Film Faves: 2005
Welcome to the fifth edition of Film Faves! This time I revisit 2005, the year in which George Bush incomprehensibly began his second term, Pope John Paul II died, Saddam Hussein went on trial, and Bob Geldof organized Live 8.
Before I continue, I should say that the purpose behind Film Faves is not to offer you the best in film for that year. It is my biased, fun list of the movies I enjoyed most from any given year. Instead of a top 10 list with honorable mentions tacked on at the end, I make a list of twelve (12) movies that I enjoyed and recommend the most.
So, 2005 was a really good year for movies, but it wasn't without its share of crap (Hollywood will be Hollywood, after all). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had not only some of the longest titles to a movie in that year, if not ever, but also were among the highest-grossing movies of the year. Crash won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2005. Also among the highlights released that year: The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Kung Fu Hustle, Fever Pitch, Unleashed (aka Danny the Dog), March of the Penguins, A History of Violence, and Good Night, and Good Luck. Unfortunately, what was also released that year was Elektra, Fantastic Four, Madagascar, Stealth, The Legend of Zorro, Rent, and Wolf Creek. But my favorites were:
2005:
12. Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith
Say what you will about the weak dialogue, the kiddie-friendly robots, the hugely broad acting, the CGI, or the prequels’ inferiority to the original trilogy – this chapter accomplished everything it needed to; all loose ends were tied with this gap-bridging finale. We learned how Palpatine became emperor, how Anakin and Padme were separated (as well as the newborn twins), how the Jedi Council and school fell under the might of the Dark Side, and how Skywalker, Sr. became severely wounded and turned into Lord Vader. As a long-time fan that worried for five years whether Lucas would successfully recall every needed detail, I couldn’t help but be satisfied (if only Vader’s appearance at the end weren’t so campy). It’s still not on par with any of the original films… but as close as Lucas ever got.
11. Red Eye
A surprise for anybody who paid it any attention, Red Eye is one of Wes Craven’s few departures from straight horror. Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later) stars as a charmer who happens to share the same flight as Rachel McAdams. Of course, there’s more to him than coincidence and charm. Just like its brilliant trailer, the film initially appears to be a meet-cute romance, but tension slowly builds, as do the thrills. As is the case with most great thrillers, Red Eye takes its time and trusts its audience rather than jumping to the scares as soon as possible. Murphy is excellent as a love-to-hate adversary and McAdams proves her worth in her first non-romantic starring role.
10. Bride & Prejudice
I admit, this musical romantic comedy was initially released through most of the world in 2004. But its release just before Valentine’s Day in the U.S. made it eligible for this list. Bride & Prejudice is an India-flavored take on Jane Austin’s novel, directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham). A colorful and musical delight that makes Indian culture – and its women – so appealing you’ll want to seek them out yourself right after the credits roll. The commentary on westernized Indians is amusing also. It’s worth noting that this is the film that made Aishwarya Rai a cross-over hit from Bollywood to Hollywood. Lost’s Naveen Andrews also makes an appearance in this overlooked crowd-pleaser.
9. Hard Candy
A 14 year-old girl meets up with a thirty-something Nice Guy she met online over the prospect of a photo shoot. As he takes her to his place, it appears he’s a pedophile luring his newest innocent into his lair. But who has caught who? And to what end? Though she’d had over ten other roles previously, Hard Candy is what debuted Juno’s Ellen Page to most audiences – and with great critical praise. Her performance is mature beyond her years. To say more would be to spoil this unique thriller that may cause you to question your feelings about corporeal punishment and sex offenders. Even if it doesn’t, it’s guaranteed to stick with you. Directed by David Slade of 30 Days of Night and this summer’s third Twilight film, Eclipse.
8. Walk the Line
This is how a biopic is done. Rather than focusing on a cradle-to-grave storyline, screenwriter Gill Dennis (whose only past writing credit was 1985’s Return to Oz) chose to focus on the beginnings of Cash’s love of June Carter, reaching as far back as a boy listening to the Carter family on the radio. It supposes that all of Cash’s destructive behavior was in part motivated by his rocky and epic courtship of his future wife. That may sound thin, but everything in this works. Dialogue is recalled effectively throughout, the singing is uncanny, and the leads give the best performances of their careers and that year. Phoenix is perfectly cast as Cash and Witherspoon really digs in and solidifies herself as a dramatic actress.
