2004 film favorites

[pjaizz]

I love the end of the year because we can all sum up our best and worst lists for film, music books etc. For me it is great to hear what others really loved so I can catch up on some gems I might have missed. So here are my pics for 2004. Try this site for a complete list of films released (I always forget) during the past year.

http://www.thestinkers.com/2004releases.html

Movies you should not miss by any means!
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Brilliant! Carrey is amazing as is Winslett. A bit quirky for some, but this is my favorite of the year by a long shot! I'm buying this one soon!

Collateral
I love Michael Mann's style anyway, and he doesn't disappoint here! Cruise and Fox are wonderful!

Open Water
Very simple subject matter, but I was on the edge of my seat! Great filmaking, but I won't go see this one again!

Entertaining or Thoughtful Films - Decent cinema, but not great...
Troy
Brad is the man! I loved his fighting sequences.

I Robot
Good popcorn muncher, Will plays Will again ( I want to see him a la 6 Degrees of Separation again..he can act!)

Closer
I'm still thinking about this one...weak characterization, but it is interesting. Guys, don't take your girlfriends to this...reminds me of Fatal Attraction affect...my lady love kept saying "(_*()&(^&*^ Men" through the whole film!

Ray
Jamie Fox & Kerry Washington are perfect! The music is excellent. The story drags a bit to me, but if you love Mr. Charles, it is a must see. I hear the soundtrack release is to die for!

Against the Ropes
Predicatble, but fun. I went just to see Charles Dutton's direction.

Ladder 49
I got dragged to this one, but I really enjoyed it! The tone was a lot darker than expected, but well done all around.

Maria Full of Miracles
Very nice film, but I think it was over praised. I wish my expectations hadn't been so high when I saw it...

The Manchurian Candidate
The should have been better, but it is hard to stack up against the superb original. Serious actiing here though...

Farenheit 9/11
It is what it is...did the backlash from this film affect the election?!?!

Secret Window
Very quirky, but Depp is amazing!

Shall We Dance
Got dragged to this one, but I am so glad I went! A great feel good movie. Love the score too!

Spider Man 2
Doc Ock is worth the price of admission!

Van Helsing
Just see it for the monster effects, no other reason.

The Village
Very nice. I love M. Night's work...I'm one of those that liked Unbreakable tons better than the overrated 6th sense (which I like, just not crazy mad about it)

Friday Night Lights
Solid sports themed movie. Decent but not great.

Man of Fire
Denzel goes off..boom!

The bad movies you should avoid!
Alien vs. Predator
I am a HUGE Alien fan, so I had to see it. It is worse than horrible. I hope someone pulls the plug on this once great franchise or seriously re-directs it...I want to know about that Space Jockey!

The Chronicles of Riddick
Took some kids to see it....ugh!

The Day After Tomorrow
The effects are not worth the time...worst film of the year.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Hated the look, the acting (save for Jolie!), the story...bad!

The Stepford Wives
It is bad, but if you take the camp view, it could be fun. The original was just so compelling!

Starsky and Hutch
I saw this on a plane. I can't sleep on planes. I did watching this dreck.

Supersize Me
...and the point of this is...!?

Things I want to see (would love to hear feedback on these films)
Dogville
He Hate Me (is it really as bad as suggested?!)
The Aviator
Kinsey
Badassss
Birth (man, did they yank this one quick...really want to see this!)
Garden State
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Sideways

Happy New Year Everyone!

[bluesbro]

Im not a film critic by any strecth of the imagination. There were so many I missed, but here are a few favourites and stinkers:

Favs:
* Hero
* Ray
* The Terminal
* Spider man 2
* The Bourne Supremacy

Stinkers:
*The Whole Ten Yards . I didnt laugh even once.
* I robot
* Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Boring, dont know why I saw this.

I thought the day after tomorrow had some pretty absurd/laughable stuff, but I dont consider it the worst film of the year. I was entretained by the special effects althought most of the film is not credible. On the other hand, I didnt like I robot. I kept thinking: 'I could be at home watching Terminator for free...' Oh and Will also shows his butt like Arnold. :laugh:

[Jimbo]

I still have a few to see (every year, December is jam-packed with movies on my list), but here are ones that I rated A- or better:

Kill Bill Part 2 (best movie of the year)
Shrek 2
Collateral
Million Dollar Baby
House of Flying Daggers
Hero
Sideways
Finding Neverland
Dawn of the Dead/Shaun of the Dead (one scary, one funny/scary)
Team America, World Police

Disappointing:
Ladykillers
Shark Tale
The Village
Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow
Lemony Snickett

Bottom of the Barrel:
Garfield
Van Helsing
The Alamo
Exorcist: The Beginning
Chronicles of Riddick
Blade Trinity
National Treasure

[Scott Wheeler]

Dogville was horrible unless you hate humanity.

