Film Faves: 2004
Welcome to yet another edition of Film Faves. Every edition features a complete and unabashedly biased countdown of my favorites in film. Instead of a top ten list, I avoid the inevitable honorable mentions and count down a list of twelve of my favorites of any given topic. Take this as not a serious "best-of" list as much as an insight into what it is I really love when I'm not trying to be objectively critical.
I'm continuing my travels back in time with the year 2004. While the years 2008 and 2009 were really great years in film, I contend that 2004 was the best year in film of the last decade. Hopefully, after reading this post you'll understand why.
Let's do a rundown of the year. The highest grossing films of that year were Shrek 2 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, and Ray all took the top honors at the Oscars. And, if memory serves, 2004 boasts the most entries in my Best of the Decade list, although only one made it to the top ten. The year brought us possibly more good movies than any other year including those already mentioned and: 50 First Dates, Badassss!, Before Sunset, The Bourne Supremacy, Closer, Friday Night Lights, The Girl Next Door, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, The House of Flying Daggers, In Good Company, Maria Full of Grace, The Notebook, Open Water, The Passion of the Christ, Saved!, Some Kind of Monster, and Team America: World Police. If you haven't seen all of those then you're in for a treat (although referring to The Passion of the Christ as a 'treat' is probably a stretch) as they are all worth at least one viewing.
No year is without its trash, however, and 2004 had a handful of doozies, including: Alien Vs. Predator, Baby Geniuses 2, Catwoman, Garfield, Napoleon Dynamite, The Punisher, Ocean's Twelve, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, and Van Helsing.
That being said, I had a hard time making a list of twenty movies turn into twelve favorites. Here is the result:
2004:
12. 13 Going on 30
This Jennifer Garner delight is without question Big-lite with a catalyst that’s less convincing and a “30 and flirty and thriving” wish that’s less relatable than Big’s desire just to be… well, bigger. Still, Jennifer Garner proves she’s great at physical comedy and is undeniably charming in this sugar-sweet rom-com. Mark Ruffalo plays the friend you know she’s meant to be with, but avoids being wasted here. And it’s hard not to appreciate a movie, no matter how slight, that captures little ‘80s details like eating a fruit roll-up wrapped around your finger and features a ‘Thriller’ dance scene.
11. Dawn of the Dead
Yes, this remake completely lacks the anti-consumerist message of the original and takes much more of a straight-horror take on the mall-as-refuge-from-zombies story. As a result, it does lose a bit of a punch as a monster or horror movie (after all, the entire point of the genre is largely the ‘horror’ or ‘monster’ as commentary on something). And director Zack Snyder wastes no time jumping the shark with a debut that features a zombie pregnancy. But Dawn of the Dead redux has a frightening intro and an excellent opening credit sequence. Oh yeah, and it’s a blast from beginning to end!
10. Garden State
This movie came out when I was nearing the age of 24 and seemed to capture so much of what I was witnessing from my generation: the drug-littered parties, paths crossed with former classmates, the malaise and aimlessness of many who were supposed to be on their way to success. Garden State seemed so much to be a movie of my generation. I know, star and director Zach Braff was closer to 30 at the time, which actually places him at the tail end of Gen X, but whatever – it still spoke to my friends and I. Braff can’t seem to help infuse the comedic talents he’s known for in Scrubs as Garden State has several absurd moments and hilarious lines of dialogue. Regardless, it may fall short of The Graduate, but it’s the closest anybody could get these days.
9. The Incredibles
This Pixar superhero film is not only a better Fantastic Four movie than that year’s Fantastic Four, but it is also a better story than most live-action superhero films. What makes The Incredibles better than any straight-to-video animated superhero adventure is its mature handling of themes on family, marriage, and that some of us are more talented than others.
8. Hero
Zhang Yimou’s luscious legend of the King of Qin, who endeavored to unite all of China, and the assassins who intended to stop him, demands mention on this list. The fight choreography is as graceful as ballet and the film features the best use of color I’ve seen since Kurosawa’s Ran. Of course, Jet Li, Zhang Ziyi and the rest of the cast are superb. Hero is a gorgeous piece of art that ranks among the best martial arts films.
