The Year in Review- 2013

   It was the year slavery became too real and DiCaprio's life was surreal. Christian Bale hustled, Mathew McConaughey did some acting and Tom Hanks was the captain. Sandra Bullock was lost in space, Robert Redford was lost at sea and Linklater let us see Jesse and Celine one last time. Here are the ten best films in order for 2013.

1. "12 Years a Slave"(2013)
I've always said that if a movie doesn't entertain me in the traditional sense, than it had better be teaching me something I didn't already know. I'd better feel like a better person for having watched it. Director Steve McQueen's momentous drama does just that. Of course, I KNEW about slavery, but all of the pain, all of the horror and all of the tragic injustice of this dark chapter in human history is conveyed in starkly realistic terms that invites comparisons to "Schindler's List". Chiwetel Ejiofor is excellent as our eloquent protagonist Solomon Northup, while Michael Fassbender and Best Supporting Actress winner Lupita Nyong'o offer searing characterizations that stay with viewers long after the end credits. This extraordinary film may be the most towering cinematic work of the 2010s. This is mandatory viewing.

2. "The Wolf of Wall Street"(2013)
The energy and electricity coursing through all three hours of Martin Scorsese's insanely entertaining epic had me thinking that the fabled director was back on coke(he wasn't). His subject, immoral 1990s stockbroker Jordan Belfort was, however, and DiCaprio's dynamite turn firmly places him at the forefront of early 21st Century screen talent. This is Leo's "Scarface", and his office speeches(and Quaalude-fueled car ride) are already the stuff of legend. Jonah Hill is a depraved delight as his deranged right-hand man, while the ravishing Margot Robbie makes an instant impression as the ultimate trophy wife. "Wolf" is the "Goodfellas" of white-collar crime, and there's simply no greater compliment than that.

3. "American Hustle"(2013)
Speaking of Scorsese, "Silver Linings Playbook" director David O. Russell was surely channeling the master when he started work on this stylish, star-studded true crime caper. Christian Bale heads up a hearty ensemble as a brazen '70s con man caught between the FBI and the New Jersey mob in an elaborate sting operation. Amy Adams was never better(or hotter) as his amorous accomplice, and Russell regulars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are robust and colorful in supporting roles. The aforementioned quartet are SO good that we need to be reminded of Jeremy Renner's presence, while Robert De Niro turns back the clock in a crackling extended cameo. "Hustle" received ten Oscar nominations, and won none. That doesn't change the fact that's it's easily one of the year's best films.

4. "Dallas Buyers Club"(2013)
Matthew McConaughey erased his lost decade of loathsome rom-coms with a Best Actor Oscar win as a 1980s Texas playboy battling the AIDS virus in this absorbing fact-based indie drama. Ron Woodroof became an unlikely activist while smuggling unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into his home state, and this is nothing less than an acting rebirth for it's sensational star(he dropped fifty pounds for the role of his life). Jared Leto experienced a similar artistic reawakening as his transgender sidekick, picking up the Best Supporting Actor statue en route to becoming the actor he should have always been. Director Jean Marc-Vallee infuses this moving true story with compassion, hope, and sensitivity.

5. "Gravity"(2013)
The finest FX movie of the year came from an unexpected source. The film industry has been especially enamored with outer space in recent years, and adventurous viewers willing to go into orbit have been the beneficiaries. Alfonso Cuaron created one of the most tense, thrilling cinematic space voyages on record, no small feat in a world where "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13" already exist. Sandra Bullock may have bettered her work in "The Blind Side" as our astronaut heroine, while George Clooney suits up in zero gravity to insure maximum critical acclaim. In addition to three Academy Award wins(Cuaron collected Best Director), "Gravity" was also a big fall box office hit.

6. "Captain Philips"(2013)
Tom Hanks reminds us why he's in the 'greatest actor ever' debate in this gripping true story, skillfully rendered by "Bourne" director Paul Greengrass. Somalian pirates hijacked an American container ship for three days in April 2009, the first such incident to take place in this country in nearly 200 years. Captain Richard Philips kept his crew safe until the Navy came to the rescue(according to Hollywood, anyway), and Hanks should have seen his sixth nomination for making me believe that's exactly how it all went down. The scary Barkhad Abdi deserves some of the praise("I'm the captain".). I'm staying on dry land.

