Monday's Box Office: The Final Numbers

New Year's Day is a big one at the movies, so Monday's box office was atypically big. Here are the final numbers, which differ from the estimates I tried to piece together from scattered info. Notably, "Dreamgirls" did a little better than I thought. The Top 10 for Monday -- New Year's Day, per The Numbers:

1. Night at the Museum -- $11.4 million ($127 million total)
2. The Pursuit Of Happyness -- $6.1 million ($104 million total)
3. Dreamgirls -- $4.2 million ($41 million total)
4. Charlotte's Web -- $3.2 million ($55.8 million total)
5. The Good Shepherd -- $3.2 million ($38.3 million total)
6. Rocky Balboa -- $3.2 million ($51.1 million total)
7. Eragon -- $2.6 million ($59 million total)
8. Happy Feet -- $2.3 million ($178 million total)
9. We Are...Marshall -- $2.3 million ($27 million total)
10. The Holiday -- $2.1 million ($52 million total)

BBC's Sound Of 2007 Poll

The BBC's poll of top critics and opinion makers has become an annual tradition, with everyone trying to predict who the best acts of the coming year will be. The Top 10 list is a great resource for acts to keep an eye on and I'm looking forard to Friday's reveal of this year's winners. For now, here's an interview with Corinne Bailey Rae, last year's winner, one of the best success stories in the UK and an artist that will appear high on my Best CDs of 2006 list as soon as I finish it.

Now Even Germans Make Fun Of Hitler

We've been making fun of Nazis since at least "Modern Times" and "The Producers" and "Hogan's Heroes." Now the Germans are getting into the act, with a new comedy showing Hitler getting coached by a Jewish actor from a concentration camp, with the actor taking the opportunity to make Adolph behave like a fool. This is news since it's only been a year or two since "Downfall," the German film that looked at Hitler's monstrousness in the harshest way possible: not by showing a madman or a lunatic, but by revealing him to be merely a man, with many willing accomplices.

MoMA Expanding Again

Two minutes after MoMA redesigned its entire space by shutting down for more than a year and hiring a top architect, they're doing it again. No, they're not shutting down, but MoMA is selling off some land to raise money and build an extension with 10,000 more feet of exhibition space, storage, etc. Coming so soon after such a major overhaul, this is a remarkable admission that the redesign has been a flop -- not necessarily in admissions, but in how their art is presented and in flexibility. Surely if they'd thought everything through properly a SECOND expansion with tons of new floor space would be entirely unnecessary if not downright insulting to the architect. I've found the new MoMA very unfriendly for visiting and apparently they realize it.

The Doors Are Bland, Apparently

In discussing the return of mild sitcom "The King Of Queens," the NYTimes makes two odd comments. One, they refer to the show as bland and easy to take, a la pizza and...the Doors? I'm not old enough to remember, but weren't the Doors genuinely dangerous, with Jim Morrison exposing himself and the band bringing epic 8 minute+ songs like "The End" to the radio pretty genre-busting? Sure, NOW they seem familiar, but they were hardly comfort food at the beginning. Wouldn't a better comparison for "The King Of Queens" have been Hootie & The Blowfish or Barry Manilow or something? Second, they suggest the show is ending because star Kevin James has decided to move on. Now, the show is in its ninth season, so it's clearly ready to say goodbye. But in fact it was CBS that jerked the show around, debated whether to bring it back and finally decided on giving the show a short order for one more go-around as a mid-season replacement. I've never heard a single suggestion anywhere that James wouldn't have been pleased as punch to have a full season order of 22 episodes or even happier to come back for a tenth year. In trying to give the show credit for being somewhat amusing, they've gone overboard and distorted the facts.

Should All Documentaries Be Objective?

