So as of this time tomorrow, 2005 will be in the books. I am a big fan of the movies, however this past year I saw far fewer movies in the theatre than I normally do. The reason for that is because I started my own business, and as part of that process I lived there 24/7 from January 10th until June 10th and that cut down on my movie going a fair bit. When I did get to go out, I usually had kids with me and couldn?t pick the movies I necessarily wanted to see. (A perfect example of this is the fact that I saw The Dukes of Hazzard?but I still haven?t seen Million Dollar Baby. Really.) Nevertheless, I thought just for fun I?d post my list of the best films I saw this year, and some other short lists. Feel free to read, compare, and criticize.

 

The 10 Best Films I Saw in 2005

1) Capote

 

?On November 15, 1959, the brutal murder of a family in a small Kansas town sent shockwaves through the nation ? and captured the attention of one of the most distinctive minds of our time. One-of-a-kind author Truman Capote was sent to Kansas to pen an article about the crimes for The New Yorker magazine. He ended up writing one of the most celebrated books of the century. Capote follows Truman Capote (Hoffman) on his odyssey to create the landmark bestseller ?In Cold Blood.?

 

This was quite simply an outstanding movie, and as a writer I was especially impressed and moved by it. Hoffman?s performance was amazing, and the movie was directed with such a minimalist and understated style that you have to see it to appreciate how much the director lets his actors emote using facial expressions and silence, rather than non-stop blather and forced sentiment. Truman Capote is hardly portrayed as a sympathetic character, but this story and his motivations are so multi-layered that you end up with conflicting feelings about him. That is the success of this film, the ability to portray a real character in shades of gray, not black or white.

 

2) The Constant Gardener

 

?In a remote area of Northern Kenya, activist Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz) is found brutally murdered. Tessa's companion, a doctor, appears to have fled the scene, and the evidence points to a crime of passion. Members of the British High Commission in Nairobi assume that Tessa's widower, their mild-mannered and unambitious colleague Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), will leave the matter to them. They could not be more wrong. Haunted by remorse and jarred by rumors of his late wife's infidelities, Quayle surprises everyone by embarking on a personal odyssey that will take him across three continents. Using his privileged access to diplomatic secrets, he will risk his own life, stopping at nothing to uncover and expose the truth - a conspiracy more far-reaching and deadly than Quayle could ever have imagined.?

 

The great thing about this film is that the story is fairly simple. In the hands of a lesser cast or actors it would have been fodder for straight to DVD. However, the story is presented in such a unique manner and Fiennes? performance was so good that the movie transcended its plot and shows what a good director can do with a simple story. This to me is what movies should be like?simple stories told brilliantly.

 

3) Walk The Line

 

About the only thing that my father and I ever agreed on when I was young, is the fact that Johnny Cash is pretty damn cool. My father has a huge number of Johnny Cash albums on vinyl, including Live at Folsom. Growing up, I was never ashamed of my love of ?The Man in Black? and still listened to him all the way to his ?comeback? during the 90?s. Having recently read his authorized definitive biography, I was interested to see this film, and I was not disappointed in the least. The most amazing thing to me was the performance of Resse Witherspoon. I don?t care for her much. Anything I have ever seen her in I have disliked. I went into this movie expecting to hate her?and I was instead blown away by her performance. Phoenix was also amazing, but I expected that. What I didn?t expect was that this film would be more of a love story, and that Phoenix and Witherspoon actually sang all the songs themselves?and sounded good! No overdubs here. So with all that, this film goes high on my list. It was a fitting tribute to Johnny and June Cash.

 

4) Serenity

 

This is simple?I?m a ?browncoat.? I read about the cancelled series ?Firefly? in Entertainment Weekly. I loved the premise, a mixture of Sci-Fi and Western, so I took a chance and bought the complete series on DVD?and I LOVED it. This was the film that wrapped up a few of the loose storylines from the series?so it was a ?mark out? moment right there. Add to that the fact that it was a genuinely good movie, and it ranks real high on my list.

 

5) Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior

 

Living with teenage boys for six months, I watched a shitload of ?kick flicks? and action movies. I saw every Jackie Chan and Jet Li movie out there. When the ads for this one came on television, my boys wanted to see it?so I said okay. I was honestly amazed at the ability of Tony Jaa. Some of the stunts in this film were jaw dropping and required a second viewing when it came out on DVD. If you like action, and you haven?t seen this then do yourself a favor and grab it. I know it was available quite a long while before it was released in 2005, but that?s when they released it here, that?s when I saw it, and I think you should too?if you like movies with guys beating the snot out of each other that is.

 

6) The Interpreter

 

Silvia Broome (Kidman) is an African-born UN interpreter who inadvertently overhears a death threat against an African head of state scheduled to address the United Nation?s General Assembly. Realizing she?s become a target of the assassins as well, Silvia is desperate to thwart the plot?if only she can survive long enough to get someone to believe her. Tobin Keller (Penn), the federal agent charged with protecting the interpreter, who nonetheless suspects she may not be telling the whole truth. In the right hallway, at the right time, all it takes is a whisper to tip the balance of power.

