Stuart's Top Ten films of 2006
So another year of film consumption, another top ten list. Other than these, the year was punctuated by a few standouts: Alexandre Aja's The Hills Have Eyes was that rare breed of horror remake that was actually good; Woody Allen proved that he could still deliver with Match Point; steadycam was taken to new heights in Children of Men; Clerks II managed to be much better than everyone expected and Neil Marshall made yet another awesome horror film without a huge Hollywood-like budget with The Descent. Here however are the year's best according to this humble reviewer...
Two people in one room has hardly ever gotten this electrifying. Jaw-dropping performances from Gerald Alexander Held and Julia Jentsch in this chronicling of the final hours of activist Sophie Scholl as she is captured and interrogated in Nazi Germany.
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A horrid film. But at the same time stunning. Writer Brian Nelson and director David Slade take us to the edge (of what, I don't know) and back again. Essentially another two character film, Hayley (Ellen Page) tears it up as the 14 year old 'victim' of suspected paedophile Jeff (Patrick Wilson). Incredible.
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Rian Johnson's teen noir film has to be one of the most original melding of genres to be seen in recent years. The dialogue is astounding, even if you have to concentrate to fully absorb it.
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It's so damn intangible that it may leave you howling in frustration, but Michael Haneke's film had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
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Helen Mirren shows us once again that she is master of all things thespian. A stunning film, and an intimate portrayal of a very reserved character.
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A wonderfully human tale of family dysfunction in the 80s, Noah Baubrach's film is beautiful and touching.
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Stephen Spielberg proving himself significant for the first time in a while, and making a statement that seemed kinda sensible to me, but apparently outraged a lot of people. Vengeance is bad, okay?
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Speaking of vengeance... That a big budget Hollywood film could push such a challenging and risky concept to the masses is incredible. The line between terrorist and freedom fighter is masterfully blurred in the best Alan Moore adaptation to date (even if he didn't like it).
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The fact that Murali K. Thalluri borrowed rather heavily Gus van Sant pales against the fact that the 22 year old Australian has made a superb film. Heartbreaking and powerful with a sledgehammer of a scene that had everyone talking.
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And finally, the rebirth of Bond in what I would argue is his most true-to-the-source incarnation. Sure, the film hesitated where the original novel did not, but there's no denying the awesome screen presence of Daniel Craig. And not one invisible car in sight. Erm. Yeah.
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Discuss your favourite - or most despised - films of 2006 on the hoopla.nu forum
Read Mark's take on 2006 in his top eight films of 2006 list.
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