2005... a year in film:
Can I get a big yawn, please?
By Jon Chattman
This year, I faced the music. I've been putting it off for years even though I knew it to be true. I'm a film lover, arguably a connoisseur when it comes to the genre, and nothing gets me more excited than to escape the daily grind via a dim-lit theater showing a great flick. But, 2005 along with recent years has only made it more abundantly clear that the television medium has now surpassed film. I see roughly 80 films in the theater each year, and an approximate half more on DVD, and it was a struggle to pick my top ten best films of the year. If you were to ask me to come up with ten best shows on television, I could do it without blinking: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "24," "Lost..." heck, I'd even have a problem limiting it to ten. Yes, films as of late have been just about as inspired as a Sheryl Crow formulaic ditty. For every "Walk the Line," there seemed to be ten "Guess Who's" waiting in the wings. In any event, I digress to bring you [cue the drum roll] my various top ten film lists of 2005. Most of the flicks were ho-hum, but a few, proud stood out.
Ten best films of 2005
10. "Match Point"
Woody Allen finally breaks out of Woody Allen mode with this terrific against-type sensual thriller set in England and starring rising stars Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Scarlett Johansson.
9. "The 40-Year-Old Virgin"
Comedies rarely gain recognition from Oscar voters, but not in my book. This hilarious romp was more than simply an adult sex comedy. Steve Carell bumped himself to leading man status, and the film provided a lot of heart to go along with those crude jokes and gags. This and the nearly equal side-splitter "Wedding Crashers" thankfully brought back the near-obsolete R-rated comedy genre.
8. "The Squid and the Whale"
Jeff Daniels delivers the finest performance of his life as a selfish and elitist father in this raw dramedy about divorce. Laura Linney is equally superb.
7. "In Her Shoes"
This Cameron Diaz/Toni Collette film about sisters never once entered the syrupy waters most romantic comedies and "chick flicks" do. Shirley MacLaine is at her best (and most restraint.)
6. "Batman Begins"
Christian Bale is the best Bat yet, and director Christopher Nolan breathed new life into a franchise Joel Schumacher single-handedly killed.
5. "Proof"
This little-seen gem about father and daughter mathematicians (based on the award-winning play of the same name) featured the finest performance of Gwyneth Paltrow's career. Hopefully, it'll catch on with its DVD release.
4. "Crash"
This gritty drama about race relations featured the best writing (Paul Haggis) and acting ensemble of the year led by Matt Dillon and Thandie Newton.
3. "King Kong"
Yes, it's very long, but Peter Jackson has created the best monster movie ever: full of heart, suspense, and drama. Naomi Watts delivers a fine performance as the object of the beast's affection.
2. "SinCity"
Stylistically, it's off the charts. Thankfully, Frank Miller's dark story holds up as well. The film features one fine performance after another, but Mickey Rourke's Marv steals it.
1. "Good Night, and Good Luck"
In crisp black and white, George Clooney elevated himself by directing, writing, and starring in this smart, near-flawless film about journalist Edward R. Murrow taking down Communist chaser Sen. Joseph McCarthy.
Just missed:
"Wedding Crashers"
"Pride and Prejudice"
"North Country"
"Rent"
"Walk the Line"
-30--
Ten worst films of 2005
10. "The Bad News Bears"
An unnecessary remake which adds nothing to the original... well maybe a few more curse words.
9. "The Ice Harvest"
This wanna-be "Bad Santa" is too dark and unfunny for its own good.
8. "Must Love Dogs"
"Must-hate Movie." This formulaic romantic comedy strikes out more often than Jason Giambi.
7. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
I don't know what's more embarrassing: the fact it took decades to bring this lame film to the big screen or that I actually paid to see it.
6. "The Fantastic Four"
Cheap effects and a terrible script make for a sub-par superhero flick. There's more entertainment in "
5. "The Ringer"
Johnny Knoxville shows some promise in this film, but for the most part this movie about a man who pretends to be mentally challenged in order to rig the Special Olympics is just plain wrong and worse: unfunny.
4. "Elektra"
It's no wonder Jennifer Garner didn't do any press for this film. It accomplished the unthinkable: it was worse than "Daredevil."
3. "Rumor Has It"
I'm noticing a trend in 2005: really bad romantic comedies. This film about a family loosely based on "The Graduate" is as painful to sit through as most of director Rob Reiner's films have been this decade.
2. "The Dukes of Hazzard"
Come back to us, Tom Wopat. Even Jessica Simpson can't save this horrific film based on the equally corny but so-much-better series.
1. "Broken Flowers"
Don't believe the hype. This Jim Jarmusch mess about a man (Bill Murray) who discovers after two decades he has a kid, is a complete, and unearthly boring drama.
Other top tens...(in brief)
Ten best performances
10. Mickey Rourke- "SinCity"
9. Toni Collette- "In Her Shoes"
8. Philip Seymour Hoffman- "Capote"
7. David Straithairn- "Good Luck And Good Night"
6. Charlize Theron- "North Country"
5. Matt Dillon- "Crash"
4. Juaquin Phoenix- "Walk the Line"
3. Gwyneth Paltrow- "Proof"
2. Reese Witherspoon- "Walk the Line"
1. Heath Ledger- "BrokebackMountain"
Ten biggest disappointments (Not nearly as good as believed it'd be)
10. "March of the Penguins"
9. "Syriana"
8. "Munich"
7. "Corpse Bride"
6. "BrokebackMountain"
5. "Elizabethtown"
4. "Cinderella Man"
3. "Jarhead"
2. "The Producers"
1. "Broken Flowers
-30-
Can I get a big yawn, please?
