2006 Overview:
I didn't really watch a lot of movies in 2006 (only about 38 2006 films). This is due to lack of time when I was still in school and then I wasted lots of time in Youtube, Anime (Bleach) and 24 marathons after I graduated. But then again, the 2006 films aren't really that great. At the beginning of the year, the titles look really promising. However, by the end of October, many of them have become disappointments. It's so disappointing that I become discouraged from watching more movies too. Furthermore, this year has no 5 star movie for me. So 2006 has been a really disappointing year to me for the movies.
Here are my personal awards for 2006:
Best old film discovered on DVD:
Lord of War (2005) by Andrew Niccol. starring Nicolas Cage
This dark comedy about worldwide arms trade is one of the best films in 2005. I would put it in my top 3 if I had watched it 2 years earlier. Its darkly funny, powerful and unsettling. Unfortunately, despite of Nic Cage's star power, this film flopped at box office. Roger Ebert said that "you owe it to yourself to see this film" about an Inconvenient Truth. I would apply the same statement to this film. and oh, this is the only film I gave perfect 5 stars in 2006.
Honorable Mention:
Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut by Ridley Scott
Failed Genre of the Year: Movies with Magician.
In 2006, we have 2 high profile magic movies: The Prestige and The Illusionist. While both aren't bad, both are disappointing and mediocre enough to let down the genre this year
Best Use of Powerpoint Presentation: An Inconvenient Truth (actually, it's Apple Keynote)
Most Misleading Title: The Pursuit of Happyness (should be Pursuit of Materialistic Happyness)
Best Title: Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Most Underrated Film: Superman Returns
Superman Returns is not only the best Superman film ever, it's also one of the best films I've seen this year. Yet, there seems to be so many complains about this movie, especially the romance angle and the lack of action. The last straw is when Kate Bosworth got nominated for a worst actress Razzie. Whoa. enough is enough, it's time to defend.
First, I have to admit that I am not a big fan of Superman - He is someone too powerful whom I can't identify with. A Superman film that revolves around him fighting some of his powerful adversaries would be boring because it would just be a contest to see who's more powerful. But what makes every Superman story interesting is his romance with Lois Lane. Director Bryan Singer recognized this and made this romantic conflict drive the film. This film isn't mainly about Superman vs Lex Luthor or Superman saves Metropolis. It's about the unrequited love between Superman and Lois Lane. Superman and Lois Lane love each other but they can't be together, least of which because Superman's not human, but in this film, it's about Superman's betrayal of Lois (leaving without saying goodbye) and Lois denial about her true feelings that kept them apart. It's only in the end when Superman saves Lois from sinking and Lois returns to save Superman from Lex Luthor do we see that all is not lost between them. It's as romeo and juliet as it can get it's a love story that people who are not familiar with the characters can identify with. Yes, it maybe melodramatic as it can get but this love story also drives the first 2 Christopher Reeves Superman Movies and makes them memorable. The love story, Brendan Routh as a perfect Superman (even better than Reeve) and even setting it in the same universe as the first 2 Superman Movies (the Superman Theme in the opening credits blew me away) made this movie perfect. So, why is there so much hate?
Rumors has it that the next Superman film will be more action oriented. Well, I just hope that Bryan Singer does not forget what makes Superman special and sacrifice it just for more action.
Most Overrated Film: The Departed
First let me say that The Departed is a very good, tough, gutsy film with memorable performances. It's a worthy remake of the original Infernal Affairs. However, with some critics calling it one of the best Scorsese films like Goodfellas and Raging Bull. I just have to say stop. This film isn't perfect, it has some editing issues and a joke ending. Its tough, gutsy, violent and politically incorrect scenes might give the movie some character but they also give a lot of fat and excess to the film that prolong its running time more than necessary. Watch the original film to see a more effective and lean film with a better ending. The Departed is a damn good film. But one of Scorsese's best film and a best picture Oscar nominee? You gotta be kidding.
Runner-ups:
Pan's Labyrinth
Borat (do you really want the whole title?)
Most Disappointing Film: American Dreamz
In a year of disappointments, it's harder to pick this category than the best picture. However, after much consideration, I have to pick this film which missed its opportunity so much. American Dreamz has the best Idea for satire: President Bush and American Government, War In Iraq, and American Idol. The cast is great and more than willing to participate: Dennis Quaid (as George Bush-like President), Willem Defoe(as Dick Cheney-like Chief of Staff), Hugh Grant (as Simon Cowell-like Judge), Mandy Moore (lampooning her own pop singer persona). However, writer/director Paul Weitz is not brave enough to attack and plays it too safe. The result is a failed film with too many cheap, safe jokes instead of effective ones. This film flopped badly at the box office and has probably been forgotten. It's too bad, really, if only it had more courage to follow up on its great idea.
Runner-ups:
Borat
Inside Man
Snakes on a Plane
The Prestige
X-Men: The Last Stand
Most Surprisingly Good Film: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men's Chest
The first Pirates has this overly complicated but unnecessary long plot whose purpose is to give Johnny Depps moments to shine as Jack Sparrow. The 2nd movie, surprisingly, has an overly complicated plot too, except it's actually quite good and makes sense and successfuly ties everything from the first movie into a cohesive story and yet strangely, Johnny Depp is quite subdued here. But it doesn't matter, the film has its entertaining moments with/without Depp and the cliffhanger ending is just unexpected. Can't wait for the next entry.
