TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2004
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Napoleon Dynamite
"Last week, Japanese scientists explaced... placed explosive detonators at the bottom of Lake Loch Ness to blow Nessie out of the water. Sir Godfrey of the Nessie Alliance summoned the help of Scotland's local wizards to cast a protective spell over the lake and its local residents and all those who seek for the peaceful existence of our underwater ally." Should I continue?
Tae Guk Gi: Brotherhood of War
What "Saving Private Ryan" did for the heroism, this flick does for the brutality and evil that exist in war. Fucking brilliant.
Wicker Park
Sure, its a remake. Sure, it stars Josh Hartnett. But the fact is I enjoyed this flick for its bloody romantics and its sincere ending.
The Aviator
This is a great film, enough said.
Spider-Man 2
The best superhero movie since, well, Spider-Man.
NOTE: Kill Bill volume II is not listed in my top ten because I classify both volumes as one. Therefore it was my number one movie of last year.
THE TOP TEN
10. Primer
This is a film, simply put, about time travel, but in a very complex matter. It uses the time-travel concept to explore ethical issues — such as, how important loyalty and friendship really are today. "Primer" a paradox and a puzzle; with tension exude in a thrilling way.
Things don't always make sense, but if you give into the movie, it's not nonsense, either. The films writer/director Shane Carruth is a cryptic filmmaker, presenting us with blanks we're either asked or allowed to fill in, depending on how many times we choose to see the movie and assemble the puzzle pieces which go together several different ways. We're not meant only to experience this movie, but also to interpret it.
It takes repeated viewings to truly understand “Primer”, I've watched it four times, and I think I’m coming close to gaining the films True Meaning. The pleasure comes not from the deciphering of the puzzle but from the process itself. The whole movie's a buzz--from the way it looks (jittery, kinetic, but never sloppy) to the way it makes you feel, elated and confused and ready to take another hit.
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9. Saw
This is one of the most fiendishly inventive horrors to come our way in recent memory. It’s disturbing, it’s violent, and gleefully plays with our minds as it twists and turns through its tricky, menacing plot.
Writer/actor Whannell is very good as the hapless, secretive Adam; and Elwes plays nicely against type as the seemingly straight-arrow doctor who has plenty of secrets of his own. There's a clever dynamic between these two men who don't trust each other at all, but really need to. Behind the camera James Wan, cranks up the direction to almost excruciating levels. There is a lot of grisliness on screen and yet he knows that keeping some things out of view makes them even more enticing and chilling.
The murder-game scenarios are so revoltingly done some much that it’s become tiresome, but ‘Saw’s wit and the script's striking inventiveness makes it worthwhile. There are several moments in which we simply cannot believe that a filmmaker would take us to this point. Then Wan and Whannell push us even further. And in the process create a horror flick that will in time become a staple in Halloween viewing
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8. Spartan
A kidnapping drama that's stripped down with its delivery, and brings forth a raw feel that makes you nod your head in agreence that what is in store is something hard-boiled and downright awesome. Mamet keeps his script surprising even in the face of desperately clichéd material and you have Val Kilmer at his most authoritative.
The film incorporates a vicious and extremely witty tone that keeps it lively and spellbinding. This is a slow-burning thriller that drizzles out details at a carefully planned rate, gradually filling in the blanks and answering most of our questions. Mamet has created a fascinatingly enigmatic film, filled with intelligent dialog and complicated situations. The best aspect of this film is the way Mamet spins the yarn from his own perspective, never getting a character's point of view because he never tells us what the characters themselves know. He leaves us out in the cold, and I need a jacket.
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7. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
This rambunctious adventure film makes for an utterly infectious viewing. It's an awesome blend of sharp characters with running gags, outrageously inspired visual imagery and a plotline that feels both familiar and otherworldly.
Writer-director Kerry Conran has an invigorating style that's simply beyond words. Everything is animated, done behind the backdrop of green screens where the actors are the only thing that’s real. Its 1930s noir style the film clings onto looks astonishing, building a retro vision of the future and then filling it with references to films of the period like Flash Gordon and The Wizard of Oz as well as later movies Star Wars and Indiana Jones. In some ways this film is a super hybrid of those pervious stated flicks and the film itself would simply not exist without all the bits and pieces Conran lifts from other places. He assembles them so well that it's a fucking joy to watch.
As for the actors, Jude Law is remarkable as the dashing hero, and his sparring matches with the Lois Lane-esque Polly Parker as played wonderfully by Gwyneth Paltrow are a joy to watch. Their relational history gurgles underneath every scene between them--sometimes corny but also hilarious and romantic--and they play it perfectly. Both Giovanni Ribisi and Angelina Jolie fill their roles excellently and add marvelous little subtitles. Conran orchestrates all of the action with a focus on the characters, which makes the film not only deeply entertaining but also exciting, witty, wondrous and so thoroughly engaging, genre goodnes.
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6. I ♥ Huckabees
“I ♥ Huckabees” is an entertaining, well-acted film. While I couldn’t describe much of it without sounding like a raving lunatic, this existential comedy might not be for everybody, but the simple fact that it could appeal to someone is a testament to the jovial attitude the film has. I don't want to dwell upon the plot because this is film that must be seen as its like nothing one has ever graced there precious little eyes to. It’s original in all its forms. It’s bizarre in all its forms. It’s Naomi Watts in her all her forms. It’s (Max Fischer himself) Jason Schwartzman in all his forms. It’s bewildering in all its forms.
