Best Movies of 2006

This is a remarkable film. Alfonso Cuarón's first amazing film is also the most amazing film of the year. 2006 is slowly turning into one of my all-time favourite years for cinema. It has already released six of my all-time favourite films. Incredible.

This futuristic thriller is set in 2027, where no child has been born for 18 years and science is at loss to explain the reason. In a climate of nationalistic violence, Theo Faron, joins forces with his revolutionary ex-wife Julian in order to save mankind by protecting a woman who has mysteriously became pregnant.

That is the plot for this brilliant movie. Clive Owen is spectacular and so is Claire-Hope Ashitey. Julianne Moore has a very limited role, but it still shines. Pam Ferris was great in a surprisingly well done supporting role. Kudos to Michael Caine, also. I recommend this film to everyone. It's one that shouldn't be missed. Although it's fictional, it's important and informative.

The Oscars need to watch out for this one, Claire-Hope Ashitey is the real standout and she should be taken into consideration. This should also be nominated for Best Picture, Director and for its brilliant cinematography.

An instant masterpiece.

This is a wonderfully magical film. It takes you away from the theater and makes you feel as if you are in the movie. That's what I love about this film. Guillermo Del Toro is one of the most imaginative directors out there. He can be compared to the likes of Hayao Miyazaki when it comes to his imagination.

His previous films [i]Mimic[/i] and [i]Hellboy[/i] didn't really interest me and I didn't like them at all, so naturally I wasn't expecting much until I saw this trailer. It looked so magical and beautiful and I had to see it.

Ivana Baquero did a absolutely terrific job. She had the character down perfectly and is a fine young actress. The movie is about a young girl and her pregnant mother who are traveling to a rural area in upper Spain so they can be with her mother's new husband. The young girl has a vivid imagination and loves to read fairy tales. She wanders off one day into the forest behind their home and comes across a labyrinth where she meets a faun who tells her she is the princess of their world. Her imagination leads her into all kind of trouble, but in the end it's her imagination that saves lives.

One of the, if not the best, fantasy movies I have ever seen and definitely one of the best pictures of the year. A job well done by Mr. Del Toro.

This film has been nominated for six Academy Awards this year and hopefully it can walk away with a few statues. I can see this film winning Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Score. If it's lucky, it can take the Original Screenplay award, also. Amazing film. Go see it, you won't regret it.

There has never been a better acted, better cast movie all year. I'd even go as far as to say in a decade there hasn't been a better acted film by an ensemble cast. This is one of those films you go to see and you don't quite know what to expect. You know it isn't going to be an all-out action fest. You know it isn't going to be a gore-filled thriller, this movie is something very special. It's outrageously funny and heartwarming at the same time. The characters are amazing and the chemistry between them is great. Also, Michael Arndt has written one of the best screenplays ever. Carell and Arkin bith give memorable performances as does newcomer Abigail Breslin. The movie is simply about Olive (Breslin), a 7-year-old beauty pageant hopeful who is accepted into "Little Miss Sunshine", a pageant in California. Her family gathers their things and heads out for a trip (which is full of twists and turns, both good and bad.. but mostly bad) in their VW bus to Redondo Beach to have Olive compete for the title "Little Miss Sunshine". The best film of 2006 so far and one of my new personal favourites. I smell Oscar for this incredible film.

Very similar to [i]Crash[/i], yet totally unique. This is one of the best films of the year and one of the most emotional films ever made. Alejandro González Iñarritu takes four different stories from four different locations around the world, which are uncannily similar in many ways, and shows how they are interconnected. He incorporates all the stories into one delicately, yet with power that will rip your heart out and let you feel it. It's almost painful to watch these characters go through what they do in this film over little things like misunderstandings with identity and communication. Iñarritu shows how even the little things like these can steer our lives into disastrous directions which in the end affects the world and mankind. The actors in this film are incredible, especially Brad Pitt in his supporting role. He should definitely receive and Oscar nomination. This film should also receive Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay. In the end, this film is more memorable to me than [i]Crash[/i] with its messages and morals. This is an important film, probably the most important film of the year. This has earned a spot on my all-time favourite films list. It's mesmerizing, beautiful and portrays such a strong message. I highly recommend this to everyone.