7. "All Is Lost"(2013)
Robert Redford made his film debut in 1960. That's called longevity, folks. The Sundance Kid has remarkably managed to stay relevant, critically AND commercially, through fifty years and ten Presidents, and his largely wordless portrayal of an aging, anonymous septuagenarian stranded at sea was one of the year's most pleasant surprises. Director J.C. Chandor works wonders with one man and one(admittedly vast) location. Redford commands the screen in a classy epilogue to his storied cinematic career. All is NOT lost for this 76 year old icon, "Lost" just may be his best performance.

8. "Before Midnight"(2013)
The greatest trilogy that never gets talked about doesn't have any explosions, gunfights or car chases. There aren't any superheroes or supervillains or shared universes. Richard Linklater's "Before" series has something much more exciting- the most honest(and well-earned) coupling in film history. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy's verbose lovebirds are now middle-aged and married and experiencing serious doubts about their future together. Will their eighteen-year romantic odyssey end on the Greek peninsula? "Midnight" is another thoroughly engaging dissection of modern relationships that richly rewards those lucky viewers that have stuck with this talented trio since 1995. I'd love to see(and hear) from them again in 2022.

9. "Blue Jasmine"(2013)
Woody Allen has a habit of enhancing the career of every actress that appears in one of his annual productions, and Cate Blanchett is certainly no exception. A topical plot finds her rich NYC socialite forced to accept a much simpler existence after falling on hard times, and the Best Actress Oscar went to it's rightful owner as Blanchett humorously navigates her new surroundings. Alec Baldwin(as her duplicitous hubby) heads up an ace supporting cast that includes Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew 'Dice' Clay(?). I wish Woody could write for every woman in Hollywood for another forty years.

10. "Fruitvale Station"(2013)
Ryan Cooglar announced his arrival as one of the best young directing talents of the decade in this film festival favorite. Oscar Grant III(Michael B. Jordan) was an Oakland, California resident that was shot and killed by an overzealous police officer at a train station on New Year's Day in 2009. The ensuing controversy called national attention to police brutality and race relations, two issues that haven't quieted one iota in the years since. Rather than make an overt political statement, Cooglar's heartbreaking reenactment focuses on the human toll, with an intimate story of a 22 year old man that lost his life way too soon.

Honorable Mentions- "Oz the Great and Powerful"(2013) Sam Raimi updates the 1939 classic. "42"(2013) Chadwick Boseman in the Jackie Robinson story. "The Call"(2013) Halle Berry bounces back in this old-fashioned thriller. "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone"(2013) Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey as rival magicians. "To the Wonder"(2013) Ben Affleck in Terrence Malick land. "Oblivion"(2013) Tom Cruise in 2077. "Iron Man 3"(2013) Robert Downey Jr. makes another $1 billion for Marvel.

"Mud"(2013) Mathew McConaughey is an escaped con. "Behind the Candelabra"(2013) Michael Douglas does Liberace for HBO and Steve Soderbergh. "The Great Gatsby"(2013) Leonardo DiCaprio plays the mysterious 1920s millionaire for Baz Luhrmann. "Fast & Furious 6"(2013) This franchise has a limitless fuel supply. "This Is the End"(2013) Seth Rogen and James Franco host the apocalypse. "Star Trek Into Darkness"(2013) J.J. Abrams is a geek god. "World War Z"(2013) Brad Pitt fights zombies. "Man of Steel"(2013) Superman returns. "Monsters University"(2013) Pixar gives Mike and Sully a prequel. "The Bling Ring"(2013) Sophia Coppola stages a high school crime spree. "The Lone Ranger"(2013) Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski reunite for this would-be blockbuster. "Despicable Me 2"(2013) Illumination Animation makes $368 million in the U.S. "The Conjuring"(2013) James Wan jumpstarts a horror franchise. "The Wolverine"(2013) Hugh Jackman in Japan. "The Smurfs 2"(2013) This summer sequel was totally harmless. "Jobs"(2013) Ashton Kutcher as the Apple computer genius. "Under the Skin"(2013) Scarlett Johansson is a man-eating otherworldly being. "Rush"(2013) Chris Hemsworth and Ron Howard were off to the races.

