an action movie that was not only fun as hell to watch, but gave me my first ounce of respect to Walker as an actor. He showed me there's more to him that driving a car 150mph, petting a pack of wolves and making out with half naked Jessica Alba. More to come, let's hope.

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#8 BLOOD DIAMOND

The first of two Leonardo DiCaprio films to grace this list. Leo has been all over the place the last couple months of 2006. With The Departed and Blood Diamond less than a couple months separated, DiCaprio has shown his hardwork and it paid off. Blood Diamond is one of those vehicle-driven film where it goes as far as its top star takes it. Where in The Departed he is part of a greater cast, just a piece of the pie, in Blood Diamond he IS the pie! A riveting story behind the director who gave us Courage Under Fire, DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou (Amistad, Gladiator) portray two men on different sides of the world fighting for different reasons. DiCaprio is a coniving, heartless, money hungry diamond hunter who is seeking a way out of "this god forsaking continent" as he calls it. Hounsou just happens to be the guy who has "that diamond", which he buries to use as a bargaining chip if need be. DiCaprio uses him at first, but as the movie progresses with his compelling story based on some real issues that continent is facing, it becomes more than an action piece as the previews portray the film. Its much more grounded and deeper. The two leads performances catipult the story into another level and bring Blood Diamond into one of the best movies to hit 2006.

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#7 CASINO ROYALE

I never thought I'd see the day that I would put a 007 picture into my top ten. Never was a big fanboy over the franchise. And every since Brosnan took over the franchise, not one better-than-average film came about. Not due to Brosnan, he was well placed in the role, just bad writing and directing. However, the studio/s behind the series had to have noticed this trend as well, thus went "Batman Begins" on the whole thing. Great idea, Great result! For once, it isn't who plays 007 that made Casino Royale so great (it could have been top 5 worthy if Brosnan had a story like this to sell), but the story that dives into how Bond became...007. A prequel to pretty much the entire story of James Bond. A darker film than most recent, flashy Bond films, as well. Casino Royale had everything from fine set pieces, well drawn action sequences, even a dramtic poker showdown (better than anything ESPN can show) and well finished 3rd act. A problem amongst most recent Bond movies. Casino Royale shows promise for where the Bond films are headed.

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#6 The DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Okay...finished with your "Ohh-Face." Good. Because unless you haven't seen this so called "chick flick" you don't know what you're missing. This movie is more than just a chick-flick, actually I don't even like putting it in that phrase. There is a romantic subplot in the story, but it's not even the 2nd or 3rd most important subplot in the movie, and it has very very little meaning to the entire film. Devil Wears Prada is a fine example of a person put into a place they know nothing about and get caught up in the limelight before they know they were even there. Whats more is Meryl Streep deserves the Oscar this year for her protrayel of the most evil, sinister boss lady there can be. Her charisma on camera is so cunning and cold, that you HAVE to root for this lady as much as you hate her. It's just amazing how well she pulls it off. The rest of the supporting cast fine-tunes the rest of the picture well. Stanely Tucci plays scene stealer behind Anne Hathaways safe performance. He gives the film the best punch lines and heartfelt moments, as well as make you like that 'looks-gay, but really just dresses too fashionably' guy we all know. Movies like this don't catch you that often b/c their predestined into forbidden categories such as the "chick flick" but Devil Wears Prada is no Notebook. Infact, its Better!!

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#5 MIAMI VICE

Maybe the most hyped movie I was excited for of 2006. And honestly, it exceeded those expectations. Miami Vice is not Bad Boys 3. It's not Rush Hour meets Cops. And that's the knock some people had going into this movie that I think led to many disappointments. This film is a dark, gritty look at the not so glamour side of Miami. There isn't a scene taken from south beach (the beginning club scene is a south beach club shot somewhere else, not on Ocean Drive). Many shots taken around the Port of Miami, the river, and Columbian cities that look down right scary in their ghett0-fab. The story centers around two partners our parents would know all too well in Rico and Sonny (Foxx and Farrell). The plot is something out of a dark, CSI episode, if given two and a half hours and R-rating material. Vice displays the depths of going undercover and the weight it carries not only on these officers lives, but the families that stay behind but are put in harms way if they are ever made by the enemy. Despite popular belief, Farrell does some of his best work since I first remember seeing him in Minority Report. I was worried about the casting of Farrell as Sonny, but after watching I can't imagine anyone else doing the role. Fabulous picture, maybe a little biased, but its still one of the best cop films of this young century.

