2. Grandpa (Alan Arkin) - Little Miss Sunshine
Little Miss Sunshine was one of the most talked about movies of 2006 - and for good reasons. This bittersweet indie comedy follows a dysfunctional family but hey, who doesn't have one, right? - who goes on a road trip across the States to get their young daughter to a pageant contest. Like almost any American family road movie, there will be revelations, arguments, difficulties to overcome, a lot of learning from each other and the necessary pep talk on self-belief and the real values of life. What makes the movie stand out from the lot is first its ability to keep its distance from the usual clichés of the genre. As absurd as the situations can get, the whole story remains grounded in reality. It allows the movie to flow naturally without any feeling of overload and to stay away from unwanted cheesiness. Furthermore, it is to the Oscar-winning screenwriter's credit that the characters - from the main family members to the supporting cast - are all utterly colorful and memorable. They all have a distinct personality and their own moment to shine. The actors are each powerful enough to hold the screen alone and, as such, it is hard to pick a favorite. Still, Alan Arkin as the foul-mouthed, heroin snorting, free spirited, outspoken grandfather is absolutely superb. The first time we meet him, he is criticizing his daughter-in-law for her absence of culinary expertise - 'Every night it's the f***ing chicken!' And so, you may think that hes gonna be one of those grumpy old men who just enjoy snarling and growling at the world because they feel that life has left them behind. But if you guessed so, you guessed wrong: there sure is life in the old dog yet. He is the only one in the whole family who doesn't need to be more self-assured and he never misses a chance to give life-saving advice to whoever asks for it or doesnt. Whether they are about relationships ('F*** a lotta women kid') or drug taking habits ('When you're old you're crazy not to do it'), Grandpa has an answer to everything. The most remarkable thing is that he may be tough from the outside but he is in fact surprisingly sweet. He sometimes shows some disarming honesty when a family member needs to be comforted. The key dialogue he shares with his seven-year-old granddaughter is pure gold. And the scene in the car where he tells his failing son how much he is proud of him is so poignant you will need to hold back your tears. Alan Arkin got an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this role. Here, he delivers one of the best performances of his entire career. And if you don't agree, he would tell you Argo f*** yourself!