My Top Ten of 2006

APOCALYPTO
THE DEPARTED
CASINO ROYALE
THE PROPOSITION
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
OMKARA
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
INSIDE MAN
THE ILLUSIONIST
BABEL

There are quite a few films I missed this year, and still others that I have yet gotten a chance to see. This list will change sometime in late Feburary. Crappy movies may be released in January and February, but so do all the other films that everyone is talking about now, really I love it, I will finally get to see all the stuff that only screen on the coasts. So I look forward to catching DREAMGIRLS, LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, THE PAINTED VEIL, CHILDREN OF MEN, NOTES ON A SCANDAL and of course my most anticipated film of 2006, PAN'S LABYRINTH.

I wonder what my list would look like had I seen everything....

Pan's Labyrinth
Apocalypto
Children of Men
United 93
The Departed
The Queen
Volver
Half Nelson
The Good Shepherd/Little Children
Letters from Iwo Jima

Movie Notes for "Apocalypto"

This is the longest I've gone without going to the movies in a very long time (more than two weeks!) My stress level was at a breaking point and I was so depresed, I never needed a movie more. But I finally caught Mel Gibson's Apocalypto on Sunday. I don't care what Mel has done, I believe he is a crazy bastard anyway, but he is also one hell of a filmmaker. Apocalypto offers what I like best about movies, it takes you places unimagineable. This ancient world was mesmerizing and wonderful. The cinematography was wonderful. This is a man who makes movies as if he would never get the chance to make them again. He puts everything into it, and the result is fantastic.

Oscar site update

Check out Rotten Tomatoes new 'Awards Tour' page. They have out done themselves this time. Way to go guys, I like it.

I know what I want for Chistmas

My Golden Globe Predictions

I have never choosen Golden Globe picks before the nominations come out. In fact I only try and guess the winner just before their name is called during the show. But I was bored today, I didn't put much thought to this, it took more time to type them out than to come up with the list, so here they are:

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Babel
The Queen
The Departed
Children of Men
Flags of Our Fathers

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Little Miss Sunshine
Dreamgirls
The Devil Wears Prada
Thank You for Smoking
Stranger than Fiction

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Forest Whitaker
Peter O’Toole
Will Smith
Ryan Gosling
Leonardo DiCaprio

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Helen Mirren
Judi Dench
Kate Winslet
Cate Blanchett
Penelope Cruz

Best Actor – Musical or Comedy
Jamie Foxx
Eddie Murphy
Steve Carell
Sacha Baron Cohen
Will Ferrell

Best Actress – Musical or Comedy
Beyonce Knowles
Jennifer Hudson
Meryl Streep
Annette Bening
Abigail Breslin

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Jack Nicholson
Brad Pitt
Allen Arkin
Ben Affleck
Michael Sheen

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett
Rinko Kikuchi
Carmen Maura
Adriana Barraza
Shareeka Epps

Best Director
Martin Scorsese
Stephen Frears
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Bill Condon
Clint Eastwood

Best Screenplay
Babel
Thank You for Smoking
The Queen
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine

Best Original Song
“Listen” –Dreamgirls
An Inconvenient Truth
Shut Up & Sing
Bobby
Charlotte’s Web

Best Original Score
Babel
The Good German
Notes on a Scandal
Little Children
The Queen

Best Foreign Language Film
Volver
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Lives of Others
Days of Glory
Water
Curse of the Golden Flower

Movie Notes

A couple of disapointments, good films but not great.

Flags of Our Fathers
was such a disappointment, it had a complete lack of focus, there was no clear direction for the purpose or meaning of the film, it tried to be and do too much. It was not clear which story Eastwood was trying to tell; what happened on Iwo Jima (that was done loudly, dramatically, and graphically), or what happened to three survivors from that famous picture(only briefly heart renching at the end, and only well acted by Adam Beach), a son’s search for his fathers unknown war experience(which should have been edited out of the picture, or it should have been the core plot of the film.), the propaganda of selling heroism for profit (the hardest part to watch a bit of history that, I'm sure is little known to viewers).
There are moments in the film that rang true which were quite moving, which is usually the same in every war film made, about actual events. But still something was lacking, and one is confused after viewing the film about what heroism actually is and what we thought it was and what we want it to be. I was just more confused than when I went in there and disappointed. B+

Babel
As soon as Babel was over I felt a sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing a good film, I liked it very much. But someone brought up some things about the film that I felt were valid criticisms that had me rethinking my opinion. There was no meaning to the story, he said, it meant nothing, it was about nothing, it does not resolve anything, and he said that he didn’t care about anyone, there was not enough character development to make him want to care. I totally have to disagree with him on this, I thought there was enough, at least for one story, I was able to get enough for only one character, and that was enough for me. I felt moved by the story in Japan and the two young brothers in Morocco. Both outstanding performance by But it makes the rest of the characters almost insignificant. I did not like the story line in Mexico, that hit too close to home for me and I found it to be almost unbearable. I could have done without the whole sequence. I also do not appreciate the anti-American slant of the film. Sadly I am afraid that is how the world views us already and I feel ashamed, because I tend to believe that the American press and American foreign agents helping people like the Joneses in Morocco and the boarder patrol could all be a form of reality that is or could be horribly true. Technically there was nothing wrong with the film other than Brad Pitts’ makeup, which was sometimes just horrible. Other than that it was a very well made film, it just didn’t have enough significance to be a great film. A-

Put "Letters From Iwo Jima" back on the short list

As Reported by Tom O'Neil at the Gold Derby, it is official Clint Eastwood's film "Letters From Iwo Jima" will be eligible for the Golden Globes and the Oscars this year. So it's back to the drawing board everybody. This could affect my short lists for Best Picture, Best Froeign Language Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound , Best Editing, Cinematography,

Oscar Central is Back

Hey, one of my favoite sites Mark Bakalor's Oscar Central has finally updated the site for this year's race. And as he says, Oscar Central correctly picked 19 out of all 24 categories last year, taking third place among 85 of the Best Oscar pundits. Nice try, but I got 20 out of 24 last year.