"The Butler"(2013) Forest Whitaker takes care of the White House. "Don Jon"(2013) Joseph Gordon-Levitt chooses porn over Scarlet Johansson. "Carrie"(2013) Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore remake the '76 horror classic. "Prisoners"(2013) Denis Villeneuve made an impressive U.S. film debut with this dark thriller. "Enough Said"(2013) TV titans Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini get it on. "Parkland"(2013) is where JFK was pronounced dead. "Thor: The Dark World"(2013) Chris Hemsworth and his hammer are back. "Frozen"(2013) This Pixar princess was a license to print money. "Nebraska"(2013) Alexander Payne's black-and-white dramady. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"(2013) The best installment of the Jennifer Lawrence-led franchise. "Out of the Furnace"(2013) Christian Bale and Casey Affleck are convict brothers. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"(2013) The middle part of Peter Jackson's second trifecta. "Her"(2013) Joaquin Phoenix is lonely. "August: Osage County"(2013) Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts both shine in this family drama. "Nymphomaniac: Volume I"(2013) Lars Von Trier tries to turn female promiscuity into an art form. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"(2013) Ben Stiller directs himself day-dreaming. "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues"(2013) Ron Burgundy's belated encore. "Lone Survivor"(2013) Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg prove a potent pair.

The Year in Review- 2010

   It was the year my Facebook friend outnumbered by actual friends while Woody and Buzz became my best friends. Colin Firth could hardly speak, Natalie Portman peaked, and Christian Bale became a pipsqueak. Jeff Bridges got back with the Coen brothers, Ben Affleck robbed banks, and Ryan Gosling joined the top ranks. Here are the ten best films in order for 2010.

1. "The Social Network"(2010)
Welcome to the 2010s where you can have 5,000 'friends' that you hardly know and fewer real ones than in any previous generation. The rise of Facebook founder and future multibillionaire Mark Zuckerberg was certainly deserving of first-class treatment from one of our most acclaimed filmmakers, and David Fincher delivered one of the decade's first great films. I accepted the friend requests of Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, and this talented trio is aided by an Oscar-winning Aaron Sorkin screenplay as they launched a cyber revolution. "Network" is timely and terrific(I reluctantly joined the FB bandwagon after it's release), and is sure to get better with age. Of course, it didn't win Best Picture(more on that in a minute).

2. "Toy Story 3"(2010)
My personal favorite film of the year and I know I'm not alone. A(then)record-breaking billion dollar worldwide gross, 99% on RT(FIND me the ONE guy that didn't like it!) and the Best Animated Feature Oscar tells the story. I was skeptical of Pixar's ability to replicate the magic more than ten years after the equally joyous "TS2", and never more delighted to find that my doubts were completely unfounded. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen lead the charge as the toys plan their escape from the prison-like Sunnyside daycare center and prepare for life after Andy(now a college-bound teenager). We laughed at Michael Keaton's Ken doll and cried at the sight of that incinerator, tempting me to call this Pixar's peak(sorry, "Frozen" fans). Until a fourth film arrives(perhaps an inevitability), "Toy Story" has to be considered one of the greatest trilogies of all time.

3. "The King's Speech"(2010)
Colin Firth received major plaudits for stepping out of the 'Brit Pack' to play the stammering King George VI in this stately, handsomely-mounted fact-based historical drama. Director Tom Hooper focuses on the relationship between 'Bertie' and his Australian speech therapist(a typically terrific Geoffrey Rush), while Helena Bonham Carter(taking a break from Burton) was never better as the young 1930s version of Queen Elizabeth. "Speech" took the top prize at the Academy Awards, and seems destined for a "Dances with Wolves"-style backlash for being the safest choice. Online "Inception" fans can shut their mouths. This is a very good movie, and I'm not stuttering.

4. "Black Swan"(2010)
Director Darren Aronofsky followed up his masterwork "The Wrestler" with another haunting exploration of a highly-guarded profession, the ultra-competitive world of NYC ballet dancing. Natalie Portman picked up the Best Actress Oscar for her beautifully-bruised ballerina, a performance she'll probably never better. The physical and mental abuse is eye-opening, as she strains to stay one step ahead of her sexy younger rival Mila Kunis and avoid the fate of her older, damaged predecessor(a welcome Winona Ryder). The hallucinatory third act teeters over-the-top, but this is a tense, skillfully-rendered look inside a fragile mind and the dark side of obsessive ambition.

5. "The Fighter"(2010)
The sweet science has unquestionably served as the backdrop for more quality cinema than any other sport. Mark Wahlberg nursed this tale of tenacious welterweight champ Mickey Ward for five years, ultimately turning to his "Three Kings" director David O. Russell to enter the hallowed hall of superior fight flicks. Christian Bale took a break from Batman to bag the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in a show-stealing turn as Ward's wayward brother "Dicky" Eklund. Behind these men are two great women, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, both nominated for Best Supporting Actress(the latter won). Wahlberg rises to the occasion with the right crew in his corner- pardon the cliché, but this time he scored a knockout.

