Another year, another tardy slip...
Jul 08 '06 (Updated Jul 10 '06)
The Bottom Line --
Though 2005 was yet another year that saw movie revenues decline, the quality of the films released was arguably the strongest of any year so far this decade. I blame the decline of ticket sales on the fact that pre-movie ads, obnoxious loud-talkers, and cell phone users have made the general theatre experience a miserable one for many people. Don’t blame the movies themselves; they were fantastic (at least this year). So good, in fact, were this year’s films, that I rounded out my top ten with nine five-star flicks, a higher number of “classics” than any of the four years I’ve been doing this. There were so many great movies to watch in 2005 that that it’s taken my halfway through 2006 to watch them all. Okay, I know what you’re saying, “that happens every year,” and yes, you’re right. But this time it wasn’t just my laziness. The movies were just that good. Here are my picks for the best films of 2005:
Before we go any further and you start asking, “how come ______ is not on the list?” Here are the movies that I think could have made the cut but, regrettably I haven’t gotten the chance to see yet.
-Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
-Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
-Me and You and Everyone We Know
-C.R.A.Z.Y.
-Water
-North Country
-Cinderella Man
-Transamerica
-Yes
-The Matador
-The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Here is my top 20:
20. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (4 ½)
19. In Her Shoes (4 ½)
18. Wallace and Gromit and the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (4 ½)
17. Batman Begins (4 ½)
16. A History of Violence (4 ½)
15. Jarhead (4 ½)
14. Broken Flowers (4 ½)
13. Nine Lives (4 ½)
12. The Squid and the Whale (4 ½)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (4 ½)
And here are my top TEN, the best of the best:
10. Star Wars – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (4 ½)
After what most people consider two failed films in the Star Wars series (though personally, I’m a fan of The Phantom Menace), expectations for George Lucas’ last episode were as low as hopes were high. What a surprise, then, when despite his past mistakes, Lucas managed to please both fans and critics with the 3rd (6th) film.
Revenge of the Sith is a thrilling and colorful adventure film while at the same time being a dark, emotionally gripping greek tragedy that truly does justice to the series and brings the 30 year-old story arc of the rise and fall of Darth Vader (arguably the most popular villain in cinematic history) to a fitting close. This is really the best film of the series since 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back. Hayden Christensen broods (almost resembling a young Brad Pitt) as the aspiring Dark Lord, and Ewan McGregor is fantastic (channeling the late Alec Guinness), as his lamenting mentor, Obi Wan Kenobi. Nearly every frame of this movie showcases flawless special effects and genuinely moving human drama (even in non-human characters). Sith is a sad, beautiful, and breathtakingly grandiose mythology.
09. Capote (5)
Films have been made based on the life of renowned author Truman Capote before, but none this frank or honest. Philip Seymour Hoffman turned in the rightfully Oscar-winning best lead performance of the year, capturing Capote so indelibly that even the reclusive real-life Harper Lee (wonderfully played by Catherine Keener in the film), Capote’s dear friend, has given her praise. The film centers around Capote’s time spent trying to write his bestseller In Cold Blood, and holds nothing back in doing so. The film portrays the author as a tortured genius, plagued as much by his brilliance as by his demons. It is sympathetic, but also a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and the downward spiral of his self-loathing and alienation. It is the narrow interest of the script (in not trying to show Capote’s entire life) that allows the film’s focus on his humanity to overshadow his celebrity. This is one of the best, most personal and gimmick-free character studies I’ve seen.
08. Brokeback Mountain (5)
I’ll get it out of the way and say what everyone is thinking, that Brokeback Mountain was overly praised just for its subject matter. It was not the year’s best film as some people have adamantly proclaimed, and it was not “robbed” at the Oscars.
