|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
12-29-2004, 01:18 AM
|
#31 of 139 
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 1997
Local Time: 12:29 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 20,941
|
I've now seen most of the films I consider any sort of serious contender for my list.. and, after a lot of debate, I'm going to decide to pitch in.
1. Sideways. This is the position I have really debated because every film within my top three I feel is deserving of #1. Sideways is, in my mind, a throwback film, a film that was daring through it's subtle use of camera work, allowing the actors to act and focus on them, rather then pretty scenery or cutaway movements. Sideways had long, involved sequences of dialog that managed to express meaning and a connection with the characters. Thoughtfully filmed, Sideways is the kind of film I wish were made more often.
2. The Incredibles. Brad Bird should be recognized outside of the Best Animated Film category for a film that manages to delve into the human condition better then many live action films this year. Addressing questions of who we are, and what we want from life, the Incredibles is a family friendly film with a lot of meaning and substance to it that is too easily dismissed because of it's format. A gem in direction, movement and style, The Incredibles is everything I expect of Pixar and Bird.
3. Closer. This is a film that I have debated back and forth on. For a while, I hated it. For another bit, I loved it. Closer is a film that a lot of people will find hard to stomach with it's to the point dialogue and no holds barred attack on the nature of love. But Closer scores so well by making the situations seem real enough, understanding the torment of the characters. It's part of what I loved and hated about the film, the closeness you feel to the emotions of the characters, the shallow nature of some moments and the serious "thud" of the reprocussions. Wonderfully filmed, well acted, and with such tight spaces to make you feel entrapped in the situations.
4. Hotel Rwanda. This is a film that is, in many ways, similar to the kind of film that made "Schindler's List" so powerful, a story of a man who looked beyond himself to do the right thing. But what made this film stunning is how many people that I saw this with were still oblivious to this occurring. A film that more people should see just to be aware of the world around them. The acting within this film is absolutely top notch, and there are sequences - especially those in the streets outside the hotel - that are crushing with the emotion as everything right seems to go by the wayside.
5. The Passion of the Christ. Very few films get as much positive and negative press as TPoTC. Some people will bitterly hate this film, some will love it. I am not a religious person, but being aware of the beliefs having grown up with them, I found Gibson's portrayal to be to the heart of many of them, the cinematography perfect, and one scene - the scene in which Mary sees her son fall - to be amongst the most powerful moments in all film this year.
6. Million Dollar Baby. This is a film that, at the beginning, I thought would suffer from a script that seemed replete in everything you've seen before. Old manager, boxer on the outs. And yet, it manages to make it feel fresh and real. Eastwood turns in a fantastic performance and you relate to the characters. There were moments within Million Dollar Baby that I felt were not as good as it could have been, thus putting it at #6, however, it is a solid film that is probably going to stand up well in the test of time.
7. A Very Long Engagement. Another film I fear will be overlooked because of low distribution. A sweeping film with a lot of heart and a difficult storyline. Definitely worth a watch.
8. Before Sunset. I didn't get to see this in the theaters, finally watched on DVD. It was a glad find, one of the better films with a simple story. Sometimes, we dress up things with far too much "wow" moments instead of dealing with the subtle nature of reality. Before Sunset gets it, and sings true, making it a great film.
9. Eternal Sunshine... one of those films that the first time I saw it, I hated it. Hated it. The second time I saw it, I said "hmm" By the third time I watched, I said "this is a good film" The more I watched Eternal Sunshine, the more I appreciated it, and began to really love the film.
10. .. is still up for debate. I have several films I'm really debating over here, between "Finding Neverland" "Ray" "Kill Bill V. 2" etc.. I have not seen Vera Drake, Moolade or Aviator yet, so this list may also be revised...
Revised: Ok, just watched Aviator. That one will not make my list. Not bad, but not top 10.
Worst of the Year
1. My Baby's Daddy (what a piece of crap) - I had managed to totally black this piece of garbage out until it was on Starz this weekend. Jeezus.