A Movie for distraction

To avoid what was to become a Repulican onslaught here in my state, we went to a movie last night. "Borat" was just the thing, laughter drowned out the death toll for change on the political specturm and the continued downward spiral of out way of life here in the Valley and the great state of Texas. Do I sound bitter? You bet!

Oscar Diary update

In the Best Picture category I am undecided about how long I can keep "Flags" in the top five, "Little Miss Sunshine," and "The Good German" could easily replace it, but I'm not ready to take it out just yet. I don't have much confidence in "Bobby" or "The Pursuit of Happyness," the former smells like "Crash," and I hated that film. I love the "Love Boat '68" tag, it seems fitting. I've never taken Will Smith seriously, so he will have to impress me.

In the Best Director race my other favorites are Stephen Soderbergh, Pedro Almodovar and Paul Greengrass, with the later having the less of a chance than the others.

I have a feeling that Leonardo DiCaprio in the "Blood Diamond" will not stand up to his performance in "The Departed," and yet he may still get nominated for it anyway. I really want to put Ryan Gosling in his place.

I don't anticipate much change in the Best Actress category. I think we will have to wait and see who the Academy favors Kate Winslet, Annette Bening or Penelope Cruz.

The supporting categories are always the toughtest for me, either there are too many to choose from (the men, usually) or not enough (the women, usually) and once I make my picks one or two performaces come up totally out of the blue. And don't forget this category frequently has suprises.

All the rest of my picks speak for themselves at this point we'll see how things look at the end of the month.

You can't always get what you want

Yeah! I got to see a movie saturday night. We wanted to see "Borat," but it was sold out so we had to drive across town to catch "Marie Antoinette," and what can I say ... ... ... ...? IT SUCKED! I so wanted to like this movie, but it stunk. It lacked any purpose or meaning, all it really said to me over and over again was these people got exactlly what they deserved! Boo! Boo!

Updates comming next week

Sadly I will not get to the cinema until Sunday night (maybe). I've got other stuff to do this weekend. Here are my choices for this week, I hope to catch at least two of them before next friday:

"Flags of Our Fathers"
"Marie Antoinette"
"Catch a Fire"
"Borat"
"The Science of Sleep"
"Jesus Camp"
"The Day the Earth Stood Still"

It's Sci-fi month at Cine El Rey, the old down town renivated theatre where my mother used to work as a teenager. Check out their web site at http://www.cineelrey.com/ it's because of this theater that we have not had to travel north to see films we couldn't see down here. The last three films are showing at the El Rey this weekend. I love this theatre!

I'm currently working on Oscar updates, which will include all the tech categories as well. I hope to post at the beginning of next week sometime.

Spreading the Rumors "Notes on a Scandal" trailer

Ooooooh! This is delicious!

Movie Notes "Man of the Year"

Good comedy, but no political satire:

Yes, this is the Robin Williams we all love, and with probably his best director, and the supporting cast? Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Jeff Goldblum and add the other great comedic political satirist, Lewis Black; just wonderful. I went to see Lewis Black and Robin Williams together on screen. Although, this film has writing credits going to Barry Levinson, but all I heard were old jokes from Robin and Lewis Black, they were just rehashing the same jokes from the last five years. Don't get me wrong it was funny, and the concept of Robin's character Tom Dobbs, a successful comedian running for president of the United States was funny, but I was expecting more from Barry Levinson, Robin Williams and Luis Black. More along the lines of 'Wag the Dog.' This was funny but it had no bite. I think that is where this fails as a movie for me, I enjoyed it but I wanted more, more meaning about how this reflects our own real political climate from five years ago and how we can laugh at it now.

"Goya's Ghosts" trailer on You Tube (click for trailer)

Thanks to Brinton over at the Oscar Breach for the heads up on this trailer. I saw the Spanish version last month, but this is much better. There is still no hint of a release date. IMDB has Warner Bros. Pictures with the limited theatrical release, but still no date. I can't wait to see this, three great actors, Milos Forman, a period film, one of the greatest artists and the spanish inquisition. Sadly it looks like I will have to wait and wait and wait....

My 50 Scariest Horror Films of all time

1. The Exorcist (1973)
Why? I had only recently gotten enough courage to watch this a few years ago when it was re-released. The stories people told of how scary this film was when it first came out are what made this the ultimate scariest film I thought that I would never see.
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Why? I’ve never seen it. I used to run to the lobby at the theatre when the trailer was showing. This is the last of my childhood fears I have yet to conquer.
3. Psycho (1960)
Why? The first time I saw this, it was on cable, I was alone, by the time the film ended the house had gotten dark, and I turned on all the lights in the house and though I needed to take a shower before going to bed, it was the fastest shower I had ever taken.
4. Jaws (1975)
Why? I got to see this a the theatre the summer it was released with a bunch of my cousins, we sat up front but quickly moved back to sit with our parents, I sat next to my mother with my hands over my eyes most of the time asking “is it over?”
5. Halloween (1978)
Why? By the time this made it to the cable channel I was a teenager and to not have watched this film was so un-cool. I watched it late one night on cable, alone. I slept on the couch that night with the lights on.
6. Alien (1979)
Why? I had a chance to go see this film at the theatre when it was playing, it would have been my first rated ‘R’ film. I convinced everyone to see something else. I the trailer was terrifying.
7. The Shinning (1980)
Why? I did not watch this at the theatre and I only watch parts of it when it came to cable, it was some time before I got to watch this from beginning to end.
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Why? I was the given to the book to read and told not to read it before I went to sleep. They were right and the film was even better. My appreciation of horror films began in after seeing this film.
9. Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens (1922) Why? My ultimate horror image of vampires is Max Schreck as Count Orlok, he still lives in my nightmares.
10. Saw (2004)
Why? I got sucker punched when I watch this at the theatre. I was in a susceptible mood at the time. I actually screamed and jumped and squirmed in my seat.

