What are some of your picks for the best of last year? I've yet to see Million Dollar Baby, but I'm sure it'll end up being one of my favorites. Of those I've seen, here are my faves in no particular order:

The Aviator
Hotel Rwanda
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Spider-Man 2
Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton is my pick for best actress this year)
Kinsey
Maria, Full of Grace
A Home at the End of the World

Worst of the year?

Soul Plane
Exorcist: The Beginning

Best:
Before Sunset

Worst:
Anchorman

Riddick or Blade trinity.....blade trinity only 4 the hilairious performance of wrestler Triple h as as one of the henchman. "when did u c my dick".....hahahahahahahahhahahaha.....

Anxiety said:

I'm usually not a big fan of Wes Anderson's films. But Wilson didn't write this one, so I'm gonna give it a shot. I actually did like Royal Tenanbaums quite a bit, and this one has two of my favorite actresses - Anjelica Houston and Cate Blanchett.

The Passion of the Christ
Before Sunset
Saw
Meet the Fockers

BabyCakes said:

I want to see this one, but I need to see Before Sunrise first.

In no particular order...

House of Flying Daggers
The Incredibles
Spider-man 2
Kill Bill: Volume 2
Team America: World Police
The Passion of the Christ
Hellboy
Alexander
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Ray
Kill Bill Vol 2
Spiderman 2
Bourne Supremecy

I can't believe so many orgers like Sky Captain! I thought it was by far the biggest piece of shit I've seen this year.

mrdespues said:

So it's not on your best movies of 2004 list?

Best:



Worst:

mrdespues said:

(Shrug)...I thought it was the most visually astonishing movie I'd seen since Dark City. I suppose it was a shallow movie in that it only existed to provide images, but I thought they were amazing images that I never tired of.

I didn't like it quite as much as Adaptation, but Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind was good, mind-bending fun.

I enjoyed the Dreamers much more than I had expected to - I was anticipating a load of hippie bollocks, but instead it was genuinely evocative and touching without being the least bit sentimental.
[Edited 1/2/05 15:07pm]

Bad Santa

JDINTERACTIVE said:

2003

VoicesCarry said:

Erm, it came out here in 2004!

Here're my picks for the best films of last year (in no particular order)

Before Sunset
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kinsey
Closer
The Company
I Heart Huckabees
What the Bleep Do We Know?
A Dirty Shame
Donnie Darko: Directors Cut
Fahrenheit 9/11

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Ah

Still, issue date in the first country of release usually determines things (often the US, but there's a reason 28 Days Later is a 2002 film and not a 2003 film - British release first).
[Edited 1/2/05 15:11pm]

Yeah odd that. Had to wait all year 4 it to hit us in UK! Good movie though. Ending was typically shit though.....

VoicesCarry said:

It came out over here in November oddly enough. Goodness knows why it took so long.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

They wanted to wait for Christmas. Everyone had their Region 1 DVD imports by then, though.

Case said:

Lots of great films. I love The Company (it was actually a 2003 release). Robert Altman is my favorite director, and I'm excited that his next film is being made right here in the Twin Cities.

RipHer2Shreds said:

The Company was about a *** (out of ****) for me. Completely plotless but a very interesting look at the inner workings of the ballet company. The scene where the girl broke her tendon and everyone knows her career is over but no one will say it rang very true.

Unfortunately, like a lot of Altman's material, it could benefit from improved pacing.

VoicesCarry said:

As a big Altman fan, you know I'm going to disagree with you. I truly think his films are an acquired taste. Cliched term, yes, but it's true. My favorite film of all-time, Nashville, was one I did not like at first. Many of his films require multiple viewings to fully appreciate and understand the plot and character development. I like that he takes his time to flesh out the details. When it comes down to it, his films are about people and places, not plot. I'm the first to admit that his films aren't for everyone, but they never seem slow to me.

RipHer2Shreds said:

The only Altman film I will admit that I absolutely despise is Dr. T. And The Women.

Other than that, I think he's a great director. Unfortunately, in his old age (the last decade, really), I really think he could really benefit from a superb editor. With the exception of Gosford Park and Cookie's Fortune. To be honest, I don't think Altman liked making The Company much (I've heard that he felt it was a worthless project).

P.S. I did not dock The Company marks because it was plotless - it's not a requirement for a good film .
[Edited 1/2/05 15:30pm]

VoicesCarry said:

He didn't feel it worthless. He doubted his ability to direct it, because he knew nothing about dance. Neve Campbell wanted him to direct it from the start, and she got her wish. More than the film itself, I was impressed with her in the film, both behind and in front of the camera. I don't think it's a great film, but I do think it's a great look into the dance world. The Joffrey doesn't just hand out invitations, so it's something to me that Campbell was offered a position in their company.

It's funny, because I think his work has improved greatly in the 90s. He was pretty much in show biz exile in the 80s, and he made a great comeback starting with The Player and Short Cuts (which has a phenomenal DVD, by the way). I don't know how good his filmed version of Prairie Home Companion is going to be, but it's got a great cast so far: Meryl Streep, Tom Waits, Lilly Tomlin (yay!), Lyle Lovett and supposedly George Clooney.

RipHer2Shreds said:

No.

My list is:

1. Return Of The King (special extended edition)
2. Ray
3. Napoleon Dynamite
4. I Heart Huckabees
5. Team America
6. Garden State

I have seen more, but I forget them right now, and I have yet to see Finding Neverland, though I'm sure it'll be awesome too.

As for worst, here are a few:

1. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
2. Without A Paddle
3. The Incredibles

.
[Edited 1/2/05 17:39pm]

RipHer2Shreds said:

Campbell was a professional ballet dancer before she became an acress, so it's not really surprising. But they still didn't film her like they filmed the other dancers (especially during the dance sequences). Lots of from-the-waist-up or only-the-feet-don't-know-who-it-really-is shots.

Oh, and I consider the best director (and scriptwriter) of all time to be pre-1960 Billy Wilder. After The Apartment, he sort of went downhill and lost touch, which I can see happening to Altman a bit (but that's just me, obviously).

Preston Sturges and George Stevens are close seconds.
[Edited 1/2/05 15:42pm]

VoicesCarry said:

Yeah, I'm aware of that, but she admitted that it had been years since she'd done any dancing. I don't think they offered the position to her out of vanity either. She was very good. Some of the dance sequences were so cheesy, but I think it was intentional. Just as Nashville was to showcase the good and bad of Nashville music, this was doing the same for dance. And I won't deny that Altman's work isn't as good as it once was, but I think Short Cuts and Gosford Park are right up there with Nashville, 3 Women, MASH and McCabe and Mrs. Miller.

And you like a lot of my favorite directors. Have you seen Lady Eve? One of my favorite comedies of all time.
[Edited 1/2/05 15:49pm]

RipHer2Shreds said:

Oh, yes. That's probably the best romantic comedy ever made. The scene where Stanwyck plays with Fonda's hair is maybe the single sexiest scene ever.

If you like The Lady Eve, I think you'd also like Ball Of Fire (1941), also with Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. That one netted Stanwyck an Oscar nomination.
[Edited 1/2/05 15:53pm]