 

Much like with my #2 pick?this was a rather simple story that was made great by it?s outstanding performances and steady direction. Sydney Pollack returns to form with a well-paced thriller, and I must admit even though I dislike him as a human being, Penn?s performance is excellent. The thing I liked the most about this film was that it resisted the urge to follow so many thriller clich??s. No car chases. No tacked on love scenes?and the dramatic tension with the character?s personal problems actually added to the story?they didn?t detract from it or make you roll your eyes.

 

7) Kingdom of Heaven

 

"Kingdom of Heaven" is an epic adventure about a common man who finds himself thrust into a decades-long war. A stranger in a strange land, he serves a doomed king, falls in love with an exotic and forbidden queen, and rises to knighthood. Ultimately, he must protect the people of Jerusalem from overwhelming forces ? while striving to keep a fragile peace.

 

I don?t get why this movie tanked. It was directed by Ridley Scott, and had pretty boy Orlando Bloom starring in it. It could have done as well as Gladiator?but it didn?t. I don?t understand the whims of the movie going public, I really don?t. This really was an epic, which reminded me in some ways of the old Cecile B. Demille movies like Ben Hur and The 10 Commandments. I read that Scott was unhappy with the cut, and has an extra 45 minutes of footage he plans to add when he reissues a Director?s Cut. I?m down for that. This movie was a lot of fun, and I liked it even more the second time I saw it.

 

8) Batman Begins

 

I didn?t want to see this movie?I never saw the need for it. As far as I was concerned, Tim Burton had already redone the Batman film franchise to satisfaction before Schumacher killed it. I didn?t see Christian Bale as The Dark Knight, and had no real interest in the whole thing. But, my kids wanted to see it?and I figured with Chris Nolan at the helm?how bad could it be? I was very happy to be totally shocked at how good this movie was. Liam Neeson. Michael Caine. Morgan Freaking Freeman. Plus?Bale didn?t suck at all. This was a really fun film and showed that the franchise can go in a whole new direction?so long as they don?t screw it up like they did last time.

 

9) Unleashed

 

Speaking of Morgan Freeman?here he helps take what could have been a forgettable kick flick and tries to help make it more. It doesn?t totally succeed, but you have to admire it for trying. It?s a martial arts film, and the lead doesn?t speak English all that well?but the concept is fun, Bob Hoskins is over the top great, and Freeman seems to be having fun. Trust me, its produced and written by Luc Besson, the man who brought you Leon. You could do a lot worse with this genre.

 

10) Constantine

 

Yes?really.

 

This movie totally falls into the ?I had no business liking this movie? category. You have to understand, I read the comic book ?Hellblazer? religiously back in the day. I was stoked that a film was being made out of it, then depressed when I found out that it was going to be starring ?Mr. Wooden? Keanu Reeves. I went to see it anyhow, and I guess there is something to be said for diminished expectations, because I actually ended up enjoying it. This film was way too reliant on CGI, and was not as dark, moody or atmospheric as the comic book was?but it was fairly faithful to the concept and in the end it wasn?t boring. I loved the whole concept of a bitter psychic, dying of cancer and trying to buy his way out of hell when it was a comic book. And damned if they didn?t do a not half bad job of pulling it off as a movie. Not for everybody, but not the worst movie I saw this year either.

 

* * * * * * *

And now?

 

Other Movies I Saw That Didn?t Suck

Saw II

 

Wasn?t nearly as fresh or as fun as the first one, but it wasn?t a write off by any means. If you saw and liked the first one, you can rent this one and not hate it.

 

Coach Carter

 

If you?ve seen ?The Principal? or ?Stand and Deliver? or ?Lean on Me? or ?Dangerous Minds? or one of the other 500 movies with the same theme, then you?ve seen this movie?but it?s Samuel L. Jackson, so come on. It?s still watchable.

 

Sahara

 

This was essentially a rip off of the Indiana Jones movies, but Steve Zhan and the frantic pace kept it from totally sucking. It was too fast to suck?but the plot holes are so big you could drive a truck through them.

 

Hostage

 

Come, see a bald Bruce Willis look worried for 90 minutes. Not bad, but I wouldn?t go out of my way to see it.

 

The Island

 

A neat Sci-Fi concept, fast paced and fun. However, Ewan McGregor was SO not right for the lead in this movie, in my opinion. If they had put a bankable ?star? in this film it probably wouldn?t have tanked. It?s still not as bad as people think it is. It was a good popcorn movie.

 

Red Eye

 

Cillian Murphy MADE this film. He was awesome, just like he was in Batman Begins. If you?re going to see an airplane suspense movie from 2005, SEE THIS?NOT FLIGHTPLAN.

