The Best Movie of the Year (So Far)

The Belgian drama L'enfant (which I sort of reviewed here) opens today in the U.S., and I encourage everyone over there to go see it. The story of a semi-homeless petty criminal struggling to keep his world from spiraling violently out of control, it's 2006's best movie so far.

Some critics will warn you that this movie requires "patience" (and if you rushed out to see Failure to Launch during its opening weekend, they might be right). But L'enfant is essentially a thriller, with an almost unbearably gripping third act, and a passionate, powerful climax. As far as I can tell, no patience required.