7. Fahrenheit 9/11
This is probably one of the most important documentaries of the last decade. Say what you will about Michael Moore or his smug comments during the first half hour, he knows the power behind his subjects and images speaking for themselves. There are other documentaries (Why We Fight) that should accompany this, as it certainly isn’t the definitive look at our post-9/11 involvement in Iraq. But it was the first to give Americans an unflinching look at what we’d done to citizens in the Middle East and its cost to families back home. Its controversial subject matter is still met with denial and anger by many.
6. Mean Girls
This movie makes me sad. When I watch the opening minutes to this incredibly clever and witty high school comedy, I’m reminded of a time when you could look at Lindsey Lohan with respect and hope of a promising career. That time has passed, but Mean Girls held the promise of another burgeoning talent: Tina Fey. Fey wasn’t exactly new to audiences, having spent a few years on SNL. But it was with Mean Girls that we learned how talented a story writer she could be. I laugh a lot at this movie every time.
5. Sideways
Perhaps the greatest comedy of the decade is not one that goes for cheap slapstick laughs or girl-on-girl humiliation, but features some of the best characters in the genre and some of the most exquisite dialogue of the decade. I give you Sideways, a comedy about life and love. Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen are exceptional and Thomas Haden Church gives one of the most surprising performances in recent memory. Anything but boring, Sideways find its humor in situations and dialogue rather than pratfalls and kicks to the nards. Most importantly, it’s a really well-written character story about finding your true love in life.
4. Spider-Man 2
Once the Alex Ross-painted credit sequence that recaps the previous movie with that Danny Elfman score begins, you know you’re in for something great. Few superhero films give its hero as much character as Spider-Man 2. Parker’s job and school is suffering. He can’t seem to be there for his friends when they need him. And he must constantly choose between being Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Having gotten the set-up out of his system with 2002’s Spider-Man, director Sam Raimi was able to have fun and put his stamp on the series by injecting some great comedy and horror moments into what would be a straight-forward superhero popcorn flick in anybody else’s hands. Studio manhandling prevented Raimi from repeating this creative success again. Still, Spider-Man 2 remains one of the greatest superhero films (and sequels) to date.
3. Shaun of the Dead
I love Shaun of the Dead! What makes it so great is it works on three levels: 1) a horror-comedy that pays homage to the classic Romero zombie flicks, 2) an excellent zombie film in its own right, and 3) a romantic comedy that just so happens to take place during a zombie apocalypse. Name another zombie film that has more layers and is still a blast. Also, unlike last year’s Stateside Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead is not just about the fun of killing and surviving the zombie attack; it has heart.
2. Kill Bill Volume 2
While Kill Bill was originally conceived as one film, business needs led Tarantino to release the film in two parts; one in 2003 and the other in 2004. While Vol. 1 introduced us to The Bride, her agenda, and her mad blood-spurting skills, Vol. 2 shows us there’s more to our fearless assassin than her rage. David Carradine gives us one of the decade’s greatest villains. At one time just a velvety voice outside the frame, Carradine’s Bill was fleshed out into a charismatic spurned lover and protective father, who happens to also be the ruthless leader of a team of assassins. Great fun and great filmmaking.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
My favorite movie among all the great films of 2004 is this extraordinary sci-fi romance. “Sci-fi?” you ask. Of course! Did you really think the technology to selectively wipe the memories of a former lover actually exists? There are so many things about this film to love and one of them is the fact that, as in Children of Men, the sci-fi is nothing more than the set-up to a story wherein everything else is grounded. The ice scene perfectly exemplifies both lead characters: Winslet’s Clementine runs out and gets hurt while Carrey’s Joel is more reluctant and fearful of getting injured. The premise of being so hurt by the loss of a relationship that you wish you could forget it ever existed is extremely relatable and executed brilliantly here. Eternal Sunshine… is a small-scale love story with a large cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, and Tom Wilkinson. Like Annie Hall and When Harry Met Sally…, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a classic romance that will endure because it is one of the few in its genre that actually says something about love.
