Al's Top Rated Films: 2006
Broken Lizard does it again! Beerfest is easily my #1 pick of the year. Some other near personal classics in the bunch. Solid year!
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- DirectorJay ChandrasekharStarsJay ChandrasekharKevin HeffernanSteve LemmeTwo brothers travel to Germany for Oktoberfest, only to stumble upon a secret, centuries-old competition described as a "Fight Club" with beer games.The Broken Lizard crew makes some of my all-time favorite comedies. Super Troopers may be their best, but this is my personal favorite. Great story about how two brothers travel to Germany for Oktoberfest to honor their grandfather by spreading his ashes among the remains of his elders, when they stumble upon a secret underground beer drinking competition called "Beerfest". After some choice words and family squabbles about their grandfather with the German beer drinking team, they return to the United States to form the ultimate team of beer drinkers and gamers to beat the Germans and the rest of the world in "Beerfest" the following yer. The Broken Lizard crew (Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Kevin Heffernan, Jay Chandrasekhar, Steve Lemme) are at their absolute best. The entire German beer drinking team (Will Forte, Nat Faxon, Eric Christian Olsen, Ralf Moeller, Gunter Schlierkamp) was also beyond hilarious. Other small roles from Jürgen Prochnow (especially considering is role in the epic WWII film "Das Boot"), Cloris Leachman, M.C. Gainey, Philippe Brenninkmeyer, Bjorn Johnson, and Mo'Nique really add to the hilarity. Underrated classic.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioMatt DamonJack NicholsonAn undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.Top-notch crime drama/thriller from Martin Scorsese which follows a young undercover cop who is assigned to infiltrate the Irish mob syndicate during the struggle of Irish-American organized crime in South Boston. But when a criminal infiltrates the police department and uncovers sensitive information, it puts both of their lives at risk when the mob and police take action against them. Great writing and acting throughout. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg all deliver some of their very best lead performances. Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson, James Badge Dale, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsKen WatanabeKazunari NinomiyaTsuyoshi IharaThe story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.Fantastic war drama/adventure from Clint Eastwood set in Japan 1944 during World War II, and follows the bloody Battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan. The story is told completely from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers who fought in battle. Japan has far fewer soldiers, aircrafts, warships, guns, water, and food compared to the highly sophisticated American military. Many in charge also inject these soldiers with lies so they will honorably die for their country. Along the way, these doomed soldiers write letters to their families and loved ones describing the horrors they see, and regret that they will never meet again. Those letters are shockingly discovered in 2005 when Japanese archaeologists explore the tunnels on Iwo Jima looking for artifacts from the dreadful battle. Fantastic story all around, and setting it up from the Japanese perspective was perfectly done. Great action, cinematography, and dialogue that fuels the tension. Ken Watanabe and Kazunari Ninomiya both delivered fantastic lead performances. Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryô Kase, Shidô Nakamura, Hiroshi Watanabe, Yuki Matsuzaki, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorGabriele MuccinoStarsWill SmithThandiwe NewtonJaden SmithA struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.Excellent drama-filled biopic set in 1981 San Francisco about a struggling salesman named Christopher Gardner, who heavily invested in a bone density scanner which isn't selling well at all. When his money starts to dwindle, his wife leaves him, he loses his apartment, and he's forced to live on the street with his son. He ends up taking a 6-month unpaid internship as a stockbroker, and is completely determined to outperform his competition and get the job, while selling his bone density scanners at the same time. Very inspiring story with great acting and writing throughout. Will Smith and his son Jaden both delivered fantastic lead performances. Brian Howe, Thandiwe Newton, James Karen, and plenty others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorFrank MarshallStarsPaul WalkerJason BiggsBruce GreenwoodBrutal cold forces two Antarctic explorers to leave their team of sled dogs behind as they fend for their survival.Excellent and inspiring adventure set in Antarctica about a dedicated sled dog trainer who had to leave his dogs behind when he and his team had to temporarily evacuate their base due to a heavy snow storm; and just after the dogs saved his and another explorer's life. The storm becomes so big, their evacuation becomes permanent as these poor dogs must fend for their survival for 6 long months, as the trainer spends all his time and resources planning for his team to return to Antartica and save them. There's no getting around the love you'll feel for these sled dogs throughout their grueling journey for survival. Great movie for dog lovers. Paul Walker may be known for the Fast and the Furious franchise, but I personally feel this was his best performance. He was excellent. Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, and Jason Biggs all had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsChristian BaleSteve ZahnJeremy DaviesA U.S. fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.Excellent Vietnam War biopic about German-American US Navy pilot Dieter Dengler, and his struggles to survive after being shot down over Laos. He's eventually captured where he meets 5 other prisoners who have been held in a Vietcong prison camp for up to 2.5 years under horrifying methods of torture. Once Dengler arrives, they devise an intricate plan to ambush the guards and escape. Christian Bale put all of himself into his performance as he usually does—losing 55 pounds for the role. He was superb throughout. Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies also had excellent roles among a great supporting cast.
