The No-Politics Friday ™ continues into 2007 while looking back on 2006. Starting a little over a year ago, I moved above a second-run dollar theater whose manager was also my landlord. So for a period I saw nothing but bad second-runs movies while getting free popcorn. Halfway through I moved to Champaign, Il, where my access to quality cinema was practically nonexistent (though I do thank the local art theater for trying its best). However, my roommate just got a television that could only be described as bitchin (and, god bless us everyone, it was an open-box special at Circuit City), which makes it a perfect time to catch up on movies via DVD.
So, as I've seen virtually no good new movies this past year, and am in a perfect position technologically and emotionally to watch a lot of high-definition dvds in my living room, the question goes to you: What were the best movies of 2006? Please answer in the comments, my netflix queue is hungry and wants to be fed.
Now of course I lied; I have seen some good movies in 2006 and would like to share them with you.
Half-Nelson
I'm glad to see Ryan Gosling break big as an actor, something I've been waiting for since he first made waves in the excellent "The Believer" (1999). Watching several talented actors face the brutality of inner-city poverty, addiction and the drug trade makes for a rough movie-going experience. The emotional impact is overwhelming; days later you may still be torn between whether to think "[Gosling is] charismatic, multifaceted, and sincere, and we can't really dismiss him without dismissing some part of ourselves" or "[Half-Nelson is part of] a series of new, grotesquely condescending movies..trumpet whites' hidden resentment about blacks' troubling, irremediable social status…hipster masochism."
Our Brand is Crisis
The best feature about Iraq I saw in 2006 was about the 2002 Bolivian election. In this documentary, the dark twin of The War Room (1993), camera crews follow the consulting team of "Greenberg, Carville, Shrum" as they attempt to win the Bolivian election for their client with the aid of modern political consulting equipment.
I knew of the movie before I saw it, and I was surprised by how drawn I was to Jeremy Rosner, the consultant who forms the center story. There's no bad faith or shameless profiteering on his part; he believes that what he is doing will ultimately aid democracy in South America. It is not hard to see in Bolivia echoes of the current political fallout in Iraq – where exporting democracy seems to be a series of color-coordination, negative aids from crafted third-parties, chi-squared evaluation of a candidate's honesty appeal, focus-group vetted slogans and controlling the terms of the debate, and how none of these things seem to be a match for deep-seated grievances on poverty, joblessness and cultural differences. You can hear in Rosner's post-election interview what we are already hearing from the neocons who thought democracy would triumph by default in Iraq.
Dave Chappelle Block Party
In a year where everything seemed to be falling apart, and where many of the best movies involved the worst of times (see above), seeing great musicians playing a street concert, doing what they love, with everyone having a great time, is a perfect antidote. One of the best concert films I've seen – the dvd has full performances of many of the songs, and they can be worked into a full-length viewing of the movie. Highly recommended.
So that's me. Your suggestions?
Samantha says:
I don't know if you're a fan, but the Neil Young flick Heart of Gold was a great concert film.
I heard from a few people that both Little Miss Sunshine and Talledega Nights were good, but haven't seen either.
Of course, there's Borat, but it probably isn't out on dvd yet. Sacha Baron Cohen is a genius.
peggy says:
I was about to do something like this on my own blog, but here it is in a nutshell:
DVD–"Brick." Holy shit, you have to see Brick. Just incredibly well-made cinema. Also? NOIR FILM SET IN A HIGH SCHOOL WHEE.
Also: "Batman Begins." Again with the noir, again with the excellent acting, directing, set, costumes, cinematography, etc., plus you may or may not enjoy Katie Holmes' Incredible Gravity-Defying Nippletacular during the last few scenes.
Also: "The Prestige." I'm not totally sure whether or not this is out on DVD yet, but it blew my socks off with its CREEPY AWESOMENESS. I think I'm starting to see a theme here, but the only non-creepy movies I've really enjoyed this year were… well, see below.
Still, tragically, in theaters: "Casino Royale." I fucking love James Bond.
Oh, and if you like Teen Movies? "She's The Man." If you don't like teen movies, it will not interest you.
Ed says:
I hardly saw anything good in the theaters this year. Maybe nothing at all. I can't really remember.
You like Jack Black, last time I checked, and hence you should rent "Nacho Libre." It is hilarious. Trust me.
I recommend (not from 2006, but the best I've seen lately):
1. "Power trip" (2003)
2. "Palindromes" (2005)
3. "The Experiment" (2001)
David Lynch's "Inland Empire" is supposedly phenomenal but I haven't seen it.
Jude says:
Honestly, the most compelling things I saw were "The Nomi Song" Klaus Nomi , and "Maestro" Larry Levan/Paradise Garage documentaries. Borat: funny, not pants-wetting though.
Apropos of nothing–James Carville & Skeletor (from the He-Man cartoon): separated at birth?
Ambrosini says:
While some of these are still in theaters you should definately check them out,
1. The Departed
2. The Fountain
3. Pan's Labrynth
4. Running Scared
5. A Scanner Darkly
6. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
7. Rocky Balboa
8. Thank You For Smoking
Some others I haven't seen yet but are supposed to be good, United 93, Slither, Crank, Children of Men.
I'm sure that there are some movies missing here but I've seen so many that Im drawing blank.
Rick says:
Released this year but originally shown in 2003 is a British comedy called Peep Show. Season 1 is available on Netflix. I know it isn't a movie in the traditional sense, but if you watch each episode (6) back to back, it plays out like a movie. The uniqueness is that it's shot from each character's point of view, and it's done excellently. It's a biting comedy that is very much worth a Netflix rental. Check 'er out, I rented on a whim and loved it.
Mike says:
Thanks for the suggestions all – I've seen Little Miss Sunshine and enjoyed it, but I think I could be comfortable never seeing it again.
Tim – "Rocky Balboa" seriously? I kind of want to see it, to see if the bizarre "White ethnics are never too old or washed up to beat up a young African-American" motivational plotline is as absurd as it looked in the trailer.
Ed says:
I am tempted to delete this thread solely on the basis of the suggestion that "Rocky Balboa" is a quality film.
Samantha says:
I've got a GREAT one for you, Mike: Microcosmos. It's a Canadian documentary about a day in the life of the insect world that came out in 1996 but was just released on dvd this year. With the audio-visual setup you describe, this would be fantastic. The makers of the film won all kinds of awards for creating these tiny microphones and super high quality cameras for getting up close and personal with the insects. It's beautifully and dramatically shot with mini triumphs and tragedies playing out. And the soundtrack is amazing as well.
Ambrosini says:
ok, I'll try my best to defend Rocky Balboa. Basically they ignore Rocky 2 – 5 and focus on what the original Rocky was. The movie is by no means a "great" film by any technical standards but it does succeed at being pretty emotional. The movie isn't going to change your life when you see it but it is an enjoyable experience. It was fun to see in a crowded theater with people reacting to it. Its just not something you get in a lot of other movies.
pauli says:
Primer. If I were a electrical engineer or physicist, I'd probably be able to poke holes in it, but it's a great heady scifi flick that doesn't insult your intelligence. A couple programmer types accidentally develop time travel.
pauli says:
Primer. If I were an electrical engineer or physicist, I'd probably be able to poke holes in it, but it's a heady scifi flick that at the very least, doesn't insult your intelligence. A couple programmers accidentally develop time travel….