Right now I am dead tired, but someone remind me to talk about the film I caught at the Cleveland Cinematheque this past weekend, The Aura. Wow! That's all I can say right now. More on that on the next post.

Look at this beauty:


Packed with these extras:

	New high-definition digital transfer of the recent full restoration, supervised by director of photography Pierre Lhomme
	Optional Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 soundtrack
	Audio commentary by Jean-Pierre Melville historian Ginette Vincendeau
	New interviews with Lhomme and editor Françoise Bonnot
	Archival excerpts from French television programs, including on-set footage from the film’s production and interviews with Melville; actors Jean-Pierre Cassel, Paul Crauchet, Paul Meurisse, and Simone Signoret; writer Joseph Kessel; and real-life Resistance fighters André Dewavrin (a.k.a. Colonel Passy) and Lucie Aubrac, among others
	Jean-Pierre Melville et "L'Armée des ombres" (2006), a short documentary including interviews with Bonnot, Lhomme, Cassel, composer Eric Demarsan, writer and filmmaker Philippe Labro, and filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier
	Le journal de la Résistance (1944), a rare short documentary shot on the front lines of the final days of the French Resistance
	Film restoration demonstration by Lhomme
	Theatrical trailers
	New and improved English subtitle translation
	PLUS: A booklet featuring critic Amy Taubin, historian Robert Paxton, and excerpts from Rui Nogueira’s Melville on Melville

All courtesy of the wonder Criterion Collection. Man, I can't wait til May.

Look at this. A little over a week. Your impressed aren't you. I had some down time from my day off so I thought I would write a quick post. Been kind of a long day. Still waiting for new carpet that should have been here by now (we ordered it a bit over a month ago) so Chiaki and I were around and about bitching at the carpet place and checking out some other places for better deals. I also made time to make a handful of updates for the front pages of KFC Cinema, take a gander if you like. You can also check out my last two reviews at the site, Naked Pursuit and Be With Me, by clicking the cute little icons at the top. I am sorta in the process of writing my review for Linda, Linda, Linda - a beautiful little film which just missed my Top Ten list (I may be so inclined to put it on my 2007 list instead...we will see).

For all of you out there that don't live near me, we had one hell of a week. Ohio was hit with an estimated 7-10 inches of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. Man, was it a mess. The most snow I have ever seen around these parts, as least as much as I can remember. Tuesday was a good day to use my Best Buy gift certificate, however,with these two purchases:

That is the Mick Jagger starring Nicolas Roeg film Performance, which has been on my to see list for the last few years but was impossible to find until now, and the latest release from the UK darlings Bloc Party. I have yet to watch Performance, aside from the trailer, but I have played the hell out of Weekend in the City, the new album from Bloc Party. Man, have they matured on this release. My buddy Nate informed me that it hasn't gotten the greatest reviews, but I have no idea why. It's pretty damn amazing. Matter of fact their first single 'The Prayer', has spawned one of the coolest damn videos I have seen in a long time. Please, do yourself a favor and check it out right now. You might want to watch it at least twice cause I guarantee you will miss something the first time around. It's a wonder to view. Maybe be one of my favorites of all time. Hell of a track to boot too.

Chiaki and I really want to catch them in Detroit at the end of March. As if Bloc Party wasn't enough of an incentive to go, Sebastien Grangier, forming of the legend that was Death From Above (and the equally jaw-dropping Femme Fatale), will be opening the shows. To hear what Grangier's solo stuff has in store for ya, check out his myspace page. It's some great stuff, definitely different from anything he has done in the past, well sorta.

Tomorrow night, my friends Aaron and Jason and I are going to catch a film at the Cleveland Cinematheque called The Aura. We all are pretty pumped about it. It is by the late director of Nine Queens, which I have not had the fortune of seeing yet, however I did manage to check out the above average American remake, Criminal. I will chime in on this later. For now, I am off.

So the time is now. I have been waiting to do this list for what seems like forever now. Usually when you make these things everyone choice is delicately made, yet could change at the drop of a hat. You could have one film recently stuck in your mind, even though a few weeks later after watch another you feel it may be better after second viewing. To be totally honest this list may not be perfect. What it is though is some of my favorite films this year, so hopefully you enjoy it.