This is a peculiar film -- Is everything interconnected or are we on our own? Are coincidences actually meaningful? Is it dangerous to confront the truth about ourselves and actually feel something? The script bats these kinds of questions around like a tennis ball, bouncing ideas off arguments while maintaining the goofy central plotline and letting the characters adapt to each new bit of enlightenment, all while getting more and more confused. It's absolutely mind-spinning, clever, warped and deep.
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5. Closer
Based on Marber's own play, this film asks so many questions about relationships that it's almost overwhelming to watch, shredding the fluffy picture of romance we usually see in movies to show us the gritty truth that love is difficult business.
People are victims of things they can't control--attraction, love, flirting, obsession, jealousy, anger, fear, lying. These are the things we do without really thinking, as if we're incapable of restraining ourselves. While other things are easier to be in command of: forgiveness, control, telling the truth. And this film is a fine exploration of all these tangents. These are heavy, provocative, strong issues, covered in "Closer". It's almost too brutal at times--twisted and cruel and sad. But Nichols orchestrates it beautifully, shooting and editing impeccably, demonstrating his expertise without resorting to showy filmmaking. And he's also got Marber's almost too-clever words too work with. Also to note is how beautifully the film is bookend, you have to see it and hear it to know exactliy what I mean.
Julia Roberts finds real resonance in her characters inability to truly open her heart and commit to someone. Jude Law gives Dan a lovely pathetic charm--he simply can't get a grip on his own passions. Clive Owen gives his best performance in ages as the smiling-but- manipulative Larry. And Portman steals the whole damn show with an astonishingly layered performance as the spiky but vulnerable Alice. The film is an unadulterated look at the truth of how fucked up "relationships" can really be.
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4. Before Sunset
Nine years after their memorable stroll around Vienna in 'Before Sunrise', Linklater, Hawke and Delpy reunite ten years later to find out what's happened to these two people in a reunion that is entertaining, engaging and strongly emotional. You are introduced to these two characters and it’s like there was no 10 year wait, it’s as if that period of time was non-existent and you’re flown back into their "shared moment". Forget what you know about the so-called Hollywood romantics, this is where the heart is.
The characters Jesse and Celine are so much fun to watch--their natural and witty conversation is full of intelligence as it cycles through both hilarity and pain, filling in the missing years--both what's happened as well as personal development. And this is the most striking difference between the films: Their dialog here is deeper and more mature. Where the 20-somethings discussed opinions about religion, poetry, TV and music, these 30-somethings expose their feelings about the world at large--justice, politics, gender, urban numbness. This conversation has much more resonance for movie audiences because they're talking about things that affect us all.
Linklater assembles this expertly; he again films with long takes that capture vast unedited chunks of banter. A few gentle flashbacks give glimpses of the original film, but we don't really need them. This story stands on its own as a second chance to change fate. It's a beautiful film, with a strongly emotional shift at the end that embodies sadness, regret, rage, passion and rediscovery.
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3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The best movies are those that have the distinct ability to make you feel something. What that something is, Is all up to you. For me this film made me feel that any memory you have of a special someone is to be cherished no matter the circumstances or the loathing or heartbreak you received. This is a staggeringly well-written screenplay, making subtle but profound observations about the power of memory and the nature of relationships all beautifully integrated into a little charming story.
Gondry captures Kaufman’s words to the screen with artistry and inventiveness; it's never flashy for the sake of being flashy. This is easily Jim Carrey's strongest work yet. He never plays to the camera. While Kate Winslet plays wonderfully against type with the unpredictable, fascinating and literally colourful Clementine. Ruffalo and Wood are hilariously memorable in their offbeat roles, while Dunst and Wilkinson put witty spins on characters we've seen them play before.
This is a melancholy of a film that balances the surreal wackiness. Not really a comedy, it's more like a thoughtful romance, picking apart the human mind and how it deals with other people. In the end this film made me realize that there are actually really good film makers out there who aren't all about explosions and the capital. Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman should be honored for their originality and such utter poise in crafting together an experience that one will never forget.
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2. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Wes Anderson is a man who knows how to shake, rattle, and roll film into one of the most entertaining sea adventures of our make-shift generations. He creates a marvelous underwater wonderland, with fantastical creatures and outrageous seascapes, while above the surface everything looks permanently stuck in a 1970s educational film. There's also a freewheeling sense of humour that infuses the film, from Steve's wildly varied transport methods to his nameless interns and useless dolphins. And you can't forget the character Jorge, the ships on-board Portuguese radio, playing the greatest hits of the one and only David Bowie.
This is such a humour filled film that when it gets serious it’s as if it had sneaked up on us. The quest to make peace with ourselves is vividly examined without ever resorting to obvious clichés, and as a result the film remains engaging right through its various twists and turns, both the hysterically funny ones and the ones that lodge a lump in the throat.
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1. Garden State
There's an honest, engaging resonance here that comes from the film's indie roots where its heart is beautifully expressed through humour, dry wit and honest emotion that never gets sappy at all. Braff's writing and direction are strikingly confident--the film looks beautiful, the characters feel real, the humour is welcomed with a smile, and the emotion is sincere. Also the performances are excellent. Braff is wonderful as the soul-searching man with enough fire inside to know he's very much alive. And Portman, Natalie "the star of my dreams" Portman creates a woman anyone would fall instantly in love with--she's kinetic, funny, clever and best of all a compulsive liar.
Throughout the film, the characters talk to each other in various levels of inebriation, and each conversation gives us increasingly astute glimpses into their minds. This is a film that incorporates everything one can ask for - You got comedy, you got drama, and you got a story that harbors the pervious stated genres into a beautiful mixture of kool-aid goodness.