[Green Tea]

Favorite Films: "Bukowski: Born into This", "The Five Obstructions"

Runners up - "Garden State", "Super Size Me",
"The Corporation", Fahrenheit 911."

I saw the wretched "Dogville" at the Toronto Film Festival.
Truly horrible film. Avoid. :thumbsdn:

[Ron Stone]

I'll have to sit down with my list, but one film that totally surprised me was the ostensible teen comedy, MEAN GIRLS. I would recommend this to any young woman or her parents.

I Netflixed it because I had met the author, Rosalind Wiseman, whose non-fiction book, QUEEN BEES & WANNABES, was the basis for the film. Fictionalized for screen by SNL's Tina Fey, MEAN GIRLS turned out to be one of those very rare teen-based comedies that actually sticks, and even had a very positive message amid the requisite lingo, clique feuds, party mishaps and shopping mall scenes. And Rachel McAdams, who played Regina George, Queen Bee of the Plastics, was hysterical and convincing.

I'd rate it with FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, CLUELESS, and DAZED & CONFUSED, although as a PG-13 film, MEAN GIRLS is not nearly as graphic as any of those other comedies.

[Mick Jones]

I really liked The Motorcycle Diaries. The best road movie that I've seen in years.

[lbangs]

My top ten for 2004 (well, so far, from what I've watched; number ten is pretty weak for such a list, but I still have several films to catch):

1) Before Sunset - Before Sunrise is quite frankly one of the most romantic films ever lensed, THE vision of love for intelligent, cynical Generation X viewers, so the notion of continuing the story inspires dread on the same level as learning of a sequel to Casablanca. This, though, defies expectations to an incredible degree. Not only is it a better film than the original, it manages to charm, enchant, and delight like very few films ever can. The characters basically talk for eighty minutes inside the always-beautiful Paris, and while that sounds like a shaky premise, the movie actually seems to coast by in half that time. Revisiting old friends such as Ethan Hawke's Jesse and Julie Delpy's Celine is rarely as refreshing and, damn it, downright magical as it is here, and I'll just be wreckless and tell you right now - this film has one of the absolute best endings in the history of cinema. That's right. This is that good. In a summer glutted with the usual sequel crap, who expected this tiny Part II to be so incredible?

2) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Well, I've been mulling several possible ways to review this film without giving too much of the fun away, and now, nearly a week later, I give. The Kaufman script has more heart than any of his works has ever have, the tricks are truly interesting rather than coming off as gimmicks, and the ending caps an interesting debate between the romantic and the realist. The cast is stellar - Jim Carrey may not get the Oscar he's been craving, but for the first time, he at least delivers a performance worthy of one - the direction is inventive yet doesn't distract from the film, and even one of my big crushes, the lovely Jane Adams, appears. A triumph for several talents I have nearly given up on, and one of the greatest films of the past five years.

3) Closer - Bring a coat, cause this movie is cold. I suspect the frosty distance, symbolized by the constant reference to aquarium, coupled with the cynical, painful portrayal of human sexuality and unfaithfulness will send many viewers running to the door. For the ones with the stomach to stay, Mike Nichols’ careful visuals, Patrick Marber’s incredible screenplay (Best Adapted Screenplay, anyone?), and the good performances reward, if not with warm fuzzy feelings, then with chilly observations and excellent screencraft that elevate this nasty film as one of the best movies of the year. Just remember; you’ve been warned…

4) Tarnation - I should be up-front here. I tend to love the avant-garde. In Tarnation, Jonathan Caouette mixes home movies to tell the story of his life and his relationship with his troubled mother. Film speeds up, leaps from scene to scene, and combines in often confusing yet effective ways. It is probably the most experimental film I have seen on the big screen in Tulsa. Not that every trick works, but when the credits roll, you feel quite close to this family wounded by abuse and mental illness, and you cannot help admiring the bold attempt as well as relating to the very human characters behind the wild edits, and that makes Tarnation an impressive triumph.

5) The Incredibles - Lots of fun, this one. I really enjoyed it.