7. Brokeback Mountain
I’ve already sung the praises of this cinematic western poem when I named it the 4th greatest film of the decade, so I have little more to say here. I will say that upon repeated viewing, naming this among the ten greatest films of the past ten years is no hyperbole. The handling of the story and its performances really held up. As time moves further beyond the cloud of its reputation during its release it’s nice to know this film can stand on its own with future audiences.
6. Wedding Crashers
Wedding Crashers was without doubt the crowning comedy to be unveiled in 2005. From the ‘Shout!’ montage early on to the touch football and dinner table scenes, Wedding Crashers was like that laugh-a-minute best man that you can’t help enjoy being around. While it seems a vehicle for Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan, it really is Vaughan’s show as he’s drawing the big laughs by constantly being put-upon and desperately trying to escape the sultry paws of the kooky yet irresistible Isla Fisher. Credit must also go to Rachel McAdams who is a worthwhile and appealing love interest despite her “you lied to me!” moment. Yes, it could’ve done without the Will Ferrell departure and been trimmed by a few minutes, but the movie remains a feel-good romp and one of my favorite comedies of the past decade.
5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
This is quite probably the best possible adaptation of a rather un-cinematic, quirky sci-fi comedy novel. The movie captures just about everything that I loved about the source novel, which was one of the first reads to make me laugh out loud. Where else will you find singing dolphins, intergalactic bureaucracy, an empathy laser, and malevolent mice? A perfectly cast assortment of English and American actors were assembled here including Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Martin Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, and Sam Rockwell. Who wouldn’t regret not taking Zooey Deschanel to Madagascar (not the DreamWorks variety) or jump at an improbable second chance with her? If you have yet to see The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy then you are missing out on one of the most unusual and hilarious sci-fi comedies ever filmed. Just remember to bring a towel.
4. Sin City
This is a movie that couldn’t have been filmed as well in the ‘90s, no matter how much certain filmmakers wanted to. This could’ve been a horribly-acted and misguided mess. Robert Rodriguez made a wise choice to involve the creator to the fullest extent possible, cast a huge list of talent to draw in audiences, and take the material seriously. None of its heroes are pleasant, but they are redeeming – especially Marv, Micky Rourke’s broken and vengeful brute who gave him a comeback role that would lead to accolades four years later in The Wrestler. It’s important to note Elijah Wood’s participation in this film. The fact that Wood decided to go from such a beloved, iconic character as Frodo to something as cold and menacing as the cannibalistic Kevin shows great bravery as an actor and solidifies him as an actor to watch out for. Sin City is fun, violent, sexy, and a bit trashy, but nothing less than excellent.
3. King Kong
Bloated? Masturbatory? Not in the least! I recently re-watched this epic adventure to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating this film’s awesomeness years ago. Thankfully, I wasn’t and it is an adventure film that holds up in every way possible. Typically, remakes of classics are a terrible idea (case in point, the 1970s Jessica Lange remake). But director Peter Jackson is such a lover of the original he knew that trying to replace it was foolish. So, he didn’t and instead embraced it (notice several references to the original), fleshed the story out (to a whopping three hours!), tossed out racial stereotypes (thereby making the natives terrifying instead of hokey), and improved upon the special effects (by using Andy Serkis to model for the CGI Kong). He wanted today’s audience to look again at Kong with the same slack-jawed astonishment as audiences did in the early ‘30s. He succeeded. But Jackson was also careful not to make King Kong just an effects epic on par with Roland and Emmerich’s Godzilla. He knew the Beauty & Beast emotional connection was imperative, so King Kong is every bit as much a moving love story as it is an exciting effects adventure. It is a film not to be undermined and is worth every minute of its run-time.
