Decade pt. vii ( Top Five 00’s Movies – 2006 )

Posted on Author Ryan McNeil

With another month gone, it’s time for another entry in my Decade Series, with 2006 being the next year up.

This was perhaps the biggest year of the decade for indie titles, with movies like BABEL, THE QUEEN, and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE winning wide acclaim. Unfortunately, it also started a downward slope for indies, as many other titles – like those three – were in fact funded by indi divisions of major studios…and major studios will never understand how to nurture an indie film.

For me it was the year that Superman returned…even if he didn’t do so in such a great movie. Luckily and had a lot of other brilliant titles to distract me, and these were the best…

Hatter’s Top Five Films of 2006


#5. THE DEPARTED… Because after two attempts at making a Best Picture winner, Martin Scorsese decided to just make a movie…and ended up winning Best Picture. Because it’s proof that Hollywood can adapt a foreign film well when they try. Because I believe its destined to join the all-time ranks of the best crime movies. Because it has a kick-ass soundtrack (surprise, surprise). And because for me, it wasn’t the best film of the year, but it certainly was one of the coolest.

#4. UNITED 93… In the first five years following 9/11, Hollywood seemed intent on creating over-emotive tributes (read: THE GUYS, WORLD TRADE CENTER, and an unfortunate made-for-tv film also called “United 93”). It’s many people’s opinion though, that in the years that have followed that world-changing day, no film has served as a better marker than this bit of cinema verité by Paul Greengrass. With a cast filled with unknowns, and photography composed of gritty handheld camerawork, it all feels almost too real. There is no sweeping score, no manipulative monologues. Just the story of 38 ordinary people who took matters into their own hands.

#3. CHILDREN OF MEN… 2006 would be a big year for the three biggest Mexican directors working today, and this was Alfonso Cuaron’s contribution. One of the best sci-fi movies of the decade.This dystopian tale about a near future where babies have stopped being born is both chilling and uplifiting at the same time. Perhaps most interestingly, it varies quite drastically from the P.D. James novel on which it’s based, but stays every bit as moving as that haunting novel.

#2. LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA… There are not nearly enough war films made that tell the tales of the losing side. How is a soldier supposed to fight honourably, when they know the odss are very much against him getting out alive? Such a situation only gets tougher when the soldier in question is Japanese – some of the most honour-obsessed people in all of history. It was hard not to be sad from the opening credits, knowing that the entire mission was futile. Nevertheless, for every second of this grainy, washed out, war masterpiece, the audience’s hearts are squarely with the enemy for once.

#1. PAN’S LABYRINTH… Quick – name me another fairy tale for adults. This film is almost in a category all its own. Fusing drama, war, period, and fantasy, this modern parable brings so many elements together to form one of the most unforgettable films ever. This is a feature so filled with unforgettable visuals, that it’s difficult to decide where to begin. For starters, I am pressed to think of another film that provides whimsical fancy and brutal violence in such equal measure. Using a drippingly elegant palette of blues, blacks, browns, and golds, it’s the sort of film you could watch on mute, and not even notice that you were missing all the words. In a perfect world, director Guillermo del Toro would have won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, but I believe he’ll be quite happy with the longevity this film will no doubt achieve. It is viciously elegant. It is truly timeless. It is by far, the best film of 2006.

Others on my shortlist for 2006 include CASINO ROYALE, BORAT, LITTLE CHILDREN, INSIDE MAN, MIAMI VICE, THE PRESTIGE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, QUEEN, BABEL, STRANGER THAN FICTION, VOLVER, BRICK, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, DAVE CHAPPELLE’S BLOCK PARTY, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, and A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION.

Check in on October 27th for the next installment, my top five films of 2007.

Did I miss one? Feel free to leave comments with your own favorite movies from 2006, along with suggestions for the next top five.

11 Replies to “Decade pt. vii ( Top Five 00’s Movies – 2006 )”

  1. I'd put Letters From Iwo Jima at #1, and Children of Men really was so F'ing good. Solid list, man. I need to re-watch Pan's Labyrinth, I was one of the few people who actually didn't like it, I think it was the scene where he pounds that guy's face in with the wine bottle that rubbed me the wrong way. Nonetheless, gonna give it another watch.