Brilliant... just brilliant! Darren Aronofsky is a genius and this is in the same league as his previous masterpiece Requiem for a Dream. With so many people disliking this film and many people I know telling me to avoid it, I was hesitant to see this. However, after I watched it for the first time I was amazed. Not only amazed at the mindblowing film experience I had just had, but amazed at why so many people hated this film.

It is absolutely brilliant; one of the most original and thought-provoking films I have ever seen. I believe that many people disliked this film because their tiny minds couldn't understand the very beautiful plot. It's really not that confusing when you think about it. If you have the patience and attentiveness, you'll understand it.

Between Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain, there are large differences, but they are still both very similar. His imagination and creativity are evident in both films, but with The Fountain, you just have to expand your mind a little bit more. In both films, the acting is top notch. One of the best performances I have ever seen has come from an Aronofsky film: Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream. Hugh Jackman was phenomenal in this film. He did everything right, everything that would help the film's plot progress he did and he did it so well. I was very impressed with him. I no longer see him as Wolverine, but as a great actor. Rachel Weisz was, of course, terrific as well and it was great to see Ellen Burstyn, too.

The technical aspects were mesmerizing especially the cinematography. Matthew Libatique is a wonderful cinematographer and his work on this film is Oscar-worthy. Unfortunately, this film was snubbed of all it's potential Oscar nominations just as Requiem for a Dream was (minus the Burstyn nod). The original score was absolutely beautiful, too. Clint Mansell was also snubbed by the Academy, but did receive a Globe nomination. Even the visuals were terrific. I just feel that these people aren't being acknowledged as they should be.

The critics were very harsh towards this film and I really don't understand it. I can understand how many of the stupid little people out there don't like it since their small and feeble brains can't comprehend such brilliance, but the critics have disappointed me (as always). As long as some people out there appreciate this masterpiece, then I'll be happy.

In the end, my appreciation for Darren Aronofsky has grown immensely. He's one of my favourite directors of today. Everything he produces is genius and I hope it remains that way. This film is breathtaking and I can't even express how much I loved this film. I just hope that all of you who haven't seen it will watch it and open your minds to absorb an amazing story. I also hope that all of you who have seen it and didn't like it, perhaps rewatch it and give it another chance, because you might just notice something that you missed the first time around. Highly recommended and one of my new personal favourites.

After Almodóvar brings us such masterpieces like [i]Todo sobre mi madre[/i], [i]Hable con ella[/i] and [i]La mala educación[/i], one wouldn't think he could create another. If you are thinking this, you are absolutely wrong. [i]Volver[/i] is nothing short of a masterpiece.

With a strong female cast, like in all of Almodóvar's films, this movie explores the ups and downs of a close knit family struggling with a tragic death, murder and the ghost of their late mother. The story deals with the lives of three women. Raimunda (Cruz) is a young mother who is married to a sleazebag husband and is working hard to take care of her daughter (Cobo). Her sister, Sole (Dueñas), is a divorcée who runs a private salon in her apartment where she does her hairdressing. Augustina (Portillo) is their close friend who lives next door to their sick aunt and takes care of her everyday. She is also looking for answers about her mother's disappearance. All three of these women have secrets and when these secrets are revealed their lives will change.

Raimunda secret is that her daughter killed her husband and is trying to secretly dispose of his body. Augustina's secret is that her mother secretly had an affair with Raimunda and Sole's father and that is why their mother left him and Sole's secret is that she is secretly hiding the ghost of their mother (who apparently died in a fire three and a half years ago) in her apartment. Sounds like a soap opera, I know. But it is so much more than that. The only person who knows everyone's secret and can help in any way is Irene (Maura) and she is being hidden away because she is a risen-from-the-dead spirit.