2. Serenity
Do you need to be a Browncoat (devoted fans of the short-lived sci-fi / western TV show Firefly) in order to enjoy Serenity? Absolutely not – but you may want to be after seeing this roller-coaster ride. A group of space smugglers discover they are harboring a psychic youth that is wanted by very powerful and dangerous people. It’s a chase film, but a very fun chase film, which comes as no surprise since it is directed by creator Joss Whedon and stars Nathan Fillion, who has yet to star in a bad movie (knock on wood). If you’ve seen the TV show, you’ll appreciate the story more as it closes the book on these characters. If you haven’t seen the show, but already enjoyed Serenity – what are you waiting for? Regardless, Serenity is a fun movie on its own terms or as part of a whole and one of the best sci-fi action films in recent memory.
1. Batman Begins
If you’ll recall, before 2005 everyone’s last memory of Batman on the big screen was nipples, groan-inducing dialogue, obnoxious visuals, and hammy direction; this was Batman & Robin. The initial announcement of another Batman movie was met with annoyance, but the announcement of a clean-slate approach helmed by Christopher Nolan, director of Memento, was met with eager hopefulness. Anticipation mounted as more and more details about the film and its direction were released. Christian Bale (An American Psycho) as Batman. Michael Cane (The Cider House Rules) as Alfred Pennyworth. Gary Oldman (JFK, Dracula, Leon) as Jim Gordon. Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later) as Scarecrow. All of these are well-known and respected actors at this point. Murphy was the relative newcomer, but 2005 proved to be his year to prove he could do villain. Anyway, Batman Begins took the characters and its world down a notch in terms of theatrics below where it had ever gone before. Nolan took the subject seriously and made the best Batman movie ever… that is, until he released The Dark Knight.
Those are my favorite films of 2005. Many of them were among the most popular of the year, but I know I threw in a couple lesser-known films. If there is a film or two you're not familiar with, I highly recommend you check it out. With the probable exception of Star Wars Episode III, you're not likely to be disappointed by any of these. Let me know what you think! What are some of your favorite movies of 2005? Leave a comment below, on Facebook, Twitter, or email me.
Next time on Film Faves, is 2004 the greatest year in film of the last decade? Webs will be slung and the dead will rise! See you then.
Before I continue, I should say that the purpose behind Film Faves is not to offer you the best in film for that year. It is my biased, fun list of the movies I enjoyed most from any given year. Instead of a top 10 list with honorable mentions tacked on at the end, I make a list of twelve (12) movies that I enjoyed and recommend the most.
So, 2005 was a really good year for movies, but it wasn't without its share of crap (Hollywood will be Hollywood, after all). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had not only some of the longest titles to a movie in that year, if not ever, but also were among the highest-grossing movies of the year. Crash won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2005. Also among the highlights released that year: The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Kung Fu Hustle, Fever Pitch, Unleashed (aka Danny the Dog), March of the Penguins, A History of Violence, and Good Night, and Good Luck. Unfortunately, what was also released that year was Elektra, Fantastic Four, Madagascar, Stealth, The Legend of Zorro, Rent, and Wolf Creek. But my favorites were:
2005:
12. Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith
Say what you will about the weak dialogue, the kiddie-friendly robots, the hugely broad acting, the CGI, or the prequels’ inferiority to the original trilogy – this chapter accomplished everything it needed to; all loose ends were tied with this gap-bridging finale. We learned how Palpatine became emperor, how Anakin and Padme were separated (as well as the newborn twins), how the Jedi Council and school fell under the might of the Dark Side, and how Skywalker, Sr. became severely wounded and turned into Lord Vader. As a long-time fan that worried for five years whether Lucas would successfully recall every needed detail, I couldn’t help but be satisfied (if only Vader’s appearance at the end weren’t so campy). It’s still not on par with any of the original films… but as close as Lucas ever got.
11. Red Eye
A surprise for anybody who paid it any attention, Red Eye is one of Wes Craven’s few departures from straight horror. Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later) stars as a charmer who happens to share the same flight as Rachel McAdams. Of course, there’s more to him than coincidence and charm. Just like its brilliant trailer, the film initially appears to be a meet-cute romance, but tension slowly builds, as do the thrills. As is the case with most great thrillers, Red Eye takes its time and trusts its audience rather than jumping to the scares as soon as possible. Murphy is excellent as a love-to-hate adversary and McAdams proves her worth in her first non-romantic starring role.
