Ten best movies of 2006

I had planned to hold off on this list until Guillermo Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" gets a wide enough release to reach my little corner of the world, but that's looking like an unlikely prospect at best, so here goes (one other disclaimer: I realize there are 11 movies on this list, but I just couldn't decide on the final cut, so just deal with it.)

1. "Babel"
Few movies this year have been as divisive as this gem from Mexican director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu, but you can count me solidly in the camp of its supporters. It has more scenes (the Mexican wedding, the Japanese disco) and characters (played most memorably by Rinko Kikuchi and Adriana Barraza) that just burned themselves on my brain than any other movie this year, making it my favorite flick of 2006.

"Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story"
No numbers from here on out, just a list of the movies I loved this year. Michael Winterbottom's movie about making a movie, the impossible-to-film novel of the title, was the funniest movie I saw in 2006, chiefly due to a perfect performance by Steve Coogan as the leading man who's all blustery ego.

"Catch a Fire"
Paired with his "The Quiet American," this smart movie about South Africa has made Phillip Noyce today's top director of political thrillers in my book (rivaled only by perhaps Fernando Meirelles.) Led by a searing performance from Derek Luke, it manages to be both a meditation on what drives men to commit acts of terrorism while never forgetting it's also supposed to be an entertaining flick.

"Little Miss Sunshine"
Call this one the people's champ, and I'm happy to join the crowd. I was sure the word of mouth had to be exaggerated on this one, and before the last 15 minutes or so, I still thought so. It redeems itself from being a fairly standard flick about a dysfunctional family with an ending that was like nothing else I saw this year. It's pure schmaltz that goes straight to your heart, and I'm not ashamed to admit that young Abigail Breslin melted mine.

"Dave Chappelle's Block Party"
Count this as the most fun I had at the movies in 2006. From the outset, you get a laid-back Dave who's clearly having fun after freeing himself from Comedy Central (though I'm still waiting for a satisfying answer as to why.) He's as funny as he's ever been, and the music is just superb (except for that pesky Kanye West, who just won't be denied.) The big finale is a reunion of the Fugees, and it doesn't disappoint, but Dead Prez delivered my favorite performance.

"Thank You for Smoking"
I was sure the art of political satire was dead before seeing this smart comedy debut from director Jason Reitman. Count Aaron Eckhart as my dark horse favorite for a Best Actor nomination, if the Academy isn't afraid to recognize a comedic performance. And watch out for Reitman's next flick, "Juno," based on a script by Minneapolis City Pages blogger Diablo Cody and starring the fantastic Ellen Page.

"Akeelah and the Bee"
Is it OK to love a movie financed by Starbucks? Well, I don't drink their coffee, so I guess I can do so with a clean conscience. Besides, what's not to like about a movie with this much heart and endearing performances from Laurence Fishburne and even more so young Keke Palmer? Like political satire, I thought the smart family film was a dead animal, but this one proved me wrong.

"The Departed"
Once he clears that unnecessary Rolling Stones doco from his plate, I really think we're about to see the golden age of Marty Scorsese, starting with this thoroughly satisfying mob movie. Will it finally bring him his Best Picture Oscar? Probably not. It's just too entertaining to be taken seriously by the Academy, though it will surely garner a lot of nominations. Leo DiCaprio manages to stand out in the most star-studded movie of the year, and even if you've seen the source material "Infernal Affairs," this one will still keep you riveted until the finish.

"Wordplay"
Though it's apparently not serious enough to get Oscar love, this documentary from director Patrick Creadon is an entirely charming look at the more-than-somewhat creepy subculture of crossword puzzle addicts. Creadon always treats his subjects with respect, no matter how truly geeky they may be, and the National Crossword Competition that wraps it up is a spirited and suspenseful contest.

"Dreamgirls"
These last two are only last because they're the most recent I've seen, not because they aren't worthy selections. I'm so glad I went to see this on opening day, with a packed house cheering every minute of the arrival of Jennifer Hudson, an Oscar lock for her breakthrough performance as Effie White. Bill Condon's musical manages to pulse with life as it takes on the daunting task of encapsulating the rise and fall of Motown.

"Children of Men"
Perhaps there is hope for "Pan's Labyrinth" after all, since Del Toro's compadre Alfonso Cuaron has managed to worm his way onto one screen in my little corner of the world this week with "Children of Men." That's kinda surprising, because it's a fairly challenging movie. It's also tremendously entertaining science fiction with a solid performance from Clive Owen, and easily one of my favorite flicks of 2006.

So, there you have it. Anything I missed? Please feel free to let me know, and have a great day.

P.S. If you're interested, here are the 24 other flicks that were in the runnning for this list: Match Point, Tsotsi, Madea's Family Reunion, V for Vendetta, Slither, Hard Candy, United 93, An Inconvenient Truth, Nacho Libre, Clerks II, World Trade Center, Snakes on a Plane, Beerfest, Invincible, Jet Li's Fearless, The Last King of Scotland, The Queen, The Prestige, Borat, Volver, Stranger than Fiction, Casino Royale, Rocky Balboa and Night at the Museum. When they're available, I'd say they're all well worth a rental. Peace out.