Freakpit's Faves of 2006 (Top Five)

Here it is, the home stretch, the five best films of 2006 according to me. But wait, there's more - it turns out that this is the 100th post I've made to this blog and, not only that, it's also exactly a year to the day since I started it. How about that? It's almost like a planned it.

So without further ado, let's bring the Freakpit's first year to a close with the very best films from that period, my top five of last year.

5. BLOODY SUNDAY: A DERRY DIARY

This is yet another documentary that I saw at the Stranger Than Fiction documentary festival in Dublin in 2006. It follows the survivors and victims' families throughout the ongoing enquiry into the infamous events of one day in the early 70s when a group of British paras in Northern Ireland opened fire on a civil rights march, giving rise to one of the grimmest periods in the recent history of the troubles.

The film, made by one of the eyewitnesses herself, is not totally biased against the British - there is an acknowledgement that an IRA gunman was present and opened fire, and there is a hint that perhaps her memory of the events is not as clear as she thinks - but on the whole doesn't leave too much doubt as to which side its on, and understandably so. I'm not about to try and start a political argument here, but suffice to say the Brits do not come out of this looking good and probably with good reason.

As yet I don't believe it's had much of an outing outside of festivals and one or two TV appearances (not in this country that I know of) but it really deserves a wider audience. It was stated that when the results of the enquiry are known (expected this year) that further information will be recorded. One only hopes that when it does, someone picks the film up to distribute to the wider audience it deserves.

4. CONGO RIVER

Thierry Michel's documentary charts the history of this bloody area of Africa using the river itself as a metaphorical timeline. Documentaries are rarely made on this scale and are rarely as fascinating - this is no simple history lecture; this is the birth and life of a nation, its people, its conquerors and everything in between. Once more it was a highlight of Stranger Than Fiction - once more, I've yet to see it receive a decent distribution in this country. I hope someone will fix that soon as this stunning historical portrait needs to be seen.

3. THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY

2006 was a good year for the Irish in the Freakpit, wasn't it? Ken Loach's drama following the Anglo-Irish war of Independence and two brothers who take up opposite sides in the ensuing civil war picked up the top prize in Cannes but that didn't stop it courting controversy in the British press, some of whom seemed to think it was nothing more than IRA propaganda.

The truth is that it's a gripping historical drama that is as good as anything of Loach's that I've seen, regardless of where your political leanings lie. Yes, it makes the British look like a bloodthirsty bunch of monsters but here's a newsflash for you - the British did commit countless atrocities in Ireland, so why not show them? The detractors seem to have completely missed the point that first of all it's historically accurate and, secondly, that it's not as if Loach makes the Irish out to be all sweetness and innocence.

In truth, most of the conflict arises not from the Irish fighting the English but from the Irish against Irish civil war that followed. This means nothing to some people however, but then the sort of people who would trash this film because of its political nature are probably the same sort of people who refused to watch BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN because it's "totally gay".

2. GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK

George Clooney's second film as director was a triumph, though it was just pipped to most of the Oscars it deserved. It's intelligent, it's relevant today as it ever was, and it's a superbly crafted, well-written, wonderfully acted ensemble piece that tells a gripping tale about a group of people who stood up to a great injustice that overtook many people during a shameful period in America's history. I raved about it accordingly.

For a long time, it was my best film of 2006 - but then, just before the end of the year, there emerged a new choice...

1. THE PRESTIGE

Christopher Nolan's drama about duelling magicians in turn of the century Victorian England models itself on the magic tricks it portrays - it's all about misdirection. Throughout the film Nolan allows the audience to think that they're getting a handle on what is going on and then promptly pulls the rug out from under you. There are twists and turns like nobody's business, the impressive cast are all perfect and, in short, I never wanted it to end.

But end it did, and when it did so, it left me feeling more amazed and more satisfied upon leaving a cinema than I have been in a long, long time.

And that wraps up my round up of my favourites of 2006. If you agreed with any of them, terrific. If you didn't, well, it's my list so tough. But if you think I've been totally wrong about something or overlooked a classic feel free to contact me. I won't change my mind, but at least I'll know you're paying attention.

I will now resume my usual pattern of managing about one post a week about films you've never heard of.

Good night.

Freakpit's Faves of 2006 (10 to 6)

Continuing my countdown of my favourite films of 2006, my next choice is...

