2006 year marker

To mark the end of the year (and 37 films), I present "Le Honor Roll", a collection of stories that I really applaud and give 2 hands raised way up :). Overall, it was a great mix of free spirits (independently produced and later commercially picked-up) such as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Thank You for Smoking, true independents that include Dead Man, Little Fish, Croupier, and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and finally one powerful classic: A Clockwork Orange.

Le Honor Roll :)

1. Dead Man
2. The Matador
3. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
4. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
5. Thank You for Smoking
6. Little Fish
7. Croupier
8. A Clockwork Orange

37 - The OH in Ohio

Parker Posey is just plain hilarious :). She always delivers, doesn't matter if its a bit part, cameo, or lead (like in this one). What I expected to be flat out comedy actually turned out to be a really warm story about finding your way. Danny DeVito comes through with both comedy and sensibility (yeah, it can happen ;) ) the same way he did in Living Out Loud.

Oh, and Heather Graham has a bit part (no, not as RollerGirl, but not too far from that industry :) ).

36 - Over the Hedge

Stelllaaaaa!!!! Hahaha I love that Brando yell by the cat. The formula is quite routine...selfish rebel hooks up with good folk, grows a conscience, and redeems himself...but it still rings true and the delivery was still funny and heartwarming.

Plus, William Shatner is gold :).

35 - Cars

At first I was skeptical of how Pixar could pull off a cartoon using cars as characters. It sounded like an old idea...or maybe because I've been pre-programmed with Chevron cartoon commercials. But it is a Pixar film and I was willing to at least check it out. The more I watched the film, the more I grew attached to it and by the end of the film I was sold.

If you were ever immortalized as a vehicle, what would you be?

34 - Little Athens

Little Athens was a really interesting look at the life a young generation in a small town. The fact that this all happens in a small town is what probably gives this story its flavor. The cast is an interesting mix of familiar faces.....Eric Szmada (CSI), Jorge Garcia (Lost), DJ Qualls (Road Trip), and Rachel Miner.

What was your life like when you were 18?

33 - A Clockwork Orange

Are we really products of society? This was probably the foremost question on my mind while I watched this film. The time cannot be placed for this story. It falls somewhere between the past and the future, and absolutely not the present...very clever atmosphere that Stanley Kubrick created.

He turns everything around, and in full circle in some cases...the effect of Beethoven's ninth, the twisted mind of the criminal and then becoming a victim, and the victim suddenly turning to evil, an inmate somewhat cured and then turned back.

When it seemed like it didn't make sense, it actually did...and when appears to make sense, it really doesn't as much...its really amazing how stimulating Kubrick has made this experience.