BEST OF 2006: PART 1

It's far easier to be objective when it comes to listing your "Best of..." in the various categories below. Tomorrow, when I rank all the films I've seen that were released in 2006, it will be a more subjective list. It is hard to compare films overall, and I've found myself switching and mixing various films on the ultimate list I will compile tomorrow. In fact, the list I have right now will probably be switched around by the time I actually publish it here.

Here's a list of 2006 films I missed but will be catching up on in the near future:


Blood Diamond, Curse of the Golden Flower, The Fountain, Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus, The Good German, The Good Shepherd, Inland Empire, Letters From Iwo Jima, Miss Potter, Pan's Labyrinth, Shortbus and Venus.

In the summer, I may compile a "Best of the Decade Thus Far" list in which I will make any alterations that any of these films would require on my part. Making lists is so arduous and superficial but I love doing it?

Anywho...

Best Art Direction of 2006:
1. Children of Men
2. Marie Antoinette
3. Silent Hill
4. Superman Returns
5. The Black Dahlia


Best Cinematography of 2006:
1. Children of Men
2. The Illusionist
3. Marie Antoinette
4. Miami Vice
5. The Black Dahlia


Best Costume Design of 2006:
1. Marie Antoinette
2. Dreamgirls
3. The Devil Wears Prada
4. Infamous
5. Hollywoodland


Best Film Editing of 2006:
1. The Departed
2. United 93
3. The Queen
4. The Descent
5. Children of Men


Best Film Score of 2006:
1. The Queen - Alexandre Desplat
2. The Illusionist - Phillip Glass
3. Notes on a Scandal - Phillip Glass
4. Charlotte's Web - Danny Elfman
5. The Painted Veil - Alexandra Desplat
(LOL!)


Best Makeup of 2006:
1. The Descent
2. The Hills Have Eyes
3. Marie Antoinette


Best Song From a Film of 2006:
1. "Goodbye to Mama" - A Prairie Home Companion
2. "The Neighbor" - Shut Up and Sing
3. "Ordinary Miracle" - Charlotte's Web
4. "Love You I Do" - Dreamgirls
5. "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)" - Snakes on a Plane


Best Sound Mixing of 2006:
1. Children of Men
2. The Descent
3. The Departed
4. United 93
5. V For Vendetta


Best Visual Effects of 2006:
1. Superman Returns
2. Children of Men
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men's Chest


Sexiest Performance - Actor:
Leonardo Dicaprio - The Departed


Sexiest Performance - Actress:
Gretchen Mol - The Notorious Bettie Page


Breakthrough Performance - Actor:
Sacha Baron Cohen - Borat


Breakthrough Performance - Actress:
Emily Blunt - The Devil Wears Prada


Debut Filmmaker:
Rian Johnson - Brick


Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy/Musical of 2006:
1. The Ensemble of "A Prairie Home Companion"
2. The Ensemble of "Little Miss Sunshine"
3. The Ensemble of "Friends With Money"
4. The Ensemble of "The Devil Wears Prada"
5. The Ensemble of "Stranger Than Fiction"


Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama of 2006:
1. The Ensemble of "The Departed"
2. The Ensemble of "United 93"
3. The Ensemble of "Little Children"
4. The Ensemble of "Volver"
5. The Ensemble of "The Descent"


Best Original Screenplay of 2006:
1. The Queen
2. Brick
3. Friends With Money
4. Stranger Than Fiction
5. Volver


Best Adapted Screenplay of 2006:
1. The Departed
2. A Prairie Home Companion
3. Notes on a Scandal
4. Little Children
5. Children of Men


Best Actress in a Supporting Role of 2006:
1. Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada" & "A Prairie Home Companion"
2. Frances McDormand in "Friends With Money"
3. Zoe Weizenbaum in "Twelve and Holding"
4. Emily Blunt in "The Devil Wears Prada"
5. Phyllis Sommerville in "Little Children"
6. Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel"
7. Natalie Mendoza in "The Descent"
8. Jill Clayburgh in "Running With Scissors"
9. Virginia Madsen in "A Prairie Home Companion"
10. Jodie Foster in "Inside Man"


Best Actor in a Supporting Role of 2006:
1. Jack Nicholson in "The Departed"
2. Michael Sheen in "The Queen"
3. Kevin Kline in "A Prairie Home Companion"
4. Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children"
5. Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls"
6. Noah Emmerich in "Little Children"
7. Stanley Tucci in "The Devil Wears Prada"
8. Michael Caine in "Children of Men"
9. Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed"
10. Steve Carell in "Little Miss Sunshine"


Best Actor in a Leading Role of 2006:
1. Leonardo Dicaprio in "The Departed"
2. Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson"
3. Matt Damon in "The Departed"
4. Sacha Baron Cohen in "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
5. Ray Winstone in "The Proposition"
6. Clive Owen in "Children of Men"
7. Garrison Keillor in "A Prairie Home Companion"
8. Aaron Eckhart in "Thank You For Smoking"
9. Toby Jones in "Infamous"
10. Daniel Craig in "Casino Royale"



Best Actress in a Leading Role of 2006:
1. Helen Mirren in "The Queen"
2. Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal"
3. Kirsten Dunst in "Marie Antoinette"
4. Gretchen Mol in "The Notorious Bettie Page"
5. Shareeka Epps in "Half Nelson"
6. Penelope Cruz in "Volver"
7. Jennifer Aniston in "Friends With Money"
8. Naomi Watts in "The Painted Veil
9. Annette Bening in "Running With Scissors"
10. Keke Palmer in "Akeelah and the Bee"


Best Film Directing of 2006:
1. Alfonso Cuaron for "Children of Men"
2. Martin Scorsese for "The Departed"
3. Neil Marshall for "The Descent"
4. Paul Greengrass for "United 93"
5. Sofia Coppola for "Marie Antoinette"
6. Robert Altman for "A Prairie Home Companion"
7. Stephen Frears for "The Queen"
8. Todd Field for "Little Children"
9. Bryan Singer for "Superman Returns"
10. John Hillcoat for "The Proposition"


10 BEST SCENES OF THE YEAR:
(alphabetically)
Children of Men: The war temporarily stops as Theo and Kee carry the crying baby through the crowd of soldiers.
The Departed: Dignam avenges Costigan's death as a rat appears in the background.
The Descent: Sarah emerges from the blood ready to fight.
Little Children: All the children rush out of the pool upon realizing a pedophile is going for a swim.
Little Miss Sunshine: Olive performs at the pageant.
Marie Antoinette: "I Want Candy."
A Prairie Home Companion: Rhonda and Yolanda sing "Goodbye to Mama."
The Queen: The Queen spots the stag after her rover breaks down.
United 93: The passengers storm the cockpit.
V For Vendetta: The 1812 Overture plays in front of masked crowds as the Houses of Parliament are destroyed.