Here is my revised list, my first list (here) was for 2004 films seen theatrically within the calendar year. This list includes all 2004 releases I've seen theatrically including those seen in 2005. There also may be some shuffling since the original list, but this should be considered my final '04 list. Only lists that changed appear here, so please be sure to visit my more extensive prior list.
Top 10 Films of the Year
Here is a movie which surprised me. It is one of the most bizarre films I've seen. I'm not sure I could adequately describe this great movie.
NOTES:
- I replaced Hero with House of Flying Daggers mainly based on the whole release year thing.
- Bad Education and Spider-Man 2 were dropped from the list, both are still very good films, but they didn't make the final cut.
- Saddest Music in the World dropped from 7 to 10.
- Garden State and Sideways each dropped one spot to 6 and 7.
- Hotel Rwanda inserted at number 5.
- A Very Long Engagement entered at number 9.
Top 3 Documentaries
- 3. Control Room. Fascinating look inside Al Jazeera. Granted, it is peddling it's own brand of propaganda, it is eye opening in it's own right.
- 2. Born into Brothels. An insightful look into the troubled lives of children in the Red Light district of Calcutta.
- 1. Super Size Me. Morgan Spurlock's fast food binge makes for great entertainment.
NOTES:
- Removed The Corporation in favor of the moving Born into Brothels at number 2.
Top 4 Foreign Language Films
- 4. I'm Not Scared. Here is an impressive film about a young boy who discovers his family is involved in a kidnapping plot.
- 3. Bad Education. A film you have to work at to decipher, but it's worth it.
- 2. A Very Long Engagement. A beautiful film with an underlying sweetness.
- 1. House of Flying Daggers. Simply gorgeous.
NOTES:
- Replaced Hero with House of Flying Daggers, same reasoning as in the Top 10 list.
- Inserted A Very Long Engagement at number 2.
- Dropped Bad Education and I'm Not Scared each one spot.
Top 5 Actors
- 5. Tom Hanks for The Terminal. Hanks puts on a clinic here, an absolutely mesmerizing performance, that reminds me of Cast Away.
- 4. Johnny Depp for Finding Neverland. Another wonderful performance filled with a childlike innocence.
- 3. Paul Giamatti for Sideways. Following up last year's American Splendor comes an even better performance as a wine connoisseur who is also at a crossroads.
- 2. Jim Carrey for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. A great subtle performance in a very moving film.
- 1. Don Cheadle for Hotel Rwanda. An absolutely breathtaking performance, a lot more layered than I was initially expecting.
NOTES:
- Removed Zach Braff.
- Dropped Johnny Depp from 2 to 4.
- Moved Paul Giamnatti up to 3.
- Dropped Jim Carrey from 1 to 2.
- Inserted Don Cheadle at number 1.
Top 5 Actresses
- 5. Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby. I may not be the biggest fan of the film, but her performance is very good.
- 4. Kate Winslet for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I am not a very big fan of her, but her job her goes far in turning me, it's a good performance.
- 3. Maia Morgenstern for The Passion of the Christ. A beautiful near silent performance.
- 2. Uma Thurman for Kill Bill Vol. 2. Physically and mentally exhausting tour de force of revenge.
- 1. Bryce Dallas Howard for The Village. An incredible performance in a terribly disappointing film.
NOTES:
- Removed Natalie Portman.
- Moved Kate Winslet up to 4th.
- Inserted Hilary Swank at number 5.
Top 5 Supporting Actors
- 5. Morgan Freeman for Million Dollar Baby. Top performance in a very good film. A role of quiet power.
- 4. Tony Leung for Hero. I love Leung's performance emotional and powerful at the same time.
- 3. Thomas Haden Church for Sideways. Just one of a great ensemble performance.
- 2. Jamie Foxx for Collateral. What a performance! I had no idea this talent that Foxx had, this is a truly eye-opening performance.
- 1. David Carradine for Kill Bill Vol. 2. Hands down best supporting performance of the year.
NOTES:
- Removed Willem Dafoe.
- Moved Jamie Foxx from 5 to 2.
- Dropped Thomas Haden Church from 2 to 3.
- Inserted Morgan Freeman at number 5.
