It was a stupendous year for film, and there were literally dozens of superb candidates for the top 10. I’ve been doing top 10 lists for over a decade, and this year had more best film contenders than any recent year I can remember. As usual most of the most significant and innovative films escaped the mainstream radar.
1)Brand Upon the Brain– A teen sleuth disguises herself as a boy to solve a weird mystery which involves child abuse and a sinister orphanage owner. Guy Maddin’s terrific expressionistic feature captures the spirit, quality and look of late period silent features perfectly, and he also updates the style wonderfully for modern audiences.
2)Private Fears in Public Places– Powerful drama has different overlapping story lines involving lonely people trying to find love. French New Wave survivor Alain Resnais has made his most elegant and emotionally involving film in years.
3) Eastern Promises– Dave Cronenberg’s powerful film about a search for the identity of a baby’s father features a peak performance by Viggo Mortensen and great support by Naomi Watts. This Russian Mafia film is more gripping and satisfying than either The Departed or American Gangster.
4) Day Night/Day Night – Tense film about the supposed last day in the life of a suicide bomber serves to humanize its subject, and is even more daring and accomplished than the similarly themed United 93.
5) No Country for Old Men– The Coen Brothers’ darkly funny and shocking film is about a homicidal maniac (well played by Javier Baredem) who pursues a man who witnessed the aftermath of his murder spree. The dog sequence might be the most memorable image in film I’ve seen all year.
6) Once– Charming Irish film about a street musician who meets a caring woman who encourages him to make a record. In a year of fine music films (such as Across the Universe and Hairpspray) this one was the best. It’s also the year’s most irresistible romance.
7) Climates– Atmospheric art film about a professor’s crumbling marriage has some of the year’s best cinematography. Agonizingly painful and beautiful at the same time.
8) The Black Book– Paul Verthoeven’s suspenseful World War II epic about a woman who seduces a Nazi while she’s working as a double agent for the Jews. She starts to care for him and is torn between her loyalties.
9) Sicko– Michael Moore’s humorous and tragic expose of America’s health care system makes a strong case for universal health care.
10) Grindhouse– Gory, exhilarating and loving tribute to exploitation films packages together an over-the-top zombie film with an exhilarating car chase/revenge drama. Featuring witty post modern dialog by Quentin Tarantino in one segment, and stylish direction by Roberto Rodriquez in the other. The fake trailers for films that don’t exist provide some of the film’s biggest laughs.
Honorable Mentions: An Unreasonable Man, Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Control, I’m Not There, Lake of Fire, Juno, Private Property, Sharkwater, Southland Tales
Best actress– Julie Christie gave a haunting and unforgettable performance as a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in “Away from Her.”
Best actor– Newcomer Sam Riley seemed to channel the spirit of the doomed post-punk rock star, Ian Curtis in “Control.”
Vittorio Carli teaches at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills and Daley College in Chicago. He also is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He may be reached at carlivit@yahoo.com