and the rest

11. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
12. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)
13. Freaks (1932)
14. Night of the living Dead (1968)
15. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
16. Poltergeist (1982)
17. The Haunting (1963)
18. Evil Dead II (1987)
19. Dracula (1931)/Dracula (1979)
20. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
21. The Birds (1963)
22. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
23. Horror of Dracula (1958)
24. The Evil Dead (1983)
25. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
26. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
27. Dawn of the Dead (1979)
28. Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde (1931)
29. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990)
30. The Omen (1976)
31. Salem’s Lot (1979)
32. The Mummy (1932)
33. The Fly (1986)
34. It (1990)
35. The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
36. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
37. Hellraiser (1987)
38. Carrie (1976)
39. Carnival of Souls (1962)
40. 28 Days Later (2002)
41. The Legend of Hell House (1973)
42. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
43. Three Extremes (2005)
44. The Ring (2002)
45. Misery (1990)
46. Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
47. The Wolf Man (1941)
48. Scream (1996)
49. Suspiria (1977)
50. House on Haunted Hill (1958)


This is not a list of the best horror films, but of films that have scared the !*@#$ out me. I was not a fan of horror films as a kid or in my teens. My appreciation of horror films is something that I have cultivated over the last fifteen years or so.

Poor Audrey... that's just wrong.

Is it just me or is there anyone else out there who is as appalled as I am about the new GAP commercial featuring Audrey Hepburn in a old clip from "Funny Face," dancing to AC/DC's 'Back in Black?"

Who thought this was a good idea? I guess the beer commercials with John Wayne and James Cagney didn't enough of an out cry of "this is wrong!" Someone decided to do it again. Now I have never had a problem with GAP commercials before now and I don't even shop at the GAP anymore. So all I can do is bitch and moan and change the channel.

Film Diary Update

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE A
- This was the funniest and smartest movie I’ve seen this year. I do love dark comedies. They make me glad that my problems are not as bad as I thought, and they sure aren’t this funny. Wonderful performances and I have to admit I had yet to be won over by Steve Carell, but I guess I could be persuaded now. I don’t like “The Office”, it reminds me to much of my own work, and I have yet to see “The 40 year old Virgin.” What can I say it was just one of those things that we missed. Sometimes we avoid seeing the ‘popular’ movie, just because it’s ‘popular. Yes, we can be the biggest film snobs. This was a film that I will gladly see again.

OMKARA A-
- Yet again here is another excellent example of how wonderfully adaptable Shakespeare can be. I understand that this director also did Macbeth a few years ago, I would like to see that. Omkara is set among those involved in political warfare in the interior of Uttar Pradesh, Omkara “Omi” is a general or ‘strong arm’ for the local political faction taking control of the province. I like the violent and rural setting, too often I have seen Othello set at court. I like this better. I get the feeling that this is very similar to what life in India is really like, that it is this corrupt and dangerous. This is one of the best films I have seen this year. I have only one complaint with this film and that is the use of an everyday devise in this case modern technology, a cell phone is used to expose Dolly’s supposed infelditiy. Oh, all of a sudden this guy convientally looses his cell phone? I don’t think so. For me, in Othello the most anticipated part is when Iago reveals to Othello Desdemona’s supposed betrayal. I felt that the use of a cell phone was contrived and the writer found he was without a plausible way to move this along, it would have worked had he set it up before hand that Kesu was known to loose his phone often, then I would have believed that Langda took advantage of the of this flaw and some dumb luck opportunity.

THE ILLUSIONIST A-
- I liked this film for the performances and the mystery and the romance, but mostly for the magic. Ed Norton was excellent and Paul Giamatti was also, of course he almost stole the film from Ed Norton but then so did Rufus Sewell, I loved it when he was enraged, his accent would get thicker. This was a film that looked intriguing, I felt that we had stepped into an old photograph from the late 19th century. I loved the feel of being in an old world setting, that era seemed so simple and refined, yet full of wonderment. I like the illusionist says “…nothing is what is seems.” I will like to see how this film compares to “The Prestige.” I can’t wait.

THE PROTECTOR C
- I was very disappointed with this film, I had heard good things about, but I have since learned that about eight minutes was cut from the original and reedited. Believe me it shows. I loved Tony Ja’s first film, his martial arts ability blew me away, he did stuff I’ve never seen before, it was just amazing. This film lacked that quality and uniqueness. This was a bad martial arts action film all the way around. I could on and on but I really don’t want to relive it.

HOLLYWOODLAND B-
- I found this not to be much of a film mainly because of the script. The film itself is fine, I found the acting to be sincere and eye opening, everyone did very well, and I love the costumes, they were more than vintage, I can’t remember when period hair was done better for this era. The actors and costume and makeup people are to be commended, but, as for the meat of the film, the story, that left something to be desired, but this was a difficult story to tell and I think that it could have been done better. I found to the flaws to be in the Adrian Brody character, I did not believe that this bum of a detective and father could or would find the answers or the notoriety he was looking for. And that is the problem, how to present an unsolved mystery? You either solve it or supply more mystery. This still leaves the feeling of un-satisfaction and sadness. Although maybe that is what the director wants us to feel, I felt almost as bad as the kids did when Superman died, oops, I mean George Reeves.