6) Sideways - One always frets when entirely too much praise is lavished on a young director that has yet to deserve high accolades. Alexander Payne is a fine director, but he has not really produced work worthy of the high esteem in which many critics hold him. Sideways, however, is his finest film, and the laurel is looking a little more at home on his head. The screenplay is subtly sharp and insightful, piercing the tight surfaces of the characters and drawing real blood and humor from their cores. Forget about Jamie Foxx; Paul Giamatti gives a fantastic, Oscar-worthy performance as the sad sack central character, and Thomas Haden Church, all gusto, confidence, and stupidity, provides excellent Yang to Paul’s Yin. The direction provides lots of empty space for these actors to fill, and even the supporting casts give portrayals that live up to the director’s scheme. Miles Raymond is a fantastic creation, almost like a live version of the animated The Critic, and the laughs he and others provide are real, not to mention really funny. What do you know? Alexander Payne might just grow into his hype after all…

7) Kinsey - Should we live in a world of poetry or power? Should we strive to wield science to scrap away the uncertainty of reality, or should we relish the majesty and mystery of a world cloaked in metaphor and religion? Are the two necessarily mutually incompatible? To what degree is the world what we take it for, and to what degree is reality what we make of it? For some reason, the topic of sex often drives these questions home with a force few subjects can mimic, and Kinsey dives into the heart of this debate with a frankness rarely seen in mainstream films. Luckily, it usually does not focus on this issue at the expense of its characters. Sure, there are a few scenes that fall flat (including one that unintentionally brought images of Schindler’s List to my mind), and the final scene between the main character and his father, while very well-acted, still fails to be dramatically convincing, but the total effect of the film is to drive home its central dilemma by wrapping it inside of a moving story populated by real characters. The cast does much of the heavy lifting here, but the director is also on top of matters. The screenplay has a tough task before it, and though it falters at a turn or two, it does finish the race with its head high. Kinsey might tilt the debate a bit too heavily towards one side of the issue to be a balanced look at the questions posed above, but it is a fair look, and one that should keep the questions floating about for quite some time. Goodness knows there will be no definite answers any time soon.

8) Shaun of the Dead - In the grand tradition of Tremors and Re-Animator, Shaun is a terrifically fun horror comedy. Er, make that a horror *romantic* comedy, one that unlike most attempt at scary laughs gets the bizarre mixture of creepy and funny perfectly blended and squirted out. Toss in some humor poking fun at us vinyl junkies, and I am helpless. The story, while hardly novel, handles enough curveballs and film quotes to delight the cinema buff, and the cast is perfectly in tune with the concept. I usually find this sort of films highly over-rated by the horror crowd. I, however, loved this one. It was a bloody good time at the theater.

9) Kill Bill Vol. 2 - The Weinsteins continue their epic battle of the almighty buck taking a stand against evil artistic merit! The proof is out there now, and the truth is that Kill Bill is one large, epic film that really should have hit theaters as one large, epic film. Broken in half, Volume 2 unfortunately must open with its strongest scene, a scene that really should have been the centerpiece in this work, and the concluding half spends the rest of its time anticlimactically living in its shadow. Additionally, the split forces Volume 2 to start from a standstill when it really should be coasting on the energy that zipped the first one to the credits. Throw in a few scenes and elements that play as too indulgent or miscalculated (the first of QT's career, I believe) and you end up with a conclusion that just does not quite scale the heights of the opening installment. Still, I can't wait for the complete epic on DVD; I really suspect the whole Kill Bill greatly transcends its severed volumes.

10) Shrek 2 - Shrek 2 boasts some incredible computer animation and the voice of Jennifer Saunders, one of the most supremely talented people active in the entertainment world today. Both of those elements can make up for slow spots and cheap shots, and while this sequel does not better its predecessor, it does entertain enough to justify its existence. I know for a fact loads of the young ones love it.

Biggest Disappointment: Ray - In the opening hour of Ray, The Genius is young and in the studio recording some early sides. The producers are working for a break-through; they tell Ray that his music is terrific, but that it sounds too much like that of other artists. He needs to find his own voice. Movie, heal thyself! Despite the great music and fine performances, Ray never transcends the 'musical bio' template it is using. In fact, it seems much too sure of itself, as if the director realized the quality music and acting he was working with and decided they needed no help from the screenplay or the directing departments. The results are not tragic, but they are very disappointing. Foxx does well, though one wonders if his roots in lesser fare are leading critics to over-inflate the actual performance. The supporting cast is excellent, and the music serves as a terrific prop to the soggy story, but the directing is strictly pedestrian. While not a complete waste of money, Ray does not live up its inspiration.

Well, that is way too much text, but that's the way I see them!

