Best 2005

[surf]

which film do you think was the best in 2005 ?

I think The Island

[Yas Kassana]

The Constant Gardener.

[Shaun Patrick]

I second The Constant Garderner (picked it up on DVD today, actually). Millions was also one of my faves.

[J.R. Hudson]

The Island ? Serious ?

I admittedly have'nt seen a ton of what may be considered the best films of 2005; Munich, Syriana, Crash (Brokeback - it's hip to be Queer) - Mountain

I guess my favorites that I have seen are:

War of the Worlds - One of the best popcorn film I have seen in years; good times.

Cinderella Man - Russel Crowe and Ron Howard = Magic. Or is it Russel Crowe + X = Magic.

The Devil's Reject's - The most inspiring film of the year. I loved Phil Parmet's 16mm work on this and look forward to Rob Zombie's next film; and yes, Rob Zombie is a legitimate filmmaker.

[Blaine]

The best movie I saw this year was "Munich". Spielberg's new stuff has been great.

I saw a screening of "The Island" with a Q&A afterward which was interesting, but to me it was two different movies in one. The first one interesting (1st half of the movie) then it degenerated quickly into a typical Michael "how much can I blow up" Bay feature.

"Crash" was good.

"Batman Begins" really good.

I liked "Kingdom of Heaven" a lot. Welcome back Ridley Scott.

[Shaun Patrick]

I saw a screening of "The Island" with a Q&A afterward which was interesting, but to me it was two different movies in one. The first one interesting (1st half of the movie) then it degenerated quickly into a typical Michael "how much can I blow up" Bay feature.


I agree with that. I guess Michael Bay has "blowing up/mindless mayhem" quota that he as to meet with each film. Oh well.

[J.R. Hudson]

Yeah I keep waiting for BAY to do something with some real substance and next up is

Transformers.

Lame.

[Blaine]

Yeah, in "The Island" Q&A the writer talked about "Transformers". You actually COULD NOT pay me to go see it.

[xl70e3]

Cinderella Man and King Kong. Both very inspiring and moving pictures. First - beautiful amazingly acted human story; second - an adventure SO big, SO loud, SO larger-than-life, easily the BIGGEST and most memorable movie going experince for me at least since ROTK, if not ever.

There were other great films like the mentioned above Batman Begins, War of the Worlds and Kingdom of Heaven, but they're not really in the league with these two in the sense of the sheer emotional impact.

(Mind you I haven't seen Crash and Munich, Brokeback Mountain, Memoirs of Geisha are not out here yet)

[The Machinist]

War of the Worlds - One of the best popcorn film I have seen in years; good times.
The Devil's Reject's - The most inspiring film of the year. I loved Phil Parmet's 16mm work on this and look forward to Rob Zombie's next film; and yes, Rob Zombie is a legitimate filmmaker.

I'll second Hudson on these two. And i'll put Munich and History of Violence on top of that list.


As for biggest dissappointment of 05.

I got King Kong.

[J.R. Hudson]

I'll second Hudson on these two. And i'll put Munich and History of Violence on top of that list.


As for biggest dissappointment of 05.

I got King Kong.

Right on Machinist; and coincidentally Mucnich and History are probably the 2 films I wan't to see more than any other's.

King Kong

Sigh; I liked it; I really enjoyed it and after a first viewing gave it a fairly glowing review (see thread) but after coming down I have to admit; it was'nt the spectacle I thought it would be. (My review says why) Sides; can any movie be more mis-cast ? (Not Anne's role)

[Thomas J. O'Hara]

history of violence...ehh that movie was really disappointing! (had potential, but would get really weird, and what's with that Mullet-haired kid who wanted to beat up the son for catching his fly ball? kinda cheesy.)

munich was great! that's easily my favorite of the year.

King Kong was cool, but too long/ jackson should have cut the fat off this one (and some of the CG on the dinos looked pretty bad)

Batman Begins was everything i wanted from a batman movie and more!

still have to see the constant gardener...

