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Since I was late, this year, in getting together my list of the Best and Worst Movies of 2006, I decided to post them right before the Academy Awards were given out. Better late than never. You’ll note that a number of movies that are up for Oscars, like “,” “,” and “” are on my worst list. (You can’t trust Hollywood and Academy voters to tell you what was best and worst.) FYI, I never saw Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” so I never reviewed it.
Last year, because 2005 had so many bad movies, I could not come up with 10 “best” or top movies from that year. This year’s crop was better AND worse. I have 11 best movies, but more than 31 worst movies–there were so many bad movies on which you never want to waste valuable minutes of your life, and on which I wasted over 60 hours of mine to spare you the inconvenience.
So here’s my list . . .
Best/Worst Movies of 2006

BEST (rent these on DVD ASAP, except “Invincible” for the Mark Wahlberg reasons noted below):
1) “”–I , well before the New York Film critics and assorted other groups did at the end of the year. And my choice stands. This movie, which truthfully showed the events of 9/11 on United Airlines Flight 93, vividly portrayed the two most important facts that can be shown on contemporary film: that we are fighting for our lives against Islamic terrorists who hate us and want us dead; that we, as brave Americans who love freedom and our great country, must fight them to our death . . . and that we are capable of doing so.
These American heroes foiled the terrorists and simultaneously gave their lives so that the White House or U.S. Capitol and lives of our leaders would be spared. They rose to the occasion of all occasions and went down fighting.
2) “”–The best mafia movie I have ever seen (except, maybe, “The Godfather”), this one is so great because it doesn’t simply glamorize the mob life. It portrays the anguish and integrity, and the moral dilemma of the decent, honest undercover cop (masterfully played by Leonardio DiCaprio) who has infiltrated the mob. Simply fantastic. Riveting, edge-of-your-seat stuff every step of the way, this is a masterpiece. Bonus for wary Italian-Americans: This one is about the Irish mob of South Boston (though it’s actually a remake of a Hong Kong film about moles in the mob and law enforcement there).
3) “”–Will Smith deserves his Oscar nomination for his emotional portrayal of real-life rags-to-riches, bootstrap-self-propelling Chris Gardner. A man’s unwavering pursuit of his dream through hard work and determination, and a father’s love for his son are the great messages that come through in this movie filled with obstacle after obstacle to both.
4) “”–Successful commoner magician Eisenheim uses illusions and tricks to win back his true love, a beautiful countess in Habsburg Empire Austria, from his enemy, her fiancee, the ruthless Crown Prince. Sounds like a chick flick but isn’t–it’s about tricks, illusions, and what’s real and isn’t. Smoke and mirrors have never been more entertaining.
5) “”–Dueling/fueding magicians at the turn of the century make for a masterful, entertaining, thrilling film that defies conventions and thrills to the end. Amazing tricks keep you guessing. David Bowie, in a minor role as amazing real-life scientist/inventor Nikolai Tesla, also delights.
6) “”–A great uplifting movie about real-life underdog, out-of-work teacher/bartender Vince Papale who tries out for and makes the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. I am troubled recommending this because star Mark Wahlberg, an attempted murderer and thug, took out the eye of a Vietnamese immigrant with a meat hook. He is a great actor, especially in this movie and in “The Departed.” But he’s a criminal who deliberately maimed a man and admits he has no remores. Don’t support him by renting this DVD. Wait for it on TV or cable, or check the DVD out of the library, so he won’t get royalties.
7) “”–Though Sylvester Stallone likes illegal aliens, I still like his fictional, working-class alter ego, Rocky. A great trip down nostalgia lane and fitting ending to a 30-year-old franchise. Gritty, uplifting, and a classy, updated good-bye. A jog down memory lane and up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
8) “”–Most critics thought it was mediocre, but I liked this charming, entertaining, science fiction romance movie about soulmates separated by time. A chick flick worthy of seeing, and a nice imitation of “Somewhere in Time,” with a more satisfying ending.
9) “”–Gen-X slacker hero Jon Heder plays a geek in love with his beautiful neighbor. He learns the moves from a scoundrel who then competes with him for her love. Absolutely hilarious–and not for kids–the scene-stealer of this one is co-star Sarah Silverman.
10) “”–Hilarious parody of smoking lobby, based on the Christopher Buckley comedy/parody novel. Aaron Eckhart is spot-on as the engaging, droll smoking lobbyist.