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[rjp]

dogville is very long, actually waaayyyy too long, and is filmed on a very bare soundstage like a play. it was not good, at all.

renny

[macready]

Sideways - One always frets when entirely too much praise is lavished on a young director that has yet to deserve high accolades. Alexander Payne is a fine director, but he has not really produced work worthy of the high esteem in which many critics hold him.


Election and Sideways, two outstanding films worthy of high praise. Oh well, opinions vary.

[davenav]

lbangs--I agree with most of your reviews. I'd say that Alexander Payne is hardly overrated though. About Schmidt is about as brave a movie, and as moving a story as I can expect from anyone.

Kill Bill Vol. 2--Too many gaping holes in the plot that are never satisfactorily answered. Number one, why doesn't she Kill Bill when she gets the chance? Oh, well. For me Tarantino is very frustrating. The film of course has a lot going for it.

And I disagree with your assessment of Ray. The direction *is* somewhat pedestrian but I thought they put the various hurdles he faced in a very forthright manner. It certainly is not sugar-coated. And yes, the soundtrack is phenomenal.

Anyway my list---

1) Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind--Charlie Kaufman is a stone genius.

2) Spider-Man 2--Stan Lee is the Shakespere of the sixties. His characters are so much richer and developed that they transcend their genre. Sam Raimi knows how to have fun with material while staying oh so true to it. A real jewel of a block-buster.

3) Garden State--Just a nice little film with a timeless story.

4) Farenheit 9/11--gutsy documentary that spawned several backlash attempts that only showed how knee-jerk reactions are for jerks. A film that laid it's cards out on the table and damn near pulled rallied a nation off it's war-crazed course. A valiant, singular voice is Michael Moore.

5) Collateral--I missed this one until the dvd came out, but it proves Michael Mann is a real pro at the thriller genre and Jamie Foxx is no one-trick pony. Some guy named Cruise is good, too.

That's all from me because I haven't seen the other ones that would probably be on this list: Sideways, Before Sunset, Hero, Finding Neverland, Incredibles....

[joefont]

1) Before Sunset - Before Sunrise is quite frankly one of the most romantic films ever lensed....it manages to charm, enchant, and delight like very few films ever can. The characters basically talk for eighty minutes inside the always-beautiful Paris, and while that sounds like a shaky premise, the movie actually seems to coast by in half that time. Revisiting old friends such as Ethan Hawke's Jesse and Julie Delpy's Celine is rarely as refreshing and, damn it, downright magical as it is here.

Gotta go with you on these movies. Both films are superb, touching you in a way that stays with you long after the final credits have rolled. Two of the most "human" movies I've ever seen. Very highly recommended! :righton:

[Ted Bell]

Well, that is way too much text, but that's the way I see them!

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

Wow, what a well written, interesting synopsis! Better than any of the year end reviews I've read in the print media. You did your namesake proud. :thumbsup:

[Ed Bishop]

KILL BILL V2 left everything else I've seen this year in the dust. Once it becomes that one huge epic, maybe it'll garner more appreciation?

:ed:

[Ted Bell]

I didn't see a lot of movies this year, but these were my top 5:

1. Eternal Sunshine
2. Sideways
3. Spiderman 2
4. Garden State
5. Napolean Dynamite

Best music: Garden State

[vinyl anachronist]

6) Sideways - One always frets when entirely too much praise is lavished on a young director that has yet to deserve high accolades. Alexander Payne is a fine director, but he has not really produced work worthy of the high esteem in which many critics hold him. Sideways, however, is his finest film, and the laurel is looking a little more at home on his head. The screenplay is subtly sharp and insightful, piercing the tight surfaces of the characters and drawing real blood and humor from their cores. Forget about Jamie Foxx; Paul Giamatti gives a fantastic, Oscar-worthy performance as the sad sack central character, and Thomas Haden Church, all gusto, confidence, and stupidity, provides excellent Yang to Paul’s Yin. The direction provides lots of empty space for these actors to fill, and even the supporting casts give portrayals that live up to the director’s scheme. Miles Raymond is a fantastic creation, almost like a live version of the animated The Critic, and the laughs he and others provide are real, not to mention really funny. What do you know? Alexander Payne might just grow into his hype after all…


I'd have to disagree. I think Alexander Payne has pretty much arrived. He's four-for-four on good films so far, and his first one was over seven years ago. It almost sounds like your comments on his filmmaking ability would have been more relevant after watching Election for the first time back in 1999. Since then, he's made both About Schmidt and Sideways, two pretty accomplished and mature films. I think he's part of a new generation of filmmakers that have been shaping the landscape of film auteurs for the last decade or so, along with Wes Anderson, P.T. Anderson, Spike Jonze, and a few others, guys in their thirties who really don't fill the stereotype of the wunderkind, but rather show us the future of filmmaking.