And that's 2004! I hope I've illustrated why it is quite probably the best year in film of the past decade. If you somehow missed any of the above favorites - or any of the other great films listed in the intro - do yourself a favor and check them out. What are your favorite movies of 2004? Were there any I forgot? Leave a comment below, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
Next time on Film Faves: a school rocked, buckles were swashed, mutants united, and a king returned - 2003! See you then.
I'm continuing my travels back in time with the year 2004. While the years 2008 and 2009 were really great years in film, I contend that 2004 was the best year in film of the last decade. Hopefully, after reading this post you'll understand why.
Let's do a rundown of the year. The highest grossing films of that year were Shrek 2 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, and Ray all took the top honors at the Oscars. And, if memory serves, 2004 boasts the most entries in my Best of the Decade list, although only one made it to the top ten. The year brought us possibly more good movies than any other year including those already mentioned and: 50 First Dates, Badassss!, Before Sunset, The Bourne Supremacy, Closer, Friday Night Lights, The Girl Next Door, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, The House of Flying Daggers, In Good Company, Maria Full of Grace, The Notebook, Open Water, The Passion of the Christ, Saved!, Some Kind of Monster, and Team America: World Police. If you haven't seen all of those then you're in for a treat (although referring to The Passion of the Christ as a 'treat' is probably a stretch) as they are all worth at least one viewing.
No year is without its trash, however, and 2004 had a handful of doozies, including: Alien Vs. Predator, Baby Geniuses 2, Catwoman, Garfield, Napoleon Dynamite, The Punisher, Ocean's Twelve, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, and Van Helsing.
That being said, I had a hard time making a list of twenty movies turn into twelve favorites. Here is the result:
2004:
This Jennifer Garner delight is without question Big-lite with a catalyst that’s less convincing and a “30 and flirty and thriving” wish that’s less relatable than Big’s desire just to be… well, bigger. Still, Jennifer Garner proves she’s great at physical comedy and is undeniably charming in this sugar-sweet rom-com. Mark Ruffalo plays the friend you know she’s meant to be with, but avoids being wasted here. And it’s hard not to appreciate a movie, no matter how slight, that captures little ‘80s details like eating a fruit roll-up wrapped around your finger and features a ‘Thriller’ dance scene.
Yes, this remake completely lacks the anti-consumerist message of the original and takes much more of a straight-horror take on the mall-as-refuge-from-zombies story. As a result, it does lose a bit of a punch as a monster or horror movie (after all, the entire point of the genre is largely the ‘horror’ or ‘monster’ as commentary on something). And director Zack Snyder wastes no time jumping the shark with a debut that features a zombie pregnancy. But Dawn of the Dead redux has a frightening intro and an excellent opening credit sequence. Oh yeah, and it’s a blast from beginning to end!
This movie came out when I was nearing the age of 24 and seemed to capture so much of what I was witnessing from my generation: the drug-littered parties, paths crossed with former classmates, the malaise and aimlessness of many who were supposed to be on their way to success. Garden State seemed so much to be a movie of my generation. I know, star and director Zach Braff was closer to 30 at the time, which actually places him at the tail end of Gen X, but whatever – it still spoke to my friends and I. Braff can’t seem to help infuse the comedic talents he’s known for in Scrubs as Garden State has several absurd moments and hilarious lines of dialogue. Regardless, it may fall short of The Graduate, but it’s the closest anybody could get these days.
This Pixar superhero film is not only a better Fantastic Four movie than that year’s Fantastic Four, but it is also a better story than most live-action superhero films. What makes The Incredibles better than any straight-to-video animated superhero adventure is its mature handling of themes on family, marriage, and that some of us are more talented than others.
Zhang Yimou’s luscious legend of the King of Qin, who endeavored to unite all of China, and the assassins who intended to stop him, demands mention on this list. The fight choreography is as graceful as ballet and the film features the best use of color I’ve seen since Kurosawa’s Ran. Of course, Jet Li, Zhang Ziyi and the rest of the cast are superb. Hero is a gorgeous piece of art that ranks among the best martial arts films.
