| Bats and Siths aside, these movies ruled in 2005 |
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| Written by Tyler Wilson -Argonaut | ||||||
| Tuesday, 24 January 2006 | ||||||
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That time has come again. After more than 12 months of aliens,
lightsabers, penguins, creepy children, dirty jokes and even a couple
of cowboys, the films of 2005 have come and gone. After nearly 90
movies, I’m more than ready to dish out (and violently defend if need
be) my choices for the 10 best movies of the year. And even though
“Brokeback Mountain” didn’t disappoint and both “Batman Begins” and
“Revenge of the Sith” totally rocked, these 10 (or 11) movies were
better. 1. “Munich” The best picture of the year is Steven Spielberg’s most mature and complex movie yet, held together by dynamic performances by Eric Bana, Ciaran Hinds, Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig. The film works both as an expert thriller and an emotional examination of violence and vengeance at the 1972 Olympics and beyond. Minus one bewildering shot near the end of the film, “Munich” is as mesmerizing and powerful as movies get. 2. “A History of Violence” A galvanizing portrayal of violence by director David Cronenberg that invites the viewer to analyze the shock, dread and awkward humor stemming from gruesome acts of cruelty and necessity. Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello are dynamite as a married couple rediscovering their marriage after a violent past comes back to haunt them. 3. “Syriana” Steven Gaghan, the Academy Award-winning writer of “Traffic,” writes and directs this intricate dramatization of oil and all the players involved in its dirty business. It’s a tough film to follow, but the big picture is never out of sight. People will do almost anything to hang onto this precious resource. 4. “Good Night, and Good Luck.” George Clooney’s beautiful, black-and-white account of Edward R. Murrow facing off against Joseph McCarthy has the sense to linger on David Strathairn’s incredible performance for nearly all of the film’s urgently paced 90 minutes. 5. “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” The most delightful non-Pixar animated film in years, featuring the greatest claymation characters ever created: the cheese-loving inventor and his loyal, protective dog. After three short features, the pair more than prove they are meant for feature-length. The most entertaining movie of the year. 6. “King Kong” Peter Jackson’s gigantic remake is overlong and flawed, but once the ape shows up in hour two, the adventure is nothing short of breathtaking and spectacular. 7. “The Constant Gardener” Yet another exciting, politically minded thriller about the dark side of pharmaceutical companies, headlined with sincere performances by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. “City of God” director Fernando Meirelles’ unique visual style provides the film a global, epic stage. 8. “Cinderella Man” Ron Howard’s sentimental Depression-era drama about underdog boxer Jim Braddock is a genuine piece of inspiration, with Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti at their sincere best. 9. “War of the Worlds” Take away that lackluster ending involving an impossibly pristine Boston neighborhood and what have you got? One of the darkest and most exciting Spielberg blockbusters in a career chock full of spectacle. What? It’s not like “Star Wars” or “Batman Begins” were free of plot holes either. 10. (tie) “Hustle and Flow” and “Me and You and Everyone We Know” Terrence Howard carries “Hustle and Flow” with a dynamic performance that makes the story of a pimp becoming a rapper as exciting and inspirational as “Cinderella Man.” Meanwhile in “Me and You and Everyone We Know,” writer/director/ co-star Miranda July molds a mosaic of flawed, but loving people into one of the best ensemble films of the year. Even better than that slightly overrated critical darling, “Crash.” Honorable Mention: “Batman Begins,” “Murderball,” “Sin City,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Walk the Line,” “Millions,” “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride,” “Crash,” “The Wedding Crashers,” “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.”  Add as favorites (34) | Views: 1424
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