Movie Minutiae - Johnny Betts' Best of 2005
Contact Johnny
Click here for Johnny's Worst of 2005
This was certainly a down year at the box office for Hollywood. Ticket sale revenues dropped approximately five percent
and the number of Americans going to the cinema fell by about six percent compared to the same period in 2004. What
does all this mean? It was Hollywood's most disappointing box office performance in 15 years.
Granted, there were a lot of mediocre flicks released this year. I saw over 100 movies at the theater (I only had to
pay for three of them - BOOYA), and I'd only care to grant a second viewing to maybe 40% of them (and that's
being generous). However, there are a few films from this year that will go down as classics in my DVD
collection.
These picks are based on the movies that entertained me the most throughout the course of the year. I'm not interested
in a fluffy, artsy film that's steeped in layers of social commentary; the main thing I care about is being entertained
and/or having fun. The movies below did the best job of accomplishing that task in 2005.
The chronological order isn't an exact science because some of these might change positions depending on
my mood. Click on the movie title for my review and laugh all over again.
10. The Wedding Crashers
No Top 10 list is complete without at least one pure comedy on it. My laziness and perpetual procrastination
kept me from ever writing a full review, but The Wedding Crashers gets my nod for best comedy of
the year. The straight man stylings of Vince Vaughn, the sarcastic deliveries of Owen Wilson, and the
jaw-dropping, dimpled beauty of Rachel McAdams? It's a combination that can't go wrong.
There are moments of gratuitousness that might offend, but there is also a surprising bit of romance for the
ladies. Not recommended for family viewing.
|
"I needed this breath of fresh air after being blind-sided by the news that a remake of Robocop might be on
its way."
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang may not suit everybody's taste,
but if you like movies that are original, darkly humorous, somewhat action-packed, full of rapid-fire dialogue,
and unconventional (AND you're not easily offended) then this just might be the best movie of the year that
you haven't even heard of.
The chemistry between Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. make it nearly impossible for the viewer to ever get
bored. I have no idea how a movie like this gets released on a little more than 200 screens but a pale
wannabe like The Ice Harvest gets a much bigger 1500-screen
release.
|
"Its story of love and redemption provides enough appeal for those not so familiar with the man in
black."
Excuse me while I pat myself on the back for predicting Oscar nominations for both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese
Witherspoon. Both actors put in the performances of their careers. But I want to know why the movie got
snubbed by the Oscars in the "Best Picture" category. Oh well, it's just another example of the academy
proving what a joke their awards truly are.
It can't be easy to effectively condense one man's entire life into a two hour timeframe, but
Walk the Line is a fine example of how it can be done.
|
"Some of these critics like to go to Wal-Mart before a movie like this and purchase the biggest, most
industrial strength Nitpicker they can find. You didn't know that was an actual tool? Oh yes. They're
owned by every single uptight critic who white-knuckle clenches his Movie Snobbery PhD degree at all action
and thriller movies. Don't listen to 'em. Hostage is a movie for
movie fans, not movie elitists."
That's right; I'm puttin' it on my list. Got a problem with it? Bring it on! I'll engage in fisticuffs if
that's what you want. I love thrillers, and this is one of the most intense I've seen in quite a while.
It's a dark, character-driven tale of what one man will do to save his family. If all you can do is
complain about clichés and coincidences then I recommend loosening up and enjoying life a little.
|
"It's rare that I find such a diamond in the rough, so I savor it as if I'm Rob Schneider at a stupid
movie convention."
This is another entry on the list that may surprise some of you, but this is a prime example of a movie
that simply knows how to entertain its audience. A popcorn flick at the top of its game, if you will.
With extra buttery goodness.
Playing out like a modern-day Western, Four Brothers
is a gritty, testosterone-fueled crowd pleaser of a revenge flick that mixes drama, action, and humor
and keeps you cheering the entire way. It's rare when a movie exceeds my expectations, but
Four Brothers accomplished this better than any other
2005 release.
|
"You think you know who you are? You have no idea. At least not until your character and humanity are
put to the test."