11) “”–Panned by some critics, I loved this Medieval period adventure about dueling knights and kings of British nation-states fighting Irish knights and fighting for the love of a beautiful Irish princess. Romance and action adventure rolled into one. Stunning cinematography. Stars the very hot Jewish actor, James Franco.
WORST (skip most of these at all cost–they’re that bad):
1) “”–Everything is the Jews’ fault . . . and the Americans soldiers’, too. The government of Turkey funded this exercise in anti-Semitism and hatred of America, which portrays American soldiers as heartless, bloodthirsty murderers at weddings of innocents and Jewish army doctors as harvester of Muslims organs for Jews worldwide. Shame forever on Billy Zane and Gary Busey for starring in this horrible silver screen screed.
2) “”–Absolutely sickening, violent movie about a mother and her baby and their new kinship with the hitmen hired to kill her by her mob boss thug husband. Did not need to see limbs cut off up close, violent necrophilia scenes, and a frontal shot of actor Stephen Dorff’s penis in the middle of sex. Disgusting. Hard to believe Helen Mirren was nominated for the Oscars (for a different film) after her sickening presence in this even more sickening “film”. Well, that probably actually enhanced her position with “the Academy.” Shows just anyone can earn the title of “Dame.”
3) “”–Americans are evil, self-absorbed people who use and then deport sweet, loving, hard-working illegal aliens. Muslims are sweet, loving, poor people who love unappreciative American tourists, and take care of them. Muslims are also unfairly portrayed as terrorists, when actually they’d sell their souls to help Americans. Japanese deaf girls are sex-obsessed bizarros who constantly flash their crotches and assault any male within striking distance. Yup, this is what the Academy Awards has nominated for several categories. Figures Brad Pitt would jump at the chance to star in this hate-America, love-Islamists-and-illegal-aliens flick.
4) “”–Absolutely disgusting portrayal of accidents in meat plants and other alleged maladies suffered by illegal aliens who sneak into the country to steal our jobs. Horrible, sickening defamation of fast food purveyors and meat plants. Many people walked out on this movie, and I wish I would have joined them. Pure propaganda.
5) “”–Disgusting, racist Monique movie about how morbidly obese Black women are sex-obsessed and how racist White peole are. Sad.
6) “”–Of course, a Syrian Muslim would never actually be the one who assassinated President Bush. Why that would be the Black Vietnam Vet who lost his soldier son fighting in Iraq. Boring. Even billionaire producer Mark Cuban admitted to me that it “wasn’t a good movie.”
7) “”–Border Patrol agents are violent idiots who masturbate to Hustler at the border. Illegal aliens are hard-working, loving people who are far better than Americans. Police are idiots. Thanks, Tommy Lee Jones.
8) “”–Sappy, saccharine Oliver Stone portrayal 9/11 attacks whitewashes any mention of Muslims, Islam, Bin Laden, or the 19 hijackers. The only Muslims we see or hear about are the non-existent ones–Stone’s portrayal of Muslims worldwide upset about the attacks, when in reality, they were jubilant and ecstatic. The presence of America-deserved-9/11 actress Maggie Gyllenhaal in this BS is sickening. Reduces 9/11 tragedy to “Poseidon Adventure” minus Shelley Winters but with cement instead of water.
9) “”–Dirty Harry Goes Left-wing and manages to reduce one of the greatest, most heroic battles and victories in U.S. history to a disgrace. Extremely false portrayal exaggerates minor bad parts of novel with the same name and reduces the vast positive heroism of vets to embarrassment and political misuse. An abomination to the memory of those who gave their lives at Iwo Jima to beat the Japanese.
10) “”–Boring, three hour ordeal, mostly in Japanese with subtitles. Do we really need to see the Japanese side of Iwo Jima–showing Americans as brutal thugs who murder those who’ve surrendered; and Japanese as honorable, decent soldiers who did no wrong? What’s next–“Letters from United 11” in Arabic showing Mohammed Atta’s point of view?
11) “”–Terrorists are national heroes. Police and other law enforcement are Nazis and the real terrorists. Islam is beautiful and under attack by the law enforcement oppressors (if only). Pure propaganda with no basis in reality.
12) “”–Disgusting, boring, and pointless, this sequel to its vastly overrated original has scenes complete with bestiality, or as they sanitize it, “interspecies erotica.” An obnoxious waste of time about loser slackers who continue to be so, despite their claims otherwise. Who cares?
13) “”–Aging star Sharon Stone, famous only for baring her crotch in the first installment of this movie, makes another movie in her desperationg to stay relevant. Seems like the only recent she made this was to show us her new implants and nipples. Yawn. Pretentiously dumb.