Oscar Update

The Toronto Film Festival raps up tomorrow and more reviews and news will be coming that will influence my Oscar charts. I've already made some changes because of what has come out of Toronto so far. I can't wait for something else to open, it's silm pickens out there or rather down here.

I do have good news to share. I will have a new movie theatre to go to that will be even closer to my house than any of the others. The Alamo Drafthouse should open around Christmas time. Yes, that' s right the first Drafthouse outside of the central Texas. Although I would hope that they would show more of the type of films that show up in the Austin Drafthouses, but the reality is that we will be lucky if they have the lastest art house fair available. Hope the food is better than the last time we went to the Alamo Lake Creek in Austin back in March.

Film Diary Update

Here are the next two films after "Snakes." I still have five more reviews to get to in the next couple of days.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA - B-
- I am so glad that I got over my girlhood obsession with fashion. I would not want to be apart of that world at all. I think this was a great opportunity for Anne Hathaway to work with Meryl Streep, but I’m not sure she walks way better for it. Meryl wipes her off the screen in almost every scene. I sometimes wonder if they were even in the same movie. Meryl plays it so cold and cruel yet without being bitchy, she is truly the boss form hell. This is something that we have no seen on the screen for some time and never from Ms. Streep, this was a wonderful performance. Emily Blunt is the other standout here, we actually feel bad for her and yet we somehow sympathize as well, I think we have all been placed in that position at work at least once. She was bright and funny and she had a presence on screen that shined. I love Stanley Tucci, but I believe that anyone could have played this part as well. I don’t that the film was a funny as I had believed to be before I saw it and so I was disappointed, but I loved watching Ms. Streep and I do like Anne Hathaway, she is very appealing and I could identify with her completely. Overall the film was a minor disappointment on the humor side, yet I was satisfied. The test was for my husband who did not want to see this film, so he walked in expecting to hate it; he was surprised at how much he enjoyed it.

A SCANNER DARKLY - B+
- I would love to see this again, and I think had I not been so tired the night I saw this, I would probably still want to see this again, because a second and maybe third viewing is necessary. From what I understand Philip K. Dick is an acquired taste, and the only time a film adaptation has worked was with “Blade Runner,” I have to admit that I have never read his books, but I have heard that with this book Philip K. Dick goes deeper in conspiracy theory with this than with anything else before it. He weaves a tight loop in his plot that seems to go back on itself that it was easy to get lost. I think that is what happened to most people who saw this film and didn’t like it, because they didn’t get it. At first because I was so tired and I just wanted to get out of the house, I didn’t want to see this film, yet I was dazzled by the animation, the movement of shadow and light and the complexity of composition I kept wondering, ‘how did they do that?’ After I got over my distraction with the visual, I found myself asking questions about what was going on and I found I was intrigued and confused. By the time the film ended I was sadden that I had missed so much before I caught on and I wish to see this again someday.

Movie Notes: "Snakes on a Plane"

"I hate snakes, Jock. I hate 'em."
But I loved this movie. It made me feel like a kid again. Yet, I was the kid who hated horror films and ran to the lobby when the trailer for the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was playing. A film I still have not seen to this day, in fact the only childhood horror film that I have not yet conquered. My appreacaiton of horror films has grown and I am now a fan. But I truely hate snakes, they creep me out just watching them on 'Animal Planet' or the 'National Geographic' channel. I actually screamed during this film, and I have never done that before. I think that is what made me love seeing this film it creeped me out, and I liked it. I sat there with my feet on on the rail during the the whole film. I have no complaints of the film whatosever. It was great fun. I even loved the sound track and the music video during the end credits. That song is my pick for Best Song this year. I can't remember a desaster film that was this good or this much fun, this was worth the wait. This was nothing but fun. It was the best summer event movie this year.

August Oscar Predictions

BEST DIRECTOR
1 Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)
2 Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers)
3 Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)
4 Steven Soderbergh (The Good German) or,
Robert DeNiro (The Good Shepherd)
5 Todd Field (Little Children)

Paul Greengrass (United 93)
Milos Forman (Goya’s Ghosts)
Pedro Almodovar (Volver)
Oliver Stone (World Trade Center)

Film Diary update - "Miami Vice" review

Let’s look at Michael Mann
The Jericho Mile (1979) (TV movie) B
I can still remember seeing this on TV, it was far better than your average TV movies are or were.
Thief (1981) B
A good crime drama, with bad guys you can root for.
The Keep (1983) ?
I know nothing about this, and apparently neither does anyone else.
Manhunter(1986) B+
Where he showed us his “Miami Vice” look before it hit the tube. I find it hard to watch today, but I own it on DVD.
The Last of the Mohicans (1992) B+
Oh, yeah! Daniel Day-Lewis, running and running and running … “No, you submit, do you hear? You be strong, you survive... You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you.” I’m still waiting for him to find me. I own this one too.
Heat (1995) A
It brought Pacino and DeNiro together finally, yet somewhat of a disappointment, but it was the only disappointment. A thrilling shoot out that can’t be compared.
The Insider (1999) A
Russell Crowe’s best acting performance, and the film that put him where he is today.
Ali (2001) C
It made Will Smith and Oscar nominee, yet it failed to live up to the expectations. I have not seen this, and I really have not desire to. Instead watch “When We Were Kings.”
Collateral (2004) B+
The best Tom Cruise film (yeah, he dies!) and it showed that Jamie Foxx’s Oscar was not a fluke.
Miami Vice (2006) D
TV rerun, rehash, remake; it would have been better had they made this a spoof or made Heat 2. This was so awful and such a disappointment. First off, the look of the film, thank god Mann did not throw us back twenty years, yet the crisp colors, bright sunshine and hip musical video type scenes are what made the television series popular. Here we get dark fuzzy shots with a handheld video camera that looks like it was shot by an amateur cameraman. This may have worked for Collateral, but this is not the same kind of film, and it definitely does not work here. Here we have two beautiful people cast as lovers and yet they created more heat on the dance floor than they did in the bedroom scenes, and that wasn’t much. Crocket and Tubbs were supposed to be partners and yet they didn’t even look at each other during the whole film. What was up with Colin Farrell’s accent, it was all over the place, and his look was more undercover/biker than undercover/drug dealer. Who’s idea was it to put him in another bad dye job again, one more and it will become a Colin Farrell cliché meaning expect a bad film. I could go on and on about what I didn’t like about this and how bad this was, so just take it from me not to see this film, unless you have never seen any of Michael Mann’s before, then you just might like it, but then I won’t hold out any hope for you if you do.

