Best In Show 2006 pt. 1

In the time honoured tradition of blogs, it is now my turn to put my two cent in about what I consider the best of the previous year. Last year I spread the wealth over a couple of days, but this year I'm doing on GIANT-SIZE edition. Now, I've spent some time putting the damn thing together but it isn't what I thought it should be. The categories are:

Best Music [single] - According the good folks at Pitchfork, the best track of 2006 was "My Love" by Justin Timberlake. While that is probably the best pop single of this year, my favourite track had to be "Hold On Hold On" from Neko Case's The Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. I have to admit that I do, however, prefer the live version of the same song off the the Sadies live record, In Concert Volume 1.
Runners up:
Pull Shapes -The Pipettes
LDN - Lily Allen
Lloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken - Camera Obscura
You Love Me - DeVotchKa
Best Music [cover] - This was Ben Folds' year. Between his covers of "Bitches Ain't Shit" and "Such Great Heights" he reminds me why when I was in high school I thought he was totally awesome (and why I travelled to Buffalo one summer to see his concert with someone I didn't really know).
Best Music [album] - I look over the albums I purchased over the past year and while none of them have been horrible, this hasn't been a great year. For me, it comes down to Neko Case's album and the new Bonnie 'Prince' Billy record, The Letting Go. I thought there might be others, but for albums I've actually purchased, it comes down to these two. While Case's record is great, not all the tracks are excellent. BPB record, however, is something else. So, just edging out the lead, I choose Bonnie 'Prince' Billy.
*neither of which appears on Pitchfork's 50 best albums of 2006.
Best Film [critical] - The Departed (?) Okay... so I had difficulty deciding what was the best "critically" acclaimed movie of this year, mostly 'cause I didn't see a lot of them. I was in a silly mood for most of this year (I blame my girl for this. Stick It on my birthday? Come on...). Anyway, I really enjoyed The Departed if only for the ending. But it wasn't a clear winner. I also really like the runner ups.
Runners up:
Inside Man
Stranger Than Fiction
Thank You for Smoking
Best Film [enjoyment] - Casino Royale. I've always been a fan of the James Bond films since I was a little kid, but Casino Royale was just miles ahead anything that's come out in the series during my lifetime. It also stood up to a second viewing.
Runners up:
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Funniest Movie of the Year)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Best Comic: Daredevil. Ed Brubaker's first story was fantastic and also had the greatest last panel of the year. Brubaker took the classic element of the character, incorporated Bendis' last story and add Lark's great artwork and you've got me hooked.
Runner up:
The Punisher by Garth Ennis
Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday

So, I think that's it. Not the most exciting list this year, but I've been busy with other things to pay too much attention to making lists... what is the world coming to?