These put the "see" in Cinema

At the end of every year every self-important blogger who loves movies feels compelled to offer his or her Ten Best List. I am no different.

10.The Fountain

I have only a vague idea about what happened in this movie, but it was the most visually intoxicating 90 minutes of my life.

9. Pan’s Labyrinth

A warped fairy tale. The best children's movie that no child should see.

8. Half Nelson

Ryan Goslings performance is hands down the best one I’ve seen this year and makes the movie a must-see.

7. Borat

Everyone will remember Borat for how hard it made them laugh, but the true brilliance lied in how Sacha Baron Cohen held a much-needed microscope over America.

6. United 93

Cathartic cinema is often manipulative and over-the-top. Luckily there’s none of that here thanks to smart documentary-esque direction, true to life performances from unknown actors and a script that dared to show the rationale behind the terrorists’ actions.

5. The Descent

The scariest movie I saw all year. All I can say is thank god I don’t go cave climbing. Incidentally, it has the best poster of the year as well.

4. The Departed

Better mob politics than the Sopranos. Better undercover-agent-in-peril twists than Donnie Brasco. Better acting than Big Momma’s house…now that’s a true achievement.

3. Little Children

Kate Winslet could read a phone book and I would pay to see it, but it’s so much more rewarding when she not only chooses a character as deeply layered as Sarah but acts the shit out of it. And with the combination of last year’s Hard Candy and this movie, Patrick Wilson is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors.

2. Casino Royale

I know it sounds cliché, but Bond Is Back! For a movie that opens with its strongest sequence to be so thoroughly engaging the whole way through is tough, but for it to somehow make a game of poker the most suspenseful scene of the year is impressive to say the least.

1.Children of Men

I walked into the theater thinking that I knew exactly what to expect from Children of Men, after all the trailer seems to give away the entire plot from start to finish…but I couldn't have been more wrong. It’s remarkable to see a film that paints a bleak picture of the world’s future yet leaves you feeling hopeful that mankind can mend its wicked ways by the end. The performances are spot-on, the script is tight and twisty in all the right ways and the ride it takes you on is worth more than the $10 admission.


*******************The Worst*******************

Firewall

Is this what its come to Harrison? You’re Indiana freakin’ Jones, show a little respect.

The Da Vinci Code

I never read the book and always wondered what all the fuss was about. I thought to myself, damn, this book must be one of the most satisfying pieces of fiction ever written. It's not. You're all crazy. Stop talking about it. Thank You.

The Covenant

Ever wonder what would happen if Abercrombie & Fitch models became male witches? Then rent this movie…it’s preposterous.

The Wicker Man

The first movie I seriously considered walking out of in history--well, in the history of Jarett.

Black Christmas

For crying out loud Hollywood—how the hell do you screw up sorority girls being stalked and killed by a deranged Santa Claus/mental patient! Come on!


*******My other favorite things about the movies this year

* The proliferation of horror movies
* A bald Natalie Portman
* “The great state of Vermont will not apologize for its cheese!”
* Keri Russell in Mission Impossible III
* Drifting
* “It’s not called gym-nice-tics”
* Magicians
* The dialogue in Brick
* Finally seeing Casablanca
* Woody Harrelson in A Prairie Home Companion
* The boxing glove air cannon
* Pamela Anderson meets Borat
* Maggie Gyllenhaal in Stranger Than Fiction
* Cameron Diaz’s house in The Holiday
* The husky sled dogs in 8 Below
* The end dance in Little Miss Sunshine
* “You know what they say about blind prostitutes? ‘You really gotta hand it to them.’”

And finally the most quotable movie of the year:



Cal Naughton, Jr.: I like to think of Jesus as a mischievous badger.

Ricky Bobby: Well, Let me give you a saying from Colonel Sanders. I am too drunk to taste this chicken

Susan: Ricky Bobby is not a thinker! Ricky Bobby is a driver!

Carley Bobby: If we wanted us some wusses we would have named them Dr. Quinn and Medicine Woman.

Cal Naughton, Jr.:Shake and Bake!
Ricky Bobby: Did that blow your mind, because that just happened

Ricky Bobby: It's real nice, I got it at Target. It was on sale.

Ricky Bobby: Dear Lord baby Jesus, we thank you so much for this bountiful harvest of Dominos, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell. I just want to take time to say thank you for my family. My two sons, Walker, and Texas Ranger, or TR as we call him. And of course my red hot smokin' wife Carley, who is a stone cold fox.

Thank you and i apologize for the headline