"Oscar Sights" says Good-bye

Shawn Elmore says he will no longer be updating his web site Oscar Sights: (http://members.cox.net/oscarsights/)
Check out his latest blog posting at: http://oscarsights101.blogspot.com/
I'm sure I speak for everyone who loves this stuff, that we are going to miss you. And I personally wish you good luck, with school and finding that teaching job next year.

Best Picture Predictions for August

Best Picture
1 Dreamgirls (Dreamworks)
2 Babel (Paramount)
3 United 93 (Universal) or,
Flags of Our Fathers(Dreamworks) or,
World Trade Center Paramount/Universal)
4 The Good German (Steven Soderbergh)or,
The Good Shepherd (Universal Pictures)
5 Little Children (New Line)

Goya's Ghosts (no distributor)
Catch a Fire

I think that “World Trade Center” will be coming off this list soon. I feel that with what is happening in the news today; Mr. Stone’s reputation, and the now unfortunate release date, things are not looking good despite what some critics say about the performances, I think this film has an uphill battle. That is why I have “United 93” at number three and “WTC” as my second alternative for that spot.

As for the number four spot, I can’t decide. I have put “Good Shepherd” first because of Soderberg and Clooney.

2006 Film Diary

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006) A
- The was by far the best superhero movie of the summer. Who says that this is a spoof? All the comic book elements are here, the sometimes troubled and conflicted superhero, the romantic intrest, the supervillan (who was basically also the superhero) who is in love with the superhero. This totally puts a new spin on the whole Superman/Clark Kent and Lex Luthor triangle. Let's not go there. I had a good time.

The Descent (2006) A
- An excellent ride, with great suspence and personal intrige. I would so like to see the European ending, though. This is the best horror movie I've seen this year.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) A
- Yes, I saw it again. I took my neice, who loved it. It didn't drag or feel as long as the first time I watched it.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) B-
- I didn't like this as much as "Anchor Man," I liked it more. I hate NASCAR and this just added fuel to the fire. Laugh out loud funny. Sweet family ending that was not a disappointment. Great performances by the supporting cast.

Lady in the Water (2006) A-
Reviewer's Bias* (I saw this somewhere and loved the idea)
Loves: M. Night Shyamalan's work; complex, intelligent films (key word)
Likes: good fariy tales
Dislikes: Wasting my money and America's current "leadership"
- I liked this film very much. Because sometimes we go to movies to be entertained with a good story that we feel a connection to. I felt that way with this film. I must admit that one must have an aquired taste for M. Night Shyamalan's films, it seems he losses more and more fans with every film he has made since "The Sixth Sense." I think that he is the most imaginative writer/director working today. He is not given the credit he deserves for being different. It is a shame that what most movie audiences want is more and more of the same old, same old. Here we are six years and four films later and still people expect Mr. Shyamalan to make 'the sixth sense 2'. I will look forward to owning this film and watching it again and again. It had warmth and compasion from characters that did not believe that fairy tales could be true, from characters who had given up on life and wonder and what if, much like the world today. We have all grown up and forgotten what it is to believe in something. Mr. Shyamalan has reminded us, or rather me, with this film.


An Inconvenient Truth (2006) A
- This was a scary movie. Excellent look at a man who should have been president. It shows a man who is much smarter than America thought he was. I bought the whole truth, and it scared me silly.

Superman Returns (2006) C
- Superman is back, but…I can't say much for the franchise if this is the film to measure future films by, we shall all be disappointed.
O.K. was it just me or did the opening credits sound and look like Star Wars there for a minute?
I got over that and sat there remembering when I first heard that theme twenty-eight years ago and I found it just as thrilling. Though this should have be my first clue as to where Brian Singer got his inspiration. He could use a book on Superman history, of which there are many to choose from, he doesn’t have to actually read the comics, which of course we know he hasn’t. He has admitted it himself way back before the first X-Men film came out. So he TRIES to take up Superman Returns from where Superman II left off. But he still forgot to stay true to the Superman comic book world; they (the film makers and screen writers) did not forget that in the first two films.

Just about the only thing that he didn't take from the other superman movies was the humor, and the fun. He brought seriousness to the story that can not be given any credit when he adds in stupid stuff that no one who knows any history of superman could believe was possible, like superman can fly between planets, but he came back from outer space in a ship? Superman always had that feeling that Lois was in trouble, but this time he learns in from a TV news report? He is SUPERMAN yet he strains to stop a plane? And how does Lex Luthor just WALK to the fortress of solitude when Superman usually has to fly there?

I am not one to waste my money, yet I quickly found myself regretting ever choosing this film. I did not like Brandon Routh at first, I felt that he looked too much like Christopher Reeve and I didn’t like that. But as the film dragged on I found that he did very well and would look forward to seeing him reprise the role. I found Kate Bosworth to be totally miscast and lacking depth. Kevin Spacey was his usual brilliant self, but without the humor element I found it hard to take him seriously, were we supposed to take him seriously or not? I forget.