14) “”–Julianne Moore plays a crazy mother whose son is found dead. And guess what? She did it. Simply awful from beginning to end.
15) “”–Drug-addicted, violent, stealing loser is a veteran soldier from the Gulf War and a Homeland Security agent recruit. Bloody, violent, and pointless. Disturbing for no purpose.
16) “”–Dumb, boring, amateurish movie shot in Appalachia using non-professional actors in producer billionaire Mark Cuban’s first attempt and “simultaneous” DVD and screen release. Basically, no plot. Depressing. Did I just waste almost two hours of my life for this?
17) “”–No, Bobby Kennedy was not G-d. This awful, boring version of “The Love Boat” at a hotel where Bobby Kennedy was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan is no different than watching your average TV soap opera. And a whole lot less interesting–if that is possible. Glorifies draft-dodging and marrying to avoid combat during the Vietnam War. Thanks, Lindsay Lohan. Emilio Estevez wrote and directed this insipid junk. HOprah loved it–need I say more?
18) “”–Never thought I’d wish for Don Johnson’s and Philip Michael Thomas’ return. This waste of time remake of the 1980’s TV series lost all of its glamor and kitsch and replaced it with a violent, non-sensical plot and a stupid lust story with a woman whose accent makes it impossible to understand what she’s saying. Not that we care to. Apparently the purpose of this movie was Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx butt and shower shots. Again, not that we cared. Gratuitous use of an . Thanks for the brief anti-Israel propaganda. Then-Miami ICE Special Agent in Charge Jesus Torres , for this crappy movie.
19) “”–Dumb, bizarre, non-sensical movie ostensibly about the mysterious “black Dahlia” murderer in mid-20th centure Hollywood, is instead a weird mishmash about nothing.
20) “”–“Documentary” succeeds in defaming evangelical Christians who love America and have faith as complete freaks. Thanks, Mark Cuban. Where’s the movie about Muslims? Don’t hold your breath.
21) “”–Dumb Jessica Simpson vehicle couldn’t be more dumb or boring.
22) “”–Julianne Moore, David Duchovny, and Maggie Gyllenhaal waste valuable hours of our time in boring, pointless film about cheating, sexual dysfunction, and sap in a New York family. So what?
23) “”–Dumb movie about single man who lives at home and the parents who want to get him married and out of the house. Not funny.
24) “”–Possibly the worst teen flick of the decade. Teen girls get together to get back at the popular jock who cheats on all of them. Silly in the extreme.
25) “”–Spike Lee helped produce this anti-American mockumentary portraying America and Ronald Reagan as racists–if the Confederates had won. Yeah, like we’d still have slavery in 2006. Where’s the movie about real slavery–in Muslim countries–in 2006? Abraham Lincoln in blackface? Shut up and move on.
26) “”–Sean Penn manages to absolutely ruin and pervert the original movie about a fictional version of Huey Long. No, he wasn’t a decent liberal who cared about “the people.” He was a demogogue user.
27) “”–New age moview with three bizarre nonsensical plots/stories. Even one of them would have been bad enough. Next time a director writes and makes a movie for his pregnant fiancee, he should think again. We don’t care about them.
28) “”–Loser slackers don’t want to settle down and be faithful to the mothers of their kids. Gee, how exciting to go to the movies for that.
29) “”–Violent felon teen murderers and other criminals in prison are people, too. And they deserve our sympathy and the chance to play football.
30) “”–George Reeves is turning over in his grave. Dumb movie about TV’s Superman actor and his self-absorbed, loser life and a self-absorbed, loser detective looking into it. Who cares?
31) “”–Yet another movie about Truman Capote. One wasn’t enough? Sorry, the Saddam hanging video was enough. Didn’t need to see this pathetic author make out with another guy and then watch him hang. Yuck. Atrocious.
32) “”–Managed to make the founding of the OSS and CIA boring as all get out. And to turn it into a melodramatic Lifetime Movie of the Week about an angry, crying, slutty wife and a cold marriage. Ho hum. And what the heck was Joe Pesci doing in the movie? 3 long, boring hours of wasted life you’ll never get back.
33) “”–Pretentious, snooty English comedian makes fun of Red State America and portrays them as racists and fools. Anoterh message: Americans are idiots for being good-hearted and nice. Would rather see him make fun of his own countrymen who openly hate America and don’t need the ruse of a fake reporter for Kazakhstan to elicit their spewing and spouting off.