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FILM: BEST OF 2006

JOHN WATERS

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JOHN WATERS

1 United 93 (Paul Greengrass) The best movie in the last five years. No cheap shots in this one! I have friends who would watch a snuff film, yet they refuse to see this great action picture—I don’t get why.

2 Jackass Number Two (Jeff Tremaine) Playing on more than three thousand screens, Jackass 2 was the number-one-grossing movie in America on its opening weekend—and the male stars eat shit and drink horse semen for real. They’re nude a lot, too. If this isn’t cultural terrorism, I don’t know what is.

3 The Last King of Scotland (Kevin Macdonald) Forest Whitaker tops the performance of Joseph Olita in 1981’s Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, one of my all-time favorite trash masterpieces.

4 Shortbus (John Cameron Mitchell) When was the last time the star of a film rimmed someone, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and walked away with his dignity? A touching, lovely movie that I hope gets turned into a Broadway musical.

5 The Departed (Martin Scorsese) The best-acted film of the year from America’s coolest director. The final shot is beyond perfection.

6 Sherrybaby (Laurie Collyer) Maggie Gyllenhaal plays an ex-convict drug addict (the kind I see in Baltimore every day), and the film is so depressing and great that I wish I could see it with an all-female prison audience.

7 Inside Man (Spike Lee) Handsome bank-robbing outfits—so chic, so scary, so fashionably conformist.

8 Sleeping Dogs Lie (Bobcat Goldthwait) A feminist tale of a girl who once blew her dog and mistakenly tells her boyfriend. Now there’s a high-concept romantic comedy.

9 Hamilton (Matthew Porterfield) A tiny, minimalist art film from Baltimore that made it to New York and is astonishing in its simple beauty, amazing performances, and hypnotic pace. The real thing.

10 Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola) Sofia Coppola is Karen Kilimnik!

A Date With John Waters (New Line Records) will be released on Valentine’s Day 2007.

