Blogcritics Name Best Movies of 2005
Published December 14, 2005
David Wester
A History of Violence
Directed by David Cronenberg
A timely, relevant film, A History of Violence uses the conventions of a typical mystery-thriller to deconstruct some self-deluded mythologies bought and sold by American thrillers, the American family, and America itself. As the title would suggest, the subject of the film is the way violence has many roots in modern culture, both biological and social, and the way this violence expresses itself in as many ways. It also takes some time to explore the insidious way violence sneaks into child-rearing, work, and sex. Intense, wryly funny at times, and well-acted, the film is never didactic or judgmental and, on its surface, works as a conventional mystery-thriller. Additionally, it's admirable for the honesty with which it describes the effects the well-told lies about violence have on individuals, as well as offering some good reasons as to why they need exist.
The movie's focus is on Mortensen's character, whether he is who he says he is, and he handles the idenitity issues at the core of the film nicely, with a layered performance that gives truth to both answers to the question. William Hurt nearly steals the movie in a brief appearance toward the end of the film, in a role that would have been rote in lesser hands. Kudos, also, for exploring marital relationships in such a frank and believable way. This is one of the most intellectually satisfying movies of the year, and it's an entertaining movie to boot.
Mike Cullinan
Oldboy
Directed by Park Chan-wook
After earning the Grand Jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004, Korean import Oldboy quietly slipped in and out of theaters in America earlier this year. But for my money, no film, foreign or otherwise, has delivered as much of an impact in 2005.
In what had to be a grueling experience, Choi Min-sik delivers a powerful performance as a man hellbent on revenge after 15 years of captivity for reasons unknown. His character undergoes emotional and physical exhaustion in his unwavering obsession to discover who decided to ruin his life and why. Director Park Chan-wook shows a real eye for striking visuals with a story mixing violence, sex and humor into a concoction that shows the true toll that vengeance can take on all parties involved. Undoubtedly, the film has got aspects that are sure to be polarizing to audiences (those with sensitive stomachs need not apply). But for those willing to press on through its tough to watch sequences might just discover a film that actually has an emotional payoff. True, its conclusion is a bit drawn out, but it most certainly packs a wallop. That's more than can be said for many of the more predictable denouements to American movies nowadays. By the way, an American remake is already in the works for 2006. But don't wait until then to see Oldboy, as it's hard to imagine topping this version.
- Blogcritics Name Best Movies of 2005
- Published: December 14, 2005
- Type: News
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Culture: Administrative, Video: Action, Video: Adventure, Video: Art House, Video: Documentary, Video: Drama, Video: Foreign Language, Video: Horror, Video: Suspense and Mystery, Video: Thriller
- Writer: Alisha Karabinus
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has any one seen jackass vol. 1
Romance and cowboys.
What are the two reasons I am going to pass on "Brokeback Mountain." I seriously don't like Westerns. I am the only person I know who didn't like "Tombstone" or any of the other damn westerns. I don't watch that one on HBO either.
My movie of the year? Shit, I don't think I liked any of the three I watched.
Re: Brokeback Mountain:
Andrew Sarris in The New Yorker wrote an excellent review of this "gay Western" that pointed out it's neither as "gay" nor as "Western" as the phrase implies. That's more a blog-able phrase than anything.
Brokeback appears to be about people and love in varying and overlapping degrees (familial, platonic, not-so-platonic, forbidden, unrequited, undying). The era, geography, and people involved are timeless, Anywhere, and Just-So-Happen-To-Be two men, respectively.
The fact that it appears that it isn't a "gay western" because those aren't the agendas or politiks that the movie is forwarding is encouraging.
It wouldn't be my first choice at the googleplex this weekend (Fat Clooney in Syriana; Director Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck; The Ice Harvest; Kong) but I am looking forward to it - this from a person who really didn't "get" Heath Ledger OR Ang Lee one iota.
And to button my War of the Worlds review - I think that Peter Jackson's King Kong sticks the landing on that "grail" quest ethos I'm describing.
Wow -- fantastic job in putting this together, Alisha, looks incredible!
Wow! Thanks for inviting me to be a part of this coveted list. I feel like an elite, or something. And I'm glad the list has some diverse offerings. Time to refill the Netflix queue!
Honorable mentions:
Murderball (my choice before I saw Kong)
Sin City
Dust to Glory
Match Point
Good Night and Good Luck
Layer Cake
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Thanks, Eric... I'm just sorry it took me so long to get it up there, but I was rather preoccupied. :)
Jenifer -- you've written some great stuff in your time here. There are several "new" BCs on this list, but you guys have really worked hard and I wanted to let you know that you were appreciated.
Tiff mah dear -- we agreed on War of the Worlds, and that's enough for anyone. We ain't gotta agree on Brokeback Mountain... but I bet we would if you carried yourself on out to the theater. I wasn't too sure about Heath Ledger either but I don't think I'll ever doubt him again.
Oh yeah... DJ -- the "Western" element is not heavy in Brokeback. People are amping up a lot of qualities that just aren't really that big a deal.