- DirectorDoug AtchisonStarsAngela BassettLaurence FishburneKeke PalmerAkeelah, a young gifted girl, comes from a dysfunctional family and is on the verge of quitting school. She discovers that she has a high aptitude for spellings and enters a spelling bee contest.Very inspirational drama for the whole family about an 11-year-old girl from a poor area of South Los Angeles, who ends up winning the spelling bee at her local school. Once it becomes apparent she has a gift for words, she's encouraged by her principal, a college professor and former national spelling-bee contestant, and her mother and family, to work hard enough to make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Great feel-good story with great writing, acting, and well-developed characters throughout. Keke Palmer delivered a fantastic lead performance as Akeelah. Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Curtis Armstrong, J.R. Villarreal, Sean Michael Afable, Sahara Ware, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorNicholaus GoossenStarsAllen CovertLinda CardelliniShirley JonesA thirty-five-year-old video game tester has to move in with his grandma and her two old lady roommates.Severely underrated comedy about a 35-year-old video game tester who must move in with his Grandma and her 2 roommates after his roommate blew all their rent money on prostitutes. Hilarious struggles pop up as the testers scramble to finish evaluating Eternal Death Slayer 3, and combat the creator and video game prodigy, J.P.. I can watch it a couple times a year and still laugh by butt off. Extra funny if you are into video games. Easily my favorite role from Allen Covert (who also helped write the film). Linda Cardellini, Peter Dante, Shirley Jones, Shirley Knight, Joel David Moore, Doris Roberts, Nick Swardson, Jonah Hill, Kevin Nealon, Kelvin Yu, Heidi Hawking, and Jonathan Loughran all had hilarious supporting roles.
- DirectorJonathan DaytonValerie FarisStarsSteve CarellToni ColletteGreg KinnearA family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.Powerful and often times hilarious comedy drama that follows an abnormal family with struggling members all around: An overwhelmed mother, an overbearing perfectionist father, a troubled and disturbed adolescent son, an extremely depressed and suicidal middle-aged brother, and a profanity-driven dirty drug-addicted grandpa. At the middle of them all is the happy and inspired 7-year-old daughter Olive, who learns she has a chance to dispute the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant in Redondo Beach, California. With little to no money, they whole family decides to embark on the 900+ mile drive in their old beat-up Volkswagen bus to give her a chance at her dream; and they learn plenty about each other and themselves along the way. The whole cast was superb. Toni Collette, Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Paul Dano, Alan Arkin, and Steve Carell all delivered excellent lead performances, and the supporting cast was great throughout.
