2006

Pan's Labyrinth (Director: Guillermo del Toro)
Nominees: Notes on a Scandal, The Host, Wristcutters: A Love Story, The Lives of Others, After the Wedding, Paprika, Volver, The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima, Babel, Red Road

Oscars pick: The Departed
Nominees: Babel, Letters from Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen

Del Toro's masterpiece is without question the finest film of the year. Critic Simon Foster said it best... "In juxtaposing the realism of a Fascist state’s adherence to spirit-crushing violence with the soaring fantasies of an innocent’s dream world, director Guillermo del Toro has created one of the most damning indictments of dictatorial politics ever filmed. Yet what ultimately emerges from his extraordinary Pan's Labyrinth is intrinsically humanistic; a celebration of the strength of spirit mankind possesses to overcome such evil."

I started using that quote after trying to sum up the film in my own words and finding myself buried under a pile of lengthy, overwritten paragraphs. It's such a contemplative, stimulating piece of film. Thankfully Foster was able to sum it up succinctly for me.
   
Why do I feel del Toro is our best fantasist today? There's an honest sense of wonderment and a lack of pretension in his work. He can address important issues without it coming off self-important; his heroes might falter in the face of grave situations, but they do so without turning into whiny emo irritants. He's a master at capturing a story's thematic elements and presents them deftly. His films can be a wild roller coaster ride when the situation calls for it (Blade II), but he usually handles that with equal aplomb and understands how to go big, without getting bloated. The Warner brother's style cartoon humor in Hellboy II set off warning signals -- could that wonderful ‘big kid’ mindset of his turn into stupid childishness the way it has for George Lucas?  Let's hope not -- and let us hope he continues to return home and make movies like this and the Devil's Backbone – I think they keep him sober and grounded, while still allowing him to play in magical realms.

Oscar finally gave Martin Scorsese his due - The Departed is a good -if an over the top- picture, that's less a police procedural and more an exploration of the psychology of two men pretending to be who they aren't. It features some standout performances from Damon, Nicholson and especially DiCaprio, who is finally starting to look like an adult. It’s not Martin's best but it is worthy of high praise.

I liked Oscar's other nominees, though Little Miss Sunshine didn't knock me out.

Acting!
Mühe's performance in The Lives of Others is understated, but don't let the lack of showiness fool you. This is a great performance. He plays a Stasi agent investigating a couple, and at first, Gerd is a man with few emotions, his face is a mask. Slowly but surely though, he grows a conscience - and the transformation is restrained, yet powerful. Sadly, Ulrich died a year after making this film, at the age of 54 from stomach cancer

My actresses are all brilliant, but Notes on a Scandal features Dame Judi at her best. Teacher Barbara Covett isn’t an easy character; on the surface, she’s just a mean, bitter, unlikable... well, bitch (excuse my French). That would have been enough for most movies. Make her an unpleasant psychopath. But Judi adds nuances – for one: There’s the desperate loneliness, and damn if I can’t relate/feel sorry for her in that pain. The scene about the cat – she’s both a major irritant and psychotic (and funny in an absurd way... "Someone has died!" she cries), but there’s also genuine loss and anguish etched on Dench’s features.

The film is an acting tour-de-force. The interplay between Blanchett and Dench is like manna from Heaven for anyone who appreciates great acting. And it helps that the ladies, and especially Judi, speaks some amazing, cutting dialog.

Best Actor: Ulrich Mühe, The Lives of Others
Honorable Mentions:
Mad Mikkelsen, After the Wedding * Clive Owen, Children of Men * Christian Bale, The Prestige * Ben Affleck, Hollywoodland * Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed * Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland * Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson * Alan Rickman, Snow Cake * William H. Macy, Edmond * Peter O'Toole, Venus * Guy Pearce, Factory Girl

Best Actress: Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Honorable Mentions:
Penélope Cruz, Volver * Kate Dickie, Red Road * Helen Mirren, The Queen * Ivana Baquero, Pan’s Labyrinth * Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal * Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sherrybaby * Shareeka Epps, Half Nelson * Jodie Whittaker, Venus * Sienna Miller, Factory Girl

Supporting Actress: Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

Supporting Actor: Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
I was also impressed with Stephen Graham in This is England






Other movies I enjoyed include - Casino Royale, Half Nelson, Black Book, The Good German, Stranger Than Fiction, 10 Items or Less, Hollywoodland, the Bridge, Factory Girl, Volver, Friends with Money, The Fountain, The Queen and loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies, Hana, 12:08 East of Bucharest

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