The NYTimes looks at the documentary films making the Oscars shortlist this year and raises up an issue: is the Michael moore style of filmmaking dangerous and bad? Foolishly, pioneer Albert Maysles thinks all documentaries should be dispassionate and not betray a point of view whenever possible. Of course, that's a perfectly valid way to make a documentary film -- indeed perhaps most documentary films should be objective. But surely it's not the ONLY type of documentary that should be made. Just like a newspaper needs objective articles, news analysis, commentary, editorials, opinion columns and letters to the editor, the documentary world needs dispassionate films, angry films, personal films, cries from the heart, muckraking and furious denunciations. Michael Moore is annoying if you disagree with him (or if his blustering gets in the way of a good film). So is Bill O'Reilly. Both have their place and when either distorts the FACTS they can and will be called on it.

Pat Robertson's 2007 Predictions!

Yes, it's the traditional heartwarming beginning to a new year: the wacky, lovable predictions of Pat "even fundamentalists are a little bit embarrassed by me" Robertson. Thanks to my brother Chris for the link. (Actually, his TV show is still very popular and he is still a figure at major events, so they're not THAT embarrassed by him.) It's not clear which are predictions and which are the direct word of God except for his first prediction: mass killings in the US from a terrorist attack will affect major cities and millions of people. His recent track record isn't so good. Robertson predicted Bushn would "easily" win reelection; Bush struggled to beat the hapless Kerry and it came down to the electoral votes of one state. Robertson predicted major victories for Bush in his second term. Virtually everything Bush has proposed has been rejected by Congress and Iraq has turned into a quagmire. Robertson "predicted" Bush would nominate conservative judges to the federal courts. If he'd predicted Bush would nominate liberal judges and it came true, I'd have been impressed. But I don't think anyone can count that obvious action as a prediction. Finally, Robertson "predicted" storms and possibly a tsunamai would hit the US coastline in 2006. No tsunamai, but storms did in fact occur on the US coastline in 2006. I'll go him one better and predict more storms in the US in 2007, including more than one hurricane. Of course, if that doesn't happen, it'll be the first time in ages at least two hurricanes didn't hit land in the US. I'll also predict a major political figure will die, that Bush will NOT put another justice on the Supreme Court, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will remain married and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" will be a big box office hit. Just see if I'm right! Got any predictions of your own?

Is "Indiana Jones 4" Really Happening?

The dependable Roger Friedman of FoxNews.com points out that people have cried wolf before over this project. True enough, but usually it's been a casual comment by one of the principals (eg. Ford tells some reporter he'd be glad to make another one) getting conflated into "news" -- "FORD SAYS NEW INDY FLICK IS A GO!" This is the first time to my knowledge that all three principals -- Lucas, Ford and Spielberg -- have said they're happy with the script and the film is going to happen. This is the first time Spielberg has said it will be his next directorial effort. They've even staked a release date of May 2008. It's gonna happen. The Hollywood Reporter says so. Variety says so. And most importantly George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford have all signed off on the script and are ready to go. A couple of points: Variety says this marks a return to pure entertainment after being interested in more serious fare like "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Munich." That of course ignores "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," which he made after "Schindler," not to mention "War Of The Worlds" (grim but still pure popcorn), "Catch Me If You Can" (a delightful adult comic-drama, and even arguably "The Terminal" (not successful but hardly hard-hitting social drama) and "Minority Report," grim again but still pretty darn popcorn-ish. And finally, given the 20 years that will have passed since the last Indy film, this one will immediately become the most successful of the four by far -- the box office is infinitely bigger now for a movie like this. $500 million worldwide would be the low-end of expectations, I'd say given the $800 million+ for Potter and LOTR, etc. And $500 million worldwide would be more than any of the first three.

Zhang Yimou's Latest Spectacle

I've been a huge fan of Zhang Yimou since his first film and nothing surprised me more than his graceful switch to action epics like "Hero" and the even better "House Of Flying Daggers." That's why I'm even more shocked that his new melodrama "Curse Of The Golden Flower" reunites him with Gong Li, pairs him for the first time with Chow Yun Fat and yet the results are so tepid. This is potboiler melodrama, with poorly staged action scenes that never excite a la "Crouching Tiger" or simply astonish with their beauty a la "Flying Daggers." It seems somehow rushed and -- despite the lavish sets -- a little cheap somehow. Still Yimou is a major talent, so I enjoyed this LA Times profile and was glad to hear Variety reporting his new film is so successful in China that other filmmakers are annoyed they can't get access to any movie screens.

