2006: A Second Chance

2006 gave us some challenging, thought-provoking films. Some of these were acclaimed, some just sorta fell through the cracks and weren't given the credit they so justly deserved, at least in the humble opinions held here at TM. Let's dive in and see what made last year worth living for...

1. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (directed by Jeff Feuerzeig)

The enigma that is artist/singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston is documented in this disturbing, funny and ultimately cathartic film from Jeff Feurzeig. It's quite possibly the best examination of a troubled artist since Terry Zwigoff's infamous 1994 documentary Crumb. Though the comparisons with Brian Wilson and numerous declarations of "genius" are a bit much, it's fascinating to watch, and from a psychological point of view, almost a complete miracle that the schizophrenic Johnston is able to create music (though he still lives with his parents, smokes, and drinks copious amounts of Mountain Dew). Fan of Johnston's music or not, this is one not to be missed.

2. An Inconvenient Truth (directed by Davis Guggenheim)



I'm going to try to save some of our natural resources by not saying too much about this movie. I confess that I also started wearing environmentally-friendly underwear since I saw it. In all seriousness though, what is essentially Big Al's Slideshow is a crucial step in raising awareness about the climate crisis. Unfortunately, it also spawned a little demon called Live Earth and another documentary, The 11th Hour, where Leo DiCaprio narrates us through a similar scenario.

3. The Departed (directed by Martin Scorsese)

Watching The Departed reminded me why I still even bother going to the movies at all. The energy and passion that Scorsese puts into his films is rivaled by very few directors, and the furry-browed one finally got his due, winning Best Director and Best Picture at the Oscars. A remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, it takes the basic elements of that story and adds layer upon layer of Shakespearean drama to it.
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Other essential Scorsese:

Who's That Knocking At My Door? (1967)

Part art film, part gritty drama, starring a fresh-faced Harvey Keitel. A bit patchy, but like any Scorsese film, immensely watchable and well-filmed, with a great soundtrack. Scorsese was only 25 when he made this, which makes it all the more impressive.

Mean Streets (1973)

The firecracker that started it all. There's an intensity to the scenes between De Niro and Keitel that threatens to burn a hole right through the screen. A poolhall fight scene set to "Please Mr. Postman"? Pure genius.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

A different sort of movie for Scorsese, about an independent woman (Ellen Burstyn) struggling to find herself after her husband's death. Great acting and a sharp script by Robert Getchell. Shot here in beautiful Tucson, Ariz.

Raging Bull (1980)

The movie that should've made Hollywood clutch Scorsese to their bosom. Instead, they gave the Best Picture Oscar that year to Robert Redford's Ordinary People. Go figure. Robert De Niro gives his best performance, with Frank Vincent and Joe Pesci being welcomed into the fold, both later starring in GoodFellas and Casino.

The King of Comedy (1983)



An original satire on the trappings of fame, with Robert De Niro as poor Rupert Pupkin (certainly one of the greatest movie names), who kidnaps a TV host played by Jerry Lewis as an attempt to get his comedy material on the air.

After Hours (1985)

Another detour, this film was Scorsese's return to his low-budget roots after failing to get backing for The Last Temptation of Christ. Griffin Dunne plays a New York computer hack whose night goes from bad to worse in a darkly comic series of misfortunes.



The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

It was a bold decision on the part of Scorsese and screenwriter Paul Schrader to adapt Nikos Kazantzakis' 1951 novel The Last Temptation of Christ, which was not welcomed kindly by the religious faction upon its release. Scorsese had initially tried to make the film in 1983, but financing collapsed and had to start anew. Willem Dafoe had big sandals to fill in the role of Christ, but his performance here is nothing short of outstanding and Harvey Keitel is a bit hilarious in the role of Judas, but also good. Barbara Hershey portrays Mary Magdalene, and David Bowie is in a brief scene as Pontius Pilate (Scorsese originally was going to cast Sting in the role). The beginning of Christ makes it clear that this is an account not based on the gospels, which surely sent heart rates through the roof. Instead, it imagines Christ's life if he had faced the temptations that us mere mortals face, and the final temptation of the film's title imagines the life he could've led by marrying Mary Magdalene and having children. Scorsese's film shouldn't be treated as heresy but as an open, fascinating, respectful look at a well-documented subject.

GoodFellas (1990)

From Jesus to gangsters...Scorsese had been around long enough at this point that you'd think he'd finally get some recognition. Instead, he got snubbed again at the Oscars by Kevin Costner's buffalo ballet Dances With Wolves. Joe Pesci is hilarious and terrifying as Tommy DeVito, a hothead gangster who uses any and every opportunity to whack somebody.

Casino (1995)

A mob epic about the gangsters who ran the casinos in the 70s, Scorsese says on the DVD commentary that this film was also his own personal statement on the bloated ways of Hollywood. Sharon Stone gives perhaps her only worthy perforance as De Niro's loose canon wife, Ginger.

Bringing Out The Dead (1999)

An underrated gem. Nicolas Cage, John Goodman and Tom Sizemore star in this manic tale of paramedics running loose in Hell's Kitchen. Ferocious energy and a great soundtrack, reuniting Scorsese with past collaborator Paul Schrader.

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4. The Prestige (directed by Christopher Nolan)



Rival magicians, a sharp script and direction by Nolan (Batman Begins, Memento), excellent visuals and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. What more could you want?

5. Borat (directed by Larry Charles)



I like you. Do you like me? Sacha Baron-Cohen takes his character from Da Ali G Show and makes a hilarious, unnerving commentary on America and their "war of terror."

6. Marie Antoinette (directed by Sofia Coppola)



This one was completely overlooked. Those quick to dismiss Coppola on charges of nepotism should take a second look at her films, which have a quiet beauty about them. Oh, and what was the last good movie her Dad made? If you don't like this one, try sitting through the nearly-three-hour 1938 version.

7. Pan's Labyrinth (directed by Guillermo del Toro)



I seriously went into this thinking it was going to be a magical kids movie, or maybe something along the lines of Tim Burton. What a surprise. Wonderfully creative, with one of the best villains in recent years, the diabolical Capt. Vidal (Sergi Lopez).

8. The Lives of Others (directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck)



Winner of the Best Foreign Film Oscar, this German tale of cat and mouse before the fall of the Berlin wall is gripping, realistic and powerfully affecting. Sebastian Koch plays a German playwright who's being monitored by the East German Secret Police, under Hauptman Wiesler (the excellent Ulrich Mühe), who eventually becomes sympathetic to Koch and his girlfriend (Martina Gedeck). The Lives of Others seems like a good history lesson until you realize that it's just as applicable in modern times.

9. The Bridge (directed by Eric Steel)



An unconventional documentary, The Bridge chronicles the 24 deaths that occured at San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge in 2004, examining the lives of the jumpers and the dark, complicated subject of suicide and depression. It's a film that sticks with you long after you've left the theatre.

10. Little Children (directed by Todd Field)



I wasn't too fond of Todd Field's previous film, 2001's In The Bedroom, but with Little Children, he chooses just the right tone to tell the story of suburban boredom and dysfunction. Former Bad News Bear Jackie Earle Haley is tremendous as the pedophile who just needs a little bit of love.