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Cover, left to right, from top left: Martin Kippenberger, 7. Preis (7th Prize), 1987, oil on canvas, 70 3/8 x 59 1/16". Pawel Althamer, Fairy Tale (detail), 2006. Installation view, Pferdeställe des Postfuhrants (Post Office Stables), Augustrasse, Berlin. Photocopy of a reproduction of David Hammons, Higher Goals, 1986. From “David Hammons: The Unauthorized Retrospective,” Triple Candie, New York, 2006. Mike Kelley, Heartthrob Split, 2005, mixed media with video projection and photographs, dimensions variable. Installation view, Gagosian Gallery, New York, 2006. Park Chan-wook, Lady Vengeance, 2005, still from a color film in 35 mm, 112 minutes. Lee Geum-ja (Lee Young-ae). Students reenacting Allan Kaprow’s Household, 1964, as part of the exhibition “Allan Kaprow: Art as Life,” Haus der Kunst, Munich, 2006. Piotr Uklanski, Summer Love, 2006, still from a color film in 35 mm, 93 minutes. The Stranger (Karel Roden). Tacita Dean, Kodak, 2006, still from a black-and-white and color film in 16 mm, 44 minutes. Hannah Höch, The Beautiful Girl, 1919, photomontage and collage, 13 3/4 x 11 1/2". Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, 2006, still from a color video, 90 minutes. Gustav Klimt, Adele Bloch-Bauer II, 1912, oil on canvas, 74 3/4 x 47 1/4". Ashley Bickerton, Green Reflecting Head Sam No. 2, 2006, printed paper with steel pins, 49 x 39". Maureen Gallace, Cape Cod, Winter, 2004, oil on panel, 11 x 14". View of “Isa Genzken,” 2006, Wiener Secession, Vienna. Brice Marden, Lethykos (for Tonto), 1976, oil and beeswax on canvas, four panels, overall 84 x 72". Poul Kjærholm, PK O, laminated wood chair, 1950–51. Lee Lozano, Ream, 1964, oil on canvas, 72 x 96". Yves Klein, Untitled monogold (MG 17), 1960, gold leaf on board, 78 3/8 x 60 1/4". From Blue monochrome, monogold, and monopink, “triptych,” 1960. Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Climates, 2006, still from a color film in 35 mm transferred from video, 97 minutes. Isa (Nuri Bilge Ceylan). Sigmar Polke, Untitled, 2006, artificial resin on polyester fiber, 46 x 54". James Benning, Casting a Glance, 2006–, strip from an unfinished color film in 16 mm, approx. 90 minutes. Invitation for “Jürgen Klauke: Works from the Early ’70s,” Ritter/Zamet, London, 2006. View of Herzog & de Meuron, “Perception Restrained,” 2006, Museum of Modern Art, New York. Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Natural Grace (detail), 1984–85, color photograph, 16 x 12". From the series “Stiller Nachmittag” (Quiet Afternoon), 1984–85. Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Parc Central, 2006, still from a color video, 50 minutes. Nate Lowman, Oops Maxima (Peach), 2005, silk screen on canvas, 30 x 30". Tony Oursler, Spaced, 2006, fiberglass sculpture, DVD, DVD player, Plus U7-132 XGA DLP digital projector, 50 x 67 x 27". Damien Hirst, Ira Dei (The Wrath of God), 2005, acrylic, metal, shark, and formaldehyde solution, 78 x 108 x 36". Cerith Wyn Evans, Please pay attention motherfucker, 2006. Installation view, Institute of Contemporary Art, London. Photo: Danny Birchall. Sofia Coppola, Marie Antoinette, 2006, still from a color film in 35 mm, 123 minutes. Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst). Robert Rauschenberg, Charlene (detail), 1954, oil, charcoal, paper, fabric, newspaper, wood, plastic, mirror, and metal on four Homasote panels mounted on wood with electric light, 89 x 112 x 3 1/2". Mel Bochner, Money/Obscene, 2006, oil on velvet, 74 x 47". Adam McEwen, Dresden (Phosphorbrandbombe), 2006, phosphorescent paint and chewing gum on canvas, 90 x 70". Christopher Williams, Rollerstacker, R-136MR, Manufacturer: The Kaynar Company, Los Angeles, CA, 90054. Date of production: 1975. Vancouver, BC, April 6, 2005 (NR. 1, 2 & 3), 2005 (detail), triptych, color photographs, each 16 x 20". Joan Jonas, The Shape, the Scent, the Feel of Things, 2005. Performance view, Dia:Beacon, Beacon, NY. Cameron Jamie, Kranky Klaus, 2002–2003, still from a color video, 26 minutes. Seth Price, Untitled Film, Right, 2006, still from a color film in 16 mm, 14 minutes. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez addressing the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, New York, September 20, 2006. Photo: AP/Julie Jacobson. View of Thomas Hirschhorn, “Superficial Engagement,” 2006, Gladstone Gallery, New York.