By Jon Chattman
This year, I faced the music. I've been putting it off for years even though I knew it to be true. I'm a film lover, arguably a connoisseur when it comes to the genre, and nothing gets me more excited than to escape the daily grind via a dim-lit theater showing a great flick. But, 2005 along with recent years has only made it more abundantly clear that the television medium has now surpassed film. I see roughly 80 films in the theater each year, and an approximate half more on DVD, and it was a struggle to pick my top ten best films of the year. If you were to ask me to come up with ten best shows on television, I could do it without blinking: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "24," "Lost..." heck, I'd even have a problem limiting it to ten. Yes, films as of late have been just about as inspired as a Sheryl Crow formulaic ditty. For every "Walk the Line," there seemed to be ten "Guess Who's" waiting in the wings. In any event, I digress to bring you [cue the drum roll] my various top ten film lists of 2005. Most of the flicks were ho-hum, but a few, proud stood out.
Ten best films of 2005
10. "Match Point"
Woody Allen finally breaks out of Woody Allen mode with this terrific against-type sensual thriller set in England and starring rising stars Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Scarlett Johansson.
9. "The 40-Year-Old Virgin"
Comedies rarely gain recognition from Oscar voters, but not in my book. This hilarious romp was more than simply an adult sex comedy. Steve Carell bumped himself to leading man status, and the film provided a lot of heart to go along with those crude jokes and gags. This and the nearly equal side-splitter "Wedding Crashers" thankfully brought back the near-obsolete R-rated comedy genre.
8. "The Squid and the Whale"
Jeff Daniels delivers the finest performance of his life as a selfish and elitist father in this raw dramedy about divorce. Laura Linney is equally superb.
7. "In Her Shoes"
This Cameron Diaz/Toni Collette film about sisters never once entered the syrupy waters most romantic comedies and "chick flicks" do. Shirley MacLaine is at her best (and most restraint.)
6. "Batman Begins"
Christian Bale is the best Bat yet, and director Christopher Nolan breathed new life into a franchise Joel Schumacher single-handedly killed.
5. "Proof"
This little-seen gem about father and daughter mathematicians (based on the award-winning play of the same name) featured the finest performance of Gwyneth Paltrow's career. Hopefully, it'll catch on with its DVD release.
4. "Crash"
This gritty drama about race relations featured the best writing (Paul Haggis) and acting ensemble of the year led by Matt Dillon and Thandie Newton.
3. "King Kong"
Yes, it's very long, but Peter Jackson has created the best monster movie ever: full of heart, suspense, and drama. Naomi Watts delivers a fine performance as the object of the beast's affection.
2. "SinCity"
Stylistically, it's off the charts. Thankfully, Frank Miller's dark story holds up as well. The film features one fine performance after another, but Mickey Rourke's Marv steals it.
1. "Good Night, and Good Luck"
In crisp black and white, George Clooney elevated himself by directing, writing, and starring in this smart, near-flawless film about journalist Edward R. Murrow taking down Communist chaser Sen. Joseph McCarthy.
Just missed:
"Wedding Crashers"
"Pride and Prejudice"
"North Country"
"Rent"
"Walk the Line"
-30--
Ten worst films of 2005
10. "The Bad News Bears"
An unnecessary remake which adds nothing to the original... well maybe a few more curse words.
9. "The Ice Harvest"
This wanna-be "Bad Santa" is too dark and unfunny for its own good.
8. "Must Love Dogs"
"Must-hate Movie." This formulaic romantic comedy strikes out more often than Jason Giambi.
7. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
I don't know what's more embarrassing: the fact it took decades to bring this lame film to the big screen or that I actually paid to see it.
6. "The Fantastic Four"
Cheap effects and a terrible script make for a sub-par superhero flick. There's more entertainment in "
5. "The Ringer"
Johnny Knoxville shows some promise in this film, but for the most part this movie about a man who pretends to be mentally challenged in order to rig the Special Olympics is just plain wrong and worse: unfunny.
4. "Elektra"
It's no wonder Jennifer Garner didn't do any press for this film. It accomplished the unthinkable: it was worse than "Daredevil."
3. "Rumor Has It"
I'm noticing a trend in 2005: really bad romantic comedies. This film about a family loosely based on "The Graduate" is as painful to sit through as most of director Rob Reiner's films have been this decade.
2. "The Dukes of Hazzard"
Come back to us, Tom Wopat. Even Jessica Simpson can't save this horrific film based on the equally corny but so-much-better series.
1. "Broken Flowers"
Don't believe the hype. This Jim Jarmusch mess about a man (Bill Murray) who discovers after two decades he has a kid, is a complete, and unearthly boring drama.
Other top tens...(in brief)
Ten best performances
10. Mickey Rourke- "SinCity"
9. Toni Collette- "In Her Shoes"
8. Philip Seymour Hoffman- "Capote"
7. David Straithairn- "Good Luck And Good Night"
6. Charlize Theron- "North Country"
5. Matt Dillon- "Crash"
4. Juaquin Phoenix- "Walk the Line"
3. Gwyneth Paltrow- "Proof"
2. Reese Witherspoon- "Walk the Line"
1. Heath Ledger- "BrokebackMountain"
Ten biggest disappointments (Not nearly as good as believed it'd be)
10. "March of the Penguins"
9. "Syriana"
8. "Munich"
7. "Corpse Bride"
6. "BrokebackMountain"
5. "Elizabethtown"
4. "Cinderella Man"
3. "Jarhead"
2. "The Producers"
1. "Broken Flowers
-30-
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