- DirectorKevin SmithStarsBrian O'HalloranJeff AndersonRosario DawsonA calamity at Dante and Randal's shops sends them looking for new horizons - but they ultimately settle at the fast food empire Mooby's.Fantastic sequel in a long line of film and characters that solidified Kevin Smith's history and reputation as a film-maker. It's really one of his best. Hilarious comedy that follows Dante and Randal working at Mooby's fast-food restaurant after the Quick Stop burned down and left them out of work. Plenty of hilarity happens along the way, as Dante struggles to move forward with life and a new wife, while he also has a thing for the store manager, Becky. Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson haven't missed a beat with these characters. They were excellent. Rosario Dawson also arguably delivers her best performance. She fit in perfectly. Trevor Fehrman, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Wanda Sykes, and Zak Knutson all had great roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsJulianne MooreClive OwenChiwetel EjioforIn 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have somehow become infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.Excellent drama set in 2027 London, when women have mysteriously become incapable of reproducing and having children for the past 18 years. It's also a terrifying police state that's basically become a war zone, as hope for the future is extremely bleak. The story follows a former activist who is recruited to help transport the first pregnant woman anyone has seen in nearly 2 decades, to a safe haven known as the Human Project, while a terrorist organization tries to kidnap the baby for their political gain. Great story, writing, and acting throughout. Clive Owen and Clare-Hope Ashitey both delivered great lead performances. Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Pam Ferris, Charlie Hunnam, Phaldut Sharma, Peter Mullan, and Danny Huston all had great supporting roles.
- DirectorKevin MacdonaldStarsJames McAvoyForest WhitakerGillian AndersonBased on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s.Great historical biopic set in the early 1970s about young Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan, who flies to Uganda (East Africa) to work at a missionary clinic to get away from his family, help people, and enjoy his life experiences. After a chance encounter with the new President, General Idi Amin—they end up forming a close friendship through mutual respect as he becomes his personal physician and eventually his most trusted advisor. But when people protesting Amin's decisions within his organization go missing, it puts the doctor and serious risk for survival. James McAvoy and Forest Whitaker both delivered excellent lead performances. Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Simon McBurney, and plenty others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsDenzel WashingtonClive OwenJodie FosterA police detective, a bank robber, and a high-power broker enter high-stakes negotiations after the criminal's brilliant heist spirals into a hostage situation.Great crime mystery from Spike Lee about a brilliant bank robber who's put together an ingenious plan to hold up the Manhattan bank, and does so with a team of men—taking dozens of hostages and getting trapped within the bank in the process—while a hostage negotiator and a high-power broker enter into negotiations with the mysterious team of criminals. Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster all deliver great lead performances. Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kim Director, James Ransone, and others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorRichard EyreStarsCate BlanchettJudi DenchAndrew SimpsonA veteran high school teacher befriends a younger art teacher, who is having an affair with one of her fifteen-year-old students. However, her intentions with this new "friend" also go well beyond a platonic friendship.Fantastic crime drama about a tough veteran high school teacher who befriends the gorgeous new art teacher in school that everyone seems to be drawn to. After witnessing her having an affair with one of her 15-year-old students, she sees it as a twisted opportunity for them to form a close relationship, as the affair continues to blaze on. The acting and dialogue between Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett was electrifying at every turn. They both delivered their best performances. Andrew Simpson, Bill Nighy, Juno Temple, Phil Davis, and others had great roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsRyan PhillippeBarry PepperJoseph CrossThe life stories of the six men who raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in World War II.Excellent war drama/adventure from Clint Eastwood set on February 19, 1945, during World War II. The story follows six American soldiers fighting the pivotal Battle of Iwo Jima against the outnumbered Imperial Japanese Army who are sworn to protect their sacred land until the American forces completely take them out. The story also follows the soldiers who were involved in raising the flag at the top of Mount Suribachi, which remains the single most recognizable war photo of all time. The photo gave America their much-needed heroes, as the men involved are sent on war bond drives across America to help finance the war. The story is cleverly recounted from some of the aging soldiers near the end of their lives. Excellent story, action, acting, and a fantastic companion piece to Clint Eastwood's other World War II epic "Letters from Iwo Jima" (2006). Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, and Adam Beach all had excellent lead performances. Barry Pepper, John Benjamin Hickey, John Slattery, Jamie Bell, Paul Walker, Robert Patrick, Neal McDonough, Melanie Lynskey, Tom McCarthy, Joseph Cross, Benjamin Walker, Scott Eastwood, Stark Sands, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorNancy MeyersStarsKate WinsletCameron DiazJude LawTwo women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.Excellent comedy drama/romance from Nancy Meyers that follows a successful movie-trailer producer named Amanda who just went through a messy breakup with her cheating boyfriend, and decides she needs to get away over the Christmas holiday. She stumbles along a cute little England cottage on a home exchange website where she finds another woman named Iris who's also suffering from a broken relationship, and would also love to getaway to Amanda's Los Angeles home over the holidays. After quickly chatting back and forth, they decide to swap homes for two weeks. While things start out rocky, they both meet men in very different ways, along with other inspiring folks that helps both of them move on with their lives. What seems like a pretty formulaic story really excels with a great cast, acting, and well-written dialogue all around. Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black all deliver some of their greatest lead performances yet. 1960s western great Eli Wallach was truly a surprise to see in the lineup. He was awesome, and delivered one his best roles. Rufus Sewell, Edward Burns, Miffy Englefield, Emma Pritchard, Shannyn Sossamon, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorTerry GreenStarsTimothy HuttonDavid StrathairnLeelee SobieskiTwo young women accuse nine black youths of rape in the segregated South.Extremely underrated historical drama that looks back at the legendary 1931 case of the Scottsboro Boys, when two young white women lied and accused nine black youths of raping them in fear that they would be arrested for fraternizing with black men. In 1933, they were granted a new trial since their first trial was deemed unfair, which finds hot-shot New York attorney Sam Leibowitz traveling to the south to take the case and give them the fair trial they deserve, even though it seems impossible with how brutally racist the climate in Alabama is. The is the first role I've seen from Timothy Hutton, and he delivered one of the best portrayals as a lawyer that I've ever seen. His witty and unique mannerisms really made the role. David Strathairn was also superb as the impartial Judge James Horton. Anthony Mackie, Bill Sage, Leelee Sobieski, Azura Skye, James Tolkan, and several others had fantastic supporting roles. Unfairly ignored film with a great story and message.
- DirectorDavid FrankelStarsAnne HathawayMeryl StreepAdrian GrenierA smart but sensible new graduate lands a job as an assistant to Miranda Priestly, the demanding editor-in-chief of a high fashion magazine.Excellent comedy drama that follows an intelligent and determined journalism graduate (Andrea) who gets a job as an assistant to Miranda Priestly—the ruthlessly demanding editor-in-chief of "Runway" fashion magazine. In the world of fashion, her opinion is all that matters, as trends blossom or die based on her support of the design or product. While a million people would kill to have the job, Andrea is just trying to gain experience to land a real job in journalism. Eventually she become wrapped up in the fashion lifestyle as she becomes Miranda's greatest assistant; which nearly ruins her relationship and friendships in the process. Fantastic and writing and acting throughout. The cast was phenomenal. Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep both delivered fantastic lead performances. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci shined just as bright as the stars did with very memorable roles. Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorMcGStarsMatthew McConaugheyMatthew FoxAnthony MackieWhen a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.Excellent historical sports drama that chronicles the tragic plane crash that occurred on November 14, 1970, and killed nearly all the football players, coaching staff, and several others from Marshall University out of West Virginia. Through the protests of surviving team captain Nate Ruffin, the school board votes to bring the football program back, despite the town being in severe pain from their enormous loss. In 1971, head coach Jack Lengyel is hired to run a fourth-coming inspirational season of healing the team and the town needs, which is largely responsible to college president Don Dedman. Simply one of the best football films I've ever see, with great performances throughout. Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie, and David Strathairn all delivered excellent lead performances. Ian McShane, Kate Mara, January Jones, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Arlen Escarpeta, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRyan FleckStarsRyan GoslingAnthony MackieShareeka EppsAn inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret.Excellent drama from Ryan Fleck that follows an inner-city junior high school history teacher and girls basketball coach named Dan Dunne, who has a serious problem with cocaine and crack addiction. While he's tried and failed at rehab in the past, he is well-liked by his students, who are responsible for keeping him focused just enough to struggle through the work week. When a young, poor, troubled student of his named Drey catches him smoking crack in the girls locker room after a game, they end up forming an unlikely friendship as she attempts to understand the pain he is going through, while he attempts to help her deal with her drug dealing father and absent mother by being her friend. Powerful film with a great story. Ryan Gosling arguably delivers his best and most complex lead performance to date. Shareeka Epps and Anthony Mackie also had great starring roles. Tina Holmes, Karen Chilton, Nathan Corbett, Denis O'Hare, Jay O. Sanders, Tristan Mack Wilds, and others also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorEdward ZwickStarsLeonardo DiCaprioDjimon HounsouJennifer ConnellyA fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.Excellent and thrilling adventure set in 1999 that follows a fisherman who's kidnapped from his village to work in diamond mines, and gets arrested for hiding a huge pink diamond. When in jail, he meets a mercenary smuggler who proposes they team up to exchange the diamond for his missing family. Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly all delivered great lead performances. David Harewood, Kagiso Kuypers, Arnold Vosloo, and several others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorTony ScottStarsDenzel WashingtonPaula PattonJim CaviezelAfter a ferry is bombed in New Orleans, an A.T.F. agent joins a unique investigation using experimental surveillance technology to find the bomber, but soon finds himself becoming obsessed with one of the victims.Excellent crime drama from Tony Scott that follows an A.T.F. agent that's investigating a murder linked to a ferry bombing in New Orleans that killed over 500 people. Through the help of advanced scientific surveillance technology, they are able to look back 4.5 days back on a running timeline to piece together the mystery in an attempt to save everyone's life in the process. Denzel Washington delivered a superb lead performance as usual. Paula Patton, Val Kilmer, Jim Caviezel, Adam Goldberg, Elden Henson, Erika Alexander, Bruce Greenwood, and many others had great roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsTom CruiseMichelle MonaghanVing RhamesIMF agent Ethan Hunt comes into conflict with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer who threatens his life and his fiancée in response.Excellent sequel in the Mission Impossible franchise from J.J. Abrams, and even better than the first two films in my book. This time we follow IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent Ethan Hunt retiring from combat missions and training younger IMF agents to do his job. Just when he plans on marrying his lovely fiancé Julia, he's sucked by into combat when one of his own trainees is kidnapped. The mission has a deadly outcome thanks to a brutal villain named Owen Davian. After Ethan interfere's with Davian's business, he's out for exact revenge against Ethan and threatens Julia's life, while simultaneously tasking him to steal a mysterious object/weapon named "The Rabbit's Foot". The story, dialogue, and casting was simply better and more entertaining than the first two films. Tom Cruise delivers one of his finest lead performances. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Michelle Monaghan also had excellent starring roles. Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maggie Q, Simon Pegg, Laurence Fishburne, and many others also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsDenzel WashingtonLiev SchreiberMeryl StreepIn the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes.Underrated mystery/drama from Jonathan Demme set in the present day, and looks back at a group of American soldiers that were ambushed during the Gulf War in 1991, and uncovers the mystery of how they were brainwashed by the government for disturbing purposes. When one of the soldiers wins a spot on the ticket to become Vice President, the secrets are slowly releveled that builds to a great plot-twisting climax. Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, and Meryl Streep all delivered excellent lead performances. Kimberly Elise, Jon Voight, Vera Farmiga, Dean Stockwell, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Mackie, and others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorCraig BrewerStarsChristina RicciSamuel L. JacksonJustin TimberlakeA God-fearing bluesman takes to a wild young woman who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite finding it.Excellent music-inspired drama about an abused, sex-crazed, drug-addicted nymphomaniac that is beaten and left for dead on the side of the road in a small town of rural Tennessee, when a religious bluesman finds her and decides to help her through deep psychological trauma and helps her move forward with her life, while simultaneously working out things in his own life. Both Christina Ricci and Samuel L. Jackson both deliver excellent lead performances. Justin Timberlake, S. Epatha Merkerson, John Cothran, David Banner, Michael Raymond-James, Adriane Lenox, and Kim Richards had nice roles among a great supporting cast.