Crash is another movie that exceeded my expectations, and it's the
only "Best Picture" Oscar nominee that I agree with. It's a strongly-written, strongly-acted,
emotionally-gripping, thought-provoking movie that never gets as preachy as you may fear.
Matt Dillon has now set an extremely high standard for himself, and the scene where he rescues Thandie Newton
from a car wreck is one of the most powerful of the year.
|
"Best. Boxing. Movie. Ever. Period. And yes, I'm aware of the existence of Rocky."
The fact that Cinderella Man was not nominated for "Best
Picture" is just one reason why I hate the Oscars. How the academy can so callously ignore a film that
expertly mixes action and drama to create an inspiring tale about a family man who was fighting for a better
way of life is beyond my comprehension.
Russell Crowe should also feel ripped off. Not only did he deserve to be nominated for "Best Actor" but I'll
go so far as to say he deserved to win. Don't get hung up on this being a "boxing movie." It's simply
just a great movie with a great story that happens to be told within the confines of the boxing world.
|
"If you think you're too grown up to enjoy this and can't let your imagination get the best of you then
perhaps it's time for you to, in the words of Todd Snider, grow back down."
This is the kind of movie I want to see more of - a film that creates its own unique world that is entirely
believable. There aren't a whole lot of movies these days that completely suck me into their world and force
me to concentrate on the characters and the story rather than on the actors that I'm watching, but for two hours
Tilda Swinton is the evil witch, Georgie Henley is a little girl whose reactions feel real and
sincere, and Aslan feels like more than just an impressive piece of CGI.
It's rare that I am able to do this, but I recommend this to ALL moviegoers regardless of age, race, or
gender. I can't wait for the rest of the series. Definitely a movie of the year contender.
|
"Joel Schumacher and George Clooney nearly erased all good memories I had of Batman. Fortunately, Christian
Bale and Christopher Nolan have restored them."
I just now sat back down from giving Christopher Nolan a standing ovation for reinventing the Batman franchise
and making us believe that Batman could actually exist and that it doesn't all just happen by magic.
This is exactly what a Batman movie is supposed to be - dark, atmospheric, and creepy. The REAL Batman doesn't
whip out a Bat credit card with an expiration date of "Forever" claiming he never leaves the cave without it.
Thankfully, Bale portrays Batman as he should be - a man who is more interested in revenge than he is in
cracking one-liners. He shows that Batman has a potentially violent side, and I loved it.
This is the new standard for all comic book movies. Bring on the sequel, baby!
|
"If you can't have fun with a movie like this then I hope your family has already made the funeral
arrangements because you simply have no pulse."
Call me a fanboy all you want, but Revenge of the Sith
is the culmination of my childhood. Minor flaws such as awkward expressions of young love are so easy to ignore
because this is absolutely the most visually impressive movie I have ever seen at the theater.
If you can't get wrapped up in the last 20 minutes of action, particularly the lightsaber battle between Anakin
and Obi Wan, then you've got to be an absolute bump on a log to watch a movie with. As I pointed out in
regard to Narnia, this is what movies are all
about - the creation of a realistic world outside of my own that I get totally drawn into.
I waited a long time for this installment in the Star Wars series, and I'm not ashamed to admit that
it's the most unadulterated, take-me-back-to-my-childhood fun I've had at the theater in years.
|
Honorable Mentions
Sin City - "This should definitely serve as
the blueprint for what a comic book/graphic novel of this style should look like on screen."
The Island - "I haven't started a Cafe Press page
selling 'Michael Bay - World's Greatest Director' t-shirts or anything, but come on, the man knows how to
deliver the action goods."
Constantine - "Consistently dark, intense, and moody, Constantine effectively builds and surrounds us with a
malevolent, demonic atmosphere." Too bad about that silly depiction of Satan.
|
