Honorable Mention:
-- The Squid and the Whale - An artistic serio-comedy about family, divorce, and the coming of age with some great performances by Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, William Baldwin and newcomer Jesse Eisenberg.
-- Mrs. Henderson Presents - An absolutely charming British comedy about an elderly widow who opens a theatre with London's first ever nude revue. Hilarious performances by Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.
-- Batman Begins - Finally the Batman series has found an excellent director, with the vision to make the Bruce Wayne story not only an exciting superhero thriller, but a psychological battle between a man and his shattered past.
-- Murderball - This documentary about quadripalegic rugby was not only a great documentary, but one of the greatest sports films of the past several years. You find it easily to align yourself with the American team and experience the ups and downs right along with them.
-- The Constant Gardener - One of the great political films of the year about corruption in Africa with some stunning cinematography and quick-paced action scenes. Brilliantly directed by Francisco Meirelles.
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The Top 10 of 2005:
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Layer Cake
Matthew Vaughn, longtime co-producer with Guy Ritchie, makes his directorial debut in this British gangster film about the life of an independent drug dealer. The movie retains the usual wit that we have come to expect from Ritchie films with an added element of depth, focusing on one main character, rather than many small ones. Daniel Craig gives a fantastic performance as the unnamed protaganist. I'd like to see Vaughn and Ritchie co-direct a British crime film. Someday.
Memorable Quote:
"You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son."
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| 9 |
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Capote
When first introduced to the character of Truman Capote, my first thought was "oh no, I'm going to have to put up with that voice for the next hour and a half." Luckily, Philip Seymour Hoffman was able to resist the urges to overact and gave a brilliant performance. This biopic portrays the squeaky voiced writer as he investigates a murder in a small Kansas town for his most famous novel In Cold Blood. This film gets deep into what Capote was thinking while writing this novel and how his relationship with the killers of the family in Kansas changes him and his writing forever.
Memorable Quote:
Truman: "I couldn't have done anything to save them."
Nelle Harper Lee: "Maybe not, Truman. But the truth is, you didn't want to."
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| 8 |
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Munich
Munich is a thriller directed by Steven Spielberg about the retaliation that takes place after the capture and killing of the Israeli Olympic team in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. The message that Munich delivers is that fighting terrorism with terrorism or using violence to combat violence will not put an end to the problem. Even when good men attempt to do their part, the tragedy is unending. This film also features some of the best moments that make you hold your breath in fear, such as when a young girl is almost killed by an explosion that is intended for a known terrorist.
Memorable Quote:
"Oh, we are tragic men. Butcher's hands, gentle souls."
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| 7 |
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Grizzly Man
This "nature" documentary is about Timothy Treadwell, the man who lived with Grizzly bears in Alaska for ten years before being mauled to death and eaten by one of the animals that he swore to protect. Werner Herzog gives us a fascinating glimpse at the man who was more than just a friend of wild animals, but a man who actually thought he could become one of these animals. Timothy speaks of his failures with women and with drugs and it becomes apparent that he believes that living with and befriending these animals is his escape from the "human" world.
Memorable Quote:
"I will die for these animals, I will die for these animals, I will die for these animals."
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| 6 |
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Good Night, and Good Luck.
This upbeat political drama is about Joseph McCarthy's red-listing that took place in the early 1950s and journalist Edward R. Murrow and the CBS news team that dared oppose Senator McCarthy and his methods. Brilliantly directed by George Clooney, there were some obvious parallels between Senator McCarthy and our current administration. The film had an incredible acting ensemble led by a great performance by David Straitharn as Murrow and great support from Clooney, Robert Downey, Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Ray Wise, and Jeff Daniels.
Memorable Quote:
"We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home."
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| 5 |
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Crash
Another movie with a phenomenal acting ensemble about life in L.A. and the racist tensions that continue to exist in our culture. The relationships constructed between the characters that come from such different backgrounds become very deep. This movie also has some of the most heartwrenching moments of the year including when a white racist cop has to save a black woman whom he has previously sexually harrassed and when a young girl is almost shot and killed. Paul Haggis has definitely emerged as a filmmaker who can tug at the heart strings.
Memorable Quote:
"I'll protect you, Daddy."
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| 4 |
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Brokeback Mountain
Ignore all the hype that you have heard about this movie. The truth is that it is one beautiful story about forbidden love and the torture that comes from being forced to hide it. You experience the pain along with the Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist as they try to go along living the lives that their culture expects them to live, with their hearts only belonging to one another. The movie does not hide the fact that it is a gay movie, but it's made in such away that anybody can enjoy it. The mountain scenery is possibly the most beautiful of the year and the acting ensemble is fantastic.
Memorable Quote:
"It's because of you, Jack, that I'm like this."
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| 3 |
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Kung Fu Hustle
This was by far the most fun movie of the year. A great story with the traditional theme of the underdogs triumphing over evil, but with the addition of perfectly choreographed fight scenes and hilarious physical comedy. Kung Fu Hustle by far had the most colorful characters of the year and the casting was perfect. It was clear this movie was made for an American audience because there are several references to American films and even one point where a character randomly starts speaking English. The funniest movie moment of the year came when Sing and his chubby sidekick try to kill the landlady. Instant classic.
Memorable Quote:
Donut: (In English) "What are you prepared to do?"
Landlord: (In Chinese) "We can't understand what you're saying."
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| 2 |
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King Kong
Peter Jackson has revolutionized filmmaking with King Kong. By having actors stand in for what would be animations, he brought more life to digital characters than has never been done before. Not to mention this movie had some darn good action sequences, a great story, and wonderful performances. At first I was simply impressed by the graphics and then I got to the point where I forgot that I was even watching an animated gorilla. Even though the film ran long there was rarely a dull moment.
Memorable Quote: "The beast looked upon the face of beauty. Beauty stayed his hand, and from that moment he was as one dead."
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| 1 |
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A History of Violence
A History of Violence was the most extreme movie of the year in terms of emotional highs and lows. It follows the Stalls, a loving, happy family living in a perfect little town. We watch as te Stalls lose their innocence as everything that they have known changes. The contrasts in this film are what make it so intense. The contrasts between the sex scene at the beginning and end, the way the oldest son Jack handles conflicts at the beginning and end, and particularly Tom Stall's extreme changes in personality all truly show this family's loss of innocence. Amazing direction by David Cronenberg as he does not hold back on taking everything to the extreme.
Memorable Quote:
"In this family, we do not solve problems by hitting people!"
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