Zoë's recap of 2006
2006 was an interesting year for movies. When I was going through my favorites I came up with one of the weirdest lists I have ever had. In no particular order, these are Zoë's picks for the best movies of 2006:
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: After watching this fun, irreverent volatile movie All I could think was that I wanted to have dinner with Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. and see if they were really as much fun in real life as they are in this movie.
The Descent: This may be the scariest movie I have ever seen. It has 6 strong powerful women that are warriors in the darkness and they give a new meaning to grrrl-power.
Walk the Line: Reese Witherspoon IS June Carter-Cash. (like Toby Jones is Truman Capote in Infamous and not Phillip Seymor-Hoffman portraying Capote.) And the music is wonderful.
Feast: This Project Green Light Horror movie got terrible reviews, but I loved the way it made fun of the genre. And I liked how each character was introduced.
Duck Season: A teeny Tiny Spanish movie that takes place over the course of a Sunday afternoon in an apartment, where 3 teens and a tardy pizza delivery man spend a few of the sweetest funniest hours, is a gem that too many people missed.
Thank You For Smoking: Big names, big ideas, big Fun! The "Merchants of Death" (Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire Arms) have lunch at tavern and discuss the lobbying they do for their various Big Bad Guys. It is sharp and funny and pokes fun at all the right people.
Everything Is Illuminated: This is a movie I had no desire to see. I read the back of the box and thought, "No thanks". I still don't know why I watched it. I am very glad I did. It is a beautifully shot, visually lush story of an uptight fish out of water in a very wacky, loveable pond.
Lucky Number Sleven: Revenge and double crosses abound in this violent and whip smart movie. And I have two words for you, "Lucy Liu"!!! She is amazing in this heavily testosteroned action flick.
Pride and Prejudice: Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen (MI-5) are wonderful in this distilled version of the Jane Austen Classic. It is like all the emotion has been brought up to the surface. It will never be better than the Colin Firth one, but it is lovely and the cinematograohy is wild and beautiful.
Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom and Charm School: This overlooked dramedy is really two stories, one is a moving tale told by John Goodman in an amazing turn, the other is about a group of men who find their feet in an unexpected way. Please rent this lovely little movie.