I did like Lois’ son and the story that Superman is his father and it seems he was able to recognize who Clark Kent is on some level, was this the subplot or the plot? Now that I think about it I don’t know. I was more evolved with this story line than Lex Luthor so for me this was the plot, that didn’t go far enough for me.

Overall the was a big disappointment and I hold Brian Singer responsible, why are people who do not read comics make comic book movies? They ruin them. Just ask Alan Moore.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) A-
- Yes, it is too long and needs a better editor, but I still loved it! Bill Nighy steals the show this time, he did an excellent job under all that make up. I can't wait to see the extras on the dvd when it comes out. I would love to see it again.

Nacho Libre (2006) B-
- This could have been better, but I don't where to begin, it was not as funny as I thought it would be. Sometimes, I get so excited about some films just from viewing the trailer and then I am disappointed when I finnally get to see the film.

An American Haunting (2006) D+
- I hate when horror films try to explain why. Sometimes when there are no answers, it is what is unexplained that adds the horror element. Don't give some lame excuse!

A Prairie Home Companion (2006) C+
- A wonderful look at what I had always imagined the show to be except with the anlge of death. I loved the songs, but way off the mark for a Altman film I thought.

The Proposition (2006) A
- The violence was so shocking, I can't remember when I last saw something that shockingly violent, yet the acting was still powerfully intense.

The Three Buirals of Melquiades Estrada (2005) A
- A wonderful Father's day spent with the family. Though, not a 'family film.' A modern western classic.

The Wizard of Oz (1939) A+
- I saw this on the big screen for the first time, and I felt like I was eight years old again.

Benchwarmers (2006) C+
- The funniest movie this year. I will look forward to watching it again.

Joyeux Noel (2005) B

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) C
- Such a disapointment.

Hard Candy (2006) C-
- A very intense and yet unbelievable premise.

Art School Confidential (2006) C

The Hills Have Eyes (2006) C-

Thank You for Smoking (2006) B+

Inside Man (2006) A-

Cache (2005) C-

Slither (2006) B+

V for Vendetta (2006) B

The Libertine (2005) B+

Night Watch (2006) A

Transamerica (2005) C+

Underworld: Evolution (2006) C+

Match Point (2005)
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) A

Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005) B
Not a diapointment and ... This is was not a waste of time, either. I will stand by the AMPAS nomination for Ms. Dench; she wonderfully stole the show, having the best lines in the film, and this time playing for comic effect. I have not seen Bob Hoskins play such a reserved roll since "Mona Lisa," yet here it is offset with Dame Judi's bold and honest Mrs. Henderson. The touching moments of the film I think failed to come across with much feeling, something was missing there, and I can't put my finger on it, possibly a week script and lackluster directing. This was a film about two people who complimented each other yet seemed to be total opposites, to produce a successful theatre that ran for about 30 years. The story is overshadowed by the acting of the two leads, the nudity, which was nicely done, and the costumes in the musical numbers. An overall delight.

Nanny McPhee (2006) B+
What a delight! I was not to happy to see this film at all but, I quickly fell in love with the cute kids and all their mischief. And the adults were not a disappointment either. I found this to be much more entertaining than the "Limney Snicket" film.
The story was quite a delight, and quite simple, and fit wonderfully being viewed on Valentine's Day as well. I loved the set design and the costumes were wonderfully outrageous. Overall simply wonderful, a family film that can be view for the simple enjoyment of a good film, no family or kids needed.

Ek Ajnabee (2005) B
A remake of a remake, not bad. Yes, this is a remake of Tony Scott's "Man on Fire" with Denzel Washington, but that was also a remake of a film with the same title shot in France with an American cast and an Italian crew that came out in 1987. Which I'm told Tony was supposed to direct in the first place.
Any way I digress.
This remake is a Bollywood version, and of course when you say that one would automatically think that music and dancing would be heavily involved, and you would be wrong, but not completely. Yes, there is a musical number, but it was fit well into the second half of the film and was set in a disco which was also cut with scenes of 'Surya' (the 'Cressy' character) trying to get information from the bouncer whom he kills along with some other guy.
This film did suffer from a director and an editor who need lessons in both for setting pace for suspense and violence. The lead actor is famed Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, who is India's answer to Clint Eastwood and Denzel Washington rolled into one, who did seem out of place at times but he also had an intensity that worked for his character.
If you have seen the Tony Scott version, expect almost everything to be the same, Bollywood is notorious for making remakes out of everything, (we don't even come close), but the twist in the climax was satisfying and was what we would have called a typical "Hollywood ending."

Capote (2005) A
A fine film, an excellent performance I did expect after hearing so much about Philip Seymour Hoffman that this film was just a showcase of his performance, but I was proved wrong. Over all this was an excellent film that was very well directed. I found Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance to be so riveting that I forgot that he was just an actor. I only have vague memories of Truman Capote as a child on old talk shows; I truly could not tell the difference. But this film was more than I expected I didn't expect to discover a story of how a writer could get so involved with a story that it would utterly dominate his life and mark the rest of his life so dramatically, to be so intense and riveting. This is a lesson that other writers or reporters, I think should fear; getting too close to the story and yet keep from becoming the story. That was what happened to Capote, yet at the time I don’t think anyone saw or knew just how he became part of the story. This film I think gives us that.

