David's Long-Awaited (in his own mind) Top Ten Movies of 2005!!!
DAVID COLEY PRESENTS
THE TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2005
Greetings, I have seen quite a few movies in the past year, some good, some bad, a couple unbearably painful. But I think I have successfully chosen 10 excellent films, any of which you should see if you have not. I have ranked my number one film of the year, and the remaining nine are listed in no particular order. The number one film is in companion to my movie awards (acting, directing, etc.) which I will post later. And so, without further ado..
1. THE NEW WORLD
Directed by Terrence Malick. Starring Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Christian Bale, and Q'orianka Kilcher.
Artistically superior to anything I have seen all year. Rarely do I find a production that is so in tune with the basic nature of film as this is. Malick uses his visuals to their full extent to elaborate on a moment lost in time and often forgotten, and makes it last quite a while as he engages the audience with compelling characters, amazing and original narrative structure, and a beautiful score by James Horner. The cast does a fine job, especially newcomer Kilcher as Pocahontas. This is the one to see if you have not. (Now in Theatres)
*BROKEN FLOWERS
Directed by Jim Jarmusch. Starring Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Jessica Lange, Sharon Stone, Tilda Swinton, and Julie Delpy.
A gallery of some of the most interesting screen characters of the year, coupled with another great Bill Murray performance. Jim Jarmusch's direction is fresh and makes the potentially episodic story flow. (Now on DVD)
*SYRIANA
Directed by Stephen Gaghan. Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper, and Amanda Peet.
Everything is connected in this sprawling epic about oil and corruption. The tight cinematography and great acting thrust the audience into an almost incomprehensible story where not even the characters are sure of what's going on, but that is the beauty of it, showing the complexity of an issue that is often championed by either side as black and white. (Now in Theatres)
*BATMAN BEGINS
Directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Katie Holmes, Ken Watanabe, and Morgan Freeman.
After the Joel Schumacher Batfilms, you couldn't get much worse. With this film, it's hard to imagine much better. An all-star cast and a down-to-earth story with a gritty production design helps make this one of the best comic book films ever made. Visceral and real, it's all you could ask for and more.
*MATCH POINT
Directed by Woody Allen. Starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, and Brian Cox.
Some of Woody's favorite themes come alive in a new setting, as the master leaves his muse city of New York for London. An unique moral fable with several twists and turns, populated by characters who seem to exist in the moment so well that it makes their actions and words surprisingly unpredictable. And no one, I mean no one, has directorial focus like Woody Allen. (Now in Theatres)
*CRASH
Directed by Paul Haggis. Starring everybody.
This is a surprising film on many levels. From the grade-A performances from B-list actors to the uniquely fresh take on a theme covered so many times in film, it makes it seem as if we are seeing the problem of racism for the first time, with all its shocking, disgusting reality. It takes characters who it seems we should not care about and gives them the gravity of a tragic opera. (Now on DVD)
*MUNICH
Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush, Ciaran Hinds, and Daniel Craig.
This is such a hard issue (Israel and Palestine) to deal with, and Spielberg, despite all his detractors, handles it with just the right balance of finesse and concern, shying away from prescribing a solution while forcing the ugly truth about both sides into the light. With the style and sense of a European 70's spy thriller and the thoughtfulness of his Schindler's List, this is not quite the Spielberg we're used to, but it's a welcome turn. (Now in Theatres)
*CAPOTE
Directed by Bennett Miller. Starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Chris Cooper, and Clifton Collins Jr.
This movie is dominated both on and off screen by Hoffman's performance, and the praise is well-deserved. All the cliche talk about forgetting that it's the actor is true. The rest of the film is a somber tale about pragamatic exploitation and the toll it takes on Truman Capote's conscience. Not the brimming-with-praise biopic we're used to from Hollywood, and that's a good thing.
*HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
Directed by Mike Newell. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and almost every cool British actor alive.
I'm even surprised this is on my list. One, it's a sequel, and two it's based on a widely popular book, and by logic should be disappointing. Newell keeps the narrative so tight that we don't mind the additions and deletions. The kids' performances get better every movie, and you could not ask for a better cast in a film. With all the adventure and fantasy you'd expect, the film delivers as entertainment value while resonating emotionally as well.
*PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Directed by Joe Wright. Starring Keira Knightley, Angus McFayden, Donald Sutherland, and Judi Dench.
One of my surprise favorites of the year. The cinematography is brilliant, and the performances are wonderful. It's such an often told story, but it's imbued with so much life and unexpected humor that you can't help but relish every minute of it. One of the most enjoyable films I have seen in a while.