[The Machinist]

coincidentally Mucnich and History are probably the 2 films I wan't to see more than any other's

Hudson do yourself a favor and don't put it off much longer. I mean you have to wait for Violence's DVD release but if you can go see Munich right away. I was shocked by how much i loved it. The style, the gritty hardness of it, and the story deserve to be seen on the big screen.

The big thing that Munich had that Kong didn't was pacing. They're comparably long but whereas I had all kinds of problems with the running time of Kong I didn't check my watch once during Munich. There were a lot of other things that caused me to dislike Kong but most of them are personal reasons and I know alot of people dug it so I'm not gonna mess with anyone else's preferences. But glad I'm not alone in my dissappointment. I'm still a Jackson fan, I owe him so much for Frighteners.



history of violence...ehh that movie was really disappointing!

I heard alot of people voice similar complaints. For me it was perfect. However I am a big Cronenberg fan. Videodrome is one of my all time favs so I'd of been dissappointed if this movie didn't leave the audience disquieted. It got a gut reaction out of alot of people and I loved it.

[Blaine]

I am NOT a Cronenberg fan. Not at all. Period. But I really liked "A History of Violence" and the reason it was left off my list is simple. I forgot about it. :embarasse It was well worth seeing. It is another movie that I saw in a screening and the Q&A with the writer afterward was very interesting. When it comes out on DVD I'll be picking it up. I just ran out a few minutes ago and got "The Constant Gardener" and I'll be watching it in a couple of hours. I'm a big Le Carre fan.

Machinist, I agree about the pacing on "Munich". It was a short long movie. It really moved for me.

[spidey]

sympathy for lady venegence, the promise, and a bittersweet life on the asian side of films.

[Filmjunkie677]

Batman Begins.
The Devils Rejects.
Oldboy.

I have yet to see much this year as well. Actually, I'm about to watch "Crash", tonight. As far as "King Kong", I agree with Machinist.... Total disappointment, maybe if he cut an hour from it.
Wanna see "Munich" and "History.."

[NO CA$H]

I think Crash was the best film I saw this year. I actually didn't see that many movies this year.

[spidey]

oldboy is technically 2003

[spidey]

yeah crash was good.

[Michael Summers]

yep, the constant gardener was hands down the best film of the year.

[Shaun Patrick]

I guess a lot of people didn't see millions?

[spidey]

not a damn person.

[J.R. Hudson]

Millions looks really good; I've past it on the shelf a ton of times; just havent been in the mood I guess

[xl70e3]

I've seen it, Shaun. But isn't it from 2004? It's a good movie... not great. And I found myself wanting to like it more, but just couldn't.

[Blaine]

Okay, I just finished watching "The Constant Gardener" (the credits are still rolling) and it was an exceptional movie. For me it is definitely in the top five of the year. "Munich" is still my favorite but this one was damned good. Very interesting film style, almost had a documentary feel at times. In some ways it had a lot in common in with "Munich", even though they were very different they both had a gritty feel. It certainly is a must see, especially since it is now out on DVD.

[dougspice]

Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich
Downfall
Syriana
Paradise Now
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Thumbsucker
Stay

Those were the memorable ones, for one reason or another. Stay is a weird choice... I don't actually like it as a movie but I really like the experimental side of it.

Things I haven't seen yet that would probably be on this list:
Brokeback Mountain
Walk the Line
Memoirs of a Geisha
Capote

I tried so hard to like Crash, but I just couldn't do it.

[The Machinist]

I tried so hard to like Crash, but I just couldn't do it.

Same here.

Millions, I couldn't make myself sit through. The reason being i dislike most children. But to go a step further I really dislike children from the U.K. who have to shout at each other even when they're having a normal conversation. Very annoying. Love Boyle but I'm tossing that one in the heap with the Beach. It's unfair and stupid to do so without watching it but i just can't sit through a movie with that many English children all yelling. Sunshine however looks exciting.