2. Without a Paddle.
3. Catwoman
4. Alexander
5. Phantom of the Opera - I know, I know, I just gave it a mixed review.. but the more I think about it, the more and more unhappy I am with this film, which isn't bad in the sense of some films that will go unnamed in my list, but bad in the sense that I feel it took a great work and pissed all over it.. at least "White Chicks" started as a piece of crap, so the fact it ended up that way isn't a big suprise.
6. White Chicks. (said above)
7. Soul Plane - what a racist piece of c***, for a film with so many African American people, the way it portrayed a large group of people (African Americans) was so offensive I wouldn't want my children to see it in any way shape or form. Talk about garbage.
8. Club Dread - who greenlit this garbage?
9. Stepford Wives. Couldn't leave well enough alone? I was waiting for Nicole Kidman to scream "Go Go Gadget robotwife!"
10. Teacher's Pet. A film that tells kids being special is really not the way it is supposed to be, and only comformists really succeed. Way to go, Disney! Take a show with at least a good message "you can achieve anything!" and turn it into a movie that says "you have to do what you were born to do, you'll never be greater then that" What a message!
11. Fat Albert I had to make mention for this. CRAP.
Top Performances
Male:
Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda)
Jim Caveziel (The Passion of the Christ)
Jamie Foxx (Ray)
Female:
Hillary Swank (Million Dollar Baby)
Natalie Portman (Closer)
Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
12-29-2004, 01:24 AM
|
#32 of 139
|
|
Craig Seanor
Member
Location: League City, TX (just south of Planet Houston)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Local Time: 11:29 AM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 5,918
|
Here's the latest cut of my Top Ten: - Sideways
- Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
- A Very Long Engagement
- Kill Bill, Vol. 2
- Finding Neverland
- Hero/House Of Flying Daggers
- Million Dollar Baby
- The Aviator
- The Incredibles
- The Terminal
Bubbling Under - these films were at one time in (or in consideration for) my Top Ten. All are very worthy contenders. In alphabetical order: - Closer
- Collateral
- Friday Night Lights
- Garden State
- Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban
- Hotel Rwanda
- Kinsey
- Miracle
- The Passion Of The Christ
- The Polar Express (3D IMAX Version)
- Ray
- Spider-Man 2
- The Woodsman
I have seen a total of 78 2004 films. Here are the Top Ten contenders I have yet to see: - The Assassination Of Richard Nixon
- Bad Education
- The Motorcycle Diaries
- The Sea Inside
I try to avoid bad movies, but here's the bottom 5 I saw this year, with number 1 being the worst: - Twisted
- Godsend
- The Forgotten
- Walking Tall
- Van Helsing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12-29-2004, 03:16 AM
|
#33 of 139
|
|
Member
Location: St. Louis, MO
Join Date: Feb 2000
Local Time: 05:29 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 10,460
|
Still have a lot to see but I'll go ahead and post a list
2004 Top 10 List (NY/LA 1st Release)
1. Dogville
2. The Brown Bunny
3. The Return
4. The Trilogy: An Amazing Couple
5. Intimate Strangers
6. Dawn Of The Dead (04)
7. Sideways
8. The Trilogy: On The Run
9. Rosenstrasse
10. The Five Obstructions
2004 Top 10 List (World 1st Release)
1. The Brown Bunny
2. Intimate Strangers
3. Dawn Of The Dead
4. Sideways
5. Shaun Of The Dead
6. We Don't Live Here Anymore
7. Team America World Police
8. Kill Bill, Vol. 2
9. Control Room
10. Jersey Girl
10 Best Movies I Saw For The 1st Time In 2004
1. In A Year With 13 Moons (Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
2. Hiroshima Mon Amour (Alain Resnais)
3. The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse (Fritz Lang)