A very original screenplay makes this movie quite entertaining. I'm never disappointed with an Almodóvar film because I can always count on him for his wonderful screenplays. He also directs these women in a way that makes their characters so loveable and intriguing. Penélope Cruz is absolutely terrific in this movie and has rightfully been awarded with an Oscar nomination. This is the performance of her career so far and she will be remembered for it. Dueñas, Maura, Portillo and Cobo are also all terrific. The six main women of this film were awarded at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Actress. All six women received the honor.

A realistic and quite detailed look at the ups and downs of family and what tragic events can do to their relationships. It's the end of the film that ultimately explains that family is what keeps you alive and helps you push through the hard times no matter what. A very touching film by the master himself, Pedro Almodóvar.

This is by far the best film of 2006. It is not my favourite, but it is the best. Brilliantly directed and written by Paul Greengrass, this movie will bring back haunting memories from the 11th of September, 2001. This film was absolutely frightening; imagine being on that plane which is being hijacked by four men. [i]United 93[/i] tells the story of the fourth hijacked plane on September 11th, 2001 that didn't reach its destination. The other three planes hit their targets, but with the courage of many passengers on United Flight 93 they managed to stop the hijackers and foil their plans to crash this plane into the White House. The plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and there were no survivors. This is by far the saddest movie I have ever sat through. At moments I almost had to pause it so I could catch my breath because it was so emotionally powerful. I am not afraid to admit that I cried during this film. It was so terribly sad, especially when the passengers were calling their families and telling them they love them and saying goodbye. Paul Greengrass should receive an Oscar nomination for Best Director. It's hard to sit through, but in the end you will be glad you saw this. God bless all of those passengers on United Flight 93, you are true heroes, and all the other people who died on September 11th, 2001.

An amazing film. One of the few films this year that actually had me captivated. It may not seem like [i]United 93[/i], but it had the same power about it. The ensemble cast was terrific, but the thing that impressed me the most was the story. The story is genius. Tom Perrotta wrote the novel this film is based on and Todd Field wrote the screenplay. Together they have made a story that is so dark and gloomy, yet intriguing beyond measure. It's sad, yet sexy. It's funny, yet dark. At times it's all of these and one would think it wouldn't contrast well, but when you watch it you get sucked in and you lose all sense of your surroundings because you are captured by the lovely story and atmosphere. Like Todd Field's previous film, [i]In the Bedroom[/i], this film deals with troubled families. Kate Winslet is already being recognized for her portrayal of a sexually deprived housewife. Patrick Wilson was phenomenal, also, in a breakthrough role. While reading over the plot before I saw this film I would think that I would sympathize over Kate Winslet's character, but I was wrong. The character that deserves the sympathy is Ronnie (Haley). He plays a pedophile that is trying to get over his problem and has his mother (Somerville) set him up on dates. The whole cast is terrific and I would give nominations to Winslet, Wilson and Haley for the upcoming Oscars. Brilliant movie!

One of the best films I have seen in the past 2 years. Jet Li's Fearless not only has some of the greatest martial art scenes I have ever seen, but has a story so compelling that it is hard not to say you love this movie. Huo Yuanjia is a Chinese martial arts master who was a legend in the early 1900s and suffered great personal tragedy. He spent too much time fighting and not enough time with his family, and when they were gone, it was too late for him to fix his errors. But his self-discovery and choices inspired a nation. Yuanjia basically rebuilt the Chinese nation after Americans came over and dominated their cities. He proved that the Chinese man was not weak and pathetic as the Americans saw them after demolishing a good number of American opponents. Although his last fight is the most poignant, he resurrected a village which lead to a nation and is a true hero. This is said to be Jet Li's last martial arts film, which is a shame, but what a film to go out on. He was absolutely fantastic and is a much better actor when speaking his own language. Such a great movie. I recommend this to everyone.