6. "True Grit"(2010)
A grizzled Jeff Bridges proved a more than suitable replacement for the legendary John Wayne in this highly respectable remake of the 1969 Western of the same name. The Coen brothers were behind the camera directing The Dude as he hunts a band of killers that include Barry Pepper and Josh Brolin. Matt Damon always seems to saddle up with good material, and his role as Rooster Cogburn's backup is no exception. Lush cinematography enhances this classy cat-and-mouse game which calls back to the genre's heyday with a 21st Century sheen to sit comfortably among the Coen bros' best work.

7. "The Town"(2010)
Ben Affleck officially got out of movie jail in this Boston bank robbery barnburner that got the decade off to a sizzling start and marked him as a(dare I say) Eastwood-caliber actor-director("Argo" was 2012's Best Picture). Charlestown is the armed robbery capital of the world according to Affleck, and a ripe setting for blue collar crime that compares favorably to Michael Mann's masterpiece "Heat". Ben can boast of a similarly solid cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, Blake Lively, John Hamm, Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper. In his sophomore outing, Affleck displays the skill and confidence of a veteran filmmaker, which I fully expect him to become as Warner Bros. appears to be banking big-time on Boston's favorite son.

8. "The Kids Are Alright"(2010)
Annette Bening(is she the most underrated actress ever?) and Julianne Moore are totally believable as a longtime lesbian couple whose marriage is tested by Mark Ruffalo's randy sperm donor in this indie gem that the masses predictably paid little attention to. Director Lisa Cholodenko's script(which she co-wrote) is semi-autobiographical, and the rewarding results were shot in less than a month for $4 million en route to becoming a Sundance darling. "Kids" is more than alright, it's an exemplary example of social progress that wryly reflected a rapid acceptance of 'unconventional' families.

9. "Blue Valentine"(2010)
While we're on the subject of indie triumphs, I give you Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams in an achingly realistic romance from a director(Derek Cianfrance) that gave up his salary so he could shoot these loser-lovebirds on the streets of Brooklyn for $1 million("Iron Man 2" cost $200 million, folks). Williams is one of the finest actresses under age forty, and Gosling might as well have been courting me with that ukulele, because I previously couldn't pin down his appeal and now consider myself a fan. You may or may not be rooting for the brewing breakup of this pitiful pair. This ain't "The Notebook".

10. "127 Hours"(2010)
James Franco(briefly) had the world convinced that he was one of the industry's best young actors in this gripping account of a carefree mountain climber's harrowing five-day ordeal in the isolated Blue John Canyon of southeastern Utah. Aron Ralston amputated his right arm with a dull two-inch knife after it was pinned under an 800-pound boulder on a lone hike in April 2003. An inspiring story of hope and survival under extreme duress, "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle took an 'un-filmable' near-tragedy and turned it into an urgent one-man show. I'm still waiting for Franco to find another faraway incline to fall into.

Honorable Mentions- "The Book of Eli"(2010) Denzel Washington in a war-torn wasteland. "Shutter Island"(2010) The fourth Leonardo DiCaprio-Martin Scorsese movie is set in an insane asylum. "The Wolfman"(2010) Rick Baker's Oscar-winning make-up enhances this Joe Johnston remake. "Alice in Wonderland"(2010) Tim Burton and Johnny Depp generate $1 billion. "How to Train Your Dragon"(2010) DreamWorks has all your kids trained. "You Don't Know Jack"(2010) Al Pacino as Dr. Death. "Frankie & Alice"(2010) Halle Berry as a harried stripper with split personalities.

"Iron Man 2"(2010) Robert Downey Jr. is Marvel's front-man. "Robin Hood"(2010) Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott reunite in Nottingham. "Solitary Man"(2010) Michael Douglas makes the most of this little-seen indie. "Winter's Bone"(2010) Jennifer Lawrence comes to our attention. "Inception"(2010) Chris Nolan's mind-bender is loved by many. "Charlie St. Cloud"(2010) I'm being charitable to Zac Efron. "Shrek Forever After"(2010) The fourth and final(?) outing for Mike Myers' green goliath. "Get Him to the Greek"(2010) Jonah Hill babysits Russell Brandt. "Predators"(2010) Adrien Brody battles those iconic alien beasts. "The Karate Kid"(2010) The Jackie Chan-Jaden Smith version. "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"(2010) The third go-around for Edward, Jacob, and Bella. "Despicable Me"(2010) Meet the Mineons.

