Ry's Top 10 of 2006

Sorry for the delay in getting my top 10 list out, but it just takes time for me to get out there and see all the late arriving films of 2006. I finally feel I have seen all the notable films that one should see. Like every year it all seems to come together to make a good crop of films. I liken it to a vintage of wine – you can look back at the years and argue or discuss what years were better for movies. I don’t think 2006 will be remembered as a great year for cinema, however there were most certainly some gems that stand out above the rest. In the list below I give you the 10 best gems of 2006. Now, for the almost 60 times I ventured out to the cineplex and the countless movies I rented throughout the year there were always another set of eyes watching with me. It is only right to give a second opinion and include Jennifer’s list, especially because she is the one that makes seeing all these movies so much fun.

With out further ado, I give you Ryan’s Top 10 of 2006. Each film will have a link to click on where you can read my full review of the film. Please feel free to make a comment and discuss the year in film by clicking on the comment link on the bottom…thank you.

10. Brick – Highly imaginative world of crime centered around high school students. Full Review

9. Pursuit of Happyness – A man overcomes poverty and homelessness in reaching his dream. Full Review

8. Half Nelson – Ryan Gosling plays a teacher addicted to drugs in this heartbreaking tale. Full Review

7. The Last King of Scotland – A tense ride, Idi Ami (Whitaker) had me sweating. Full Review

6. Notes on a Scandal – Acting at its finest between Dench and Blanchett, this movie will make you squirm. Full Review

5. The Queen – an inside look at the royal family in the week after Princess Diana’s death. Full Review

4. Pan’s Labyrinth – Fantasy world meets cold hearted corrupt world in this beautiful film from Guillermo del Torro. Full Review

3. The Departed – Martin Scorsese gives us yet another mob masterpiece. Full Review

2. Little Miss Sunshine – Humorous?….hell yes, but it was the message about beauty and family that made this film stand out. Full Review

1. Children of Men – It was the movie that transported me the most, I felt totally immersed in this futuristic world. On top of that it had a message of hope for the human race. I was delighted with how well the movie was made and was emotionally moved by its story. Full Review

A Second Opinion, Jen’s top 10 of 2006
10. Children of Men

9. The Departed

8. The Queen

7. The Pursuit of Happyness

6. Blood Diamond

5. The Last King of Scotland

4. Pan’s Labyrinth

3. Notes on a Scandal

2. Little Miss Sunshine

1. Half Nelson

The Pursuit of Happyness

The Pursuit of Happyness: If this had to be a 2 word review: Heart Warming. Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a real life salesman who was pushed to the point of homelessness in an attempt to reach his life goal. The movie is based on true events and the script is actually adapted from the book Chris Gardner wrote about his struggles. When the story opens we find Chris selling or I should say “trying” to sell bone density scanners – something it turns out most hospitals are not in need of. With bills piling up, taxes to pay, and a young son to take care of, the Gardner’s are struggling to get by. When Chris decides to try a new career path (becoming a stock broker), his wife decides she has had enough and leaves the family. The struggles really get bad when Chris enters a training program as an intern at a brokerage firm. The program is 6 months long with no pay and no guarantee of a job when he is done either. We see a man literally hang it all out on the line to reach his dream. I have to admit I am a sucker for these kinds of stories. Seeing a person against all odds reach his goal always strikes a cord with me. As for the performance of Will Smith – brilliant, probably his best work to date. Will Smith carries this story from start to finish. His real life son, Jaden Smith, plays his on screen son and was serviceable (the good thing being he was not distracting like some young kid actors can be). The ending is uplifting and emotional and it all works in large part to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air……Will Smith.
* * * and ½ or Grade: B+

If this movie had parents they would be: Rudy & Trading Places

With a run time of 117 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

The Last King of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland: Forest Whitaker gives a stellar performance as Idi Amin, a brutal Ugandan dictator that reigned in the 1970’s. The story actually centers around another character, Nicholas Garrigan (played by James McAvoy). Garrigan is a recent medical school graduate from Scotland. He chooses to go to Uganda for two reason, for one – he wants to make a difference in the world and secondly he wants to get away from his egocentric father who is also a doctor. While working at a mission in Uganda, Garrigan treats Amin after a mild car accident. Amin is intrigued by Garrigan who is from Scotland, a country he greatly admires. Soon after, he invites Garrigan to come work at his hospital in Kampala and to also serve as his personal doctor. The naïve Garrigan accepts. The plot thickens as Garrigan becomes Amin's most trusted adviser as he slowly gets deeper and more involved in the inner workings of Amin's regime. The film is one very “tense” ride which can be credited to Whitaker 's stellar portrayal of Amin. He creates such a mad man on screen, a loose cannon if you will. I sat in my chair, palms sweating, literally afraid of him. On top of that, the story is engrossing from start to finish. By the time the credits rolled I felt exhausted. Bravo to Forest Whitaker and to all involved in this film! Check this one out.
* * * and ½ or Grade: B+

If this movie had parents they would be: Hotel Rwanda & Match Point

With a running time of 121 minutes
This film is rated R

Letters From Iwo Jima

Letters From Iwo Jima: Clint Eastwood found himself so immersed in the story of Flags of Our Fathers, that he figured the only way to do the whole story justice was to tell it from both sides. The film depicts the battle at Iwo Jima from the Japanese perspective (told in Japanese with English subtitles). It opens up with the Japanese military on the island preparing for the American invasion by digging out caves and ditches. The Japanese commander, General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) is informed upon his arrival that supplies, ammunition, food, and soldiers are running low and would not be replenished or reinforced. His mission, along with all of the Japanese on the island, is to hold the Americans from taking control of the island all knowing very well it is not a matter of winning, but delaying the inevitable. They all made the ultimate sacrifice to keep their homeland sacred if only for a few extra days. The beauty of the movie is its ability to show that neither side was a “dark enemy”. Both sides were doing what they felt was right. The movie itself is shot in a blue gray tint, with very little color, showing how colorless and cold blooded war is. I did however find the story to move at a slow pace, keeping me from becoming too emotionally involved. It also failed to “wow” me at any point – going into a film like this you expect a “wow” moment. Along with Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima is an excellent account of a historical battle, but I found myself wanting a little more from both.
* * * or Grade: B-

If this movie had parents they would be: Flags of Our Fathers & Tora! Tora! Tora!

With a running time of 140 minutes
This film is rated R