Movie Talk: Best Movies of 2005
This is the time of year when movies critics put out their top 10 movies of 2005 list. So, I thought I would follow suite and do the same. Last week,”Crash” was awarded the best picture of year and Phillip Seymore Hoffman won best actor for his performance in “Capote”. These films made my list however, there were many other great films from 2005 that I would recommend as well.
1. Crash – Far and away one of best movies we saw last year and if I had the final say, it would get Best picture of 2005. This film captures a near-perfect snapshot of present day urban-American multi-cultural /multi-class interactions and the problems we sometimes face as our respective worlds collide Most importantly it manages to cover all of these big themes and still be entertaining. I should add that this film is rated R for a good reason. There is a lot of bad language, some nudity and sex, and a scene of violence towards women that is just plain hard to watch. Having said that, I still would recommend this film to just about all adults and High school age kids. It just speaks volumes about the human condition, and does so in an entertaining and memorable manner.
2. Batman Begins – 1997 was a dark time for Batman. In June of that year the $125 million Batman and robin was released to the dismay of Bat-fans everywhere. This movie has the distinction of being the only film that I have ever walked out on. This was a bad movie. So it was with some nervous anticipation my daughters and I spent our time and money in going to see last summers Batman Begins. We were not disappointed. This is the movie that Bat-fans (guilty) were waiting for. Ann even liked it, and she has never been too keen on super-hero movies. This film was a success because it took itself seriously. None of that “same-bat-time, same-bat channel” stuff. They drew straight from the dark and moody Frank Miller Batman graphic novels and re-booted the Batman legend from there. I really enjoyed this film, but parents will want to be aware that this is nothing like the Batman TV show from the late 60’s. The villains are violent and scary and so is the hero. Not for small kids at all.
3. Munich & War of the Worlds – This year we were treated to two films from master filmmaker Stephen Spielberg, and both of them blew the socks right off of my feet. I am convinced that Spielberg movies should be seen at the movies instead of being watched on DVD at home, and these two films are classic examples of that theory. If you give Mr. Spielberg your full attention and him let tell you theses stories in a darkened theater , you will not be disappointed. War of the Worlds is a near perfect sc-fi thriller, with some of the most amazing effects shots I have ever seen. But this is not just a special effects action driven story. Instead of focusing on the military or scientific response to the threat, this film stays with one family as they attempt to survive the terrifying crisis. I found the whole thing to be pleasantly disturbing and intense. Just what a summertime-get-out-of-the heat-and-got-the-movies experience should be. This is movie has a well earned PG-13 rating for scary alien attack violence. Munich also lives up to its R rating. It is based upon actual events that surrounded and followed the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. When Spielberg gets serious about depicting real- life events, he holds nothing back. If you had any major trouble sitting through “Saving Private Ryan” or “Schindlers List” you might not want to see this movie. It graphically portrays the kidnapping and deaths of the 11 athletes, and the subsequent state-sanctioned assassinations of the suspected criminals that orchestrated the plot. This movie is a great centrist piece about the Israeli/Arab conflict, the human cost of violence, and most timely, how governments should respond to terrorist. No solid answers in this film, but it should provoke a lot of discussion. This film also contains some nudity and sexuality. This would be my pick for best movie 2005 if Crash doesn’t win.
4. Cinderella Man – This movie is a real mystery. Why was it so unsuccessful? Insiders say people didn’t see it because the studios released it in the summertime when it should have come out in December with all of the other Oscar hopefuls. Others say the public was fed up with leading man Russell Crows public temper tantrums. I say it was the title. Cinderella was a girl and it should stay that way!!. Actually this was a great film. Director Ron Howard is one of the top 10 shooters out there right now (the other nine are Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Riddly Scott, James Cameron, Tim Burton, Wolfgang Peterson, Martin Scorsese, M.Night Shymalan, and Peter Weir) and this is one of his best films. It follows the incredible true story of Boxer Jim Braddock’s depression-era rise, fall, and rise again to the heavy weight boxing championship of the world. Like Howard’s “Apollo 13”, we already know how this one ends and it is still a great and inspiring film. The real achievement for this film is that my wife loved this movie and she usually hates all thing boxing. It also has a great musical score. Rated PG-13 for boxing violence. Rated PG 13, but I felt that suitable for all ages.
5. Wallace and Grommit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit & Madagascar – You would have to be in a pretty bad mood not to laugh at theses movies. Safe for every one and very funny.
6. The Constant Gardener – To me, this film was like ordering a big Mac discovering that it tastes different and better than any hamburger that I ever had before All of the elements of this movie were familiar (timid man transformed by a personal loss caused by vast conspiracy doggedly seeks the truth), but the end results were anything but common. Usually in a story like this, the hero would become some type of crazed justice seeking killing machine. In this film, not only does the protagonist not even shoot one bullet, he rarely even raises his voice. It is more of an emotional thriller than and action thriller. Sometimes it is hard to follow, but it is well worth the trip. Speaking of trips, here were times when this film felt like a missions campaign film. I left the theatre with a new perspective of the world around me. Rated R for language violence and nudity. Kind of sad.
7. Enron-The Smartest Guys in the Room – A great and funny documentary about the Enron Bankruptcy scandal. Rated R for a short and unnecessary scene where they show one of the Enron executives in an adult club.
8. Kung Fu Hustle – A movie as bizarre and wonderful as its title.The theme of this movie is “Ordinary is a blessing”, but this movie is light years from ordinary. Take a standard martial arts film, add in the old west, Bugs bunny, “The Matrix”, Quentin tarantino, Fred Astare, Chinese mysticism, Charlie Chaplin, old school romance, and you would get this very entertaining movie experience. This english-subtitled movie is rated R, which is just a shame. I wish director and star Stephen Chow had cut out just of the few scenes of over the top violence, and it would be a really great action film for just about everyone.
9. Good Night and Good Luck – was great! The true story of legendary newsman Edward R Murrorw and his televised duel with Senator Joseph McCarthy is clearly and simply told in a stark and entertaining way. Also the only Oscar nominated film this year with a family friendly PG rating. A solid, historically accurate drama.
10. Capote – When I was a kid Truman Capote was something of a mystery to me. He was always on talk shows and game shows, and I would see him in bit movie rolls but I had no Idea why he was famous. Later, I learned that he had written “In Cold Blood” , a classic non-fiction criminal investigation novel. This film traces the research and writing of that novel and seeks to explain why that process led to Capote never writing anything like it again. The story follows Capote and his child hood friend author Harper Lee( writer of “To Kill a Mocking Bird”) as she helps him investigate the real life murders of a family of 4 in rural Kansas. Capote successfully attempts to charm,manipulate and downright lie to all involved in order to create what he believed would be he greatest work. The price of his success alters him deeply. The interplay between the two literary legends is allot of fun to watch and Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal of Truman Capote is a wonder to behold. The movie may not be best picture material , but the performance by Mr. Hoffman certainly worth the Oscar.
Resources:
http://www.imdb.com