  3. I would have just about the same films, though my order would probably be a different… I'd have Children of Men #1, Pan's #2, Departed #3, Letters from Iwo Jima #4…

    not real sure what my #5 would be… would be tempted to go the Casino Royale, but I also LOVE V for Vendetta. United 93 isn't a bad option either.

  4. @ Aiden… Give PAN another look. That face-bashing scene was tough, but for me I got especially squirmy when the soldier is stitching up his own facial wound.

    @ Andrew… Thanks for reading! I liked your post quite a bit m'self. Now go get a copy of IWO JIMA and give'r a look. You won't be sorry.

    @ Univarn… Damn, I forgot about V. What a good year! Truthfully, these five were all so damned good that I could have put them in almost near any order. So I couldn't really argue with MEN as your #1.

  5. My favourite movie of 2006 is the documentary "In The Shadow Of The Moon". Stunning, breathtaking and chock full of extraordinary men talking about extraordinary things (while coming across as your Uncle Joe).

    I also loved "Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer" which doesn't seem to get a lot of love. Except for the Dustin Hoffman performance (which felt like a different movie) it completely worked for me.

    And then there's "The Fountain" which many people hate, but I adore.

    I agree on "The Prestige", "United 93", "Children Of Men" and "Volver" (I have "Brick" down as a 2005 film, but would agree otherwise).

    I also really liked "Offside" (women who are banned from seeing a soccer game in Iran), "Retribution" (a spooky mystery by Kiyoshi Kurosawa), Talledega Nights ("Dear Baby Jesus…"), "The Grudge 2", "Paris Je T'Aime", "Wordplay", "Radiant City", "Cars", "After The Wedding", blah, blah, blah…

  6. Children Of Men, The Departed, and Pans Labyrinth would definitely make my top five as well, but I think I might add:

    Little Children…..what a twisted tale, and frankly one of Kate Winslets most profound performances.

    Also, I absolutely loved Black Snake Moan.

    And for funsies:

    Funniest: Grandma's Boy and Snakes On A Plane

    Worst: Failure To Launch

  7. Great choices. I think I agree with them all. Pans Labyrinth is one of the best films of decade.

    Of your shortlist I would like to draw peoples attention to Miami Vice. One of the most underrated films of recent years. It just wasn’t what people were expecting it to be so people who would like it haven’t seen and a lot of people who saw it didn’t like it.

  8. 2006 was a pretty freaking awesome year and those are some great picks – loved Little Miss Sunshine.

    It was also a good year for Canadian film with The Rocket and Bon Cop, Bad Cop. And foreign – Night Watch came out and it was so awesome. It seem like a turning year.

  9. @ Bob… Yeah, you're right – BRICK is 2005. Thanks for the note. I dug THE FOUNTAIN, but not enough to put it on any sort of best list…mostly 'cause I didn't quite understand it. I liken it to a song where the lyrics don't make sense. TALLADEGA NIGHTS on the other hand is kick ass.

    @ Fandango… Swear to god there are days where I think I'm the only person who likes MIAMI VICE. I think some people got too hung up on Colin Farrel's facial hair.

    @ Shannon… haven't seen either of those Canadian ones. Pardon me while I make a trip to Blockbuster.

  10. "Viciously elegant" indeed … Very well put! … I'm certain that Pan's Labyrinth will stick a lot longer than just about any other movie out there now … The only I can't go with you on is "United 93," but that's entirely my own fault .. I just wasn't ready for something so powerful, and it just hit me the wrong way .. Ho doubt, however, a very well-made film and indeed a fitting tribute for people who can stomach it

  11. @ Reel… Understandable re. UNITED 93. It's a tough film that one has to be prepared for going in. You usually expect Hollywood schmaltz from such things…not gritty reality.

    As for PAN'S, I'm still bummed that it didn't receive the Best Foreign Film Oscar, and wasn't nominated for Best Picture. I really do believe that it's one of those movies we'll still be talking about for years to come…

Comments are closed.