New Year's Day Box Office

No direct numbers for New Year's Day are available yet. But clearly "Night At The Museum" was the big winner again, grossing nearly $9 million on Monday. "Dreamgirls" seems to have grossed more than $3.2 million, behind Will Smith and "The Pursuit Of Happyness" at $5.4 million and "Charlotte's Web" at $3.5 million. Again, "Dreamgirls" performs a little softer than expected, but opefully will have legs and chug along nicely. It's already had a bigger grossing weekend than "Chicago" ever did, but that flick had legs to die for. In limited release, "Pan's Labyrinth" was a huge success, followed closely by "Children Of Men." Both grossed aroujnd $45,000 per screen. I'm surprised the dour-looking, "Children" did so well -- it must be a comfort to star Clive Owen, who came so close to becoming the new Bond. "The Queen" keeps chugging along and "Miss Potter" -- a nice, gentle, old-fashioned flick -- barely registered.

Who Is The Biggest "Idol" Star?

For a long time, the answer was clearly Kelly Clarkson, the only "Idol" winner to become a hit worldwide. Then Carrie Underwood released a smash-hit debut that places her alongside Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson made an Oscar worthy film debut and suddenly we've got ourselves a race. But let's not forget Will Young. The FIRST winner of "Pop Idol," Young hasn't broken out in the US, but he was the first to prove an "Idol" winner could have a real career. He's delivered three hit albums, appeared in the modest hit film "Mrs. Henderson Presents" and came out without any fuss. Now he's making his stage debut in the Noel Coward play "The Vortex." Clearly, he's in it for the long haul.

Naked New Year's On Japanese TV

Editor & Publisher does it again. I mocked their decision to include daily video and now they consistently find interesting/hilarious stuff to link to. Case in point: this Japanese New Year's special that devolved into a Janet Jackson-like naked fest. I don't know what's funnier: the silly "bounce! bounce!" dance song they were peforming (complete with clowns), the naked fest at the finale (at least one of those girls sure looked topless to me, despite claims of a bodysuit) or the giggling announcers who bowed and apologized afterwards.

UFO Hovers Over O'Hare Airport

Massive coverup follows. Two interesting points: UFO is now passe -- call 'em Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; and I love this detail -- "One United employee appeared emotionally shaken by the sighting and "experienced some religious issues" over it, one co-worker said."

"Wall Street Journal" Is Free

At least for today. The Wall Street Journal is giving away tons of newspapers and making its (awkward) website open to one and all today to promote its new redesign. I've always been puzzled why the WSJ doesn't do a better job of covering the entertainment industry and that doesn't seem to be changing, despite the revamp and weekend editions that emphasize leisure. Their only coverage of the movie box office is to reprint an AP story. And the only original item of interest is this dry piece on podcasting that says record labels are finally relenting and realizing that podcasts can reach a bunch of people and promote their music.

UK Top Songs And CDs Of The Year

The UK is so influential culturally, I often forget how small it is. The top-selling album of the year -- Snow Patrol's "Eyes Open" - only moved 1.5 million copies. That sounds very modest, until I remember that the top-selling album in the US this calendar year was the "High School Musical" soundtrack and that only sold more than 3 million copies. It's just been a quiet year for music, with no blockbusters.

