When you see as many films I as do, the really great ones and the really bad ones tend to be the most memorable. However, that doesn't make compiling definitive lists any easier, particularly when it comes to assigning them places in the rankings. So after plenty of thought, here are my final picks for the best and the worst films of 2006. I've started with the worst ones, and the lists are in reverse order.


The Worst 10

First of all, I'd like to mention a few 'worthy' candidates who just missed out on being listed in this section. Three was going to be included, but that didn't seem fair since only 7 people saw it. Although interestingly, it is the film I get the most Google searches for; usually people looking for "Kelly Brook naked/nude". Pulse was also a possibility, as was Deck the Halls, but their badness didn't stick with me. And Barnyard just missed out on being my animated candidate, but it wasn't awful enough compared with the competition.

10. Snakes on a Plane

My review of this film generated more hateful e-mails than any other I penned this year, but I stand by it 100%. The silliness of the plot had nothing to do with my dislike of this film, but rather the fact that they tried to make it into a proper thriller. And as for the fanboy requests, they just added to the problem of the whole thing seeming directionless and disjointed. Box Office data should never be used to gauge the quality of a film, but from the numbers Snakes on a Plane generated it seems the only people who actually went to see it were those responsible for all its hype in the first place.

9. The Ant Bully

If I were a parent, I would want to teach my own children how to behave, not take them to a supposedly funny film about ants and have it complete the task for me. As a small fry reviewer, I saw this film in a theatre packed with children, and I don't think I can recall a showing of anything where I've heard fewer of them laughing. Everything in the film seemed obligatory; as though it simply went through the motions of delivering equal measures of pretty animation, jokes and moral lessons. However, The Ant Bully only did the first element right, because the jokes were flat and the morals were rammed into our heads until we couldn't take it anymore. Like horror, animation hasn't been a good genre this year, and The Ant Bully probably represents the worst of the worst.

8. All the King's Men

I think the biggest problem with All the King's Men was that it demanded and received the worst from everyone involved in it. Zaillian was so sure he was being profound (as he is certainly capable of), that he forgot to make the story interesting and the characters likeable, or even watchable. And a film is always going to be in trouble when it gives Sean Penn a chance to overact, because he'll seize the opportunity like a magpie who sees something shiny. And forcing three very British actors and one gruff New Yorker to adopt heavy Southern American accents is always asking for trouble too. This was one of many films that would normally be considered 'Oscar Bait' to have severely faltered this year, which means the field might be more varied come the 2007 awards.

7. Beerfest

Comedies should never be a chore to sit through, but Beerfest provided one of those rare experiences. Everything about it was amateurish and crude, with jokes relying on national stereotypes that haven't been funny for decades. And goodie, yet another film with Americans taking on the world at something and winning. It came across as a film that is only funny to the people making it, and that is absolutely the worst type of comedy to make.

6. Ultraviolet

Yet another film that suggests the 'Milla Jovovich Kickin' Stuff' genre isn't quite ready to die. The dialogue, special effects and characters all came across as afterthoughts, with endless fight scenes clearly topping Kurt Wimmer's priority list. I supposed there's an argument that this sort of thing can just be mindless fun, but Ultraviolet actually thought it was being clever too, which is why it cannot fall into this category.

5. Reeker

You could almost see Reeker as a genre representative this year, such was the poor state of the horror films on offer. On balance though, I think it was also the worst of the bunch. I believe I have only given one horror film this year a positive review, which is remarkable since there have been dozens released. Any film that has a character ask if another is "okay" when he's just had his arm sliced off is destined for this sort of list.

4. Get Rich or Die Tryin'

I do wonder if when a musician hits a certain level of fame, a fuse blows in their head which convinces them they can also act. To be honest, this film would have been bad without Curtis Jackson in it, but he somehow makes the experience even worse. Get Rich or Die Tryin' is a cinematic vanity project of the worst kind; one where you can't actually see what the star has to be proud of.