[natdizzle]

gonna go see munich but so far Crash! gotta Represent the Canadian Writer/Director, this guy should be nomminated for writing or directing he proved himself with million dollar baby then With Crash He got even better, this canadian is the man!
love Crash

[The Machinist]

I guess I just don't click with the Canadian's style cause I didn't like Million Dollar Baby either. Then again I haven't liked an Eastwood movie since Unforgiven.

[surf]

The Island ? Serious ?
It takes a long time for a film to "reach" Hungary. so that is why I haven't seen so many from 2005 yet.

[The Machinist]

That's rough. But at least you have alot to look forward to.

[Filmjunkie677]

Watched "Crash" last night.... Very disappointing. I guess I was expecting more. And was Sandra Bullock's character in the film JUST to be annoying??

[skital]

Serenity. It's even greater for those who have seen the short-lived series Firefly from its true beginning all the way to the end.

[HorseFilms]

The Thing. I know it came out in 1982, but it's still the best movie I saw this year.

I guess I didn't see anything that blew me away in 2005.

[Daniel Skubal]

King Kong
Crash
Weatherman
Ice Harvest
Lord of War was pretty good as well

I haven't seen Syriana, Munich, constant gardener or history of violence yet

[The Machinist]

The Thing

NICE

[Cryogenic Filmworks]

Granted I have not seen a lot of films out in 2005, but my favorite was The World's Fastest Indian with Anthony Hopkins.

[uhrgl]

King Kong.

(Crash is garbage, and last year, Million Dollar Baby was garbage).

[Cheesesailor77]

Ok, admittedly i still havent seen a bunch of "the years top" films (Munich, History of Violence, Constant Gardener)...


But I'm amazed that in 4 pages not 1 person has mentioned Brokeback Mountain, even in their top 5. Now I may be forgeting something from earlier in the year, but for me this is the best film of 2005. Agian, havent seen ConGar (will soon) but this has got to be my favorite Ang Lee film. Its quite an achievement to get straight guys to go see a gay cowboy romance and have them not laugh or squirm, let alone be weepy by the end.

great film. was there some brokeback mountain thread in the last couple weeks i missed and now nobody wants to bring it up? I'll have to check.

I also really like Sin City (among others, but that one does stand out)

[spidey]

uhrgl what?

[Filmjunkie677]

King Kong is garbage.

[The Machinist]

One man's garbage...

[Filmjunkie677]

...is another man's trash???

[spidey]

no im talking about crash and mdb

[Blaine]

King Kong.

(Crash is garbage, and last year, Million Dollar Baby was garbage).

I will accept that you liked King Kong and didn't like Crash and Million Dollar Baby. That's the great thing about the movies, everyone is a critic. But garbage? That's not moving the discussion forward. If you didn't like it, fine, say so. If you feel it is garbage, how about some specifics to back up that point of view. I didn't like it....garbage. Two entirely different things.

[Filmjunkie677]

no im talking about crash and mdb

Yeah, I loved Million dollar baby.

[JimtheJib]

i really like everything is illuminated. i think thats one of my favourites this year along with millions.

[Chapman]

I don't know why everybody liked crash so much, I though it was an alright movie.
-My favriots of this year.....
Sin City
Jarhead
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Broken Flowers

Theres a lot more movies I need to see though

[Daniel Skubal]

I don't know why everybody liked crash so much, I though it was an alright movie.
-My favriots of this year.....
Sin City
Jarhead
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Broken Flowers

Theres a lot more movies I need to see though

Oh, I forgot about jarhead! Sincity goes to my favs as well but don't think it was the best film of the year

[The Machinist]

Jarhead was excellent.

I'd put it in my top ten.

[surf]

best actor&actress of 2005?

[Pastaman]

Crash.... great movie. Favorite seen was when the locksmith's daugther runs out to protect her father, man not a dry eye in the house. even this 300lb gansta type was tearing up, that's good film entertainment!

[uhrgl]

But garbage? That's not moving the discussion forward. If you didn't like it, fine, say so. If you feel it is garbage, how about some specifics to back up that point of view. I didn't like it....garbage. Two entirely different things.

