The Best Movie of 2006

It is always "too soon" for movies like "Pearl Harbor", even when they are made fifty or sixty years after the historical tragedies that they depict.

It is NEVER "too soon" for movies like "United 93", which was released five-six years after the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States.

The difference between movies like "Pearl Harbor" and movies like "United 93" lies in their attitudes and approaches. "Pearl Harbor" is about a love triangle that was inconvenienced by WWII. "United 93" tackles its subject matter head on with a minimum of BS.

What's startling about producer/director/writer Paul Greengrass's approach is that the sheer objectivity of his presentation of facts allows for the facts to speak their own analysis of what happened on that day. Greengrass doesn't impeach Islamic fundamentalists or George W. Bush & Co.; he simply shows us a series of events that happened on 11 September 2001, and it's surprising how unnerving pure, straight facts can be.

Yes, yes, a lot of what's shown in the movie is based on inferences about what happened on United 93, but we also see what happened in various air-traffic control centers and military command centers across the U.S. Clearly, America was caught off guard. Who's to blame? Everyone.

Eddie,

1,000,000% agree with you. Excellent movie, exceptionally well done with a minimum of BS. My humble opinion: it will be nominated for Best Picture, Director and Best Screenplay. It will not have a shot in hell of winning Best Pic, though.

Jason,

If we're talking about awards, then here's my dream list:

Picture
Director
Screenplay
Supporting Actor - Ben Sliney (playing himself)
Supporting Actress - Trish Gates (as Sandra Bradshaw the blonde stewardess)
Cinematography
Editing
Score
Sound Mixing
Sound Editing

By the way, didn't that ending just floor you? I was stunned by the forceful finality.

Eddie

Yup, I was expecting some kind of epilogue above and beyond the three title cards at the end. But, as I think about it, nothing would have made sense from the view of the movie. We never see the plane on the outside, we never go to the passengers homes or to the WTC. It's the command centers and the plane. No establishing shots, no extraneous subplots...

I especially like how there was no score in the final shot looking out the front windows. Definately made it feel un-Hollywood.

Wow. An amazing film.

Efficient storytelling and filmmaking at its finest. Like Jason pointed out, no extraneous subplots. Every second of this film dealt with the story at hand which added to the heft and impact of the story. Other things would have simply gotten in the way. Absolutely no celluloid is wasted in this film.

A thoughtful, respectful, and incredible film of true heroes giving everything of themselves for countless others. We are blessed to have such a great testimony of these individuals' courage.

The best film I've seen in some time.

Sean

Chris,

That happened only in 1993 ("Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List").

1989:
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"--liked
"Always"--I still haven't seen it and have no plans to do so in the near future.

1997:
"The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (not as bad as people say)--liked
"Amistad" (worse than people say)--dis-liked

2002:
"Minority Report" (one of the greatest movies of all time)--liked
"Catch Me If You Can"--dis-liked

2005:
"War of the Worlds" (horrible second half)--dis-liked
"Munich"--liked

Eddie

So then he likes "Monster House"? :D ;)

Yeah, Eddie likes at least 2 or 3 movies per year, depending on how many Spielberg releases in a year.

i'm bumping this thread for alexanderl, who is of the mis-guided opinion that i don't have positive things to say about movies and that i don't start threads about movies that i like.

your heart must be made of stone if penguins couldn't move you, chris. :p