Well, since the year has about wrapped up, I figure it's time to decide on my list for the year. I'll admit there are a couple things in the last few weeks I haven't gotten to, but well such is life.
1) Shaun of the Dead
This won't top everyone's list I know. But I can't help it, as a horror and especially zombie fan this movie was perfect for me. It had absolutely everything I could ask for. The humor was great (beware: It's British humor!). The special effects, make-up, gore, etc were all quite good. It had it's share of social commentary to put it into running with Romero's films. I could go on and on with reasons why I liked this movie.
2) Collateral
Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx played their roles extremely well. I loved the one on one dialogues that dominated the movie. The action was fun (occasionally over the top - but it was fun). However, what really made this movie for me - amazing camera work and style. Michael Mann makes every shot interesting and has created a visually amazing movie. It might miss with some people, but the shot with the coyotes crossing the street is one of my favorite moments in film in recent years.
3) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I think easily the best Kaufman. I'm not a Jim Carrey fan but I think he does a good job in this one. I can't say a whole lot about this one, other than give it a try.
4) Garden State
This could easily compete for third place for me, but I decided I liked Eternal Sunshine a little bit better. This movie had a fanstatic soundtrack, great writing, and great acting (Natalie Portman). This was one of those movies I found myself just lost in every time I saw it.
5) Saw
I think honestly, this could probably be higher on the list for me, but here it stands. I'd been waiting a very long time for this movie, cringing every time I saw this movie get pushed back further and further. Ultimately, it wasn't what I expected and yet gave me everything I could ask for. The word coming out about this was that it was one really messed up dark nasty horror film. When I saw it, the gore and scares were hardly up to the reputation that preceeded it. However, it managed to surpass my expectations in other areas. It gets two black marks in my book, some of the acting was bad - actually, only Cary Elwes. He was okay in parts, and horrible in others. Interestingly, the best acting in this movie came from first time writer (and practically first time actor) Leigh Whannell who I thought did a great job as Adam. And overall the movie was very well written and thought out.
Honorable Mentions: Kill Bill Vol II, Dawn of the Dead (remake), Napoleon Dynamite
Things from 2004 I still want to see: Goodbye Lenin, Closer, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, I Heart Huckabees, The Machinist, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
EDIT - I thought I'd add something:
Worst Film of the Year:
Aliens vs. Predator
What was wrong with it? Everything. If you saw it, or even watched the commercials for it, and you're skeptical that it deserves worst movie of the year, well... let's just say you and I don't need to speak.
Honorable Mention for worst movie: Van Helsing (I didn't watch it actually, I couldn't bring myself to step anywhere near this movie).
1) Shaun of the Dead
This won't top everyone's list I know. But I can't help it, as a horror and especially zombie fan this movie was perfect for me. It had absolutely everything I could ask for. The humor was great (beware: It's British humor!). The special effects, make-up, gore, etc were all quite good. It had it's share of social commentary to put it into running with Romero's films. I could go on and on with reasons why I liked this movie.
2) Collateral
Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx played their roles extremely well. I loved the one on one dialogues that dominated the movie. The action was fun (occasionally over the top - but it was fun). However, what really made this movie for me - amazing camera work and style. Michael Mann makes every shot interesting and has created a visually amazing movie. It might miss with some people, but the shot with the coyotes crossing the street is one of my favorite moments in film in recent years.
3) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I think easily the best Kaufman. I'm not a Jim Carrey fan but I think he does a good job in this one. I can't say a whole lot about this one, other than give it a try.
4) Garden State
This could easily compete for third place for me, but I decided I liked Eternal Sunshine a little bit better. This movie had a fanstatic soundtrack, great writing, and great acting (Natalie Portman). This was one of those movies I found myself just lost in every time I saw it.
5) Saw
I think honestly, this could probably be higher on the list for me, but here it stands. I'd been waiting a very long time for this movie, cringing every time I saw this movie get pushed back further and further. Ultimately, it wasn't what I expected and yet gave me everything I could ask for. The word coming out about this was that it was one really messed up dark nasty horror film. When I saw it, the gore and scares were hardly up to the reputation that preceeded it. However, it managed to surpass my expectations in other areas. It gets two black marks in my book, some of the acting was bad - actually, only Cary Elwes. He was okay in parts, and horrible in others. Interestingly, the best acting in this movie came from first time writer (and practically first time actor) Leigh Whannell who I thought did a great job as Adam. And overall the movie was very well written and thought out.
Honorable Mentions: Kill Bill Vol II, Dawn of the Dead (remake), Napoleon Dynamite
Things from 2004 I still want to see: Goodbye Lenin, Closer, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, I Heart Huckabees, The Machinist, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
EDIT - I thought I'd add something:
Worst Film of the Year:
Aliens vs. Predator
What was wrong with it? Everything. If you saw it, or even watched the commercials for it, and you're skeptical that it deserves worst movie of the year, well... let's just say you and I don't need to speak.
Honorable Mention for worst movie: Van Helsing (I didn't watch it actually, I couldn't bring myself to step anywhere near this movie).
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