The Top UK Songs per the BBC:

1. Gnarls Barkley -- "Crazy"
2. Leona Lewis -- "A Moment Like This"
3. Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean -- "Hips Don't Lie"
4. Scissor Sisters -- "I Don't Feel Like Dancing"
5. Sandi Thom -- "I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker"


The Top UK CDs:

1. Snow Patrol -- Eyes Open
2. Take That -- Beautiful World
3. Scissor Sisters -- Ta-Dah
4. Acrtic Monkeys -- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
5. Kooks -- Inside In, Inside Out

New Christian Title Is Left Behind

Here are the latest bestseller lists, with Mitch Albom's "For One More Day" atop the fiction list and Hilary Clinton's future running mate Barack Obama on top of the nonfiction list. But what struck me most this week was the collapse of "John's Story: The Last Eyewitness" at #27. It's only been out since late November but the new collaboration by the authors behind the Left Behind series has been a big commercial flop. Check out the diary posted by Jerry B. Jenkins at Amazon and it doesn't sound like their book tour has been a lot of fun either. Given the stunning success of the Left Behind series, which stretches to dozens of books both in the main series and in spin-offs for teens, etc., I'm not quite sure why this new series (a proposed look at all four authors of the Gospels) has failed entirely to reach even their core audience. Perhaps it's the title? Catholics, at least, acknowledge that the Gospels were NOT written by eyewitnesses to Jesus; they were written decades later by people who got their info second and third hand.

India's Gay Prince

It's still illegal in India for consenting adults of the same gender to have sex, so news that a prince has come out is a headline-making scandal, with his mother disowning him and threatening to sue anyone who refers to him as their son. The LATimes has the story, complete with his childhood romance with an orphaned servant boy and handing out condoms on street corners for HIV prevention while still closeted. I see a Bollywood musical here, don't you?

The Year In Movies

The NYTimes does a story on the box office successes of the year. Almost everyone downplays one remarkable fact: four of the top 10 films were animated. They all talk about a "glut" of animated films, but with 40% of the biggest hits being animated, I think they're wrong. No one talks about a glut of live action films, even though most of them tank. The NYTimes makes one whopper of a mistake: they say that "Casino Royale" set a franchise record by grossing $155 million. Since this movie has been under the microscope eight ways to Sunday, that error seems unforgivable. The record is still (briefly) held by Pierce Brosnan's "Die Another Day" at $160 million until this Bond finally passes it this week. Overseas and worldwide, of course, "Casino Royale" HAS set the all-time record. Another silly comment:

Among thought-provoking movies, “Flags of Our Fathers” showed how treacherous it can be to open an Oscar contender in September or October. While “The Departed” was a hit, “All the King’s Men,” “Hollywoodland” and “Running With Scissors” all bombed.

Are they suggesting the only reason these movies flopped was because of their release date? Hardly. They wouldn't work whether they were platformed into Janaury or opened during the summer. A bad movie is a bad movie. All of them (w the exception of "Flags" were panned by critics, so where's the puzzle? They were bad movies. Period.

Tell PBS What Shows To Make

Apparently, in the new Wiki-world we live in, we're expected to do all the work. Someone comes up with a website and WE have to write the encyclopedia. Someone else wants some software and WE have to spend hours making it work. Someone wants to know where to drill and WE study the geological reports and make our picks. Now PBS wants us to tell them which science show to launch. They're got three new pilots airing in January and you can vote on which one you think should be turned into a series. All three are available to watch online for free starting today. I wonder if we'll get dental?

Free Jonas Mekas

No, he's not in jail. That's "free" as in not-costing-very-much-at-all. Mekas is an experimental filmmaker whose best known work is "As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses Of Beauty." By "best known," I mean the-title-I-see-listed-the-most-often-whenever-they-mention-Mekas. For the new year, Mekas is planning to do one short film every day. And for the first day they're available, you can download them for free. It's not really my thing -- a bit Beatnik-y -- but it is fun. And free. Thanks to IRA member George Robinson (he of "Essential Torah" fame) for the tip.