They wear hats and mumble. There's some bull-ridin.
well it has been nominated for everything but a Nobel Prize. I mighthave to rent it.
Yay for Jessica Alba -sorry- Sin City!!!
does sin city have a bunch of nakid chicks???
LOL. realy so it aint cool.
Tiffany - very well written section, although I disagree completely because I hated War Of The Worlds. :)
It'd be between The Machinist, Sin City, and The Descent (right on Duke!) for me. Then again there's still a couple of weeks left of the year, so ya never know.
Actually on retrospect we probably agree on War Of The Worlds, except I don't have a historical connection to Mr Spielberg. Damn, I should read more closely next time!
You are right to hate WotW, Aaron. It was had the most anti-climatic ending ever. Spielberg has lost his sense of pacing a story.
While the action was good, especially the camera shots and editing that swung around the first time they were leaving town, I completely lost interest during the sequence in the basement, which was a complete rip-off of the kitchen scene in "Jurassic Park".
And what was going on with the damn birds?
I loved Brokeback, Murderball, and, especially, History of Violence. And The Devil's Rejects.
Great job putting this together Alisha! I need to get goin on my own list, although there's still a few things i wanna see that i haven't yet. Most of the flicks here i loved too, like Murderball and Sin City, for example. My favourite film this year is technically a 2004 release, so i went for second favourite here. Dig! was only released in the UK this year, an it's most certainly the best thing i've seen. but The Descent is 100% 2005, so it got my nod. and it's a remarkable film too.
War of the Worlds as a pick for best movie is indefensible, really. (That's why The Constant Gardener is my best movie pick for 2005).
I am very forgiving when Spielberg rips off Spielberg - the nod to the raptors in the basement is a good call. While King Kong is a better movie experience & has more consistent vision & craft & storytelling, the verisimilitude of Kong AND War of the Worlds is highly suspect/irrevelant to criticize, given that both are adapted flights of the fantasy to begin with.
What all three of the above mentioned flicks accomplished is that they all moved and thrilled me to tears.
It's like a cheaply and badly made horror movie that STILL manages to scare the bejesus out of you, by accidentally triggering a primordial fear - buried alive, drowning, the boogeyman.
The subconscious and visceral responses to what you witness on a movie screen often manage to transcend acting, production design, and plot points you could drive a semi through. Sideways.
Agree with you, Tiffany, about War of the Worlds. What a bad film with so much potential. BEST film of 2005? Jesus, honey, you either don't get out much, or you live in Alabama.
Well, The Constant Gardener kicked my ass so I'm comfy calling that the best of the year. It was a fantastic Love Story With a Capital "L" - with shades of another little romantic flick Ralph Fiennes was in called The English Patient.
It was also an expert modern thriller and even a bit of a mystery - the script was literate, fast-moving, and able to withstand greatish and breakthrough perfs all around (especially from Rachel Weisz, who's about to get on a serious roll in the next year).
What iced it for me though was Fernando Meirelles' direction. He brought the same docu-verite that he mastered in City of God. He infused it with such pulsing, passionate local color and life, that the regions of Africa that the movie dwells in becomes its very own three-dimensional character.
Meirelles understood what the spine of this movie was - a man who loves a woman, despite differences and flaws in both the woman and himself. Her love affected social change. His love for her transformed him into a complete, living person.
To me this movie was the most emotional wallop of the year between two humans (as opposed to a human and a giant gorilla).
Sin City, but I'm biased toward anything with Benicio del Toro. Mickey Roark was magnificant, and the movie was a hoot, even before the special edition DVD came out and you could see how much fun everyone had making the film. Rodriguez is a wizard, as they say.
I didn't intend to see Brokeback, but was dragged to it be friends and loved it. It is gorgeously filmed, and Heath Ledger is fully deserving all his acclaim. I thought he was captivating in Monster's Ball. Nice for him, that he has the trailors for Casanova all over the place, to show another persona.
Brokeback, Brokeback, Brokeback, Brokeback. That's my movie and I'm stickin' to it. War of the Worlds was probably great but I've made a promise to myself that I will no longer be a patron of Tom Cruise vehicles.
The best movie to hit American screens in 2005 was OLDBOY, no question. It was made in 2003, but didn't come to the USA until 2005, and had a theatrical run (indie theaters)
If you didn't see it, you can rent/buy it now.
Silas: You say Brokeback, but I bet you didn't see OLDBOY in the theater this year did you?
Typical closed-mindedness here.
hello i hate to say but you had done a horrible job at rating these movies u don't know anything so just stop. grow up sin city was horrible and so was house of flying daggers oh and the grizzly one was the worst movie of the year the guy deserved to be eaten by the animal you never go near a wild animal like that he needs common sense to late now well think over your movies cause they all suck except for brokeback mountain u need to get a life
the best movies are jarhead, brokeback mt. house of wax cry wolf and more u bitch
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Great list and all great reasons for choosing.