10. V FOR VENDETTA

Based on the classic comic strip from the 1980s by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, this intelligent action romp tells the story of a girl who falls in with a rebel modelling himself of Guy Fawkes in a dystopian vision of Britain in the future.

A lot of people, knowing it was being adapted by the guys who made THE MATRIX and that Alan Moore's great comics have been let down by their screen adaptations (FROM HELL, LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN), expected this film to be crap. I know I did. But no, it turned out to be surprisingly good and, even more surprisingly, captured the feel of the original comic strip very well.

There were some changes made (the original strip was a depressing extrapolation of all that was bad about Thatcher's Britain, while the film has been slightly fine-tuned so it's more in line with current events) and there are some minor weaknesses (Natalie Portman, otherwise terrific in the role, does let the English accent lapse into a strange Australian-sounding hybrid occasionally), but overall the film's a triumph.

And in this day and age it's refreshing to see a film in which the hero is essentially a terrorist.

9. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING

This hilarious satire stars Aaron Eckhart as a lobbyist for the tobacco industry, his job being to improve the image of smoking despite the established facts about its danger to your health. There are pops at other death-dealing industries as well, however it's the cigarette makers who are at the centre of the story. How do you sell cancer-sticks to people with a smile on your face then return home and set a good example to your child? Find out by watching this, the funniest movie of 2006.

8. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

It's a tale of forbidden love between two people who know that society will not condone that love. The fact that those two people both happen to be men is what grabbed the headlines, but it detracts from the fact that this is just a wonderfully told tale of romance and heartbreak that could just as easily have been told about a man and a woman in other circumstances.

The fact that their society will not accept their love is the issue at the heart at the story; the reason for that (anti-gay sentiment in this case) is completely irrelevant.

It may have ended up missing out on most of the Oscars it was tipped for (though Ang Lee did pick up one for directing it) but it's still one of the highlights of 2006 for me.

7. PAN'S LABYRINTH

I would expect to see this nominated in the foreign language category at this year's Oscars. Guillermo Del Toro's masterpiece is a visually stunning and emotionally charged story of a young girl in Franco-era Spain who escapes the guerrilla warfare into a fantasy world guarded by a strange faun, who gives the girl three tasks to perform to prove that she is the long lost princess who rules over the land.

It's a fairy tale and contains many things that would appeal to kids; but this is no kids' film. The battle scenes are horrific and the girl's stepfather is as nasty as they come. You won't be able to let your kids watch it, but who cares; you should be watching this for yourself. It's mind-blowing, and the Irish premiere was a highlight of the 2006 Horrorthon festival.

6. THE U.S. VS JOHN LENNON

Another film I saw at the London Film Festival, this one didn't do too much business at the cinema, which is a shame. It's a fascinating documentary that shows the human and humorous side of John Lennon like you've never seen him before, while offering a gobsmacking look into the thinking of an American government who saw him and his politics as a threat to national security.

Whether you're a Lennon fan or interested in the crazy antics of Nixon's government, this is a must-see.

The top thirty of 2006 concludes tomorrow!

Freakpit's Faves of 2006 (15 to 11)

And the countdown of 2006's finest movies continues...

15. SYRIANA

Also known as "that one where George Clooney gets fat and grows a beard."

I covered this one in my Oscar hopefuls string of posts, and sure enough it did get Clooney a Supporting Actor award. In the end it was unlucky not to get more (though the competition was strong, I admit) since it's the kind of daring, ambitious film that doesn't get made often enough (or if it does, not enough people see it). It's not quite AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, but it still has plenty to say about the state of the world today.

14. SHOOTING DOGS

Perhaps it suffered a bit from HOTEL RWANDA having beaten it to the punch, but this tale of the Rwandan genocide was every bit as effective and a bit more downbeat as well. There's still plenty of hope on offer but the true horror of the atrocities is hammered home at the same time, leading me to include it in my post about misery, suffering and nastiness.

13. INSIDE MAN

Spike Lee's heist caper is a terrific thriller with twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up until the end, boosted by an all-star cast where even Clive Owen manages to do a good job (I'm not a fan). Stands up there next to all the classic heist movies from so long ago.

12. VOLVER

Pedro Almodovar's latest tale follows three generations of a Spanish family of women, centring on Penelope Cruz, her daughter and the ghost of her deceased mother. The story is well crafted and Almodovar delivers it to the screen with panache but the real highlight is the performance of the cast, in particular the multi-award-nominated turn by Cruz. It looks like Helen Mirren's the favourite to bag all the acting awards but if there's going to be an upset, this is the woman that will do it.