Now, that aside, Brokeback was a great movie. It was beautifully shot by the great Ang Lee, touchingly scored, and the acting was first-rate. I’m usually unimpressed with Heath Ledger, but he really blew me away here, capturing intensity, fierceness, humility, and sorrow, sometimes just with a look, and sometimes even all at once. He really defined his character. The story is moving and honest, while managing not to be preachy. It’s clear that the demons of these characters are as much responsible for their downfall as are the “evils of society.” It challenges the ages-old cowboy mythology in a big way, while still being a great western. The cinematography is stunning (though I’ll make the point that while the film is set in Wyoming, it was filmed in Alberta. Some critics and fans have missed that, and I don’t see why American tourism should capitalize on this great nation.) The supporting cast of Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway all play equal to Ledger which really elevates the film to a high level.
07. Good Night, and Good Luck (5)
George Clooney had the year of his career in 2005, with an Oscar-winning role in the oil-thriller Syriana as well as truly emerging as a first-rate filmmaker behind the camera with Good Night, and Good Luck. This bold, black and white masterpiece is the stunning true story of a small TV news team led by Edward Murrow (an enthrallingly watchable David Strathairn) who, in the 1950s, stood up against senator Joseph McCarthy and his communist “witch-hunts” at the stake of their professional and public lives. The film is not condescending, nor is it sermonizing; it’s really a portrait of the importance of ordinary people standing up to their governments for freedom and truth. The film is comprised almost entirely of newsroom and courtroom hearing scenes, but remains gripping and is just the right length (85 minutes) that it doesn’t overstay its welcome or compromise its message. I stated Good Night, and Good Luck did not sermonize, but is clearly intentional (and interesting and relevant), how the film’s themes mirror the current state of America (much like Steven Spielberg’s Munich) and President Bush’s “you’re either with us or against us” rhetoric. A valid film.
06. Grizzly Man (5)
Werner Herzog’s deeply personal documentary, Grizzly Man, was probably the most underappreciated film of the year. It scored massive critical praise, but went mostly unnoticed by filmgoers and the Academy (from what I understand landed somewhere around #16 when considering choices for best documentary). Thankfully, The Discovery Channel scooped up the rights for airing late last fall, and opened it up to a wider audience.
Grizzly Man is a film devoted to the life and death of Timothy Treadwell, activist and bear enthusiast. Prior Knowledge of Treadwell is unnecessary going into the film, I had none. Herzog is deeply respectful of Treadwell as a person and an idealist, but at the same time cynical and frustrated with his methods. Treadwell lived among wild grizzlies every summer for over a decade (until being killed by one of them) in order to document their lives and protest their mistreatment. He is portrayed as passionate, heartbroken, often with the wide-eyed awe of a young child. And the strange thing is, as crazy as we can so obviously tell Treadwell is, we too feel his pain and his wonder.
Herzog uses most of Treadwell’s own footage of the bears, which ranges from frantic and excited to solemn, reverent, and sad, and he narrates it himself. There are interviews with various people dispersed throughout the film to add credence to or to question Treadwell’s campaign. We “get” Treadwell in every shot of his own footage, even when he’s behind the camera. What results is a fascinating look into the psyche of true eccentric, but one with something to say. In turn, Treadwell’s own search and Herzog’s retelling of it raised questions about our own humanity. Grizzly Man is remarkable in how it shows how good a filmmaker Herzog is. This film can be awkwardly hilarious one moment and bizarrely disturbing the next. It is unique, and makes points. You know, Treadwell’s death may have been the best thing that could have happened to his cause, proving ironically that these bears do rule their territory despite humanity.
05. Munich (5)
Call him overblown or self-absorbed if you will, but the simple fact that Steven Spielberg has been around so long and made so many timeless movies is a feat unto itself. That he’s still making great movies that remain competent and passionate is a testament to his genius. Spielberg’s latest work reminds us all the reasons he is as successful as he is.
