Top 10 Movies I've seen in 2006
Since I joined one of those online movie rental clubs back in April 06, I've been able to catch up on some movies that I've long wanted to see but had trouble finding in most brick and mortar rental stores. Now approaching 100 movies viewed since joining (yes, that's one movie every three days, for those of you trying to do quick math), I thought it would be fun to share my favorite top 10 from 2006... as difficult as it was to narrow down. So here they are, in no particular order:
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Kubrick = pure genius. Stunning visuals (was this really 1968??) and perfect music selections. Goosebump-inducing final sequence, which left me pondering the meaning of it all for days. "Open the pod bay doors, HAL."
2. The Third Man (1949) Film-noir at it's finest. Perfect look, feel, mood. Orson Welles, fiendishly charismatic. And of course, the cuckoo clock speech.
3. Chinatown (1974) Polanski + Nicholson = Noir. Historically fascinating look at corruption in 1930s Los Angeles. "She's my sister AND my daughter!" Yikes.
4. Wandafuru raifu (1998) Japanese for "After Life" Tagline: What is the one memory you would take with you?
5. Sunset Blvd. (1950) Classic, classic, classic. And what is it with me and Film Noir?? Biting look at the underbelly of superficially glamorous Hollywood, marvelously captured by Gloria Swanson. "Oh wake up, Norma. You'd be killing yourself to an empty house. The audience left twenty years ago."
6. Oldboy (2003) Wow. Revenge tale at it's most vicious. I will say no more.
7. Lolita (1962) Tale of obsession and youth. Shelly Winters at her most annoyingly fabulous. I can't get the catchy music out of my head. Favorite part: Peter Sellers as the beat-nik sleeze Clare Quilty....what a hoot!
8. Dr Strangelove... (1964) Speaking of Peter Sellers as a hoot.... Quite easily the funniest movie I have ever seen. "Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."
9. Night of the Hunter (1955) Jeesh, more Film-Noir. Robert Mitchum is one of the best "bad-guys" ever..absolutely chilling. "Leeeeeeeeeanin"
10. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) And more noir! Always fun watching a completely crazed Bette Davis. This time she's an aging, jealous, former child-star "taking care" of her wheelchair-bound more talented sister (Joan Crawford). Now considered "campy," but shocking for it's day. Be sure to read up on the alleged real-life feud to highten the entertainment value. "You mean all this time we could have been friends?"
Summary:
Kubrick and Noir. Yep, that about sums it up.