The New World (2005) B+
Recomended only for those familar with Malick If you have never seen a Terrence Malick film this movie is not for you. Unless, you can appreciate a story that takes liberties with the truth for the sake of a story that brings two cultures together for the first time in a breathtaking landscape, where dialoged is limited to brief encounters and expanded in voiceovers by the main characters of the film. Malick weaves the story that we are familiar with as children, that of "Pocahontas" and her famous encounter with Captain John Smith and the settlers of Jamestown. I am told that it is far from the truth, but then I was never taught "the truth," and I think that most of the movie going public is only familiar with the Disney version of the story. This is truly another world that visually beautiful as it is horrid, as in the squalor that became the Jamestown settlement during that first year.

Casanova (2005) C
A waste of time. This film failed on so many levels, the acting was all over the place, and the editing had no comedic pacing what so ever, it was way off. The trailer for this movie was better edited than the film itself. Where was the director? Heath Ledger was just so, so and there was no chemistry between him and Sienna Miller at all. The whole first act was completely boring, I almost walked out, except then Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons finally came on screen. They didn't help the film much, but they were much better to watch than the leads. The Costumes were beautiful, the set was... it was... well it was Venice. This was a waste of time and of film stock. (Do they still call it that?).

The Matador (2005) B+
Pierce Brosnan's best performance, ever. This was a cute comedy that won't appeal to everyone. It is the story of how a traveling salesman and a hit man become life long friends. How a man gets his confidence back and how another finally connects with another human being. Best of all, to watch this was fun, to see the chemistry between Greg Kinnear and Pierce Brosnan was truly wonderful.

Brokeback Mountain (2005) B+
Don't believe the hype. I was so disappointed. I thought I was going to see the best film of the year, and I was wrong. Don't get me wrong this was a good movie, but it is not best picture. The acting was good, mainly Heath Ledger's performance, which is Oscar worthy. But the problem with the film was that it was too long, it should not have been spread out over twenty-something years, because of this there was really was not enough character development of the supporting characters. We don't see anything other than a poor Elma, who seems to be on the verge of tears in every secen. The long-suffering wife; Oscar bait. The story seem to go so long yet we didn't seem to get anywhere, we don't get to know any one else other than Ennis. The love story was very touching at the end, it was only then that I felt a kind of empathy and sympathy for the lonley life that Ennis will lead. This was a fine film from Ang Lee, and he will probably win an Oscar for best director, but he doesn't deserve it for this film.

The Ringer (2005) C+

Garam Masala (2005) D
Don't watch this unless, you love Bollywood films, really, really love Bollywood films.

Munich (2005) A+
A very good film, but not great. It is not a great film because, I think that Spielberg thinks that this story is true or that it is based more on fact than the author's imagination. It is because of this that the film fails. It has the makings of a great spy/espionage film, something like "Three Days of the Condor" and if Spielberg had stuck to that this would have been a better film. I think that the advertising also has a lot to do with the preconceptions the audience has, most of them may believe that this is based on fact. This is 'Hollywood,' this is Steven Spielberg, who was the king of event films; it is not "Schindler's List 2. So, I say go see this film and enjoy it as Spielberg's best film, this year.

Hostel (2006) B-
Not so scary, as much as bloody, but ... I think this film fails to bring a much needed suspense element to help build the horror and gore payoff. There was a great setup to get us to the first torture scene, which worked really well. I think because we didn't actually see anything but the boy scream, cut to the tool being put away and then back to the now bloody boy. This was the most horrifying seen in the film. I liked this film despite its problems, but this was not by far a great horror film. What out for the big and I mean big plot hole in this film. If I had found another thing to complain about I wouldn't recommend this film.

2006 Oscar Predictions for April

BEST PICTURE
Flags of Our Fathers (Dreamworks)
The Good Shepherd (Universal Pictures)
Dreamgirls (Dreamworks)
Goya's Ghosts (no distributor)
Breaking and Entering (The Weinstein Co.)

I put Dreamgirls up there against my better judgement. I think it could be a marginal sucess but not Oscar worthy.

Marie Antoinette (Columbia Pictures)
All The King's Men (Columbia Pictures)
The Departed (Warner Brothers)
Little Children (New Line)
A Prairie Home Companion (Picturehouse)

Babel (Paramount)
The Good German (Steven Soderbergh)
A Good Year (20th Century Fox)
World Trade Center (Paramount/Universal)

BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers)
Robert DeNiro (The Good Shepherd)
Robert Altman (A Prairie Home Companion)
Milos Forman (Goya’s Ghosts)
Martin Scorsese (The Departed)

Sofia Coppola (Mare Antoinette)
Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)
Todd Field (Little Children)
Steven Soderbergh (The Good German)
Anthony Minghella (Breaking and Entering)

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)
David Lynch (Island Empire)
Steve Zaillian (All The King's Men)
Oliver Stone (World Trade Center)
Chris Nolan (The Prestige)

BEST ACTOR
Matt Damon (The Good Shepherd, The Departed)
Javier Bardem (Goya’s Ghosts)
Sean Penn (All The King’s Men)
Brad Pitt (Babel)
Jude Law (Breaking and Entering)

Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed)
Benico Del Toro (Gorilla)
Ryan Philippe (Flags of Our Fathers)

Russell Crowe (A Good Year)
Ed Harris (Copying Beethoven)
Stellan Skarsgard (Goya’s Ghost)
George Clooney (The Good German)
Nicolas Cage (WTC)

BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening (Running with Scissors)
Kate Winslet (Little Children)
Nicole Kidman (Fur)
Cate Blanchett (The Good German or Babel)
Naomi Watts (The Painted Veil)

Juliette Binoche (Breaking and Entering)
Kirsten Dunst (Mare Antoinette)
Julianne Moore (Children of Men)
Laura Dern (Island Empire)
Anna Paquin (Margaret)