3. Little Man

The single joke of Little Man was stretched so thinly you could have spread it on toast. I knew it was going to be bad before I even sat down, but you have to wonder how films like this get made. When people want to have a go at studio bosses for dumbing down cinema, this is the sort of film that should be used as an example. As a final point, I got an e-mail as a result of my review claiming that since I didn't like the film I must be a racist. If that's the level its fans go to then you can tell how bad the film really has to be.

2. Basic Instinct 2

Sometimes a film strives so hard to be adult that it actually comes across as childish, and Basic Instinct 2 is one of those films. It wasn't just the bad acting, juvenile writing or limp direction that ruined it; the whole thing was just so unintentionally funny, particularly when it tried to be sexy. But however daft this film was, it has nothing on my No.1 choice, which has been waiting for a challenger to its title since February.

1. Date Movie

Date Movie has sat at the top of my 'Worst' list since I first saw it many months ago, and it's a credit to its awfulness that nothing has dislodged it. The golden rule of parodies is that they must concentrate on the weaknesses of their target films, rather than their strengths. Date Movie didn't do this at all, and instead just copied their good scenes adding smut, violence or lame jokes to them. Unfortunately, Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg will soon be bringing us Epic Movie which, from the look of the trailer, looks set to do exactly the same with most of the big films of the last year. I can't wait.


The Best 10

As with the 'Worst 10', there are several films that just missed out on being in this section. Had the ending not been all over the place, Perfume would have been listed here. Casino Royale and Little Children are also worthy of being mentioned. And it wasn't everybody's cup of tea, but to me The Ringer was one of the most original, hilarious and charming comedies in years.

10. Hard Candy

Hard Candy provided one of the most consistently intense film-going experiences of 2006. Without Patrick Wilson and particularly Ellen Page being at their best it just wouldn't have worked, but thankfully they were. It showed that films don't need to include masses of gore to be uncomfortable to watch; that sometimes the mere suggestion of violence can get under an viewer's skin. It could be argued that the film has a problem with realistic characterisation, and this is a criticism I agree with. However, few films have the power to transfix and discomfort an audience at the same time, and in this respect Hard Candy was a rousing success.

9. The Weather Man

This was probably the first cinematic surprise of the year; a film that delivered so much more than I expected from it. It received its fair share of mixed reviews, with some criticising it for being overly maudlin and bleak. However, I found it to be charming, very funny and actually rather uplifting. It wouldn't have been nearly as good without Nicolas cage being at the top of his form, but he absolutely nailed the role. Above all though, The Weather Man really stands out because it doesn't strive for that false profundity that would render it indistinguishable from a number of other films.

8. Monster House

For me, Monster House isn't just the best animated film of the year, it's the best animated film we've seen for a number of years. Had the film's final quarter been stronger, I'm pretty sure it would have been the recipient of a 5 star review. No animated film (and few non-animated films) came close to matching Monster House's level of writing, and it was also delightfully atmospheric. It also featured a really well-suited voice cast, that clearly wasn't chosen just for the sake of getting famous names into the film. I have a horrible suspicion that Monster House will be ignored at most of the big awards next year, probably in favour of Cars. But there is no doubt in my mind that this really is the best animated film of the year.

7. Little Miss Sunshine

Sometimes when a film is based around a character played by a very young actor, it can single-handedly wreck the experience, usually because they can't act. However, not only was Little Miss Sunshine a delightful film, Abigail Breslin was probably the best thing in it. She, and the rest of the cast, made us believe they were a real family, and as a result the film was engaging, touching and hilarious. With award nominations now beginning to trickle in, Little Miss Sunshine isn't being mentioned as much as I would have expected, and I think that's a real shame. Hopefully when the Oscars and BAFTAs arrive next year this film will receive a bit more attention, and even if it doesn't win anything, recognition in any capacity will ensure that more people see it.

