'He's Making a List, Checking it Twice...'

I have been working on my top 10 list for some time now. This is the first time I have ever attempted to do a full-blown list, because I typically try to avoid these things. However, since I have seen a lot of movies this year - several of which have been very good - I figure it would serve as a more than efficient way of recommending some quality films.

One of the biggest challenges with making one of these lists is trying to remember all of the new films I saw this year. I have always found IMDB to be completely useless in this department since they list the thousands of films released all over the world (mostly from India). Fortunately, Wikipedia has a nice '2006 In Film' article that's been very helpful, despite the fact that one or two titles are missing from the list.

And while I cannot tell you my Top 10 list right now even if I wanted to (it's not finished yet), what I can share with you is all the movies that made my nice and naughty lists for the year.

First, we have the nice (i.e. the films that I enjoyed this year, or could very well make it into my top 10):

The Fountain
Casino Royale
Borat
The Prestige
Marie Antionette
The Departed
Infamous
Talladega Nights
The Descent
Brick
Quinceanera
The Proposition
Little Miss Sunshine
Mission: Impossible 3
Monster House
Superman Returns
Prairie Home Companion
Babel
United 93
V For Vendetta
Thank You For Smoking
16 Blocks
Clerks II
The Science of Sleep
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Wassup Rockers
Sympathy for Lady Vengence (a.k.a. Lady Vengence)
Pirates of the Caribbean 2

Now for the naughty. While I wish I could give their filmmakers a nice lump of coal for wasting my time, all I can really afford right now is to exclude them from my list. Here they are:

Lady in the Water
Hostel
District B13
Final Destination 3
Running Scared
The Hills Have Eyes (remake)
Silent Hill
Art School Confidential
Poseidon
The Da Vinci Code
X3
Cars
Nacho Libre
Miami Vice
Jesus Camp
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny
Saw III
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Jackass #2
The Black Dhalia
The Protector
Hollywoodland
Snakes on a Plane
World Trade Center


Wow, two Jack Black vehicles in one year, go figure.

Anyway, why don't you folks at home give me some of your input. Are there any films in my nice list that deserve to be struck down? Also, have there been any naughties that you kinda dug? Let me know.

-Joe

P.S. Make sure to mark your calendar for December 28's show, where we will have 5 local critics dropping their top 5 of the year on live radio.