The 2006 Raymo awards

It's that time of year when I reveal the top five movies of the past 12 months, the runners-up and the flop of the year.
In total I saw 31 films at the cinema, up on last year and around what I'd say is average for me. Making this job a bit tougher in 2006 is the fact that, according to my list, I gave four 9/10's and four 8.5/10's.

1. Brokeback Mountain
Whether you saw it or not you couldn't escape the hype and controversy that this film caused. You all know what it's about. Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were amazing in bringing to the screen the internal struggle of a forbidden relationship that neither really wanted but both couldn't escape. The hype probably cost it a Best Picture Oscar but with or without the statue this was the best film of 2006.
2. Children Of Men
Set in a future, about 20 years ahead, where humans have become infertile and nobody under the age of 18 exists in the world. This remarkable film, with the wonderful Clive Owen and Julianne Moore, is very moving despite its stark look at what life could be like if we all had no hope, or no future. You may need the tissue box. Outstanding.
3. Capote
The story of a period in the life of author Truman Capote where he researched and wrote his famous non-fiction novel In Cold Blood. It features an absolutely flawless performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who has always been a very good actor, and one totally deserving of the best actor Oscar. I recall being so captivated by the story and the performance I was disappointed when the movie ended.
4. 2:37
Not for everyone, this small-time Australian film is a different kind of who-dunnit movie. We begin with a suicide of a high school student and head back to explore the lives of six teenagers, all of whom have seemingly good reason to be the one found at the start of the movie. It's quite graphic, possibly too graphic at one stage, and highly emotion-charged. Featuring probably the best quote of the year `sometimes you're too caught up in your own stuff you don't notice anybody else', 2:37 is a worthy inclusion.
5. Match Point
Woody Allen goes to London and produces a fine mystery where the line between love and lust is as blurry as a tennis court's baseline. Scarlett Johannsen almost steals the show as the femme fatale Nora. Regarded by one Empire magazine contributor as one of the scariest films he's ever seen. This was captivating, the acting excellent and the film's point about luck being like when a ball hits the net in tennis was cleverly made.

Honourable mentions: United 93 (chilling), A History Of Violence, Cars, The Weather Man, Superman Returns and The Producers.
Surprise of the year: The Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep tears up the screen as a domineering fashion magazine boss. Didn't expect to like it so much. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Flop of the year: Mission Impossible 3. No wonder Paramount dumped Tom Cruise. He took a perfectly fine actor and wasted his talents in an unnecessary sequel. The new James Bond movie did the same thing (genre-wise) but only 10 times better.