"Eat Pray Love"(2010) Julia Roberts on a spiritual journey. "Red"(2010) Bruce Willis as an ex-CIA bad-ass. "Super"(2010) James Gunn made a singular directorial debut with this superhero spoof. "Easy A"(2010) Emma Stone is a star. "Fair Game"(2010) Naomi Watts and Sean Penn expose the Bush administration. "Secretariat"(2010) Diane Lane and the legendary 1970s racehorse. "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger"(2010) Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, and Josh Brolin meet Woody Allen. "Inside Man"(2010) Men in suits screwed us all. "The Conspirator"(2010) Robert Redford looks into the Lincoln assassination. "The Switch"(2010) Jason Bateman loves Jennifer Aniston. He can join the club. "Unstoppable"(2010) Denzel Washington on a runaway train in Tony Scott's swan song. "Hereafter"(2010) Clint Eastwood explores the afterlife with Matt Damon. "Rabbit Hole"(2010) Nicole Kidman does some acting. "Love & Other Drugs"(2010) Jake Gyllenhaal hooks up with Anne Hathaway. "Morning Glory"(2010) Rachel McAdams turns Harrison Ford's frown upside down. "How Do You Know"(2010) Reese Witherspoon is torn between Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd in James L. Brooks'(and Jack Nicholson's) final feature. "The Company Men"(2010) Ben Affleck and Tommy Lee Jones need new jobs.

The Year in Review- 2006

   It was the year Scorsese was invited onstage at the Academy Awards and 9/11 was given a sobering reenactment on the silver screen. Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker got gold statues for two VERY different depictions of royalty, while a yellow Volkswagen vroomed into our hearts. Daniel Craig debuted as 007, Pixar was off to the races, and Eastwood tackled WWII(twice). Here are the ten best films in order for 2006.

1. "The Departed"(2006)
Martin Scorsese had never won an Oscar before 2007. If that doesn't grind your gears a little, you're reading the wrong blog. The Academy finally righted one of it's biggest wrongs in recognizing this crime-filled cuisine, cooked up by the genre's undisputed king. His explosive ensemble and Thelma Schoonmaker's masterful editing makes revisiting this film an enduring treat. Jack Nicholson fully lives up to his stellar reputation as a much-feared Irish mob boss loosely based on Whitey Bulger, while Leonardo DiCaprio gives another livewire performance as an undercover cop deeply embedded in the Boston underworld. Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg furthered their credentials as rival members of law enforcement, rounding out an amazing cast of veterans(Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin)and relative newcomers(Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga). Two hours and 30 minutes rarely go by this intensely or frenetically. Fueled by William Monahan's savory script, this is easily one of the most entertaining Best Picture winners of the 21st Century.

2. "United 93"(2006)
It was only a matter of time before Hollywood depicted the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Fortunately, one of the first directors to do so was Paul Greengrass(taking a break from Bourne), and his film is about as un-Hollywood as it gets. There's nary a name actor in sight for this devastating recreation of that terrible Tuesday morning that left the entire world in mourning. The bravery of the passengers of the only hijacked plane that DIDN'T reach it's destructive destination is heartbreakingly recounted in the most authentic manner possible. This isn't an easy hour and 51 minutes, but 'We Will Never Forget' should be more than just a trite phrase on your facebook page.

3. "The Queen"(2006)
Who says there are no good roles for women over a certain age? Helen Mirren was hardly an overnight sensation. She worked steadily for decades without her talent ever translating to widespread recognition or success. That all changed with her commanding, Best Actress-grabbing role as Queen Elizabeth II. It turns out that she didn't have a lot of love for former daughter-in-law Diana, and UK commoners almost completely turned on the Royal Family over her chilly response when the People's Princess perished in a 1997 car crash. This backlash at Buckingham Palace was met with universal critical acclaim as director Stephen Frears finally delivered another film worthy of standing alongside his sizzling U.S. breakthrough "Dangerous Liasons".