[lbangs]

Election and Sideways, two outstanding films worthy of high praise. Oh well, opinions vary.

I liked both Election and About Schmidt, but not nearly as much as others did. My review wast trying to say that Sideways is indeed outstanding.

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[lbangs]

Gotta go with you on these movies. Both films are superb, touching you in a way that stays with you long after the final credits have rolled. Two of the most "human" movies I've ever seen. Very highly recommended! :righton:


I am thrilled to find another fan of these films. Hardly anybody I know has seen either, and I tried to start a thread on Before Sunset when it was released, but the thread was dead on arrival...

Great films.

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[lbangs]

Wow, what a well written, interesting synopsis! Better than any of the year end reviews I've read in the print media. You did your namesake proud. :thumbsup:

Thanks!

After a few visits to the theater this weekend, my list has changed a bit. Insert The Aviator at number 9, move Kill Bill to ten, and say goodbye to Shrek 2!

I really should have spent more time on the paragraph about The Incredibles, though... :(

Again, thanks!

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[rene smalldridge]

Napoleon Dynamite,The Incredibles,Supersize Me,Shaun Of The Dead,The Passion Of The Christ were the films I liked. The Stepford Wives and Farenheit 9/11 were what I considered wastes of time.

[grbl]

Some of my favorites:

Fahrenheit 9/11
Finding Neverland
The Bourne Supremacy
The Incredibles
Shrek 2
Spiderman 2

[Ski Bum]

Best: Kill Bill Vol. 2 -- not the greatest cinema of all time, but a real hoot. WARNING, MILD SPOILER COMING: If you have a home theatre setup with great surround sound, the "Texas funeral" scene is outrageous. The dirt hidding the lid of the coffin scared the spit ( :angel: ) out of me. If you are somewhat claustrophobic or have dreams about live burial, I suggest sedation first.

Worst: Dogville -- give me a break. There must be a decent person on this earth. Also, I thought the staging (i.e. as a play with imaginary walls, etc.) detracted from the presentation.

[Chris C]

WOW! How is it possible that this week I actually saw The "BEST" and "WORST" films of 2004 in the SAME week, in MY opinion???

Well, I used THIS "Steve Hoffman Forum Thread" and your reviews to decide which two movies I would take on, that I hadn't already seen.

First the BEST...

"SIDEWAYS" A near perfect film in more ways than one. The characters, while not all loveable, were ALL believable. Paul Giamatti should really take an Oscar home for his work here, IMO! This slightly strange film works for me because it holds together without using any of what I call today's "Artsey Fartsey" visual techniques that so many directors feel that they must use, to make their movies feel compelling! I want a movie, NOT an MTV video for 2 hours!

"SIDEWAYS" uses the Actors and excellent dialouge to make a great movie here. Sure, there are a few scenes (Nudity and a not shown, but heard Motorcycle Helmet beating) that could be a bit graphic for some, but those scenes are "REAL", and add to this movies greatness! Also a plus for me regarding this movie...My wife LOVES wine and this movie is ALL about wine, she said afterwards, that they did very good research in their "wine" dialouge. She was very happy with this movie too, which of course, makes the movie-going experience all the better!

HOWEVER....with THAT said, I sadly had to make her sit through the next movie, that I told her that SOOOOO many of you here on Steve Hoffman's Forum highly rated, which we BOTH will claim as the "WORST" of 2004, and that is...

"ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND" Let me be kind so I won't hurt anyones "OPINION'S" or "FEELINGS" here, but honestly, I haven't felt this uncomfortable watching a movie since a radio friend of mine went on and on about seeing a film called "TRAINSPOTTING"! Both "ETERNAL" and "TRAINSPOTTING" are "VERY" weird, at the very least, and I can't even think of the words to describe just how EMPTY I felt after watching them both. I mean the scene where they are in Jim Carrey's apartment erasing his memory and they are taking drugs, drinking and having sex on the bed beside him, while he is in a "coma" state, was the clincher for me. It was so unbelievable that it just became ridiculous! Thank GOD that when I shut the DVD player off and the T.V. came back on, The Andy Griffith Show was on TV LAND to let me know that I hadn't lost my mind completely!

My deepest apologies to those of you that enjoyed "ETERNAL", your opinions do count, afterall, it was YOUR reviews that got me to watch these two films in the first place! The above statements are just MY opinion.

Chris C