12-31-2005, 12:55 PM
Alrighty, here are my picks out of the ones I actually saw this year:
1. Sin City
possibly the coolest thing I've ever seen on film.
2. A History of Violence
David Cronenberg's crowning achievement. A stunningly violent, thought provoking masterpiece. Viggo Mortensen should get a best actor nod for this one come Oscar time.
3. Munich
A beautiful, haunting, and disturbing piece of work from Mr. Box Office himself, Steven Spielberg. This might be the boldest film he's ever tackled. The subject matter is about as controversial as you can get, but Spielberg handles it beautifully and doesn't pick sides.
4. Broken Flowers
The saddest comedy I've ever seen, but it's got enough laugh-out-loud moments to keep it fairly light. If there's any justice in the world, Bill Murray will finally get that much deserved Oscar.
5. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Laughed so hard I almost peed myself.
6. Wedding Crashers
see #5
7. King Kong
Peter Jackson is obviously a film geek first and a director second, and that's why I love his work. Nobody makes movies like this anymore. When was the last time you went to see a huge, loud, special effects-driven extravaganza that actually featured a good script and an emotional story? The re-creation of 1930s New York is worth the price of admission alone, and Naomi Watts was so freakin' good I just wanted to reach into the screen and give her a hug.
8. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Awesome flick, and easily the best one in the series so far. It's dark, it's freaky, it's violent, and it certainly ain't for little kids. I've never read the books, but I really like the direction these movies are heading in. If this one is any indication, the next one might be the first ever R-rated children's film.
9. March of the Penguins
Best. Documentary. Ever.
10. Syriana
Sad, frightening, confusing, maddening, and endlessly
fascinating.
Honorable mentions:
Crash
Lord of War
Cinderella Man
1. Sin City
possibly the coolest thing I've ever seen on film.
2. A History of Violence
David Cronenberg's crowning achievement. A stunningly violent, thought provoking masterpiece. Viggo Mortensen should get a best actor nod for this one come Oscar time.
3. Munich
A beautiful, haunting, and disturbing piece of work from Mr. Box Office himself, Steven Spielberg. This might be the boldest film he's ever tackled. The subject matter is about as controversial as you can get, but Spielberg handles it beautifully and doesn't pick sides.
4. Broken Flowers
The saddest comedy I've ever seen, but it's got enough laugh-out-loud moments to keep it fairly light. If there's any justice in the world, Bill Murray will finally get that much deserved Oscar.
5. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Laughed so hard I almost peed myself.
6. Wedding Crashers
see #5
7. King Kong
Peter Jackson is obviously a film geek first and a director second, and that's why I love his work. Nobody makes movies like this anymore. When was the last time you went to see a huge, loud, special effects-driven extravaganza that actually featured a good script and an emotional story? The re-creation of 1930s New York is worth the price of admission alone, and Naomi Watts was so freakin' good I just wanted to reach into the screen and give her a hug.
8. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Awesome flick, and easily the best one in the series so far. It's dark, it's freaky, it's violent, and it certainly ain't for little kids. I've never read the books, but I really like the direction these movies are heading in. If this one is any indication, the next one might be the first ever R-rated children's film.
9. March of the Penguins
Best. Documentary. Ever.
10. Syriana
Sad, frightening, confusing, maddening, and endlessly
fascinating.
Honorable mentions:
Crash
Lord of War
Cinderella Man