10. Bride & Prejudice
I admit, this musical romantic comedy was initially released through most of the world in 2004. But its release just before Valentine’s Day in the U.S. made it eligible for this list. Bride & Prejudice is an India-flavored take on Jane Austin’s novel, directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham). A colorful and musical delight that makes Indian culture – and its women – so appealing you’ll want to seek them out yourself right after the credits roll. The commentary on westernized Indians is amusing also. It’s worth noting that this is the film that made Aishwarya Rai a cross-over hit from Bollywood to Hollywood. Lost’s Naveen Andrews also makes an appearance in this overlooked crowd-pleaser.
9. Hard Candy
A 14 year-old girl meets up with a thirty-something Nice Guy she met online over the prospect of a photo shoot. As he takes her to his place, it appears he’s a pedophile luring his newest innocent into his lair. But who has caught who? And to what end? Though she’d had over ten other roles previously, Hard Candy is what debuted Juno’s Ellen Page to most audiences – and with great critical praise. Her performance is mature beyond her years. To say more would be to spoil this unique thriller that may cause you to question your feelings about corporeal punishment and sex offenders. Even if it doesn’t, it’s guaranteed to stick with you. Directed by David Slade of 30 Days of Night and this summer’s third Twilight film, Eclipse.
8. Walk the Line
This is how a biopic is done. Rather than focusing on a cradle-to-grave storyline, screenwriter Gill Dennis (whose only past writing credit was 1985’s Return to Oz) chose to focus on the beginnings of Cash’s love of June Carter, reaching as far back as a boy listening to the Carter family on the radio. It supposes that all of Cash’s destructive behavior was in part motivated by his rocky and epic courtship of his future wife. That may sound thin, but everything in this works. Dialogue is recalled effectively throughout, the singing is uncanny, and the leads give the best performances of their careers and that year. Phoenix is perfectly cast as Cash and Witherspoon really digs in and solidifies herself as a dramatic actress.
7. Brokeback Mountain
I’ve already sung the praises of this cinematic western poem when I named it the 4th greatest film of the decade, so I have little more to say here. I will say that upon repeated viewing, naming this among the ten greatest films of the past ten years is no hyperbole. The handling of the story and its performances really held up. As time moves further beyond the cloud of its reputation during its release it’s nice to know this film can stand on its own with future audiences.
6. Wedding Crashers
Wedding Crashers was without doubt the crowning comedy to be unveiled in 2005. From the ‘Shout!’ montage early on to the touch football and dinner table scenes, Wedding Crashers was like that laugh-a-minute best man that you can’t help enjoy being around. While it seems a vehicle for Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan, it really is Vaughan’s show as he’s drawing the big laughs by constantly being put-upon and desperately trying to escape the sultry paws of the kooky yet irresistible Isla Fisher. Credit must also go to Rachel McAdams who is a worthwhile and appealing love interest despite her “you lied to me!” moment. Yes, it could’ve done without the Will Ferrell departure and been trimmed by a few minutes, but the movie remains a feel-good romp and one of my favorite comedies of the past decade.
5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
This is quite probably the best possible adaptation of a rather un-cinematic, quirky sci-fi comedy novel. The movie captures just about everything that I loved about the source novel, which was one of the first reads to make me laugh out loud. Where else will you find singing dolphins, intergalactic bureaucracy, an empathy laser, and malevolent mice? A perfectly cast assortment of English and American actors were assembled here including Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Martin Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, and Sam Rockwell. Who wouldn’t regret not taking Zooey Deschanel to Madagascar (not the DreamWorks variety) or jump at an improbable second chance with her? If you have yet to see The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy then you are missing out on one of the most unusual and hilarious sci-fi comedies ever filmed. Just remember to bring a towel.