Besides [i]The Departed[/i], this is the best adapted screenplay of the year. From a terrific novel by Zoe Heller, Patrick Marber adapts another brilliant piece dealing with sex, affair and deceit. This plot is similar to Patrick Marber's 2004 screenplay of [i]Closer[/i], but different at the same time.

Two british film greats, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, star in this provocative drama. Judi being nominated for Best Actress at this year's Oscars and Cate, supporting actress. If Jennifer Hudson would have never sung her way to Oscar gold, Cate could have easily taken a second Oscar. Judi Dench was brilliant, too. Richard Eyre, who also directed Judi Dench in [i]Iris[/i], directs this film. He has not made many films in the past, but is now a respected director.

The plot goes (simply) like this: Sheba Hart (Blanchett) is the new art teacher at a high school where Barbara Covett (Dench) has been for a long time. They become close friends. Sheba is married with a family and one day after classes, Barbara discovers her having an affair with her 15 year old student. Barbara threatens to reveal her secret if Sheba won't spend more time with her. Barbara's obsession with Mrs. Hart leads to a downward spiral for both of them and in the end someone suffers greatly.

Terrific lines make for memorable scenes. "You think this is a love affair?!"

One of the best films of the year. This should not be missed by anyone.

You may be thinking enough with these kinds of films already. Americans go to China to help the Chinese with their problems and in their stay there, they end up Americanizing the Chinese culture. It isn't that way at all, though. There are very strong and independent Chinese characters and the Americans are the ones who are aiding them with no expectations of reciprocity.

This film is basically a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young English couple, Walter (Norton), a middle class doctor and Kitty (Watts), an upper class woman, who get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to Shanghai where Kitty falls in love with someone else. When Walter discovers her infidelity, he is outraged and accepts a job in a remote village near Hong Kong which is plagued by the cholera epidemic and takes her along. Their journey brings meaning to their relationship and gives them purpose in one of the most remote and beautiful places in the world.

This is a gorgeous film with breathtaking visuals. The cinematography is so revealing of the wonderful landscape and culture of Hong Kong and the Art Direction and Costume Design are wonderful, as well. The score by Alexandre Desplat is brilliant. He has created two scores this year that are just astonishing; his second being [i]The Queen[/i]. This film, unfortunately, has been left out at the Oscars in these categories. A shame, really.

Edward Norton and Naomi Watts are terrific and have such great screen presence. They never fail to impress me. The sadness in Naomi Watts eyes as she stares upon the cholera stricken children is one of the most memorable scenes this year for me. She is one amazing actress and can really express what she feels not only with her dialogue, but with her gestures and facial expressions, too. She is great.

In my opinion, this film is underrated. I think that it's so limited right now that most people haven't even heard of it. Give it a few more months and I bet more people will be enjoying this film just as I did. It's truly genuine with characters you will love and a story that is romantic, inspiring and heartbreaking.

While this film might rub off in ways that [i]The Truman Show[/i] did, it is totally different. The writing style is similar to that of Charlie Kaufman which is probably why I enjoyed this film as much as I did. The screenplay was terrific because it had such a great plot that connected the comedy and tragedy storylines into one. The subtle jokes made this a sophisticated film that will make you laugh in ways that you don't quite understand until you think about it over again. Harold Crick (Ferrell) is an IRS auditor who has his life interrupted by a woman who is narrating it. She knows his every thought, feeling and action including when he will die. The woman is Karen Eiffel (Thompson), a novelist who is determined to get through her writer's block and find a way to kill her main charachter, Harold Crick, in her latest novel. Little does she know he is a real person. A terrific turnaround from Will Ferrell where he leaves his childish comedies behind and takes on a more serious role. Emma Thompson's role was the best. I believe she is resolute to make it back into AMPAS history with another nomination. Overall, this film is witty, sophisitcated, funny and charming. You're expecting something totally different than what you receive. What you receive is a memorable experience and an awesome film that not only entertains, but conveys a strong message. One of the year's best.