4. "Little Miss Sunshine"(2006)
This indie smash was the year's most pleasant surprise, a hysterically quirky comedic gem with sharply drawn characters and a screenplay to match. Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Tony Collette, Abigail Breslin, Paul Dano and Alan Arkin bring all sorts of delightful dysfunction in an antiquated yellow Volkswagen on an 800 mile trek to a California child beauty pageant(perfect parody material). "Sunshine" garnered enough festival circuit support to land four Academy Award nominations including a dark-horse Best Picture nod(Arkin took home Best Supporting Actor) and is one of the best comedies of the decade, the kind that needs to be cherished in the era of Adam Sandler.

5. "Casino Royale"(2006)
James Bond is, without question, the most enduring character in film history. He's seen his share of ups and downs as other heroes occasionally stole his thunder and the public's imagination, but Ian Fleming's suave superspy will never die and seems impervious to changing times and trends. The general consensus is that Daniel Craig is the best iteration of 007 since the glory days of Sean Connery. Pierce Brosnan still hasn't gotten over the prolonged love-fest for the hardest man to ever order a martini(he doesn't give a damn if it's shaken or stirred). Roger Moore admitted defeat within the first 30 minutes. Was that some sharp dialogue I heard with brainy brunette beauty Eva Green before and after the longest poker game of all time? Bond was back(not that he ever left) with enough balls and brawn to keep Ethan Hunt and Jason Bourne at bay and insure this series' survival for another four decades.

6. "The Last King of Scotland"(2006)
A ferocious Forest Whitaker puts his tendency to overact to scary good use as erratic Ugandan leader Idi Amin whose 1970s regime is said to have been responsible for 300,000 deaths. That staggering figure includes one of his wives(Kerry Washington) whom he suspected of being unfaithful. If anyone deserves to be demonized in early 21st Century cinema, it's this guy. The story involves James McAvoy's naïve Scottish doctor and his unlikely relationship with Amin while working in the turbulent country. Whitaker won the Best Actor Oscar for this compelling if slightly fictionalized account of one of the history books' lesser known bogeymen.

7. "Cars"(2006)
Lightning McQueen seems like the red-headed stepchild of the Pixar portfolio(his 2011 sequel usually brings up the rear when the studio's features are ranked). There's no such thing as a bad Pixar movie, some are just better than others, and the reported $10 BILLION that "Cars" generated in merchandise sales(take that, Shrek) more than made up for the Oscar snub. Kids don't care about that stuff anyway, and neither do most adults, especially when there's so many anthropomorphic cars cracking wise. Owen Wilson leads an appreciable voice cast that includes Bonnie Hunt, Michael Keaton, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub and Paul Newman(his '51 Hudson Hornet was a fitting final role).

8(tie). "Flags Of Our Fathers", "Letters From Iwo Jima"(2006)
The incomparable Clint Eastwood clearly wasn't lacking in energy or inspiration despite his recent, emotionally-grueling directorial triumphs("Mystic River", Million Dollar Baby") when he journeyed behind the lens for TWO separate WWII dramas. Talk about putting other 76 year olds to shame. Eastwood's depiction of heavy combat made Spielberg proud(he served as an executive producer) as "Flags" follows the three surviving soldiers(Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach) immortalized in that famous 1945 photograph, struggling with unwanted postwar fame. Ken Watanabe starred in it's slightly more acclaimed companion piece, shot almost entirely in Japanese to offer a sensitive look at the other side of the conflict.

9. "The Pursuit of Happyness"(2006)
It's hard to believe there was a time when moviegoers didn't mind the idea of Will Smith sharing the screen with his son Jaden. In fact, we actually liked it. I admit to having a love/hate relationship with Smith as an actor because he only occasionally halts his aggressively commercial quests to do some ACTUAL acting, but his affecting turn as homeless salesman Chris Gardner rivaled a returning Rocky Balboa in the uplifting holiday feel-good department. Gardner goes from the streets of San Francisco in 1981 to forming his own multimillion-dollar brokerage firm in this fact-based tale. When a teary-eyed Smith crosses the finish line and wins over those old, white stuffed shirts, you may have a salty discharge of your own to deal with.

10. "Superman Returns"(2006)
Poor Brandon Routh. He was denied an encore by unimpressed WB execs despite his version of the Last Son of Krypton raking in roughly the same amount of money as "Batman Begins" the previous year. The superhero stakes have never been higher, and we may come to respect Bryan Singer's subdued approach once the dust settles on DC's dollar-driven attempts to upend the MCU. The "X-Men" director may not have known when to reign in his reverence for Chris Reeve and Richard Donner, but let's not pretend that 2013's "Man of Steel" was a vastly superior effort. "SR" makes up for with heart what it lacks in blockbuster bombast, while Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor and a show-stopping plane rescue should meet the approval of all comic book geeks. This is one hero that got grounded too quickly.

