The Best and Worst Films of 2006

United 93 was one of the best movies of the year.

Eric's Best Film:
For me, a movie is great when it causes an emotional reaction in me. United 93 affected me like no other film this year. Sure, you could argue that it was due to the subject matter, but I disagree. Pearl Harbor was about an attack on the United States as well, but Michael Bay over-directed it and blew all of the emotional impact away from the event. Paul Greengrass’s direction never gets in the way of the tension. In fact, by employing unknown actors we see all of the passengers as equals and fear for all of them. Through this unflinching film, we observe both the innocent passengers and the deluded terrorists wrestle with and face their doom. Never have I watched a film where I felt such empathy for the characters on screen.

Eric's Worst Film:
Deck the Halls is a mirthless, joyless holiday film that offers dull characters with ridiculous motives doing impossible things. Danny Devito should never play anything but a supporting role and Matthew Broderick needs to sit down in front of his television and watch the DVDs of his early films and try to discover where his charm went.

Scott's Best Film(s):
I know it's a cop out, but I don't think I can narrow my pick for best film down to just one. There were too many good movies out this year. Little Miss Sunshine made me laugh and feel good. The Queen was a tour-de-force of acting power by Helen Mirren, as was Notes on a Scandal for Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Pan's Labyrinth was dark and magical. In fact, quite a few of the movies I loved this year had a dark edge to them. Little Children, The Descent, Volver and Children of Men were all dark and all were excellent for very different reasons.

Scott's Worst Film:
Unlike my choices for best film, I have no problem picking my choice for worst film of the year. That would be Happy Feet. I hated this movie when I saw it and my opinion of it has only grown worse since then. Maybe it's because it keeps winning awards and will probably win the fucking Best Animated Academy Award. It takes a lot for a movie to actually make me angry, but the thought of this piece of celluloid garbage really does.

Patrick's Best Film:
History Boys is a well-written and acted screen adaptation of the play of the same name. It has one of the most interesting relationships in a movie this year. It is between the bisexual leader of the students and the new gay teacher. I love movies that come from plays. They have dialogue and extended scenes that call for the actors to sustain their characters for scenes longer than most Hollywood movies.

Patrick's Worst Film:
Eragon was a serious disappointment to me, and probably anyone that has read the book. So much is missing from Christopher Paolini’s vividly detailed novel. I had hoped for his great book to become a truly great movie, but it did not happen.