This is one of the greatest mysteries on film I have ever seen. Easily one of the best films of the year. I would love to say it IS the best of the year, but Little Miss Sunshine still tops my list. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale give terrific performances as does Caine and Bowie. Christopher Nolan's brilliance shines through with another masterpiece. He is a genious and this movie falls in line with his previous achievements (Memento, Batman Begins). The story is impeccable and the twists are some of the best I have ever seen. I have a feeling this film is going to be overlooked at the Oscars and won't get the recognition it deserves. A Best Director nomination is in order for the outstanding Christopher Nolan and a Best Adapted Screenplay nod, also. Watch this movie not only for the amazing stars in it, but for the amazing screenplay and direction. The magic "tricks" are also something to get excited over. 'The Transported Man' is a great trick and it got me to say "wow" everytime they performed it. A terrific film. Once again I say, one of the best of 2006.

This was the most enjoyable movie I have seen this year. First of all, let me exclaim my love for Meryl Streep. She is a goddess. Acting is so effortless for her... her performances are flawless and she is still sexy as hell. Yes. I said it. She is. People say she is the highlight of the film (which I can't deny), but there are also two other amazing performances. Emily Blunt (who I have never seen before) gave a terrific supporting performance as Miranda's 1st Gucci-wearing assistant. She is terrific. Stanley Tucci, well now, he is just hilarious. He always gives great performances and he is such a strong character actor. Bravo to all three of you. Anne Hathaway is still learning the principles of acting and with working with a legend like Meryl Streep she will become one successful actress. I do like her, but she always has her faults. She is so beautiful and always plays frumpy girls.. I wish she would take on stronger roles and become one of film's strongest leading ladies. This movie has a great story (adapted from the novel by Lauren Weisberger) and I would love to see it nominated for an Oscar or two (I doubt it, but that would be very nice). I highly recommend this movie, not only to women, because guys will like it, too. It's not a "chick flick". I hate that term. Go and see it. It's great. The best movie of the year so far.

This film is an inspirational drama like [i]Finding Forrester[/i], yet it has a touch of [i]Thirteen[/i] in it. The film is about Daniel Dunne (Gosling), a junior high teacher who has a drug habit which is eventually discovered by one of his students. This student, Drey (Epps), develops a close friendship with her teacher after finding out his secret. They both find out that their unexpected friendship threatens either to undo them or to provide the vital change they need to move forward in their lives. Ryan Gosling was phenomenal in this movie. This role should bring him into the spotlight. I predict him receiving an Oscar nomination in February. Shareeka Epps was great, also. A breakthrough role that she hit right on the head. It's too bad more people weren't able to see this movie. It really is inspirational and when you watch it the second time you see closer how their relationship grows with simple character development. The cinematography was terrific, too. This film would be a lot bigger if it had a wider release, but since it doesn't it's going to be one of those little movies that only certain people see. These certain people are very lucky to see such a great movie. If you've seen this once, see it again. If you haven't seen it, try hard to get to see it. It's a great movie with strong morals. I won't forget this film come Oscar time.

I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006)
director: Chan-wook Park
starring: Su-jeong Lim, Rain, Hie-jin Choi, Yong-nyeo Lee, Dal-su Oh

LOVE this film. It's probably one of the craziest films I have ever seen and one of the most original in terms of story and style. Director Chan-wook Park (one of my favourites) has already established himself as a filmmaker and has reached fame outside of Korea with his previous Vengeance Trilogy (Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). His style is still somewhat evident and the themes displayed in his previous works are also there in part. But as a whole, this is a complete change for Park as he is not working in his known genre. The funny thing is, I didn't even question myself as I was watching this. I was so captivated by the film and the visuals that my worries of Park completely bombing weren't even an issue anymore. I might have been expecting a few hammers to the head and blood, blood, blood... but not seeing it like in Oldboy wasn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be. Park tackled this project and made it his own as if he's been making these types of films forever. He's magical, I tell you.

