Here's a number that may shock you.
In the United States in 2006, there were 770 new movies released by major studios, mid-level production teams and small distribution companies. All of these films involved people hoping for Academy Award glory. For most of them, it really is a matter of "dream on."
Truth be told, many of the movies sent out into the marketplace are known as "festival films," features that play the festival circuit and might or might not turn up on DVD or specialized cable television channels. And a goodly number of released movies are actually geared solely toward the shrinking drive-in culture that still survives where warm nights last late into November -- in the South and Southwest. Most of these drive-in productions are teen-oriented horror films -- all the better for snuggling couples to assuage their nighttime cinematic fears.
Of the 770 new movies on the charts in 2006, around 330 actually received nationwide release, whether to large exhibition chains (like Regal and AMC) or small independent theater owners like Buffalo's Dipson.
I don't know if this number will shock you, but out of the 330 big-budget films, festival features or repertory selections that blanketed the country, I saw 281 new movies in 2006. I'm fortunate in that, in addition to attending local screenings, I also get to see films in New York and Los Angeles and at festivals or as part of a specialized film series. Some of these movies don't make it to the area.
Because of release schedules, quite a few features only played Los Angeles, because the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscar people) requires that a movie screen one week in L.A. by Dec. 31 to be considered for possible golden-boy glory. Some of these movies will are then sent around the country this January.
Some 2006 releases could see the light of the projector in this area in the next six weeks, including "Volver," "Jesus Camp," "The Good German," "Miss Potter" and "Company of Men." I will be seeing a few of these shortly. More often than local reviewers like, a movie will open in New York or Los Angeles and receive scathing critiques, thus causing the distributor to panic and perhaps pull the picture from its release schedule.
"Fur," about photographer Diane Arbus and starring Nicole Kidman, is one example. It might not see the light of day around most of the rest of the country.
Another interesting example is "Little Children," starring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley, which I have seen. It's a superb drama, but it hasn't screened around parts of the country because the distributor is hoping for Academy Award buzz and is waiting for the nominations to see if it's worth spending the money to release the picture.
"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," which I've seen, takes you somewhere you've never imagined. "Notes on a Scandal," which I've also seen, delivers a clash of acting titans. Look for them both in 2007.
As far as my best movies of 2006, I am generally averse to Top 10 lists. How do you choose Number 10 over Number 11? It's all about personal preferences. You might like a specific star or director or theme or genre. And others might think you're way off-base.
For example, the Christmas release "The Holiday" is a cute and generally enjoyable romantic comedy that almost pulls it off. A number of people enjoy it. Call it the Christmas-cheer effect. Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz are enjoyable in this sprightly effort about two dispirited women (one from Los Angeles and one from London), both of whom are sick and tired of men, who end up swapping houses over the holidays. What prevents the movie from really being good is a thoroughly wrongheaded performance by Jack Black, who is nobody's idea of a romantic lead. Watching him, you wonder what film he thinks he's in. Every moment he's on screen grinds everything to a halt.
OK, so "The Holiday" doesn't make it to my best-of list, but Law, Winslet and Diaz deserve to be seen.
Here are the movies I thought brought something special to the screen. Where's "The Da Vinci Code," you might ask. Did you see it? Talk about taking a fast-moving novel and turning it into wax-museum sludge. Where's "Cars"? Too mechanical. "Failure to Launch"? The title says it all.
The movies listed below are here for any number of reasons: because of star power, or because the production team took controversy and made it work, or because the director knows what he is doing. There are comedies, dramas and documentaries. The mix includes small personal pictures and big-budget adventures. Two films about magic? Yes -- "The Prestige" and "The Illusionist" both deserved to be seen. Is "Casino Royale" the best Bond ever? You bet it is. Is "Borat" screamingly funny? Absolutely, and groundbreaking too.
Then there's the fellow who sent me a nasty, politically silly e-mail because I liked the Dixie Chicks documentary. As I wrote in my review, I wouldn't know a Dixie Chicks song if they came to my house and sang it to me. The man, who listed his credentials as some sort of local college professor, missed the point completely. He thought I was praising the Dixie Chicks, when in fact I was praising the movie. I could care less about the Dixie Chicks as a trio. The film was well-made, enlightening and made its point. What surprised me about the hostile e-mail is that this guy is actually teaching college and can't differentiate between reality and illusion, film criticism and fact. He was trying to politicize the review, when in fact he was angry about the Dixie Chicks' politics.
Overall, it was a pretty good year at the movies.
Following are the most interesting films of 2006, in alphabetical order:
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, A Prairie Home Companion, Babel, Bobby, Borat, Breaking and Entering, Casino Royale, Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing, Dreamgirls, Fast Food Nation, For Your Consideration, Friends With Money, Gabrielle, Half Nelson, Hollywoodland, Infamous, Kinky Boots, Little Children, Little Miss Sunshine, Lucky Number Slevin, Neil Young: Heart of Gold, Notes on a Scandal, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Quinceanera, Running With Scissors, Scoop, Shortbus, Superman Returns, Thank You for Smoking, The Departed, The Devil Wears Prada, The History Boys, The Illusionist, The Prestige, The U.S. vs. John Lennon, This Film is Not Yet Rated, V for Vendetta, Who Killed the Electric Car?, Wordplay.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | January 3 2007 |