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#4The PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

There's a line Will Smith's character says in the movie that always stays with me. In the declaration of independence, the part where it says "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Smith's character asks, how did they know? How did they know to put in the pursuit part, that it wasn't guaranteed and some people would not ever be happy. This movie is the feel-good, inspirational movie of the year. But that is nothing to rip it for. Smith gives us his BEST, by far BEST performance to date of his acting career. Playing Chris Gardner, the true story of a father who losses everything and hits rock bottom with his young son on the streets of San Francisco, Smith gives life to a story that is so heart wrenching, its hard for me to phathom anyone not to feel for this man. Sure Hollywood has its tendancies to spice sad stories up to emphasize the emotional side, but the majority of the story to what I've read is true. And there wasn't a better actor suited for the role than Will Smith. Who better to bring people's attention to a story like this than America's fresh prince. Even his real son plays his son in the film. And by God if he doesn't already display some of his fathers charisma and charm, watch out. Pursuit is an excellent movie that is the first MUST-SEE on this list...!

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#3 LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN

Every year there is a number of hyped movies, high expectation pieces that appear to make buzz or a wave. There is always those pleasant surprises that come through, but they are more rare and few. Lucky Number Slevin was this year's "Others" I like to say. A movie that seem nothing more than an average B-movie, but came off as something totally different. Like Paul Walker and Colin Farrell, this is the first Josh Hartnett movie that showed me for the first time some light on an otherwise dime acting career. And then of course, the superior cast of Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman, Lucy Lui and Bruce Willis made it all the more appealing. The plot is something hard to tangle without giving away too much. So I would only say to those who don't know much about it, check it out, period! Like Pursuit and the remainder of the films on this list, this is also a MUST-SEE.

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#2 AND #1

A TIE

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LETTERS OF IWO JIMA and THE DEPARTED

I couldn't pick one over the other. Over the 40 to 50 some odd movies I counted that I saw that was released in 2006, these last two I couldn't pick over one. Maybe the fact that I just saw Iwo Jima two nights ago and it's fresh in my mind has to due with it. However, I watched The Departed twice in theaters and enjoyed it immensely during the second viewing. These are the only two films in my top ten that are both nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars and I don't know which one I rather see win. For Scorsese, I want The Departed to win. Eastwood has two already (Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby).

Letters from Iwo Jima is a spell-binding portrayel of the Japanese point of view on the battle that made the infamous flag raising moment. Unlike his American portrayel in Flags of our Fathers, which spans over decades, Iwo Jima never really leaves the confides of the island that which the US invade by water. We see the Japanese dig trenches, strategize techniques, hide in caves, and wait....for their death. It's an unspeakable film to say the least, as watching how the Japanese fought bravely when they were heavily undermaned, and taught to kill themselves in honor of dieing for their country, rather than be captured or surrendered. In all subtitles, I didn't once flinch while watching and reading the story. An astounding achievement in filmmaking, Eastwood continuely shows his range in directing now that his acting is near its end. More than most directors, I can't think of any other that knows how to make the smallest scene feel so emotional and heart wrenching than Eastwood. He can literally bring tears to an audience without even a breath of dialouge. Letters of Iwo Jima is one of the greatest war movies in a world where war movies are made 10 times a year, only Eastwood could revolutionize it in the 21st century.

As for The Departed. Nothing like Iwo Jima. An all star cast of actors, A-list director. It's more of an echo of what I had just said about Eastwood's WWII epic. When dealing with a film with so many Hollywood A-list studs like Nicholson, Dicaprio, Damon, Sheen and Baldwin you have to find the diamond in the rough of diamonds. For me, it was Mark Whalberg's character. I guess b/c Whalberg is the one who isn't at the pedistal as the other actors, his acting may have stole the show. He is what propelled Departed into top form to me, b/c his character could have either held it down or lifted it into classic territory, which is where The Departed lies. A MUST-SEE, and MUST-BUY on dvd, a day of release purchase for most movie buffs. The Departed brings back the gangster-crime stories that made the late 80s, early 90s so much fun to remember (Goodfellas, Heat) and now we have one for the 2000s. You can go either way with these two. For me, I couldn't decide. You have two movies that deserve the top spot this year, and maybe the Oscars will agree with me!

honarable mentions: V for Vendetta, Inside Man, Mission Impossible 3, Dreamgirls and The Prestige