Honorable Mentions- "Inside Man"(2006) Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster in a Spike Lee joint that doesn't feel like one. "Find Me Guilty"(2006) Vin Diesel's best movie? "Alpha Dog"(2006) This well-acted indie drama tells the sordid tale of Jesse James Hollywood. "Friends with Money"(2006) Female problems with Jennifer Aniston and Frances McDormand. "Thank You for Smoking"(2006) Jason Reitman's directorial debut. "Ice Age: The Meltdown"(2006) Manny, Sid, Diego(and Scrat) get a sequel. "American Dreamz"(2006) Dennis Quaid, Hugh Grant, and Mandy Moore take comic aim at talent shows and the Bush administration. "Hard Candy"(2006) Ellen Page vs. Patrick Wilson in a perverse indie. "Mission Impossible III"(2006) Tom Cruise enlisted J.J. Abrams(making his film directorial debut) for Ethan Hunt's third outing. "The Da Vinci Code"(2006) Tom Hanks and Ron Howard reunited to bring Dan Brown's literary sensation to the big screen. "The Devil Wears Prada"(2006) Meryl Streep shines as Anne Hathaway's casually-cruel boss. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"(2006) Captain Jack = huge box office in the biggest hit of the summer. "The Illusionist"(2006) Edward Norton is a magician in 1889 Vienna. "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"(2006) Adam McKay and Will Ferrell were off to the races.

"World Trade Center"(2006) Oliver Stone stages a tribute to 9/11 heroism. "Half Nelson"(2006) Ryan Gosling gets nominated. "The Guardian"(2006) Kevin Costner prepares Ashton Kutcher for the Coast Guard. "A Prarie Home Companion"(2006) Robert Altman's farewell features Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Woody Harrelson. "Marie Antoinette"(2006) Sophia Coppola's 1770s France-set epic won the Oscar for Best Costume Design. "The Last Kiss"(2006) Zach Braff comes to a crossroads as a torn, tempted twentysomething. "Hollywoodland"(2006) Ben Affleck begins his redemption as 1950s Superman George Reeves. "Bug"(2006) Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon freak out for William Friedkin. "Little Children"(2006) Kate Winslet and Jackie Earl Haley were both nominated for Todd Field's salacious slice of suburbia. "Children of Men"(2006) Clive Owen and Julianne Moore star in this cult Alfonso Cuaron flick. "The Prestige"(2006) Chris Nolan pits Christian Bale against Hugh Jackman as feuding 19th Century magicians. "Pan's Labyrinth"(2006) Guillermo Del Toro charmed critics with this oddball fantasy. "Happy Feet"(2006) George Miller's penguins win Best Animated Feature.

"Babel"(2006) Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett find misery in Morocco for director Alejandro G. Inarritu. "Borat"(2006) Sacha Baron Cohen's bumbling fictional foreigner caused quite a stir. "A Good Year"(2006) Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott reunite. "Fast Food Nation"(2006) There's shit in the meat. "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut"(2006) Many prefer it to the theatrical version. "Blood Diamond"(2006) Leo DiCaprio does a South African accent in Ed Zwick's Sierra Leone Civil War thriller. "Goya's Ghosts"(2006) Javier Bardem and Natalie Portman in 18th Century Spain. "The Holiday"(2006) Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz were both cute in this Nancy Meyers Christmas confection. "Apocalypto"(2006) Mel Gibson pulls no punches with his intense depiction of an ancient Mayan civilization. "Rocky Balboa"(2006) Sylvester Stallone stages an unlikely comeback in his legendary signature role. "Night at the Museum"(2006) Ben Stiller finds another franchise. "The Good Shepherd"(2006) Matt Damon solidifies his A-list position as an icy CIA cofounder in this De Niro-directed Oscar bait. "Dreamgirls"(2006) Jennifer Hudson won Best Supporting Actress for this star-studded musical. "Notes on a Scandal"(2006) Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett were both nominated. "We Are Marshall"(2006) Matthew McConaughey and 1970-71 college football. "Black Snake Moan"(2006) Sam Jackson and a chained-up Christina Ricci.