Cover, left to right, from top left: Martin Kippenberger, 7. Preis (7th Prize), 1987, oil on canvas, 70 3/8 x 59 1/16". Pawel Althamer, Fairy Tale (detail), 2006. Installation view, Pferdeställe des Postfuhrants (Post Office Stables), Augustrasse, Berlin. Photocopy of a reproduction of David Hammons, Higher Goals, 1986. From “David Hammons: The Unauthorized Retrospective,” Triple Candie, New York, 2006. Mike Kelley, Heartthrob Split, 2005, mixed media with video projection and photographs, dimensions variable. Installation view, Gagosian Gallery, New York, 2006. Park Chan-wook, Lady Vengeance, 2005, still from a color film in 35 mm, 112 minutes. Lee Geum-ja (Lee Young-ae). Students reenacting Allan Kaprow’s Household, 1964, as part of the exhibition “Allan Kaprow: Art as Life,” Haus der Kunst, Munich, 2006. Piotr Uklanski, Summer Love, 2006, still from a color film in 35 mm, 93 minutes. The Stranger (Karel Roden). Tacita Dean, Kodak, 2006, still from a black-and-white and color film in 16 mm, 44 minutes. Hannah Höch, The Beautiful Girl, 1919, photomontage and collage, 13 3/4 x 11 1/2". Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, 2006, still from a color video, 90 minutes. Gustav Klimt, Adele Bloch-Bauer II, 1912, oil on canvas, 74 3/4 x 47 1/4". Ashley Bickerton, Green Reflecting Head Sam No. 2, 2006, printed paper with steel pins, 49 x 39". Maureen Gallace, Cape Cod, Winter, 2004, oil on panel, 11 x 14". View of “Isa Genzken,” 2006, Wiener Secession, Vienna. Brice Marden, Lethykos (for Tonto), 1976, oil and beeswax on canvas, four panels, overall 84 x 72". Poul Kjærholm, PK O, laminated wood chair, 1950–51. Lee Lozano, Ream, 1964, oil on canvas, 72 x 96". Yves Klein, Untitled monogold (MG 17), 1960, gold leaf on board, 78 3/8 x 60 1/4". From Blue monochrome, monogold, and monopink, “triptych,” 1960. Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Climates, 2006, still from a color film in 35 mm transferred from video, 97 minutes. Isa (Nuri Bilge Ceylan). Sigmar Polke, Untitled, 2006, artificial resin on polyester fiber, 46 x 54". James Benning, Casting a Glance, 2006–, strip from an unfinished color film in 16 mm, approx. 90 minutes. Invitation for “Jürgen Klauke: Works from the Early ’70s,” Ritter/Zamet, London, 2006. View of Herzog & de Meuron, “Perception Restrained,” 2006, Museum of Modern Art, New York. Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Natural Grace (detail), 1984–85, color photograph, 16 x 12". From the series “Stiller Nachmittag” (Quiet Afternoon), 1984–85. Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Parc Central, 2006, still from a color video, 50 minutes. Nate Lowman, Oops Maxima (Peach), 2005, silk screen on canvas, 30 x 30". Tony Oursler, Spaced, 2006, fiberglass sculpture, DVD, DVD player, Plus U7-132 XGA DLP digital projector, 50 x 67 x 27". Damien Hirst, Ira Dei (The Wrath of God), 2005, acrylic, metal, shark, and formaldehyde solution, 78 x 108 x 36". Cerith Wyn Evans, Please pay attention motherfucker, 2006. Installation view, Institute of Contemporary Art, London. Photo: Danny Birchall. Sofia Coppola, Marie Antoinette, 2006, still from a color film in 35 mm, 123 minutes. Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst). Robert Rauschenberg, Charlene (detail), 1954, oil, charcoal, paper, fabric, newspaper, wood, plastic, mirror, and metal on four Homasote panels mounted on wood with electric light, 89 x 112 x 3 1/2". Mel Bochner, Money/Obscene, 2006, oil on velvet, 74 x 47". Adam McEwen, Dresden (Phosphorbrandbombe), 2006, phosphorescent paint and chewing gum on canvas, 90 x 70". Christopher Williams, Rollerstacker, R-136MR, Manufacturer: The Kaynar Company, Los Angeles, CA, 90054. Date of production: 1975. Vancouver, BC, April 6, 2005 (NR. 1, 2 & 3), 2005 (detail), triptych, color photographs, each 16 x 20". Joan Jonas, The Shape, the Scent, the Feel of Things, 2005. Performance view, Dia:Beacon, Beacon, NY. Cameron Jamie, Kranky Klaus, 2002–2003, still from a color video, 26 minutes. Seth Price, Untitled Film, Right, 2006, still from a color film in 16 mm, 14 minutes. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez addressing the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, New York, September 20, 2006. Photo: AP/Julie Jacobson. View of Thomas Hirschhorn, “Superficial Engagement,” 2006, Gladstone Gallery, New York.
DECEMBER 2006
VOL. 45, NO. 4
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