That’s funny though Goon – I don’t think I was ever bored by SoS. It didn’t quite work for me first time around, but there was enough to keep me engaged (even if the characters were frustrating). Second time around, I think I got the characters a bit more, so it was stronger. I also didn’t have the heavy expectations of ESotSM weighing on me.

Once someone calls Slumdog best of the decade, THEN I’ll get riled up. B-)

well that’s no good. you should reattach it.

Also, did no one notice that I said Science of Sleep is one of the best films of the decade? C’mon everyone. Get all riled up.

DOGville
MANderLAY
WaSHINgton

I’m just pulling your chain Rusty, I’m a big fan of Manderlay, he seems to find the cinema/minimalism balance better in that one then Dogville, even if the characters don’t stand out as much as they did in the first one.

DOGville
MANderlay
WaSINton

The crucifix symbolizes man’s seperation from god. So the image of the crucifix is woven into the titles across the series.

If I had to prove in a court of law that the Ameria Trilogy is about catholocism I’m positive I could.

http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2006/09/tiff-report-little-children-review.php

and for fun, my top 10 of 2006 written in January 2007:

http://twitchfilm.net/news/2007/01/what-to-do-on-a-lazy-new-years-afternoon-post-the-millionth-top-10-list-on-.php

I present, an exchange commonly referred to as “the worst”:

“How is she?”

“Annoyed.”

This mom sure does keep her composure.

I still haven’t seen Little Children (shut up – it’s not for lack of wanting to…), but I’m even more curious now after seeing the reactions. As Kurt has said before, it also has a helluva trailer.

I really like Wordplay as well. It doesn’t do too much new as far as the basic form of documentaries, but it found a fun, interesting topic with smart, engaging characters and a storyline that actually has you on the edge of your seat at times (who knew a crossword tournament could do that?).

Radiant City was a pretty great Canadian docu-drama-mentary about suburban sprawl. Haven’t seen Cars mentioned yet – I know it’s not top tier Pixar, but I still really enjoyed it.

I’d echo Ashley on After The Wedding as well. Terrific performances from everyone, but Mads Mikkelsen really shines.

And Kurt – I still don’t buy your argument about Miami Vice, BUT I actually found it on DVD for $4 so I picked it up and will give it another try. I’m skeptical but hopeful that I’ll pick up something new and different on a second viewing.

Others I consider as solid 2006 films: Offside, Retribution, Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby, A Prairie Home Companion, Aachi and Ssipak, I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OK, Still Life, City Of Violence, Reincarnation, This Is England, Reprise, The Great Happiness Space.

And The Pervert’s Guide To Cinema is a fun ride through some of the greatest films of all time with philosopher Slavoj Zizek as the conductor. Some people will hate his different takes on Hitchcock and others, but I found it a lot of fun to view these films through Zizek’s perspective.

EDIT: Just to be fair, it was a couple of the guys who didn’t care for Pan’s that much – they wouldn’t necessarily claim to be haters, but even the thought that there are haters surprised me. And they chose the other film (don’t remember what, but it didn’t deserve it) over Pan’s in the end.

People make jokes sometimes Henrik. I watched it recently and I’m not sure what you’re refering to. The scene in the car and the scene in the war zone are both flawless.

What podcast was it Jandy?

Children of Men for me – I don’t know. I couldn’t really point to anything wrong with it when I watched it – the detail was amazing, set design, art direction, cinematography, mise-en-scene, everything was technically flawless. But I didn’t connect with it, and I’m not sure why. Maybe enough time has passed now that I could rewatch it and love it the way I wanted to the first time.

So much love for both Pan’s Labyrinth and The Fountain. Pretty sure INLAND EMPIRE was on my original list, too. And Brick I know was. I actually listened to a podcast the other day with a bunch of Pan’s Labyrinth haters on it, and I was aghast – there are people who hate Pan’s Labyrinth? How?! Ah, well.

United 93 was great. The wind that shakes the barley was amazing. Babel was my favorite of that year, but I haven’t even seen it since.

Lives of Others was fucking crap though. Sappy bullshit.

Yeah, I knew it was one of those MB books.

I don’t really see what the movie is satirizing. I only see it as a melodrama. It’s irrelevent to my point though. Regardless of the genre, you buy the film when you buy the characters. I just didn’t think their dilema was interesting. [shrugs]I don’t know, have an affair or don’t [/shrugs].

But I will defend the book club scene for a second. I don’t agree it’s heavy handed because it’s not spelling out THE POINT of the movie (I guess we disagree on what that point is). It’s more like a soliloquy addressed to my part of the audience; the people bored and and indifferent to the whole thing. And as such it’s actually pretty astute. It makes sense that you wouldn’t like it as much because it’s not really addressed to your part of the audience.

Actually, it is Madame Bovary. A fairly big difference, but you are right, and I think that is actually ‘the worst’ scene in Little Children, because it sledgehammers its point home. I thought the ‘jaws’ culture-of-fear with the paedophile was really well done, and of course this film was Jackie Earle Haley’s rebirth as a serious adult actor and not just a DTV character actor….which is nice.

As to not caring, that is kinda the point, the film is a SATIRE more than a Melodrama…..in my opinion anyway, hence the dry narration…

I just saw Little Children for the first time. It’s certaintly got a good pedigree but I just didn’t like it.
There’s an interesting dialogue in the film about Madam Butterfly (of course it’s really about the film itself). One character doesn’t “get it” and says the main character is just a slut. Eventually the book club concludes that to understand a tragedy you must be able to relate and empathize with the main characters fatal flaw. That pretty accurately explains my apathy toward the film. I don’t care about these people’s affair. They’re not even in love, they’re just lonely and neglected so they act out hoping for attention. How pathetic.
I can’t fault any of the acting. And of course Jackie Earl is the best (and his scenes with Jane Adams are my favorite) but what does he have but do with the rest of the movie? I don’t know, seems kinda tacked on to me.

I love both Miami Vice and Prestige (I have more problems with Prestige’s ending than Children of Men’s). For once I’m in complete agreement with Kurt.

Two additions I’d want to make are A Scanner Darkly, which addmittedly may be for PK Dick fans only (no more so than MV is for Mann fans only. Or INLAND EMPIRE is for Lynch fans only) and one of my favorite docs of the decade The Devil & Daniel Johnston.