10) Letters from Iwo Jima

I have to admit I feel Eastwood is a bit overrated. While Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby were good films, my final reaction to them weren't as strong as everyone else. I had high hopes for this one and I think that he really did well with it. The film thoroughly peak my interest throughout the rather long running time. One of my friend Bo's favorite films!

9) Army of Shadows

If you never heard the story about this, I will quickly fill you in. Originally released in 1969 in France this film never made it to the US shores until now, almost 40 years later. Truly amazing stuff. Just shows you how much of a genius Jean Pierre Melville really was.

8) The Proposition

Caught this last year at the Cleveland International Film Festival and was blown away. Really helps film the gap the master Sergio Leone left behind over 3 decades ago. Superb!

7) The Fountain

Probably one of the most overlooked films of 2006. So overlooked, I even forgot about it until after I had made this post. Definitely the most romantic film I have seen in a long time. This film will move you and stick with you for a long time. That is if you get it! Unfortunately, it is one of those love it or hate it films that some may just not get. For those individuals it truly is a shame. This film is a true work of art.

6) Babel

Definitely my most anticipated film of 2006, it didn't let me down what so ever. In my opinion Alejandro González Iñárritu can do no wrong. Everything he touches is gold. Would have filled the number one spot on my list if the remain films weren't so damn impressive. Still amazing filmmaking and will always be with me.

5) Volver

Almodovar got the shaft from the Academy this year he really did. Not only should this have been in the running for Best Foreign Film but also Best Director. I loved this thing. Penelope Cruz is spellbinding in this film. Its a shame that she will be overlooked by Helen Mirren (who has a great performance in a mediocre film). What's harder, playing someone that already exists or creating a fascinating character from scratch. To me its the latter but who am I to judge. She is at least best actress in my book.

4) Little Children

Here's a film that caught me complete off guard. I was a big fan of In the Bedroom especially Todd Field's direction and the two leads. However, I put this film on the backburner and almost didn't even catch it...until yesterday. Man, is this film powerful. Everything about it: the direction, Winslet and Wilson, and Jackie Earle Haley. Wow! The film also has a narrator which gives you the feeling as if you are reading a great novel.

Please, please see this film.

3) The Science of Sleep

What can I say about this film. Its just pure wackiness at its most brilliant. A Gondry video come to life. Its a wonder to watch. What makes it so great is that as strange and abstract as he pushes the viewer, he still draws you back in with the most heartwarming film in years.

2) Children of Men

I will say this right now. This should have been the Best Picture of the Year. I have no idea what the hell is wrong with the Academy of Motion Pictures. This thing is a masterpiece. It is the best film of the year. If it were not for my love for the film below this film would have held the number one spot on my list. However, when writing these things I often base my list on my favorites of the year and not necessarily the best of the year. Some the most breathtaking cinematography ever on screen, this film should be seen by all!

1) Pan's Labyrinth

I love this film. It drew me in from the second it started and never let go. Even though the film is ultimately fantasy based the feelings of the main little girl is something everyone can relate to. Often times and human beings we try to distract ourselves from the negative things in our everyday life. That is the way i took this film. Whether she was strictly living in a fantasy world or if all this was in her head, the fact of the matter was that it took her way from the true horrors of life. While we may not be going through such horrible things, we as individuals can understand what she was going experiencing in some way or another. Del Toro outdid himself with this film. It takes pure intelligence and originality to make a fantasy which touches the hearts of some many on such a realistic level. What a beautiful film!

And there you have it. It may not please everyone but it is what it is. I should mention that there was alot of other films that I found amazing during the year that just didn't have a spot on my list, unfortunately. Films like Invisible Waves, The Departed, Cache, Riding alone for Thousands of Miles, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Borat, The Prestige, Suite Dreams, and Linda, Linda, Linda just missed the list by a hair but still impressed the pants off me. I shall return in a day or two with a longer post but for now I am off to sleep.

Apparently by "regular basis" I meant every month and a half. Damn, I have been sucking at this. So Chiaki and I saw Little Children tonight. Guess what that means? My Top 10 can finally be made. Yay! Suffice to say it is past midnight and I have to get up for work in less than 6 hours so I am going to bed. However, a promise is a promise and if y'all tune in tomorrow I will have a nice update which will include among other things my Top Ten films of 2006. I know you can't wait!