Okay, it's that time of year again...I feel kinda odd doing this list right now, because I can think of 4 films that are genuine contenders to make this list: Letters From Iwo Jima (because I can't get enough of Ken Wantanabe, because he's brilliant), Notes on a Scandal (come one Cate Blanchett AND Judi Dench and I was gonna see it on Wednesday night but I was asked to work the floor that night) Pan's Labyrinth and Inland Empire. So, that being said, I am gonna go with what I have seen thus far....

1. The Departed

2. Babel

3. Blood Diamond

4. Children of Men

5. Little Children

6. Volver

Possibles for the 7th spot: Thank You For Smoking, The Queen (you go, Helen, I'm pulling for you because you are incredible beyond words) and The Last King of Scotland....sorry, Aronofsky fans, I haven't seen The Fountain yet 

See, I'm not able to make the most informed judgment at this time...By the end of January I will have at least seen Scandal, Labyrinth and Inland Empire...if I can fit them in with all the f-ing hours I'm working 

Pans Labyrinth would top the list for me, followed by the Departed. I also havent seen The Fountain yet however.

1. Borat - by a country mile!

2. Apocalypto.

3. Babel.

4. The Departed.

I'll work on finishing this, but it's a start!

I saw Dreamgirls – and Gridiron Gang this year past theatrically

I still have to see Children of Men (I'm really forward to see this, but it's already out of the theatres... so I'll have to wait for the dvd release, or should I try downloading it), Blood Diamond (but it doesn't appeal me very much - what is so good about it?).

I still have to see INLAND EMPIRE too, so leaving these 3 out (with addition of the much awaited "Bobby") I'll make my top american Tens:

1. Little Children - Todd Field

2. Shortbus - John Cameron Mitchell

3. The Departed - Martin Scorsese

4. Inside man - Spike Lee

5. Marie Antoinette - Sofia Coppola

6. Fur - Steven Shainberg

7. The Pursuit of Happyness - Gabriele Muccino

8. Scoop - Woody Allen

9. A Prairie Home Companion - Robert Altman

10. The Prestige - Chris Nolan

But here's also an Italian or European list of highly recommended films:

Missing Star - Gianni Amelio (Italy/China)

The Golden Door - Emanuele Crialese (Italy/Usa)

Volver - Pedro Almodovar (Spain)

Time to Leave - François Ozon (France)

My best friend - Patrice Leconte (France)

The elementary particles - Oskar Roehler (Germany/UK)

N, Napoleon - Paolo Virzì (Italy/France)

Perfume - Tom Tykwer (Germany/France/Spain)

yeah, Silencio Inside Man and The Prestige were hanging in the back of my mind as well...I'll probably fo see Scandal Friday night....

Silencio, how was The Elementary Particles and Perfume?  I have wanted to see these since I first heard about them.  I just love Moritz Bleibtreu (who is in Elementary Particles) and Tom Tykwer, I think he's one of the best directors around.... 

As for movies I have seen....unfortunately I haven't gotten to the theatre lately.  I think the last movie I saw in the theatre was Capote and Good Night, and Good Luck...so it's been awhile.  Before that it was Downfall. 

Elementary particles is a really good movie with some tragic content which by the way gets treated in a sarcastic and light way. I wont say anything else in order to not ruin the surprise. Only that the main characters are two very different step-brothers: one is a virgin scientist who is inquiring on the possibility of human reproduction without sexual contact, the other one is a reactionary literature professor with aspirations of writing, who is quite obsessed with sex. They are accompanied in their misadventures by two differently troubled women...

Perfume is the epic story of a youngster endowed with special sensorial powers (his sense of smell) willing to seek the perfect essence that has the otherworldly ability of making everyone feel blissed and ready for love - a sort of love elixhir. But when he discovers, during an accident, a part of this essence is released only by female corpses a chain of assassinations immediately puts him in great danger. The movie is quite long, the first part is very entertaining and it features a wonderful Dustin Hoffman as the guy's perfume shop italian master, Giuseppe Baldini. The second part develops as a quite conventional mystery/crime/investigation movie set during the France of 18th century and all its bias and narrow-mindedness... The finale is an overload in my opinion, but  most of the film's mood makes it a worth piece of art.

The best film of the year that I have seen is a Polish movie called Jasminum.

One of the best Polish movies ever IMO.

Didn't see any. Gotta get out more...

Black Book

Ive always like Paul Verhoeven, despite showgirls and Basic Instinct. But I love Robocop and Total Recall. But this is a masterpiece for Paul Verhoeven. Absolutley excellent, and far beyond what I ever expected Verhoeven to make. Excellent script, direction, plot and acting. Highly recommended. But dont know if it counts as 2006.

One year ago, on the night before Oscar nominations were announced, I was hoping to see Crash among the selections, even though almost no one was mentioning it as a potential nominee.  Then it surprised everyone and was nominated.  Then it surprised everyone and won 'Best Picture.'

This year, I'm hoping for the same fate for Brick.

Brick should get worst picture at the razzies imo.

You can officially place Notes on a Scandal in my top ten. Great f-ing movie!!!

Now that I've seen Babel I can finally make my top ten list:

1. INLAND EMPIRE

2. Children of Men

3. Little Miss Sunshine

4. Babel

5. The Departed

6. Notes on a Scandal

7. The Devil Wears Prada

8. Pan's Labyrinth

9. The Prestige

10. Volver