I slammed both of those movies (in depth) in their respective threads. The bottom line is that the writing is TV-movie-of-the-week tripe. Based on the scripts alone, those movies belong on the Lifetime network.

[Filmjunkie677]

Crash.... great movie. Favorite seen was when the locksmith's daugther runs out to protect her father, man not a dry eye in the house. even this 300lb gansta type was tearing up, that's good film entertainment!

lol.

[spencer]

I hate to bring up awards cuz I'm sure people that call it garbage won't care anything, but Crash was nominated for a screenplay golden globe, and will probably get an Oscar nod.

The year before that Paul Haggis got another nomination for Million Dollar Baby.

So it seems really inappropriate to say that it's tripe. A movie written non-linearly and done well is definately not on par with lifetime movies.

We're such to criticize, but what have we written, you know?

Movie wise, I liked King Kong, and a History of Violence.

[dustino]

Best Film Overall: Munich, hands down
Best Drama: Good Night & Good Luck
Best Action: Sin City (hon. mention Batman Begins)
Best Comedy: Junebug (hon. mention 40 yr. old virgin)
Best Documentary: Murderball (hon. mention - Grizzly Man, Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Enron: Smartest Guys in the Room)
Best Musical: Walk the Line (ok, it's not a musical but I love Johnny Cash and part of it was filmed in my hometown)

Overrated (imo, of course):
Syriana (almost a really good film, but didn't fire on all cylinders for me)

A History of Violence (I must be stupid because EVERYONE from the most
mainstream critic to the most pretentious arty critics loved this - i found it mediocre)

March of the Penguins (was this really that much better than a pretty good National Geographic episode? Admittedly, I saw it on video, not the big screen)

Crash (not in my top 50 for the year)

Haven't seen yet:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
King Kong
Many, many others, I'm sure made others' lists

[uhrgl]

I hate to bring up awards cuz I'm sure people that call it garbage won't care anything, but Crash was nominated for a screenplay golden globe, and will probably get an Oscar nod.

The year before that Paul Haggis got another nomination for Million Dollar Baby.

So it seems really inappropriate to say that it's tripe. A movie written non-linearly and done well is definately not on par with lifetime movies.

I know both films are Paul Haggis -- I personally find his writing to be cliche and predictable. MDB was a tiny movie that made saps cry (Crash was a bigger movie that makes saps cry) -- MDB won the Academy Award for Best Picture, but in my opinion, it's no where near the accomplishment in filmmaking as Martin Scorsese's Aviator.

Crash book ends with the same scene; the rest of the movie is a straight line, right? Big deal.

[spidey]

I slammed both of those movies (in depth) in their respective threads. The bottom line is that the writing is TV-movie-of-the-week tripe. Based on the scripts alone, those movies belong on the Lifetime network.


ok, then you write something and win the oscar right now.

[spidey]

martian scorsese i hope he never wins . he used to be good now he done aviator which was so boring and resorted to remaking my favorite asian gangsta films.

[HDkilledFILM.]

The Island ? Serious ?

The Devil's Reject's - The most inspiring film of the year. I loved Phil Parmet's 16mm work on this and look forward to Rob Zombie's next film; and yes, Rob Zombie is a legitimate filmmaker.

YES HE IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

[uhrgl]

ok, then you write something and win the oscar right now.

I'm working on it ;)

Listen, don't take it personally that I say Crash sucks.

On the other hand, if you keep bad-mouthing Marty, don't be surprised if Bobby Deniro shows up at your apartment and beats you senseless with a sock full of quarters.

[spidey]

bobby d falling down too . what the last GREAT FILM he starred in.

[spidey]

Heat?

[uhrgl]

Spidey, are you drunk, high, or illiterate? :)

[spidey]

multitasking.

[Filmjunkie677]

martian scorsese i hope he never wins . he used to be good now he done aviator which was so boring and resorted to remaking my favorite asian gangsta films.

"Infernal affairs" is such a good film.