11. CLERKS II

Love, marriage, friendship, transformers, live adult entertainment featuring donkeys - all of life's important stuff is analysed and ripped apart by the gang of characters returning from Kevin Smith's critically acclaimed low-budget slacker comedy debut.

The humour and situations are more of the same but that's what we loved about the original anyway. What's added is the wistful depression that hangs over proceedings as Dante and Randall realise that so many years have passed and so little has changed. Will they finally make something of their life? Whether they do or don't, you'll have a fun time finding out. Just don't expect the jokes to be too clean.

Continued tomorrow...

Freakpit's Faves of 2006 (20 to 16)

My countdown of the best of 2006 continues. The usual disclaimers about release dates apply...

20. THE HOST

This Korean monster movie was so great that I recommended it three times, and saw it twice - once at the UK premiere and once at the Irish premiere. If you've still not seen it, you're an idiot. Please rectify the situation immediately.

19. DEEP WATER

This incredible documentary tells the tale of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst and his attempt, back in the sixties, to enter the first solo round the world yacht race. After it becomes obvious early on that he is struggling, he is faced with the choice of continuing on and risking death, or turning back and being declared bankrupt. He was to pick a third option (cheat) but the months at sea gradually take their toll and the boat isn't the only thing falling apart...

While the interviews with surviving friends and family are fascinating the most haunting recollection is the recording of Crowhurst himself made while he was at sea and with the loneliness and desperation eating away at his mind. Scary, fascinating and terribly sad.

18. LES REVENANTS

This French movie played at a French film festival but as far as I can see has not yet been picked up for distribution. Shame really as it's a very intelligent look at a whimsical fantasy notion - what if everyone who had recently died suddenly came back to life. It's not a zombie movie (there's no shuffling about, no decaying corpses, no eating flesh); it's very definitely an arthouse film and a stunning one at that. It also gave me an excuse to talk about zombies and pensions, two subjects I don't think I've ever managed to combine before and probably never will again.

17. THE PROPOSITION

Nick Cave scripted this brutally violent but incredibly realised tale of vengeance and family in the Australian outback. I used it as an excuse to write about musicians on film, but it could equally have been used as an excuse to talk about the rise in popularity of the pseudo-western. By that I mean the string of recent films that are westerns but aren't really westerns. In addition to this movie, there's DOWN IN THE VALLEY, THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. See what I mean?

16. ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Another documentary and this time it's one about the failed attempt to bring soccer to the masses in the USA back in the seventies. Given the obscene amount of money that David Beckham has just bagged to go over there and play, you wonder if they've actually learned anything. One of the few decent football-related movies, which I therefore covered in my World Cup Special.

More tomorrow!

Freakpit's Faves of 2006 (25 to 21)

Today we continue the round-up of the Freakpit's favourite movies of 2006. See yesterday for what actually counts as a 2006 movie. By the way, in case you're wondering why I decided on a top 30, it's because I started off trying a top 20 but came up with closer to 30. That's the only reason. Anyway, on with the countdown...

25. THE GHOSTS OF DUFFY'S CUT

This short documentary (just under an hour if I remember correctly) is an Irish production, shot in luscious HD, telling the story of a bunch of Irish immigrants who flocked to America looking for work during the 19th century and found jobs on a stretch of railroad. Within weeks every one of them was dead, buried somewhere in an unmarked mass grave.

Part ghost story, part mystery, part historical investigation, the men behind the camera play detective in an attempt to find the bodies and work out what happened to the men who died. What they uncover is a horror story of hardship, disease, bigotry and superstition. It's fair to say that some of their findings are speculation rather than fact but they build a compelling case and the film turned out to be one of the highlights of the Stranger Than Fiction 2006 documentary festival in Dublin. I believe it was to be shown on RTE in Ireland in January too, but since January's almost over I guess there's a fair chance I've told you too late. Oh well.

24. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

A good old feelgood movie with a wonderful cast, both in terms of the actors involved and the oddball characters they play, from the loser of a father to the silent son to the drug-addict grandfather. Kinnear, Bresling, Collette, Dano, Farrell and Arkin are all superb in a movie that warms the heart and tickles the funny bone. Deservedly it is now picking up a few nods during awards season.