This film is a tremendous undertaking as much for its highly controversial subject matter as the sheer scope of its storytelling. Spielberg is bound to sow dissent (and has) with his treatment of the aftermath of the slayings of 11 Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Some have claimed the film is anti-Semitic or that it sympathizes with the Palestinians, but for the record let me disagree. The film takes no sides other than that of peace. It’s intelligent and complex, and violent. But underneath is a plea for an end to the age-old conflict that still rocks these two countries. The vastness of Spielberg’s vision is staggering. His film is beautifully shot, meticulously scripted by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, and extremely well-acted. Eric Bana would have well deserved Oscar recognition for his role as the Israeli counter-terrorist leader, but Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, and Geoffrey Rush are all great.
Spielberg’s film is ambitious and makes bold claims, in essence saying there is no counter-terrorism. Bana’s character quite accurately states, “There is no peace at the end of this.” as his character is changed by his experiences through the film. Munich is relevant today, where this conflict still remains unresolved, and governments still embroil their citizens in violence for what they call liberty. Would you sleep at night if you knew what your government was doing in the dark to keep you “safe”?
04. Match Point (5)
Though I’ve not seen a lot of Woody Allen’s earlier work, I’m somewhat familiar with his habits as a filmmaker and understand why people have their qualms about him. It seems Allen himself may have taken notice, and wisely moved his latest film out of his familiar contemporary New York setting, opting instead for posh London, and, perhaps more importantly, has taken himself out from in front of the camera. This gives his actors room to shine, and these actors seem to have been born for the roles they play in this film, as the four leads become caught in a mess of love, lies, and lust.
The story goes, a young English aristocrat named Tom Hewitt (Matthew Goode) develops a friendship with his more middle-class tennis instructor, Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who as a result is inducted into the upper echelon of society, and Tom’s sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), The Hewitts all adore Chris, and soon he is one of the family (literally). To stir things up a bit, we meet Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), who starts the film as Tom’s love interest until she develops an affair with Chris, who is now married to Chloe. It’s all very dramatic.
There is not so much a hero/villian or good/evil dynamic in the film so much as there are varying degrees of rottenness (in the form of people) competing for selfish survival. The manner in which the story plays out is intriguingly well-crafted, and while I don’t agree with the film’s conclusion (that life is only decided by random chance), I do think it makes sense within the context of the story. My opinion? While it may seem injustice prevails and the villian (who, strangely, Allen somewhat convinces us to root for) gets off, the movie ends without showing us the rest of the story. I believe (and one scene in particular hints) that the character’s guilt will consume him and his “tell-tale heart” will eventually give him away. If I’m wrong, then he’ll get so used to living with it that he’ll convince himself he never did anything wrong.
I’ve been intentionally ambiguous about the ending so as not to spoil the movies twists, which are best experienced firsthand. This is a masterwork of storytelling. For those who don’t like “Woody Allen films”, trust me when I say were his name not on in you’d never guess.
03. The Constant Gardener (5)
You know it’s a great year when Fernando Meirelles follows up his incredible 2003 film, City of God, with an even better one. The Constant Gardener is a marvelous piece of filmmaking that showcases two great actors at the top of their game. Rachel Weisz won the supporting actor Oscar for her portrayal of Tessa Quayle, an activist who dies under questionable circumstances while on a mission in Kenya. The brilliant Ralph Fiennes in the performance of his career (and deserving of an Oscar nomination) plays her husband, Justin, a diplomat, a man grieving but convinced the woman he loved was murdered for her knowledge of something very big. What he finds when he goes searching for the truth is a web of murder. exploitation, and deceit involving the Kenyan government and American Big Pharmaceuticals.
The Constant Gardener is a tightly woven story, a political thriller wrapped up in a tragic love story. Its characters are dynamically affected by their experiences, and there is message that love can bring people to make a change. This is a film that’s beautiful and hard to watch at the same time, thoroughly engrossing. It succeeds both in entertainment and information, shedding a sympathetic light on the plight of the third-world, while decrying their injustice. For being a film that begs its audience to do something to help others who are being exploited, The Constant Gardener deserves to make this list.
