So the year’s come to a close and we have yet another onslaught of awards shows, lists and countdowns from various networks, organizarions, associations, etc., to look forward to. But, those are all “their” opinions, whoever “they” are. The following is a list of my thoughts on the best of 2006 films, performances, bombs, and so forth (that I’ve seen). Enjoy!

Here are my choices for the best of 2006, in no particular order:

• Best Sequel: Underworld: Evolution
  Of the four I saw (see 2006 “watched” list) I think Underworld was the best in ambition and follow-up. Though I did like X-Men Last Stand, watching is again on DVD, I see how much better it could have been if Singer would have stayed on as director instead of Rattner. There was just something “almost” about it that kept gnawing at me. And though the sequel to Underworld was so much bloodier and had a couple of gratuitous sex scenes that were absolutely ridiciulous, it was just a solid sequel, as good as and sometimes better than the first installment. I can’t say the same for The Last stand, Pirates of the Caribbean and Scary Movie 4.
• Best Films of 2006: The Departed and Conversations with Other Women
  It’s always exciting when I can say without a doubt that a couple of films, out of dozens I see in a given year is the best. It’s even more exciting when you least expect it. Both The Departed and Conversations with Other Women suprised and delighted me. The Departed was on par with Scorsese’s Goodfellas, which was (until The Departed) my favorite “gangster” film. Conversations with Other Women, with it’s exceptional dialogue, smart directing and perfect acting has become one of my favorite top ten films of all times.
• Most Hyped Disappointment: Little Miss Sunshine
  There’s always a handlful of films every year that are hyped to the point you can’t not watch it, if only to see what the buzz is about. And more often than not, the hype is just that, hype…nothing to it. Little Miss Sunshine was just that. Not funny, not good, not worth the price of a film ticket even at matinee price.
• Most Anticipated: X-Men: The Last Stand
  I waited for the last sequel to X-Men 2 for about 3 years. I loved both the first and second. Though, it was a little disappointing and probably because Brett Ratner directed it instead of the original director, Bryan Singer, it was worth the anticipation. And the spinoff Wolverine prequel will also be worth the wait until 2008.
• Best for a Single Performance: The Last King of Scotland
  Like Monster starring Charlize Theron, Forest Whitaker made The Last King of Scotland. But, unlike Monster, the film in general was very good outside the star’s performance. Hands down Whitaker gave the most convincing and electrifying performance I saw in 2006.
• Most Underappreciated: Superman Returns
  Bryan Singer is one of those rare action film directors who brings art to the action and does away with gratuity and cheesyness. The Usual Suspects, X-Men and X2 are all fun, very well done, and entertaining films without gratuity in violence or sex and provokes one to think a little (at least). Superman Returns is not much different in that respect. But I suspect because it is a Superman film, almost twenty years after Superman IV with Christopher Reeve, many Superman fans expected more fluff, more action, and some sex. Singer’s approach, to all things extraordinary, as always was to humanize the story and the extraordinary characters. I suppose most people who are comic book fans, want and expect a little less humanity and a hell of a lot of gratuity in violence, cheese, and bad acting, ala comic books made to films such as Spiderman, which I absolutely hate.
• Most Worth Walking Out On: Failure to Launch and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
  Well, I did walk out on Pirates of the Caribbean and would have walked out on Failure to Launch if I was by myself. Both films simply sucked ass. Failure to Launch simply failed to launch good acting, humor or anything at all pivotal to a watchable and likeable romantic comedy. Sarah Jessica Parker’s debut in film post-Sex and the City was a huge dissapointment. As for Pirates of the Caribbean, it’s yet another film (and series) that is so hyped but for no reason. I’d actually forgotten I didn’t like the first one and went to see this sequel though I don’t much care for Keira Knightly or Orlando Bloom for that matter. Their is simply no chemistry between Knightley, Bloom or Depp. The directing was interesting, but the writing simply sucked.