Honorable Mentions (Films that almost made it): The Constant Gardener, Walk the Line, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Proof, and A History of Violence.
THE TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2005
Greetings, I have seen quite a few movies in the past year, some good, some bad, a couple unbearably painful. But I think I have successfully chosen 10 excellent films, any of which you should see if you have not. I have ranked my number one film of the year, and the remaining nine are listed in no particular order. The number one film is in companion to my movie awards (acting, directing, etc.) which I will post later. And so, without further ado..
1. THE NEW WORLD
Directed by Terrence Malick. Starring Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Christian Bale, and Q'orianka Kilcher.
Artistically superior to anything I have seen all year. Rarely do I find a production that is so in tune with the basic nature of film as this is. Malick uses his visuals to their full extent to elaborate on a moment lost in time and often forgotten, and makes it last quite a while as he engages the audience with compelling characters, amazing and original narrative structure, and a beautiful score by James Horner. The cast does a fine job, especially newcomer Kilcher as Pocahontas. This is the one to see if you have not. (Now in Theatres)
*BROKEN FLOWERS
Directed by Jim Jarmusch. Starring Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Jessica Lange, Sharon Stone, Tilda Swinton, and Julie Delpy.
A gallery of some of the most interesting screen characters of the year, coupled with another great Bill Murray performance. Jim Jarmusch's direction is fresh and makes the potentially episodic story flow. (Now on DVD)
*SYRIANA
Directed by Stephen Gaghan. Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper, and Amanda Peet.
Everything is connected in this sprawling epic about oil and corruption. The tight cinematography and great acting thrust the audience into an almost incomprehensible story where not even the characters are sure of what's going on, but that is the beauty of it, showing the complexity of an issue that is often championed by either side as black and white. (Now in Theatres)
*BATMAN BEGINS
Directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Katie Holmes, Ken Watanabe, and Morgan Freeman.
After the Joel Schumacher Batfilms, you couldn't get much worse. With this film, it's hard to imagine much better. An all-star cast and a down-to-earth story with a gritty production design helps make this one of the best comic book films ever made. Visceral and real, it's all you could ask for and more.
*MATCH POINT
Directed by Woody Allen. Starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, and Brian Cox.
Some of Woody's favorite themes come alive in a new setting, as the master leaves his muse city of New York for London. An unique moral fable with several twists and turns, populated by characters who seem to exist in the moment so well that it makes their actions and words surprisingly unpredictable. And no one, I mean no one, has directorial focus like Woody Allen. (Now in Theatres)
*CRASH
Directed by Paul Haggis. Starring everybody.
This is a surprising film on many levels. From the grade-A performances from B-list actors to the uniquely fresh take on a theme covered so many times in film, it makes it seem as if we are seeing the problem of racism for the first time, with all its shocking, disgusting reality. It takes characters who it seems we should not care about and gives them the gravity of a tragic opera. (Now on DVD)
*MUNICH
Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush, Ciaran Hinds, and Daniel Craig.
This is such a hard issue (Israel and Palestine) to deal with, and Spielberg, despite all his detractors, handles it with just the right balance of finesse and concern, shying away from prescribing a solution while forcing the ugly truth about both sides into the light. With the style and sense of a European 70's spy thriller and the thoughtfulness of his Schindler's List, this is not quite the Spielberg we're used to, but it's a welcome turn. (Now in Theatres)
*CAPOTE
Directed by Bennett Miller. Starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Chris Cooper, and Clifton Collins Jr.
This movie is dominated both on and off screen by Hoffman's performance, and the praise is well-deserved. All the cliche talk about forgetting that it's the actor is true. The rest of the film is a somber tale about pragamatic exploitation and the toll it takes on Truman Capote's conscience. Not the brimming-with-praise biopic we're used to from Hollywood, and that's a good thing.
*HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
Directed by Mike Newell. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and almost every cool British actor alive.
I'm even surprised this is on my list. One, it's a sequel, and two it's based on a widely popular book, and by logic should be disappointing. Newell keeps the narrative so tight that we don't mind the additions and deletions. The kids' performances get better every movie, and you could not ask for a better cast in a film. With all the adventure and fantasy you'd expect, the film delivers as entertainment value while resonating emotionally as well.
*PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Directed by Joe Wright. Starring Keira Knightley, Angus McFayden, Donald Sutherland, and Judi Dench.
One of my surprise favorites of the year. The cinematography is brilliant, and the performances are wonderful. It's such an often told story, but it's imbued with so much life and unexpected humor that you can't help but relish every minute of it. One of the most enjoyable films I have seen in a while.
Honorable Mentions (Films that almost made it): The Constant Gardener, Walk the Line, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Proof, and A History of Violence.