4. Early Summer (Yasujiro Ozu)
5. A Page Of Madness (Teinosuke Kinugasa)
6. Lola (Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
7. The Battle Of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo)
8. Minnie & Moskowitz (John Cassavetes)
9. Autumn Tale (Eric Rohmer)
10. The Passion Of Anna (Ingmar Bergman)
Yes, Captain Hammer's here, hair blowing in the breeze. The day needs my saving expertise! - Captain Hammer, Corporate Tool
2002 Sight & Sound Challenge: 314 Last Watched: An Autumn Afternoon
Last 10 Films Watched:
Mon Oncle Antoine - B / Late Autumn - A-
Paranoid Park - B / An Autumn Afternoon - A
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - B / Run, Fatboy, Run - B
Get Smart - C- / Rendition - B-
Springtime in a Small Town - B+ / Evan Almighty - C
DVD BEAVER My Collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12-29-2004, 07:19 AM
|
#34 of 139
|
|
Member
Location: Seattle, WA
Join Date: Feb 2004
Local Time: 09:29 AM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 378
|
[Movie Rankings / Music / DVD Collection]
Films Watched By Date: [2008/2007/2006]
Film Lists: [2008/2007/2006/2005/2004]
Top 10s: [2007/2006/2005/2004/2003]
Last 10 movies watched (ratings out of 5 stars):
War, Inc. (2008) **, Up the Yangtze (2008) ***1/2,
Street Fighter (1994) *, WALL·E (2008) ****,
Taxi to the Dark Side (2008) ***1/2, The Visitor (2008) ***,
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) ***1/2, Burn After Reading (2008) ***1/2,
The Incredible Hulk (2008) ***, Roman Holiday (1953) ***1/2
Last edited by Brian.L : 07-25-2007 at 02:34 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12-29-2004, 11:12 AM
|
#35 of 139
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Local Time: 01:29 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 679
|
Best of 2004
By Australian release: - The Station Agent
- The Incredibles
- Open Range
- The Passion of the Christ
- The Twilight Samurai
- House Of Flying Daggers
- Garden State
- Dawn of the Dead
- Infernal Affairs
- Before Sunset
Worst of 2004- Envy
- Twisted
- Gothika
- The Whole 10 Yards
- Van Helsing
|
|
|
|
|
12-29-2004, 11:22 AM
|
#36 of 139
|
|
Member
Join Date: Feb 1999
Local Time: 12:29 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,135
|
MY TOP TEN OF 2004[list=1][*]Million Dollar Baby[*]Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[*]Kill Bill: Vol. 2[*]Before Sunset[*]Sideways[*]Hotel Rwanda[*]Un long dimanche de fiançailles (A Very Long Engagement)[*]The Aviator[*]Closer[*]Garden State[*]Mar adentro (The Sea Inside)[*]Tarnation[*]Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries)[*]Primer[*]Kinsey[*]Dogville[*]Spartan[*]Undertow[*]Ying xiong (Hero)[*]Collateral[/list=1]
|
|
|
|
|
12-29-2004, 01:59 PM
|
#37 of 139
|
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Local Time: 05:29 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 6,204
|
I should just put a placeholder, as well, but I'm sure it'll be well over a year and probably longer before I can put this question of "2004 favorites" to bed. Ah well, here's the first draft, and I've noted those I've now seen more than once as "(*)":
1. Before Sunset (*)
2. Dogville (*)
3. Kill Bill 2 (*)
4. House of Flying Daggers (*)
5. Cowards Bend the Knee
6. Hero (*)
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (*)
8. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
9. The Return
10. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
|
|
|
|
|
12-30-2004, 12:43 AM
|
#38 of 139
|
|
Location: No, I did not co-create South Park
Join Date: Jun 2000
Local Time: 01:29 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 10,442
|
First update on my list. I dropped Sky Captain and Spartan in favor of Kinsey and Baadasssss!
|
|
|
|
|
12-30-2004, 02:09 PM
|
#40 of 139
|
|
< | |