The premise of this film is strange (as if you didn't laugh a little when you read the title), but don't let that turn you away from this fantastic Park film. A young girl, Young-goon (played by Su-jeong Lim), is sent to a mental hospital where she meets many different psychotic people, one of them being Il-sun. Il-sun believes that he can steal people's souls and hops around the hospital like a rabbit all day. Oh, and did I mention that Young-goon believes she is a cyborg? Growing up with her grandmother, Young-goon watched her live her life believing she was a mouse. Eating only pickled radishes, her grandmother was eventually taken away and sent to a hospital. Young-goon keeps her grandmother's dentures and wears them so she can be closer to her. Dreaming of her often, she explains to Young-goon her purpose in life. The problem is, "your purpose in life is..." is as far as she gets. In every dream, her grandmother vanishes before she can finish her sentence. On her adventures, she encounters many different people and many problems occur, but with the help of Il-sun, who she eventually falls for, she accomplishes many things.

This film is just way too fun and had me smiling throughout the whole thing. Both Su-jeong Lim and Rain are a treat to watch and together they are absolutely mesmerizing. The scene in the forest where Young-goon spins her head around and her feet sprout rockets so she can boost up to kiss Il-sun is one of my favourite parts in this film. So many scenes in this film are hilarious, sad and romantic that it gives a sympathetic tenderness to both the lead characters. Watching Young-goon go from depressed to ecstatic was so exciting, especially in the scene where Il-sun gives her one patient's "flying socks" and sings to her that yodeling song as she dreams of gliding through the clouds. Absolutely magical.

If you're a fan of Chan-wook Park, I believe that you will still find it in yourself to love this film because you will notice similarities between this and his previous work. Even when the opening credits were rolling through the gears of the factory, I could tell this was going to be a great Park film. This film is incomparable to Oldboy, yet on some level, more fascinating. I love Oldboy and it will remain my favourite Chan-wook Park film for now, but this is Park's most creative masterpiece yet. I have only praises to say about this film, so I recommend this highly. If you're a fan of Asian cinema, enjoy. If you're a fan of Chan-wook Park (which I would assume makes you a fan of Asian cinema, also), enjoy. Even if you're just a fan of crazy and visually jaw-dropping films, watch this. It's a heartwarming, silly, romantic and ultimately brilliant achievement from one of the best Asian directors of today.

I am not usually a big fan of the western genre, but this film was very different than the usual western. I think the thing that made this film was the terrific screenplay by Nick Cave. It was brilliant and won a prize at the Venice Film Festival for Cave.



The plot is simple, yet very intriguing. A lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him nine days to kill his older brother or else they'll execute his younger brother. Guy Pearce has never really impressed me (only once in [i]L.A. Confidential[/i]) and here is no different. There's something about him that is rather boring and flat. Ray Winstone on the other hand is terrific. Even when he doesn't say anything, you know what he's thinking. Brilliant performance by Emily Watson, also. I've never noticed her until a few weeks ago when I watched [i]Red Dragon[/i]. She is a terrific and underrated actress.



I do believe that this film is a great one, one of the best of the year, too. The only thing wrong with it is Guy Pearce. I really did not like his character, nor his performance. It dragged the movie down. Whenever he came on screen I just wanted the scene to be over with. If they would have had another actor play Charlie Burns, then I might have liked it a lot more.

I liked this movie a lot. Not just because of the obvious reasons, like the acting or screenplay, but how it was put together and presented. It's hyped as an action movie, when really, there are only about three or four small action scenes in it. This movie, to me, is a psychological thriller. It gives you many things to think about as you go when you're still trying to think about the things that happened at the beginning of the movie. There are so many small intricacies that go unnoticed that could help you understand the plot that much more easily. It's a wonderful story, though, written by The Wachowski Brothers (creators of The Matrix trilogy) adapted from the comic books by David Lloyd and Alan Moore. Hugo Weaving remains masked through the entire film, although his role is the most pivotal. We don't see his face, but his performance does not lack because of this. He does a terrific job. Natalie Portman's performance was the highlight of the film, though. She did a fantastic job. I saw a side of her I haven't seen before and I loved it. Could pass as the best movie of 2006, so far.