Ringing In The New Year

And what did I watch last night? Along with some movies I had recorded on TV ("The Saint In London" and "The Falcon's Brother" -- two minor baubles starring the suave George Sanders, who commited suicide and left behind a note saying "I am leaving because I am bored"), I watched for the first time "Charade" with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, which was a delightful bauble (Grant was certainly right to insist that the girl be hitting on him, rather than the other way around) and the 1939 adventure film "The Four Feathers," in my never-ending pursuit to watch any and every movie released in 1939, the greatest year for movies in Hollywood history. "Feathers" had some nicely grim moments, but frankly I was hoping for more. It's not "Gunga Din" or "Stagecoach," two far superior adventure films from that year. The romantic leads were a bit dull, with Ralph Richardson and others keeping things lively with their supporting turns. Still solid overall but no patch on the book.

"Dreamgirls" Steady At Weekend Box Office

"Dreamgirls" sure put a fright into its backers, with an uncharacteristic slowdown at the box office midweek (during the most profitable time of year for movies). But it's first full weekend since debuting on Christmas Day was strong, with an excellent per-screen average and ranking at #3, despite being on about a third of the number of screens as most of the other movies. Presumably, it will expand a little in a week or two and then go really wide on January 26, the Friday after the Oscar nominations are announced. "Rocky Balboa" (budgeted at a modest $24 million) did exactly what Stalone wanted. It made money, avoided getting laughed off the screen and gave the boxer a far more dignified sendoff than "Rocky V." Another surprise: the "Babe"-like "Charlotte's Web" (in intention, not quality) overcame a weak opening to do solid business. It won't be a smash, but this week has saved it from being a flop. Meanwhile, "Babe" director Chris Noonan (always overshadowed for that film's achievement by producer George Miller) has stumbled badly with his long-awaited followup: the nicely sweet "Miss Potter" opened very weakly in limited release, grossing a tiny amount on just two screens. And keep in mind, today's box office will also be a big boost to these films, since New Year's Eve is traditionally slow and New Year's Day is gangbusters. The weekend box office, per Box Office Prophets:

1. Night At The Museum -- $37.8 million ($116.9 million total)
2. The Pursuit Of happyness -- $19.3 million ($98.3 million total)
3. Dreamgirls -- $15.5 million ($38.5 million total)
4. Charlotte's Web -- $12 million ($52.9 million total)
5. Rocky Balboa -- $11.4 million ($48.8 million total)
6. The Good Shepherd -- $11.2 million ($35.8 million total)
7. Eragon -- $8.5 million ($56.7 million total)
8. We Are Marshall - $8 million ($25.1 million total)
9. Happy Feet -- $7.8 million ($176.2 million total)
10. The Holiday -- $6.8 million ($50 million total)

2007: TV Moves To The Net

It became almost comical in 2006: the number of places you could catch a TV show simply exploded. "Heroes" would debut on NBC on "Mondays," then it would be re-aired on SciFi a few times beginning on Friday and you could also buy it on iTunes, watch it on nbc.com (with some ads thrown in) or catch it on your DVR if you recorded it or get a friend to burn you a copy or just wait for the full season to be released on DVD before the start of season two. I suppose you could find a bootleg version on the net somewhere, but with so many easy and convenient legal ways, why would you bother? (Now if only the record and film and book industry would realize this.) MediaWeek says that the ad market for online RERUNS of network shows (shows anyone can tape on their DVR with increasing ease or watch on SciFi etc.) was about $300 million to $400 million already. That's a lot of found money and they say it will grow into $2 billion to $3 billion by 2010. That's an EXTRA $2 billion for showing a show online. Sure, the syndicated market simply has to shrink (though a show like "Heroes" would never do that well anyway, given its convoluted storyline), but with DVD and billions to be had elsewhere, who would complain? My one small prediction is that US networks will hopefully wise up to the European model and get full season DVDs out as soon as possible, rather than waiting to just a week or two before the NEXT season begins. That gives newcomers a better chance to join in and lets fans get their souvenier as soon as possible.

Can I Persuade You To Watch Teddy Thoompson?