Top 5 Supporting Actresses
- 5. Isabella Rossellini for The Saddest Music in the World. A fun, legless performance.
- 4. Cloris Leachman for Spanglish. Ahhh, the advice given from a drunk. Hilarious.
- 3. Natalie Portman for Garden State. A character you feel for, yet never really know.
- 2. Virginia Madsen for Sideways. Possibly the best role of her career.
- 1. Cate Blanchett for The Aviator. The second coming of Katharine Hepburn.
NOTES:
- Removed Dakota Fanning.
- Dropped Isabella Rossellini from 4 to 5.
- Dropped Cloris Leachman from 2 to 4.
- Moved Natalie Portman from 4 to 3
- Inserted Virginia Madsen at number 2.
Top 5 Directors
- 5. Jean Pierre Jeunet for A Very Long Engagement. A beautiful romance told amongst great tragedy.
- 4. Martin Scorsese for The Aviator. Worlds above Gangs of New York. Scorsese's knowledge of film history is put to great use.
- 3. Alexander Payne for Sideways. Combining laugh out loud comedy and heart wrenching drama is no easy task.
- 2. Quentin Tarantino for Kill Bill Vol. 2. What can I say? His work here is genius. Can't wait for what's next.
- 1. Michel Gondry for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Comedy, drama, science fiction, all blended into the best film of the year.
NOTES:
- Removed Pedro Almodovar.
- Inserted Jean Pierre Jeunet.
That brings this edition to an end. This is hopefully my final list for the the 2004 year. It could change again, but for all intents and purposes this is it. What do you think?
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Article comments
1 - Joel Caris
Nice list, Chris. Thanks for the heads up on Saddest Music in the World and Born Into Brothels. Have both of those in my Netflix queue now.
I still need to catch up on 2004 movies. There are five movies on your top 10 list that I haven't seen but really want to. Hotel Rwanda and A Very Long Engagement in particular.
And while, granted, I haven't seen all those movies, I'm pretty sure my own list would have made room for Closer. That was one of my favorite films from last year.
2 - Chris Beaumont
I actually just saw Brothels and Engagement this past weekend.
I believe I have Closer on my Runner Up list.
Saddest was a great film, not to all tastes but definitely unique.
3 - Joel Caris
I really need to see Engagement. Loved Amelie, though this seems to be a very different film. Meant to see it in the theater but never got around to it, so now I'm waiting on the DVD. Although, it may still be playing somewhere around here . . .
4 - Chris Beaumont
I too loved Amelie, and Engagement is a very different film, it still has a wonderful charm to it, but it has a much more somber tone which is lit be moments of comedy. It actually opened near me this past Friday at a second run theater! Needless to say, the projection leaves a lot to be desired.
5 - Joel Caris
I just checked and see that it's playing at the Fox Tower here in Portland, where I know it was playing a couple months before. I wonder if it's been running the entire time or came back for a second run. Either way, I'll try to check it out before it's gone.
Yeah, that's the bad thing about seeing them late, though. The print usually has been banged up pretty well. Fox Tower is part of Regal, though, with a focus on indie and smaller films, so their projection and sound systems are just fine. So it should be in decent shape, even though the print will likely be worn.
6 - Chris Beaumont
I plan on doing a column about theatrical experiences (who am I kidding, I've been saying that for a year)
Anyway, the 2nd run theater here will sometimes get these films that don't play at our first run, for that I am happy and it is well worth the 2 buck ticket!
7 - Joel Caris
The price is certainly a draw for second run theaters. There's a great theater run by a brewery that shows films for $3. The night shows are 21 and over only, you can sit in big, comfortable old furniture and have a beer while watching the movie. Granted, the sound system leaves something to be desired, but it's otherwise a great set up--cheap and free of kids.
I think a column on theatrical experiences would be quite interesting. Hope you find the time for it.
8 - Michelle
When you replaced Hero, you didn't change your comments on the movie. Jet Li doesn't actually appear in House of Flying Daggers... but Zhang ZiYi does. Great list by the way... I'll file it away for films to watch on DVD (I was in japan most of last year)
9 - Chris Beaumont
Thanks Michelle, can't believe I missed that! It has been rectified. I hope you enjoyed your time in Japan.