2005 was, for all intents and purposes, a very good year in film (especially when compared with 2006). There were many films which I thought were deserving of a slot on my top 10 list (ie. Good Night and Good Luck, The Upside of Anger, Syriana, Match Point, March of the Penguins, and Millions). But I managed to whittle it down. So nearly two years late, here are the films you must go back and invest in if you missed them the first time around:
10. Grizzly ManAn incredible documentary portrait of a man who fails to recognize the God-made line between humans and animals. Grizzlies are not fuzzy, cuddly animals. This film, more than any I have ever seen, displays how awe-inspiring and dangerous God's creation is (and I take comfort in knowing that we are not the only creatures with power and strength).
9. Weather ManI am not the biggest Nic Cage fan in the world, but this film was an intimate investigation into the life of a man dealing with modernity. It is hard to explain why this film floored me, but it just felt real and different.
8. CapoteA beautiful and highly lauded bio-pic, this film is more than just an Oscar-winning performance by the best actor in Hollywood right now. It is an analysis of obsession. Can we be close to evil without being influenced by it? Is it permissible for people to manipulate others for a greater good? What drives people to murder? The questions pile up.
7. Kingdom of Heaven: Director's CutRidley Scott's original film was good, but the DC adds an hour and a half of character development, which is what the film lacks. Though it isn't the most historically accurate film, KoH is beautiful and epic without being overdone. Balian, the main characer, exemplifies what a Christian's response to war should be (at least in my mind). Scott investigates philosophies and ideologies that are extremely prevalent today (religious war, "in the name of God," etc.). Very timely.
6. The New WorldAlthough the plot is good, this film doesn't even need a plot. Terrence Malick has created quite possibly the most beautiful piece of cinematography I have seen on film. [See full review]
5. The Constant GardenerA gut-wrenching story of love and social justice set in Kenya, Fernando Mereilles' film succeeds on nearly every level. [See full review]
4. JunebugJunebug is an intimate story of how a family welcomes someone completely foreign to them. A man brings a woman from NYC "down home" to the South. The interactions that ensue are fascinating. This film is subtle, honest, and thought-provoking. It is all about family and marriage.
3. Brokeback MountainHello controversy. This beautiful and heartbreaking story is much more than gay cowboys. It tells the story of these two men in a non-judgmental way. Anyone could see this as a pro-gay film, but Ang Lee doesn't editorialize. He is merely telling a story. One thing is for sure, Brokeback shows that homosexuality is not a private issue, it affects everyone in the film. Though graphic at times, I hope Christians will give this movie a shot with a Christ-like mind of love and truth.
2. CrashThis film epitomizes redemption. The plot interweaves many story-arcs during one day in L.A. Every character has their preconceptions about others. But Crash is not limited to a "racism is bad" movie. This film goes deep inside the human heart and tries to explain why we tend to hate each other for any reason. Crash is brutally honest, which is what we need to see. Everyone can choose or reject redemption, but redemption can come.
1. Munich Spielberg's grossly underrated masterpiece. How could he make such a great film and a crappy one (War of the Worlds) in the same year? Well, there are many different Spielbergs, apparently. Munich deals with the complex politics of the Middle Ease with gritty honesty and even-handedness. The film delves into the ideas of revenge, family, nationality, religion, and violence in general. Munich is a beautiful memorial.
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I would love to hear feedback. What were your favorites? What movies should have been on here, in your opinion, and of course, what sucks?
5 comments:
Three movies stick out for me in 2005 : Batman Begins, Brick, and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I don't think that the Narnia Movie, while good, was good enough to put in a top 10 list. The movie just didn't stuck close enough to the book. The book was so much more "real" than the movie for me. I would put the other two movies in my personal top 5 for 2005; But I have only seen 3 of the movies from your list.
Dude, good choices. Batman Begins was fantastic, one of the best superhero films in a long time. Also, Brick was a fun watch, unique, although sometimes hard to understand what the characters are saying. I was pretty disappointed in Lion, Witch, etc., it just wasn't "magical."
O, I agree with most of it. Granted a lot of this probably has to do with the fact that I can't remember exactly what movies came out in '05 or '04 or '06, etc., but I did love all these movies... of the 8 that I saw (minus Kingdom of Heaven, good, but not top 10 good, especially with Syriana as an option). My biggest issue though, while Munich was good, it wasn't as good as Crash. I mean, for me at least, it would be a bit of a stretch to put them in a tie, but it could be understood. I guess I liked Crash more on my level because I felt as though I could understand it a lot more. Relate to it, if you will. I do believe Munich has many relatable themes to us a humans, and it moved me, but not anywhere nearly as strong as Crash did. I guess all this to say that I'm dividing them by the feeling I had at the end. Both are fantastic movies, though. None of this is meant to take away from either. And, may I also point out that I love that you have a Nicholas Cage movie in your top 10. I believe in literature this is what they call "irony." Hes the man, and you know it. :)
Great list! And good for you for not shying away from Brokeback Mountain. Controversy and politics aside, it was a rich film. I didn't go in thinking of it as a "gay movie", but rather just a..movie - and I wasn't dissapointed. Ang Lee is a great director and the beauty of the film was vast....I think I will move to Wyoming maybe? And it did a great job of showing that ANY extra marital affair rips apart a family. I also loved Munich. It made me think about the nature of revenge when mixed with religion, or belief. I'm glad you put this list up! Now we have a couple of more movies to add to our netflix queue. Also, I was going to ask you if maybe you could post a blog about the movies coming out this year that you are excited to see?
Colleen again. I'm not sure where to send general comments? Just wanted to recommend a movie to you in this dry season - we just watched The Year of the Dog with Molly Shannon. It was a great little indy movie, and we really enjoyed it. It had a lot to say! You might like it, as it was kind of a character study. Thanks!
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