This is one of the most important films so far this year. It brings back the great sadness of the death of Princess Diana in such a powerful way. I remember the day the Princess of Wales died in that terrible car accident, I was young but it is a moment in time that will stick with you for life.

Such emotion came over England... and the world. She was a princess to the people and when she was gone, the people suffered greatly. This movie shows what happened during the days of England's mourning inside Buckingham Palace.

HM Queen Elizabeth II is a very interesting character and I was shocked to see how she behaves behind the scenes. She is an elegant, tasteful and powerful woman and Helen Mirren not only physically took on this character, but emotionally as well. Mirren became The Queen and gave an amazing performance that cries out for an Oscar.

This film is definitely a great one and has Oscar written all over it. It has generated a ton of buzz, mostly over Mirren's stunning performance, and I could even very well see this film being nominated for Best Picture. Such an emotional film (emotional in a good way) that shows the true side of the Royal Family and the near-defeat of the Monarchy.

Go see this movie, it's now playing in theatres. You won't regret it.

This was a very interesting movie. A very impressive screenplay based on the novel by Christopher Buckley and brought to the screen by Jason Reitman (also director). The movie is a satirical comedy that follows Nick Naylor (Eckhart, who is in top form), Big Tobacco's chief spokesman who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his 12-year-old son, Joey (Bright). A fantastic film with a terrific performance from Aaron Eckhart. J.K. Simmons had a great part, also. And before this film I didn't much care for Adam Brody (especially in Mr. & Mrs. Smith), but in this film he was hilarious and had a great, yet small, role. I was very impressed with this movie. I remember a while back when I went to see Capote in theatres, they showed this trailer. I wasn't too impressed with the trailer so I planned on skipping this movie, but I am glad that I didn't. It wasn't what I expected at all. Dry humour and heartwarming undertones make this film quite enjoyable. I highly recommend this movie.

This movie is so contagious. I was watching it not knowing what to expect and around a quarter way through the film I was sucked in. It's almost like this film becomes personal. You get to know these characters and their lives and what they do backstage... it's like you've known them for a long time.



Robert Altman has always been a master when it came to characters and their dialogue. This film is absolutely top notch and it was all that I expected and more. These characters, including Mr. Keillor himself, are all very interesting. From Dusty and Lefty the duo that sings about risqué things to Yolanda and Rhonda the country siren sisters that sing touching songs about their late mother, they are all infectious. They make you want to know more about them and that's what I love about Altman's films. Streep, Kline and Tomlin give the best performances in this film. Kline was perfect for his role and made me laugh out loud non-stop.



Unfortunately, this was Robert Altman's last film. Mr. Altman passed away November 20th of this year, but he will be remembered for his wonderful contributions to cinema and his masterful direction. Just like what I said about Stanley Kubrick I say about Robert Altman, "this is a terrific film to be remembered as your last".



A great film with a great cast makes for a great experience. One of the best films of the year.

I have never enjoyed a PG-rated film like I have this one. This may be classified as a "kid's film" but I disagree. It's such a great and inspiring film. I have never been that excited in a movie since I watched Seabiscuit. Keke Palmer does a terrific job, especially for her being so young. She is the movie. I was also happy to see Fishburne and Bassett reunite for the third time in this film. They are always wonderful, but are better when in the same scenes for most of the movie. I recommend this movie to everyone because it truly is inspiring, especially if you come from a lower-class, low-income family like Akeelah. She is a strong girl and it shows in the movie. She has great integrity and the most powerful scene is when she reads the quote off of Fishburne's office wall. "Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure."

With this movie, it seems like there is going to be some shocker of an ending, but really, there isn't. The best parts in the movie are the moments leading up to the conclusion. Still, this movie has an incredible screenplay, but then again, it's nothing I haven't seen before. Heist movies can all be quite similar, but this one was a little different. Denzel Washington was great and so was Jodie Foster. Clive Owen's role was interesting and different for him, and he did a good job with what he was given. Again, the ending which is applauded by a lot of people left me feeling no surprise. A great movie, though. One of the 10 best I have seen in 2006 so far.