Honorable Mention:
Rocky Balboa
Most "Important" Film: An Inconvenient Truth
"You owe it to yourself to see this film." - Roger Ebert
Dude, it's Al Gore! it's Global Warming!
Seriously, a film that could make a powerpoint lecture so compelling deserves some mention. Global Warming is real and we should do something about it. Besides, Al Gore's story of redemption is quite compelling too.
Plain Worst Movie: Lady In The Water by M Night Shyamalan
If you need a story about overblown ego and someone fall from grace, look no further than M Night Shyamalan and Lady in The Water. A bedtime story? stereotypical characters (worst of which is the korean neighbors)? casting himself as the prophetic world savior author? Stupid names like Narf, Scrunt, Tartukic, Kii... If that's not enough, consider that he wrote a tell-all book about how he got this project turned down at Disney, the studio that supported all his movies except this one since The Sixth Sense because the studio exec actually dared to tell him the script sucks. Too bad he should have listened to the exec before making this film.
It's really heartbreaking for me as a big fan of Shyamalan to see him crash and burn on screen. He really lost it in this movie. I hope he makes a good comeback though now that he has been brought down to earth
Dis-Honorable Mention:
Daisy by Andrew Lau Wai Keung
6:30 by Rinaldy Puspoyo
Best Song: Kazakhstan National Anthem in Borat! ... (do you really want the whole title?)
Best Original Music: The Fountain by Clint Mansell
Best Cinematography: Children of Men (DP: Emanuel Lubezski)
Best Looking Film:
with CGI: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men's Chest
without CGI: The Fountain
Most Hardworking Actor: Hugh Jackman (X-Men 3, Scoop, The Prestige, The Fountain, Flushed Away, Happy Feet)
Most Hardworking Actress: Maggie Gylenhall (Stranger Than Fiction, Trust The Man, World Trade Center, Sherrybaby, Monster House)
Most "For paycheck only" Performance: Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code
Tom Hanks is a great actor when he's given a great role. Unfortunately, The Da Vinci Code protagonist Robert Langdon isn't one of them. A bland character in a bland novel does not make a great role and the bland looking Tom Hanks just blandly essays the character in the movie. Throughout the movie, it's so painfully obvious that Tom Hanks does not enjoy this role and he looks like he can't wait to get out of the picture. I think the hair actually acts better than him. I hope the paycheck is good.
Tom Hanks discusses on who has worse hair.
Most Versatile Actor: Ian McKellen
If there's an actor who understand perfectly how to tackle everything from shakespeare to genre films, his name is Ian McKellen. In contrast with Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen is delightful as Teabing in Da Vinci Code and he is still good as Magneto in the disappointing X-Men 3. Even his voicework in Flushed Away is great. Remember, this is the dude who plays Gandalf after all. There should be more actor like him, really.
Best Performance by an Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio can finally bury the ghost of Jack Dawson in Titanic forever with perhaps the performance of his career here. Playing the role of undercover cop who is struggling very hard to maintain his cover as well as his sanity, Leonardo manages to really become the character and brings a lot of raw intensity and vulnerability that could match Robert DeNiro's performance in Raging Bull. Daniel Day Lewis would be proud of this kind of acting. It's too bad that the academy chose to recognize his performance in Blood Diamond instead (which is great too, but this one's much better). At least this performance should silence those Titanic critics.
Honorable Mention:
Hugh Jackman in The Fountain
Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat
Best Performance by an Actress: Helen Mirren in The Queen
When I watched The Queen, I couldn't see what's so great about Helen Mirren's take on The Queen. In contrast of Leonardo DiCaprio's screaming and shootin performance in The Departed. Queen Elizabeth is rather low key, reserved character who doesn't display a lot of emotions. However, the performance actually stays in my mind weeks after I watch it. Only then do I realize the great performance it is. The Queen might not show a lot of emotion on the surface, but inside she struggles to understand how the public turned against her soon after the death of Princess Diana. It takes a lot of talent to deliver this kind of performance and it should be rightly recognized.
Honorable Mention:
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
Best Picture (and Director): Children of Men by Alfonso Cuaron
2006 has great films. But it lacks truly great/ groundbreaking/ wow films. While Children of Men is not those kind of film, it's still a great one nevertheless. The film takes place in a world where women is unable to reproduce anymore and uses it to provide a scathing look at humanity and the world we live in today: government, terrorist/rebel groups, religious groups are all not spared. With excellent production design brings to life a chaotic future and cinematography (lots of long tracking shots) brings a lot of tension. There is no film that's more powerful, heartbreaking and hard to forget than Children of Men this year.
Honorable Mentions:
Babel by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Superman Returns by Bryan Singer
V For Vendetta by James McTeigue
Casino Royale by Martin Campbell
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That is all for now. I will give my views on upcoming movies in 2007 and maybe my take on the oscar ceremony that I'm watching now.
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