Craig's Best of 2006

List creator: underdog Created on: January 25, 2007 - 11:43 AM PST Description: From my Best Films (released in) 2006 list, those that are available on DVD. Honorable mention picks are listed here, too.

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	movie title	related list	average rating	MPAA rating	watch	rent	buy
	Children of Men (2006)
Late Addition: Incredibly brilliant filmmaking and a harrowing story, adaptation of PD James novel, will grip you from the get-go. Not to be missed.
	When the Levees Broke (Disc 1 of 3) (2006)			Not Rated
magnum opus, this beautifully crafted, incredibly moving documentary on the wake Hurricane Katrina's left in New Orleans' path - and the people left behind through government neglect and incompetence - was shown on HBO but is about as good a four hours of film as you'll see this year.
	A Scanner Darkly (2006)
spot-on adaptation of Philip K. Dick's drugged out Orwellian tale works quite well as a black comedy
	Brick (2005)
super debut, a bravura film that pulls off the pretentious set-up: a Raymond Chandler-esque mystery, replete with its own hardboiled slang, set in the modern adolescent world.
	The Queen (2006)
Very fair-minded in its depiction of that awful time around Diana's death, and lovely to look at.
	Old Joy (2005)
While it's of that uniquely American genre, the road movie, Old Joy is more European in sensibility. It may seem unambitious to some, but in its sweet 73 minutes Old Joy accomplishes much more spiritually than any American film this year. As we all wander through the darkness in the shadow of 9/11, that's no small thing.
	The Departed (Special Edition) (2006)
a powder keg on the verge...essentially a damned entertaining crime flick
	Lady Vengeance (2005)
Park Chan-wook's third part in his "Revenge" trilogy (which includes Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy) is officially my favorite.
	L'Enfant (2005)
neo-social-realist film is deceptively simple on the surface, but remarkably complex emotionally, leading up to a shockingly suspenseful finale.
	Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
What could have been a pretentious muddle ends up a erudite, impish delight.
	Borat (2006)
you'll be hard pressed to find a better comic performance in recent memory.
	The Science of Sleep (2005)
Michel Gondry's playfully surrealist film is a waking life love story with strikingly realized sets and beautifully imagined dreams
	The Proposition (2005)
Honorable Mention. See review here.
	Sir! No! Sir! (2005)
Honorable Mention.
	Half Nelson (2006)
Beautifully played by Gosling, Shareeka Epps and all involved, this is a sad, subtle character story with some hope of redemption at the end.
	The Descent (Unrated) (2005)			Not Rated
Scary as all get out.
	Casino Royale (2006)
One of the best Bonds ever.
	V for Vendetta (Special Edition) (2006)
No Children of Men (which I saw after having to turn in this list) but still remarkably subversive and visually striking.