One of the most disturbing films ever. The whole pedophilia issue is very sensitive and this film did not take it lightly. It seems from the trailer that there is one "villain" in this movie when in fact they are both villains. This film can be taken so many ways and there is no correct way to perceive this movie. This could be classified as a feminist film because of the whole rape issue where the young girls are taken advantage of and where Wilson's character it portrayed as the bad guy; then again this is a film dealing with sexual tension and issues of masculinity where Page's character is portrayed as the bad guy. There is many ways you can take this film and I still haven't figured out a solid way to view it. At one point, you want to side with Wilson (especially during the excruciating castration scene) and at another point, side with Page. There is no actual person you can rightfully side with. This film comes off as a mix between Fatal Attraction and American Psycho, but in the end this film is too original to be compared to others. I love this movie because it is pretty much perfectly constructed. Amazing screenplay and two stunning performances. David Slade makes his way into my memory as one of the best debut directors I have ever seen. Amazing film.

Terrific, I thought. The one story of "the dead girl" interconnects with many other people in different ways and their own stories are just as sad. Director Karen Moncrieff helms this movie and it's evident through the characters and the performances that she does a very good job directing this film.

She is a somewhat unknown talent who was a television actress before she got her big break in 2002 with her directorial debut Blue Car. The film was a moderate success critics-wise with a few nominations at some film festivals and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Moncrieff. After this film, Moncrieff went on to direct an episode of the hit HBO show "Six Feet Under" in 2003 and then vanished for three years. In 2006, she resurfaced with this film. The Dead Girl was more positively received than her debut film, but all-together wasn't a huge success.

After what has been only a brief appearance in Hollywood, Moncrieff is now engraved in my memory as a terrific talent. She is a wonderful writer and I cannot wait for her next project.

This film's flow is uncomfortable, but it's messages are powerful. The story is very intriguing although mildly disturbing and at points in the film can be very bland. Luckily for the lack of excitement, there are five terrific performances that make each part very enjoyable. The Stranger, The Sister, The Wife, The Mother and The Dead Girl are all highlighted by their titular characters' performances. Toni Collette, Rose Byrne, Mary Beth Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden and [especially] Brittany Murphy will give you goosebumps with their heartwrenching characters and the horrible situations they are in. Truly amazing work from all of them.

With only a good story, this film is a showcase for terrific performances and a wonderful director. I have to admit, I am a sucker for great performances and this film houses over ten of them. So in the end, I really liked this film, but was mildly disappointed by the story's flow and abrupt ending.

I still recommend this film to everyone who appreciates independent cinema.

I don't see how this film is getting such horrible reviews. I found it to be one of the funniest and most touching films in years. I can see why people see this as a Wes Anderson-esque type of film (ala [i]The Royal Tenenbaums[/i]), but it isn't. This film comes from the memoir of Augusten Burroughs. His life with his mother, Deirdre (Bening), was a difficult one. She divorced his father (Baldwin) when he was young and he grew up with only his mother to care for him. His mother's therapist, Dr. Finch (Cox), suggested that she take some time for herself and leave Augusten with him and his loony family. One of the weirdest on-screen families I have ever seen: Dr. Finch is a therapist who hides from the IRS. Agnes Finch (Clayburgh), the doctor's wife, eats kibble while watching old horror films. Natalie (Wood), Finch's youngest daughter, is a wild teenager who likes to practice electroshock therapy on willing patients and Hope (Paltrow) is Finch's favourite daughter who imagines her dead cat sends messages to her in her sleep. This crazy family surrounds Augusten for most of his teenage life and he grows up to be part of it. This film is outrageously funny with many one-liners. Annette Bening was brilliant; her best work since [i]American Beauty[/i]. An underrated film that will probably only be appreciated by people who have similar life experiences or love the book.