4. Sin City
This is a movie that couldn’t have been filmed as well in the ‘90s, no matter how much certain filmmakers wanted to. This could’ve been a horribly-acted and misguided mess. Robert Rodriguez made a wise choice to involve the creator to the fullest extent possible, cast a huge list of talent to draw in audiences, and take the material seriously. None of its heroes are pleasant, but they are redeeming – especially Marv, Micky Rourke’s broken and vengeful brute who gave him a comeback role that would lead to accolades four years later in The Wrestler. It’s important to note Elijah Wood’s participation in this film. The fact that Wood decided to go from such a beloved, iconic character as Frodo to something as cold and menacing as the cannibalistic Kevin shows great bravery as an actor and solidifies him as an actor to watch out for. Sin City is fun, violent, sexy, and a bit trashy, but nothing less than excellent.
3. King Kong
Bloated? Masturbatory? Not in the least! I recently re-watched this epic adventure to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating this film’s awesomeness years ago. Thankfully, I wasn’t and it is an adventure film that holds up in every way possible. Typically, remakes of classics are a terrible idea (case in point, the 1970s Jessica Lange remake). But director Peter Jackson is such a lover of the original he knew that trying to replace it was foolish. So, he didn’t and instead embraced it (notice several references to the original), fleshed the story out (to a whopping three hours!), tossed out racial stereotypes (thereby making the natives terrifying instead of hokey), and improved upon the special effects (by using Andy Serkis to model for the CGI Kong). He wanted today’s audience to look again at Kong with the same slack-jawed astonishment as audiences did in the early ‘30s. He succeeded. But Jackson was also careful not to make King Kong just an effects epic on par with Roland and Emmerich’s Godzilla. He knew the Beauty & Beast emotional connection was imperative, so King Kong is every bit as much a moving love story as it is an exciting effects adventure. It is a film not to be undermined and is worth every minute of its run-time.
2. Serenity
Do you need to be a Browncoat (devoted fans of the short-lived sci-fi / western TV show Firefly) in order to enjoy Serenity? Absolutely not – but you may want to be after seeing this roller-coaster ride. A group of space smugglers discover they are harboring a psychic youth that is wanted by very powerful and dangerous people. It’s a chase film, but a very fun chase film, which comes as no surprise since it is directed by creator Joss Whedon and stars Nathan Fillion, who has yet to star in a bad movie (knock on wood). If you’ve seen the TV show, you’ll appreciate the story more as it closes the book on these characters. If you haven’t seen the show, but already enjoyed Serenity – what are you waiting for? Regardless, Serenity is a fun movie on its own terms or as part of a whole and one of the best sci-fi action films in recent memory.
1. Batman Begins
If you’ll recall, before 2005 everyone’s last memory of Batman on the big screen was nipples, groan-inducing dialogue, obnoxious visuals, and hammy direction; this was Batman & Robin. The initial announcement of another Batman movie was met with annoyance, but the announcement of a clean-slate approach helmed by Christopher Nolan, director of Memento, was met with eager hopefulness. Anticipation mounted as more and more details about the film and its direction were released. Christian Bale (An American Psycho) as Batman. Michael Cane (The Cider House Rules) as Alfred Pennyworth. Gary Oldman (JFK, Dracula, Leon) as Jim Gordon. Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later) as Scarecrow. All of these are well-known and respected actors at this point. Murphy was the relative newcomer, but 2005 proved to be his year to prove he could do villain. Anyway, Batman Begins took the characters and its world down a notch in terms of theatrics below where it had ever gone before. Nolan took the subject seriously and made the best Batman movie ever… that is, until he released The Dark Knight.
Those are my favorite films of 2005. Many of them were among the most popular of the year, but I know I threw in a couple lesser-known films. If there is a film or two you're not familiar with, I highly recommend you check it out. With the probable exception of Star Wars Episode III, you're not likely to be disappointed by any of these. Let me know what you think! What are some of your favorite movies of 2005? Leave a comment below, on Facebook, Twitter, or email me.
Next time on Film Faves, is 2004 the greatest year in film of the last decade? Webs will be slung and the dead will rise! See you then.