I mocked the news journalism website Editor & Publisher when they added a daily link to some video just for fun. Did the world really need more links to YouTube, especially from a site that had nothing to do with entertainment? I still stand by my position philosophically, but have to admit at least they've got great taste. Recently, they linking to a brief and very fun duet between Sam Cooke and Muhammad Ali. And today you can find that link plus a 1999 duet between the legendary musician Richard Thompson and his son Teddy on the song "Persuasion." It's a gem.

Richard is a folk-rock power for some 40 years now, first with the legendary band Fairport Convention, then with wife Linda Thompson on a series of duet albums (they're now divorced) and as a solo artist. He is unquestionably the greatest musician alive today on both the acoustic and electric guitar. Son Teddy is both better looking and has a better voice, but he'll never match his dad on the guitar (no one could). The first time I heard Teddy, he was duetting with his dad on this very song, a lovely yearning tune by Tim Finn of Crowded House (E&P shows its non-arts roots by thinking it was by Richard). Teddy's second album "Separate Ways" is marvelous and if you have no Richard Thompson, feel free to dive into Richard and Linda Thompson's "I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight," the contemplative "Pour Down Like Silver" or the bitter breakup album "Shoot Out The Lights" or his solo album "Rumour & Sigh" (with the all-time classic "1952 Vincent Black Lightning"), just some of his many brilliant works.

Gael Garcia Bernal

Who needs a catchy headline when it includes the name "Gael Garcia Bernal?" The LATimes has a nice chat with the actor, looking forward to a 2007 flick with Hector Babenco (about a divorced couple who can't stay out of each other's lives), his directorial debut and a re-teaming with his "Y Tu Mama Tambien" costar Diego Luna in a film set in the world of football. (Plus, Bernal might be the heavy in the next "Bourne" flick.) The comparisons to Brando -- while early and unhelpful (he's hardly revolutionizing acting) -- don't seem silly for the simple reason that he's having such a varied and fascinating career.

Chevy Chase Takes One More Pratfall -- But It Ain't Funny

Since Gerald Ford's death, I've read only nice things about and from Chevy Chase -- he and Ford became friends, Chase commented on how amiable Ford was about the ribbing and so on. Now suddenly, Chase has become ungracious and obnoxious, apparently tiring of the suggestion that his career was "made" by those silly pratfalls.

"The man who 'made my career' did not do 'Fletch,' did not do 'Caddyshack,' did not write for the Smothers Brothers before he wrote for 'Saturday Night Live,' did not write for 12 years before that and win Writers Guild awards," he said.

"It's that kind of thing that comes out in the press that perpetuates myths about me that are disgusting, that hurt my feelings, that hurt my family's feelings."

It's hardly "disgusting" to suggest that Chase's imitation of Ford (which aired repeatedly throughout the first season of "Saturday Night Live") launched his career AS A PERFORMER since in fact it -- and "Weekend Update" -- did just that. You'd think the success in the three decades since then would let Chase relax and not worry about someone's offhanded description that Ford "made" his career rather than think it was hurting his legacy or some such thing. But no. A chance for graciousness turned into a moment of fragile ego.

Will Sirius & XM Satellite Radio Merge?

Yet another article arguing that it seems inevitable and -- indeed -- necessary if they want to stop the flow of red ink.

UK Music Charts Vs. Popsurfing

A mostly quiet week on the music charts, as you'd expect for the time after Christmas. No new albums coming out, no new singles to flop. On the singles chart, Iron Maiden is the surprising (to me) top debut at #3 with "Different World" while "X Factor/UK Idol" winner Leona Lewis remains at #1. And while the trend towards guest vocalists has gone crazy in hip-hop, I'm struck by the latest twist: instead of collaborations or a "featuring" credit, we're now seeing more and more pairings presented as smackdowns, such as Queen Vs. The Miami Project (a new take on "Another One Bites The Dust") and Big Bass Vs. Michelle Narine. What's next, a death cage showdown? On the album charts, reunited boy band Take That remains at #1 with "Beautiful World." I have to wonder if it seems even more beautiful since Robbie Williams has already dropped all the way down to #36 with "Rudebox." Enjoy the schaudenfreude while you can, lads. He'll be back.