02. Syriana (5)
2005 should be remembered as the year Hollywood challenged authority. Numerous films this year dared to, in some way, paint a bigger picture and implicate the government as a villain. Jarhead, Good Night, and Good Luck, Munich, The Constant Gardener, they all did this. Even Star Wars assumed themes mirroring the holocaust. Stephen Gaghan’s Syriana is the best of these films. Its meticulously complex plot is wound so tight I was afraid it would explode (which, strangely, kind of happens at the end). There is a lot going on at once, but most of it involves a displaced CIA-agent (George Clooney who won the best supporting actor Oscar), a young middle-eastern prince (Alexander Siddig) and his American advisor (Matt Damon), an ambitious lawyer (Jeffrey Wright), a Pakistani worker convinced he’s a terrorist (Mazhar Munir), and a Texas oil-man (Chris Cooper). The thread that ties them all together is an immpending potential oil-merger, one that Wright has control over, and one that could cost a lot of people a lot of money while making even more money for some other people. The movie spans three continents and throws the viewer into a whirlwind of a story of corruption, murder, and greed. It’s really about the lengths to which governments will go to ascertain and protect their assets, oil in this case, and how that affects everyone involved (and the plot thread of Munir’s character makes the point that everyone is involved, no matter how indirectly. Just look at the price of gasoline for you and I). The movie is confusing, but intentionally so, and requires your complete attention, so if you haven’t seen it already, dvd would be the perfect place to.
The issues in the movie are real ones, and seem even more so when watching the film by the way you feel like you’ve walked into the middle of a conversation you weren’t supposed to hear. The story clearly began long before the movie did, and will continue long after the credits stop rolling, probably when there’s no oil left. Syriana is ambitious and demanding, and the most relevant film of the year.
01. Crash (5)
The movies of 2005 (the big ones anyway), were more than escapist entertainment. Writers, directors, and actors who actually had something to say overshadowed the studios, and gave us great, socially-conscious films. In keeping with that theme on my list, my pick for the best movie of the year is Paul Haggis’ brilliant Crash. Though it bears the same namesake as David Cronenberg’s 1996 film, the only other resemblance you’re likely to find between the two is the directors’ native Canada.
Haggis’ Crash is a darkly poetic, deeply visceral, and perfectly scripted drama that tackles the ever-present and always tough issue of racial prejudice. There are so many characters and so many interlocking plots it would be injustice to the film to try to explain them all, but I’ll say they all work. The movie sets up notions about its characters and then knocks them down, and that’s the genius of it. It forces you to rethink the way you see people and how you judge them, both in the movie and in real life. Few films do that. There are no heroes or villains as we want to try to divide people, there are only people, and those people are real. They have real flaws, and real problems, and real lives, and real loves. The problem is that they just don’t understand each other and don’t care enough to want to. These characters are not contrived or clichéd and the manner in which the story plays out is breathtakingly, nail-bitingly engrossing.
The cast is made up of a colorful (pun intended) array of actors, some well-known (Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillipe, Ludacris, Terrance Howard), some not so much (Ashlyn Sanchez, Yomi Perry, Beverly Todd, Michael Pena, Bahar Soomekh, Shaun Toub), all of whom give blisteringly real performances (though only Matt Dillon’s was Oscar-nominated).
Crash is poignant, relevent, and deeply moving, and also deeply challenging. It is a total marriage of everything that makes a movie great. Last year I disagreed with the Academy’s choice for movie of the year (though, interestingly, Haggis wrote Million Dollar Baby too). I loved the film, but it was just shy of my top ten. This year I couldn’t agree more with the heaps of praise Crash has received. It deserved all of it. See Crash, you won’t walk away unaffected.
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Epinions.com ID:
clarkparker
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Member: Joshua Bertram
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Reviews written: 32
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