Beyonce Knowles (Dreamgirls)
Scarlett Johansson (Scoop,)
Meryl Streep (A Prairie Home Companion)
Robin Wright Penn (Breaking and Entering)
Penelope Cruz (Volver)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jack Nicholson (The Departed)
Gael Garcia Bernal (Babel)
Javier Bardem (Che)
Albert Finney (A Good Year)
Robert Downey Jr. (Fur)
Tim Robbins (Hot Stuff)

Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)
James Gandolfini (All the King’s Men)
Jude Law (All the King’s Men)
Barry Pepper (Flags of Our Fathers)
Jason Scharwrtzman (Maria Antoinette)
Kevin Kline (A Prairie Home Companion)

Jamie Bell (Flags of Our Fathers)
Matt Damon (Margaret)
Robert Di Niero (The Good Shepherd)
Robert Duvall (Lucky You)
William Hurt (The Good Shepherd)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lily Tomlin (A Prairie Home Companion)
Natalie Portman (Goya’s Ghosts)
Angelina Jolie (The Good Shepherd)
Jennifer Connelly (Little Children)
Kate Winslet (Al The King’s Men)
Meryl Streep (Conquistadora)
Patricia Clarkson (All the King’s Men)

Maria Bello (WTC)
Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal)
Robin Wright Penn (Breaking and Entering)
Sandra Bullock (Infamous)

Jennifer Houston (Dreamgirls)
Scarlett Johansson (The Prestige)
Cate Blanchett (The Good German)
Ellen Burstyn (The Fountain)
Jill Clayburgh (Running with Scissors)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Good Shepherd (Eric Roth)
Babel (Guillermo Arriaga)
Breaking and Entering (Anthony Minghella)
For Your Consideration (Eugene Levy & Chris Guest)
Goya's Ghost (Jean-Claude Carrière, Milos Forman)
Hotstuff (Shawn Slovo)

The Fountain (Darren Aronofsky & Ari Handel)
Inland Empire (David Lynch)
Scoop (Woody Allen)
Southland Tales (Richard Kelly)
The Science of Sleep (Michel Gondry)

American Dreamz (Paul Weitz)
Breach (Adam Mazer, Billy Ray and William Rotko)
Cars (John Lasseter)
Lady In The Water (M. Night Shyamalan)
Volver (Pedro Almodovar)
WTC (Andrea Berloff)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Flags of Our Fathers (Paul Haggis)
All The King’s Men (Steven Zallian)
Little Children (Todd Field, Tom Perrotta)
Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola)
The Good German (Paul Aattanasio)

A Prairie Home Companion (Garrison Keillor)
Running with Scissors (Ryan Murphy)
Ask the Dust (Robert Towne)
Dreamgirls (Bill Condon)
The Painted Veil (Ron Nyswaner)

The Departed
Zodiac (James Vanderbilt)
As You Like It (Kenneth Branagh)
The Children Of Men (Alfonso Cuaron, David Arata, Timothy Sexton)
A Good Year (Marc Klein)
Notes on a Scandal (Patrick Marber)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James…
The Good Shepherd
The Black Dahlia
Flags of Our Fathers
Goya’s Ghosts

Miami Vice
Apocalypto Ask the Dust
Breaking and Entering
Bable
The Departed

Dreamgirls
Children of Men
Zodiac

FILM EDITING
Flags of Our Fathers
The Good Shepherd
The Departed
Miami Vice
Babel

Goya’s Ghosts
Breaking and Entering

ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION
Marie Antoinette
Goya’s Ghosts
Dreamgirls
Apocalypto
The Good German
The Black Dahlia
Flags of Our Fathers
A Prairie Home Companion
Children of Men
The Prestige
Eragon
The Fountain

COSTUME DESIGN
Marie Antoinette
Goya’s Ghosts
The Black Dahila
The Assassination of Jesse James …
The Prestige
Dreamgirls
Flags of Our Fathers
The Fountain
All The King’s Men
Ask the Dust

MAKEUP
Marie Antoinette
Apocalypto
Pan’s Labyrinth
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Flags of Our Fathers
Eragon
Goya’s Ghosts
Apocalypto
Dreamgirls
The Prestige

SOUND MIXING
Cars
Dreamgirls
Flags of Our Fathers
The Good German
The Good Shepherd
Goya’s Ghosts
Marie Antoinette
Babel
The Departed
Pirates of the Caribbean 2

SOUND EDITING
Cars
Flags of Our Fathers
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Mission Impossible III
The Good Shepherd
Superman Returns
X-Men: The Last Stand

VISUAL EFFECTS
X-Men: The Last Stand
Superman Returns
Poseidon

ORIGINAL SCORE
ORIGINAL SONG
FOREIGN FILM

ANIMATED FEATURE
Cars (Disney/Pixar)
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
A Scanner Darkly (Warner Indep.)
Tales From Earthsea (?)
Flushed Away (Aardman)
Happy Feet (WB)
The Ant Bully (WB)
Arthur and the Minimoys
Barnyard (Nickelodeon)
Meet the Robinsons (Disney)
Monster House (Columbia)
Open Season (Sony)
Over the Hedge (Dreamworks)
The Wild (Disney)
Yankee Irving (Fox)

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Sicko (Michael Moore)
An Inconvenient Truth
Neil Young: Heart of Gold
God Grew Tried of Us (Christopher Dillon Quinn, Tom Walker)
Fuck
Awesome I Fucking Shot That
95 Miles to Go
Tales of the Rat Fink
Wordplay
The Heart of the Game
Who Killed the Electric Car?
The U.S. Vs. John Lennon
Our Band is Crisis
The Real Dirt on Farmer John
Shakespeare Behind Bars
Te Beauty Academy of Kabul
The Lady in Question is Charles Busch

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
LIVE ACTION SHORT