23. THE UNCERTAIN GUEST

This Spanish thriller was a highlight of the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year, a Hitchcock-style tale of obsession and madness that is darkly comic and nerve-janglingly tense in equal measure. It seems to be lurking beneath the radar at the moment but deserves better.

22. SUPERMAN RETURNS

Come on, you know the story. Big blue and red guy, wears a funny costume, flies around, catches planes and beats bad guys. The memory of the utter turds that followed SUPERMAN II have finally been erased. It might not have done the business that Warners were looking for but critically it was a worthy successor to the original movie and a faithful updating of the ultimate iconic hero. Roll on the sequel.

21. THE SQUID AND THE WHALE

Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney head up the cast in a tale that, like LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, looks at a potentially dark subject matter (in this case the effect a divorce has on the couple and their children) but wrings out all the humour it can by throwing together an insane group of quirky characters and seeing what happens.

It's directed by Noah Baumbach, the guy who previously co-wrote with Wes Anderson, so it's no surprise to see the film showing the same kind of odd humour we expect of Anderson's films. Thankfully, it makes just as good a job of it.

Continued tomorrow!

The Freakpit's Favourites of 2006

Well what do you know, the Golden Globes were last night, not Sunday night as I previously stated. That'll explain why I couldn't find the results yesterday morning then. Guess I could have made some predictions after all.

Anyway, glossing over that act of folly, it's time to begin my long-promised round-up of what warmed the Freakpit in 2006. These are the very best films as voted for by an audience of, well, one. Me. Tell your friends! Tell your family! This is the ONLY critical list of 2006 films that you will ever need!

(That's assuming your taste in films is anything like mine and, since it probably isn't, I guess this isn't the only list you'll need. But you should still read it anyway.)

Before I begin however, I should point out the rules by which these films were picked, just in case there's any argument about whether or not the film was truly a 2006 film.

1. Regardless of when it was released elsewhere, if it was not released in UK cinemas until 2006, it counts as a 2006 movie for my purposes.

2. If it hasn't had a release here yet but I still managed to catch it at a festival, then it also counts. That explains why there might be some movies that aren't out yet or else you've never heard of. But hey, at least it might encourage you to seek them out when they do appear.

Where possible, I've provided links to previous blog entries relating to the films in question so you can go back and see what I said originally if you should feel the need.

Right, on with the countdown...

30. HELL [L'ENFER]

This misery-laden French effort was one that I almost missed because I thought the trailer was really dull. Well, when forced to go and see it because there was nothing more interesting-looking on at the cinemas nearby, I ended up enjoying it immensely. Tight story, great performances by all the lead female characters and a delightfully grim but funny ending. You may remember it as the film that broke my Bristol cinema curse.

29. OFFSIDE

I guess you could say this one was timed to coincide with World Cup fever, but really that would be overstating it somewhat since the football match (the game that saw Iran qualify for the World Cup finals) takes place in the background and is hardly seen. The movie concerns the attempts by a bunch of young girls to get into the match (women are not allowed to attend football matches in Iran).

It's funny and touching, and is leant an extra poignancy by the way it is tied in to a tragic and controversial real-life incident that happened at an Iranian football match just a short time before.

28. RED ROAD

Andrea Arnold's feature debut has already scooped a bunch of awards, not least a prize at Cannes, and is the most critically acclaimed film to come out of Scotland in a long time (if not ever). It's a revenge movie, it's a mystery, it's an emotional drama and it's a look at the CCTV-riddled society that Scots live in. Cast and crew all do an excellent job and deserve all the praise they've received (and will receive). Turned out to be a highlight of my trip to the 2006 London Film Festival.

27. AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

I said at the time that it might not be the best film of the year but it could be the most important. Al Gore's documentary is as scary as any horror movie could dream of - put simply, we must change and change quickly or our world is facing its demise a lot sooner than any of us would like. Gripping from start to finish and packed with evidence to back up the claims it offers - only time will tell if we have listened.

26. BLESSED BY FIRE

This war movie was unusual in that it tackled the Falklands War from an Argentinean perspective. Focusing on the human cost of fighting in the conflict, the film offered an unflinching view of the horrors faced by the soldiers who fought during the battle and the horrors they experienced on their return.

It damns both British and Argentinean governments in the process and is one of the most powerful and political films of the year. Despite being a highlight of the Spanish-language festival I saw it at and scooping a prize at the Tribeca festival, it's yet to see a theatrical release here. Someone really needs to sort that out.

Continued tomorrow! (I know, I'm such a tease)