The Movies Of 2006 -- My Reviews

THE MOVIES OF 2006 -- IN ORDER OF RELEASE WITH MY RATING OUT OF FOUR STARS

Fateless *** 1/2
Hoodwinked **
Why We Fight ** 1/2
Breaking News no stars
Nanny McPhee **
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story ***
Something New ***
Neil Young: Heart Of Gold ***
CSA: Confederate States Of America ***
Eight Below **
Dave Chappelle's Block Party ** 1/2
Joyeux Noel * 1/2
Woman Is The Future Of Man * 1/2
Duck Season ***
Evil **
Failure To Launch *
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things no stars
Don't Come Knocking *
She's The Man *
Thank You For Smoking ** 1/2
V For Vendetta **
L'Enfant *** 1/2
Inside Man ** 1/2
Summer Storm ** 1/2
Adam & Steve *
Awesome: I Fuckin' Shot That ***
Brick *** 1/2
The Bench Warmers *
Free Zone ** 1/2
Lucky Number Slevin **
Kinky Boots * 1/2
American Dreamz ** 1/2
The Death Of Mr. Lazarescu ***
Three Times **
Army Of Shadows ***
Clean * 1/2
United 93 *** 1/2
Down In The Valley ** 1/2
Mission: Impossible III ** 1/2
Russian Dolls **
The Da Vinci Code no stars
The King ** 1/2
Lemming * 1/2
An Inconvenient Truth ** 1/2
X-Men: The Last Stand ***
District B13 ***
Cars ***
A Prairie Home Companion ** 1/2
Nacho Libre **
Wordplay ***
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man ** 1/2
The Hidden Blade ** 1/2
Superman Returns ** 1/2
The Devil Wears Prada ** 1/2
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ** 1/2
Peaceful Warrior *
Time To Leave *** 1/2
Shadowboxer no stars
Little Miss Sunshine ** 1/2
John Tucker Must Die * 1/2
Scoop *
Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby ***
Half Nelson *** 1/2
Accepted *
Factotum ** 1/2
The Illusionist ** 1/2
Trust The Man **
Queens *
This Film Is Not Yet Rated ** 1/2
Sherrybaby ** 1/2
Al Franken: God Spoke * 1/2
Keeping Mum *
The Last Kiss ***
Old Joy **
Solo Con Tu Pareja ***
Jesus Camp ***
Renaissance * 1/2
The Last King Of Scotland ** 1/2
A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints no stars
The Queen ** 1/2
Shortbus **
The Departed ***
Little Children **
Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker no stars
Infamous *
Man Of The Year **
Flags Of Our Fathers **
Marie Antoinette **
The Prestige ** 1/2
Babel **
Climates ***
Shut Up & Sing ** 1/2
20 Centimetres *
Borat *** 1/2
Volver *** 1/2
A Good Year *
Harsh Times * 1/2
Stranger Than Fiction ** 1/2
Bobby ** 1/2
Candy * 1/2
Casino Royale ** 1/2
Fast Food Nation **
For Your Consideration ** 1/2
Happy Feet ** 1/2
The History Boys **
Van Wilder: The Rise Of Taj no stars
Bergman Island ***
Days Of Glory ***
Apocalypto ** 1/2
Blood Diamond **
The Holiday *
Charlotte's Web *
Dreamgirls ***
The Good German ** 1/2
Home Of The Brave no stars
The Pursuit Of Happyness *** 1/2
Letters From Iwo Jima ***
The Painted Veil ** 1/2
Rocky Balboa **
The Curse Of The Golden Flower **
The Good Shepherd ***
We Are Marshall **
Children Of Men ** 1/2
Notes On A Scandal **
The Dead Girl ** 1/2
Pan's Labyrinth *** 1/2

Movies Released In 2006: The Official List

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