This is probably one of the most important documentaries of the last decade. Say what you will about Michael Moore or his smug comments during the first half hour, he knows the power behind his subjects and images speaking for themselves. There are other documentaries (Why We Fight) that should accompany this, as it certainly isn’t the definitive look at our post-9/11 involvement in Iraq. But it was the first to give Americans an unflinching look at what we’d done to citizens in the Middle East and its cost to families back home. Its controversial subject matter is still met with denial and anger by many.
This movie makes me sad. When I watch the opening minutes to this incredibly clever and witty high school comedy, I’m reminded of a time when you could look at Lindsey Lohan with respect and hope of a promising career. That time has passed, but Mean Girls held the promise of another burgeoning talent: Tina Fey. Fey wasn’t exactly new to audiences, having spent a few years on SNL. But it was with Mean Girls that we learned how talented a story writer she could be. I laugh a lot at this movie every time.
Perhaps the greatest comedy of the decade is not one that goes for cheap slapstick laughs or girl-on-girl humiliation, but features some of the best characters in the genre and some of the most exquisite dialogue of the decade. I give you Sideways, a comedy about life and love. Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen are exceptional and Thomas Haden Church gives one of the most surprising performances in recent memory. Anything but boring, Sideways find its humor in situations and dialogue rather than pratfalls and kicks to the nards. Most importantly, it’s a really well-written character story about finding your true love in life.
Once the Alex Ross-painted credit sequence that recaps the previous movie with that Danny Elfman score begins, you know you’re in for something great. Few superhero films give its hero as much character as Spider-Man 2. Parker’s job and school is suffering. He can’t seem to be there for his friends when they need him. And he must constantly choose between being Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Having gotten the set-up out of his system with 2002’s Spider-Man, director Sam Raimi was able to have fun and put his stamp on the series by injecting some great comedy and horror moments into what would be a straight-forward superhero popcorn flick in anybody else’s hands. Studio manhandling prevented Raimi from repeating this creative success again. Still, Spider-Man 2 remains one of the greatest superhero films (and sequels) to date.
I love Shaun of the Dead! What makes it so great is it works on three levels: 1) a horror-comedy that pays homage to the classic Romero zombie flicks, 2) an excellent zombie film in its own right, and 3) a romantic comedy that just so happens to take place during a zombie apocalypse. Name another zombie film that has more layers and is still a blast. Also, unlike last year’s Stateside Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead is not just about the fun of killing and surviving the zombie attack; it has heart.
While Kill Bill was originally conceived as one film, business needs led Tarantino to release the film in two parts; one in 2003 and the other in 2004. While Vol. 1 introduced us to The Bride, her agenda, and her mad blood-spurting skills, Vol. 2 shows us there’s more to our fearless assassin than her rage. David Carradine gives us one of the decade’s greatest villains. At one time just a velvety voice outside the frame, Carradine’s Bill was fleshed out into a charismatic spurned lover and protective father, who happens to also be the ruthless leader of a team of assassins. Great fun and great filmmaking.
My favorite movie among all the great films of 2004 is this extraordinary sci-fi romance. “Sci-fi?” you ask. Of course! Did you really think the technology to selectively wipe the memories of a former lover actually exists? There are so many things about this film to love and one of them is the fact that, as in Children of Men, the sci-fi is nothing more than the set-up to a story wherein everything else is grounded. The ice scene perfectly exemplifies both lead characters: Winslet’s Clementine runs out and gets hurt while Carrey’s Joel is more reluctant and fearful of getting injured. The premise of being so hurt by the loss of a relationship that you wish you could forget it ever existed is extremely relatable and executed brilliantly here. Eternal Sunshine… is a small-scale love story with a large cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, and Tom Wilkinson. Like Annie Hall and When Harry Met Sally…, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a classic romance that will endure because it is one of the few in its genre that actually says something about love.
And that's 2004! I hope I've illustrated why it is quite probably the best year in film of the past decade. If you somehow missed any of the above favorites - or any of the other great films listed in the intro - do yourself a favor and check them out. What are your favorite movies of 2004? Were there any I forgot? Leave a comment below, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
Next time on Film Faves: a school rocked, buckles were swashed, mutants united, and a king returned - 2003! See you then.