Celebrating the finest cinema offered in 2006

The sour taste left by the tepid “Crash” when it won Best Picture has been cleansed, thanks… The sour taste left by the tepid “Crash” when it won Best Picture has been cleansed, thanks to a strong 2006 showing in the world of film.

This past year featured many powerful cinematic visions by strong directors, ranging from a future where women can’t get pregnant to a mighty return by arguably the best American director working today. Here are the best I’ve seen in 2006.

1. “The Departed”

Martin Scorsese will finally win an Oscar for this Boston-set, cops-and-robbers movie. It manages to eloquently and brashly speak about identity, honor and brotherhood. And despite its 150-minute running time, it moves at a surprisingly fluid pace, remaining engaging the entire time.

Darkly humorous, engrossing and fun, “The Departed” proves that a good film can also be extremely entertaining. Drama, comedy, action – all of its constituents come together to make it the best overall movie of the year.

2. “Pan’s Labyrinth”

A masterpiece. Visionary. Spellbinding.

Not enough superlatives can be laid down at the feet of Guillermo del Toro’s beautifully crafted and decidedly dark adult drama-fantasy. Sergio Lopez creates a modern classic with his villain, who stands tall beside 12-year-old Ivana Baquero’s almost equally impressive performance.

Along with “The Fountain,” “Pan’s Labyrinth” draws viewers in with fantastical elements and keeps them engrossed through portrayals of captivating human relationships.

3. “United 93”

Although audiences cried “Too soon!” when the trailer for “United 93” was released, anyone who actually saw the film would be hard-pressed to criticize it. With his hand-held cameras, director Paul Greengrass (“The Bourne Supremacy”) took a documentary-style approach to the film, focusing on a select few men and women who risked their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

4. “Children of Men”

Alfonso Cuaron’s dystopian vision of the future is all too real. In a time where MTV-style editing is commonplace, Cuaron expertly uses extremely long takes to capture fear, gripping the audience with a sequence and not letting go.

“Children of Men” hints at a future not far removed from where we are now. Clive Owen gives a restrained and weary performance, and Michael Caine delights as the heart and soul of the film.

5. “The Fountain”

Darren Aronofsky’s long-awaited piece is the most affecting film in the top 10, a completely earnest look at life and death. Although the premise might look confusing – the plot consists of three parallel stories occurring 500 years apart from each other – it’s actually fairly straightforward (after a little bit of thought on the viewer’s part). “The Fountain” simply requires an open mind and a lack of cynicism to work.

Hugh Jackman’s bare, emotional performance is one of the best of the year. Aronofsky has created a wholly original vision, and “The Fountain” is the type of film that inspires conversation afterward – and stays with you even longer.

6. “Little Children”

Although the concept of revealing the ugly underbelly of suburban life has been done before – see “American Beauty” – “Little Children” achieves a tragic reality unparalleled by its predecessors. The film incorporates one of the more interesting uses of voiceover, with the ominous narrator describing the scenes and thoughts of characters as in a novel.

The acting is splendid, with special emphasis on Jackie Earle Haley’s performance that somehow produces pathos for a child molester. “Little Children” takes a revolutionary look at the classic tale of lust and sin in suburbia.

7. “Letters from Iwo Jima”

As a respectful and meditative war film, “Letters from Iwo Jima” takes subtle poignancy to a whole new level – its thoughtful character study of Japanese culture, death and honor leaves a resounding impression.

Director Clint Eastwood takes a chance here, as he depicts war from the Japanese perspective, but does so respectfully and with marked balance. The muted visual effects and developed characters conspire to create a powerful war film that dodges tired cliches.

8. “Casino Royale”

“Casino Royale” gives us a completely different Bond than the one who veered into utter self-parody during “Die Another Day.” Daniel Craig easily puts the fears of all his naysayers to rest, constructing the most dynamic Bond ever in this complete reinvention of the franchise.

Certainly the best action film of the year, “Casino Royale” matches stunning action sequences with a tantalizing romance between Craig and Eva Green. And with a much-welcomed departure from its predecessors, “Royale” adopts a far darker, grittier tone.

9. “Borat”

If you can get past the hype, the biggest surprise of 2006 delivers a satirical, honest and hilarious look at our country and the people in it. Sacha Baron Cohen, the star of “Borat,” has created a character and film for the ages, with its many can-you-believe-they-said-that instances and laugh-out-loud moments.

Although a bit crude at times – the hotel wrestling scene is one of the most disturbing moments in recent film memory – “Borat” holds up a mirror to xenophobia in America.

10. “The Good Shepherd”

With a slow-burning character study, “The Good Shepherd” reveals the incarnation of the CIA through an extremely internalized performance by Matt Damon: It’s a cloak-and-daggers spy movie made for those who don’t like the Bonds and Bournes of action-spy films. Director Robert DeNiro brilliantly captures a downward spiral into paranoia, making us wonder why he waited 12 years for his sophomore directorial project.