Ah, yes, it’s that time of the year again; the time where we critics get to sit down, reflect, ruminate, and figure out what the best films of 2004 are. I can’t think of too many things that I saw in 2004, that I truly hated. Other than Lemony Snicket, Sky Captain and Kill Bill: Vol 2, hence no 10 Worst List. Overall 2004 was a weird year for films most of the studios played it safe and didn’t take too many chances. There weren’t any clear home runs, but a lot 2nd and 3rd base hits. Not too many A or D films, a whole lot of B and C level fair. With all of the disclaimers stated, here are my top 10 films of 2004.
10) SAINTS AND SOLDIERS
[img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/excel/saints_and_soldiers/alexander_niver/saints.jpg[/img]As a critic, when doing a top 10 list, you always have to pick at least one obscure film that most people probably never heard of and won’t get a chance to see. I had three obscure selections this year – “”The Last Shot,”” “”Mean Creak”” (which didn’t make the final cut) and my first top ten film, “”Saints and Soldiers.”” “”Saints and Soldiers”” is a film that didn’t get any publicity, and was only released for a short time in limited release, but it’s a film that should have gotten more of a push from its independent distributor. Based on actual World War II events, “”Saints and Soldiers”” tells the dramatic story of four Allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines after escaping the Malmedy Massacre. The opening sequence in this film is intense and reminds me of “”Saving Private Ryan,”” but unlike that film, “”Saints and Soldiers”” actually has a real story. Director Ryan Little gives this tale of honor and survival such warmth and heart. This is one of the best war films that I’ve seen in quite awhile.
9) HOTEL RWANDA![]()
Ten years ago, during the height of the Rwanda genocide, hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) opened up his hotel to refugees. By doing so he saved over 1,000 people. This film is the Rwanda version of “”Schindler’s List.”” While the film goes through great pains to make us hate the U.N. for standing by and literally watching the slaughter, I couldn’t help but be disgusted with the Rwandans themselves. These people were killing each other over nothing. The film does a poor job of explaining exactly what the conflict was about, but maybe that was the point. Don Cheadle’s strong Oscar worthy performance is what holds this film together.
8) MILLION DOLLAR BABY[img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/million_dollar_baby/_group_photos/clint_eastwood10.jpg[/img]Ok, ok, I’ve come around on this film. “”Million Dollar Baby”” is another one of those films that just stays with you long after you see it. Originally, I left the theater kind of ambivalent. While I thought it was a good film, that featured a strong performance by Hilary Swank, I still felt that at the end of the day it was just a boxing film. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that it’s much more than a boxing film, it’s a film about finding and making your own family, it’s about tough choices, and how far you are willing to go for those you care about. This isn’t the type of film I would want to watch again, but it stays with you, long after the credits roll.
7) MARIA FULL OF GRACE[img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/fine_line_features/maria_full_of_grace/catalina_sandino_moreno/catwalk.jpg[/img]What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this film? This film tells the harrowing story of how a teenager in Colombia, can become a drug mule – someone who smuggles drugs into the U.S. When Maria Alverez (Catalina Sandino Moreno) starts to swallow those drug pellets, her facial expression brings the enormity of what she’s doing home. Catalina Sandino Moreno, gives one of the best performances of the year, you really feel what she’s going through. The film doesn’t take any political or social stands, all it does it present the facts and lets the audience make up its own conclusion.[pagebreak]
6) RAY and COLLATERAL[img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/ray/jamie_foxx/ray3.jpg[/img][img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/dreamworks_skg/collateral/_group_photos/barry_shabaka_henley3.jpg[/img]Jamie Foxx had such a fantastic 2004, that I couldn’t decide which of his films to put on my list, so I’m going to cheat and put both “”Ray and Collateral”” in my number six slot. In “”Ray”” he truly comes into his own as an actor. He embodies and channels Ray Charles. The film itself is a mixed bag, the directing and musical performances are all top notch, but the story structure leaves something to be desired. Ray would have been much stronger if it told its story in a linear fashion, instead of utilizing flashback sequences. Whenever the film gains forward momentum it stops and gives us a flashback to Ray Charles’ childhood, and it has a strange, abrupt ending.””Collateral”” is a radically different film than “”Ray”” but Foxx’s performance as a taxi driver who has to drive around a killer is on target. Tom Cruise is frightening as the killer without a conscience, Vincent. And Michael Mann’s direction infuses “”Collateral”” with a dense, claustrophobic feel.
5) SAW[img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/lions_gate_films/saw/leigh_whannell/saw.jpg [/img]What an amazing movie!!! This horror thriller is filled with thrills, chills, and a lot of “”what the f”” moments. I saw this film on a night when I really didn’t want to traipse into town to attend a screening. It was a dark, dreary day, and it was poring down rain. I had no idea what this film was about, and the first 10 minutes were so bad that I really wanted to walk out of it. A funny thing happened though, after its rough start, it turns into a “”real movie”” with a real mystery. The film builds, and builds, and the last 40 minutes of this, is probably one of the best 3rd Acts that I’ve ever seen. It is intense, and holds you on the edge of your seat. If you are a fan of horror, or thrillers then you have to experience “”SAW”” at least once.
4) HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN [img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/harry_potter_and_the_prisoner_of_azkaban/_group_photos/daniel_radcliffe20.jpg [/img]It is unbelievable that this film has made my top ten list that alone so high on it. I have two radically different opinions about this film, and it depends on what day of the week you ask me. As a huge Potter Head and fan of the books, I absolutely loathe Prisoner of Azkaban, I thought they butchered the story, changed around too many things, left out major plot points, bastardized Ron’s character, etc. But as a fan of the Harry Potter film series (which turned me into a fan of the books), I have to say that this is the best film of the entire series. While the other two films stayed true to the books, and are a lot of fun to watch, they don’t have the re-watchability that POA has. I’ve seen this film six times now, and its like a fine wine, it gets better and better with each viewing. Director Alfonso Cuaron does a good job of creating a darker and more menacing atmosphere. Magic is no longer Magical, it just is. POA serves as a nice transition film that conditions the audience to the more grimmer tone of later books.[pagebreak]
3) AVIATOR![]()
Leonardo DiCaprio does it again. This time he teams up with Director Martin Scorsese to bring us the biography of billionaire inventor Howard Hughes. The film focuses on Hughe’s early years in Hollywood, and his desire to build airplanes. When he buys TWA he finds himself in a fight with Pan AM and then Congress who accuses him of War Profiteering. DiCaprio gives an Oscar level performance. Some of the flight scenes in Aviator are exhilarating.
2) SPIDERMAN 2 [img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/spider_man_2/_group_photos/kirsten_dunst3.jpg[/img]I really hated the original Spiderman movie, and wasn’t looking forward to the sequel. But boy was I glad I went, “”Spiderman 2″” was everything that the first film should have been and more. It had heart, soul, stand out visual effects that actually made “”Spiderman”” seem real, and it had fabulous performances by Kirsten Dunst and Tobey McGuire. This was one of the best Super Hero films ever made. Unfortunately it looks like they are going to bring back the Green Goblin for Spiderman 3 which will make me hate the franchise all over again. [pagebreak]
1) FINDING NEVERLAND[img]http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/miramax_films/finding_neverland/findingneverland_bigposter.jpg[/img]And now, we have my number one film of 2004 – Johnny Depp and Marc Forster’s “”Finding Neverland.”” Set in London in 1904, the film follows J.M. Barrie’s creative journey to bring Peter Pan to life, from his first inspiration for the story up until the play’s premiere at the Duke of York’s Theatre – a night that will change not only Barrie’s own life, but the lives of everyone close to him. In a world where so many films are cynical, Director Marc Forster and star Johnny Depp let their inner child out to bring us a film that is sentimental, magical, and full of whimsy. Kate Winslet gives a wonderful performance as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies the mother (and inspiration for Wendy) of the children that J.M. Barrie base Peter Pan on. This film could have gone in so many different directions, but Forster manages to keep it light.
HONORABLE MENTIONSGarden StateSpanglishThe Last ShotMean CreakShrek 2Beyond The SeaShaun of the DeadNational TreasureThe IncrediblesOvernightSome Kind of MonsterFade To Black
MOST OVERRATTED FILM OF THE YEARNo question – “”Sideways.”” What a lame, boring film about pretentious boring people. After “”Sideways,”” I would go with “”Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,”” and “”Farenheight 9/11.””
FILMS THAT I MISSED AND HAVE NO INTEREST IN SEEINGThe Passion of The Christ
MOST DISAPPOINTING FILM OF THE YEAR?It’s hard to say, this year most films actually met my expectations (whether high, low, orindifferent). I’ll go with “”Kill Bill Vol 2.””
REVIEW I’D LIKE TO TAKE BACK“”Van Helsing.”” I must have been on crack when I wrote that review. In my own defense I did say that the film failed on so many different levels, but at the end of the day I was thoroughly entertained by it. Well, I watched it recently on DVD, and man, what a mess. It’s definitely the type of film you have to see with an audience who is in on the joke.
WORST FILM OF 2004“”Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events”” – this film is so bad on so many different levels, Jim Carey is annoying as hell in this, all of the adults are incredibly stupid, so stupid that it insults the intelligence of the audience to watch these people be so WILLFULLY oblivious, the set design is dark and dreary, the story just incredibly bad and mean spirited, but the worst part was when they had a 40 year old man try to marry a 14 year old girl, and no one says anything! Granted they set it up, so that the audience thought they were watching a play, but still. Just horrible.