6. The Departed

If Vera Farmiga's character hadn't existed in The Departed, it would be sitting comfortably in my 'Top 3' and may have been challenging for the top spot. But as much as I loved a great deal about the film, this character just got in the way - there was nothing wrong with Farmiga's performance I hasten to add. It was brutal, funny, intriguing, and had some absolutely marvelous performances. Jack Nicholson was terrific, as was Matt Damon, but it was Leonardo DiCaprio who used this film to show just how good an actor he really is. Naturally, The Departed is also a welcome return to form for Martin Scorsese. Whether or not he'll get his much coveted Best Director Oscar for it I don't know, but if he does it would certainly be deserved because what he brought the film was tremendous.

5. Pan's Labyrinth

I'm hearing a lot of talk about Volver sweeping the Best Foreign Language Film categories next year, and that would be a real shame because Pan's Labyrinth is by far the better film. It's beautifully shot, acted and directed, but what really makes it stand out is that the story it tells is both delightfully simple and cleverly complex. It's an old-fashioned fairy tale with a modern twist. This is very much that type of film that doesn't come along too often, and it would be a tragedy if it were ignored for the sake of something more cinematically fashionable.

4. Munich

It seems like an age since Munich was released, and it has already done its rounds on the awards circuit. I still maintain that it was the strongest film in contention for all the 2006 awards, and in many ways I think it lost out because it didn't have a gimmick. However, I saw it again recently and its impact certainly hasn't diminished. It's a film that refuses to compromise, and presents violence as the truly brutal thing it is. It's also the sort of film where it's easy to forget just how good the performances are because they blend so well into the tone of the piece, and as I said in my review this is certainly one of Spielberg's best achievements.

3. Stranger Than Fiction

I've heard many people (including some very respected critics) say that Stranger Than Fiction would have been a lot better if it were written by Charlie Kaufman. But if it had been, you can bet money that the author would have been called Charlie Kaufman (rather than Kay Eiffel), and that it would have lost some of its charm for the sake of screenwriting cleverness. For me, Stranger Than Fiction is only partly about its quirky premise; the heart of it is the importance of embracing life. And it gets this message across without seeming overly sentimental or forced. Naturally a film like this won't work without great performances, and Stranger Than Fiction had plenty of them. Will Ferrell was superb, and Gyllenhaal was captivating, but the cast as a whole was just sublime. It's one of the few films of 2006 that I genuinely experienced rather than simply watched, which is why its high place here is well deserved.

2. Borat

There hasn't been a film in years that has made me laugh as much or as hard as Borat. However, not only is the film absolutely hilarious, it's also incredibly clever. I feel genuinely sorry for people who can't see Borat as a satirical tool, and who really think he's some sort of bigoted monstrosity. What I also loved about the film was the way it managed to effortlessly blend so many different types of comedy. Very few films could get away with sharp satire, pratfalls and slapstick, and naked wrestling, but Borat does. I actually went to see the film twice, and I was concerned that on second viewing the film wouldn't be as funny. However, in many ways it was even better the second time around, partially because Borat has always had good repeat value, but also because the anticipation actually makes some scenes even funnier. This film is a comedy gem that is deserving of accolades, and I know it will keep me laughing for many, many years to come.

1. Superman Returns

It would be unfair to only refer to Superman Returns as superb superhero film, because restricting it to its own genre is somehow demeaning. It is a marvellous film, period. Few action films have matched the excitement of its action sequences, and it's packed with plenty of humorous and entertaining moments. But at its heart Superman Returns is actually about love, responsibility and dedication. Very few films this year have emotionally involved me in the way Superman Returns does; even those that were solely about love and relationships. Of course we mustn't forget the marvellous performances, terrific direction and beautiful production values either. This film has its critics, but I pity its detractors because I think they're missing out on something quite wonderful. When I see a film like Superman Returns I am truly thankful for the medium of cinema, because I can think of no better way to tell a story like this. Superman Returns is the best, and my favourite, film of 2006.


As with every single review on this site, these lists are only my opinion. But I hope they provide a bit more insight into the reasoning behind some of my reviews, and help define what I think makes a film terrible or sublime. Please use the FilmJudge Blog to post your own lists, thoughts and comments. Bring on 2007!

© David Mercier
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