Top 10 of 2006

A visually stunning and amazing epic tale of a Mayan warrior and his fate. While this movie works great as a story told at tis core, there is so much more to it, the stunning cinematography, the costumes, make-up, set design and so much more. First and foremost, the setting is a daring feat which Mel Gibson undertakes with bold efficiency. Say what you will about him, but he infuses fresh blood into an ondragging American movie world every time he directs a movie. A movie with no love interest but the courage in your heart and the memory fo your loved ones, vulnerable superheroes, likeable bad guys, no American cliches but deep experiences of humanity. The Mayan culture is a deeply fascinating one, and on its own would make an excellent subject for a documentary or feature film, but paired with this adrenaline ride, the result is a mesmerizing tale. Amazing !

A grim and highly biased film about the Irish resistance of British occupancy in the 1920s. Both the physical and the social violence in this movie are hard to endure and make your toenails roll up. Yet, as I already mentioned, the movie's depiction the British is very strict and anti-British, which I suppose is alright though considering the fact that they were the occupying force and carried out the war atrocities.

Yet, Ken Loach does not overlook the internal conflict of political interests among the Irish themselves as friend turns against friend, brother versus brother, traitors being executed and political interests clashing.

This slightly nihilistic view is taken over the top by the radical ending which was a bit too much for my taste, but you have to give it to the filmmakers, it is a courageous one.

The cast is very ensemblematic and good, with mostly genuine Irish men and women portraying their countrymen. Cillian Murphy is a good lead, as usual.

If you are interested in the Irish-British issue or Irish history in general, I would recommend this movie.