 

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

 

Well directed, and atmospheric?but Tom Wilkinson dropped the ball, big time. A better actor could have done SO much more with that part. Campbell Scott was great. Notable for being a combined Courtroom Drama/Horror movie. Slow paced.

 

* * * * * * *

And now?

 

Movies I Saw That I Wish I HADN'T Seen

Assault on Precinct 13

 

UGH. So much for Ethan Hawke after Training Day. What the hell happened to Lawrence Fishburne? Way to waste the talents of Brian Dennehy and Gabriel Byrne. A remake of a remake that didn?t need to be remade. This had no business being this bad with the talent involved.

 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 

The Guide is one of my favorite books. This movie is so much NOT like the book, it?s pathetic. Why would you replace jokes that are funny in the book, with ones that aren?t funny in the movie? It?s a good thing Douglas Adams is dead?seeing this might have killed him.

 

The Longest Yard

 

Aside from Kevin Nash?s comic performance, this movie was a pile of steaming shit. Chris Rock was totally wasted. The only notable thing they did was get Steve Austin to act on camera the way he probably acts off camera. Adam Sandler needs to be smacked for making this. Another example of a totally unnecessary remake.

 

War of the Worlds

 

As if Tom Cruise didn?t do enough in 2005 to make you want to punch him out. He lectures the world on Psychology. He goes mental on a talk show?and then he takes part in this crap. Orson Welles had a chance to make this movie?he made Citizen Kane instead. Kane?s status as the greatest movie of all time is safe, trust me.

 

Fantastic Four

 

The dude who played The Thing was perfect. The Human Torch/Thing rivalry was done well. That?s about it. The guy who played Mr. Fantastic sucked. The chick who played The Invisible Woman is HOT, but she sucked?and the guy who played Dr. Doom REALLY sucked. They fucked this movie up so bad, it was just?what?s the opposite of Fantastic?

 

Flightplan

 

This movie was so bad, it actually made me ANGRY during the film. Jodie Foster takes a year off, and comes back with THIS? She played the exact same role in Panic Room, a middle aged woman who cries a lot and is worried about her daughter. The plot was SO bad it was beyond belief, and the only thing that kept me from cheering for the bad guy was the fact that he was played by a bad actor. There is nothing good to say about this movie. NOTHING.

 

Diary of a Mad Black Woman

 

A one-note joke that gets pounded into the ground for an entire film. My kids hated it. I should have listened to Roger Ebert.

 

The Dukes of Hazzard

 

This movie had Jessica Simpson in a bikini. There, I just listed everything good about it.

 

King Kong

 

This is Peter Jackson stroking his movie making cock, expecting us all to get off on it. This movie could have been very good, except that I guess the studio is afraid to edit Jackson?s movies now after the LOTR films. Newsflash: NOT EVERY MOVIE HAS TO BE OVER 3 HOURS. This movie was WAY too fucking long. The first 45 minutes was like torture. The scenes that were supposed to be ?tender? between the ape and the woman were so corny that people were laughing out loud. Having said that?this didn?t suck. Once they get to Skull Island, it gets very good, and it has parts that are great. However, the pacing is so bad, and the buildup is so long, it ruins it. I couldn?t sit through this movie again.

 

* * * * * * *

Movies I Didn?t See But I Wish I Had and Probably Still Will

 

This category is for those films I wanted to see, but either wasn't sure enough to pay full price in the theatre, or never got around to it. I will either buy these when they come out if I really want them, rent them if I'm not sure, or in some cases wait until they debut on "The Movie Network" so that if they suck, I won't feel ripped off.

 

Crash

 

I heard awesome things about this movie, and I wanted to see it. I was going to see it in the theatre, but I was sick the day it was out. I will rent it for sure, maybe even buy it depending on the price and continued word of mouth.

 

Cinderella Man

 

This came out at a time I just couldn?t get out of work. I love boxing, I like Crowe, and Ron Howard is usually fairly reliable. I want to see this?but I don?t know how bad. I might wait until it?s on TMN (the Canadian version of HBO.)

 

Shopgirl

 

This looked interesting. I wanted to see it, but didn?t feel like going alone. This looks like a good rental idea. Steve Martin deserves some props for stretching his image, and I heard great things about it.

 

Million Dollar Baby

 

No?I still haven?t seen this. Honestly. I was stuck living at work when it came out, and just haven?t got round to snagging it on DVD. I really need to do that. UPDATED as of 01/21/06! Saw this today. I thought it was good...but the end dragged on way too long. Eastwood, Freeman, and Swank were all excellent in their roles. I didn't think it made the whole right to die thing an issue...so people who complain that it did probably need to relax. This was a very good movie, and would have made my Top 10 had I seen it last year.

 

The Great Raid

 

I hear this movie is a great throwback to the John Sturgess type films of the 60?s like The Great Escape and The Dirty Dozen. I really want to see it, but it bombed. It?s a definite buy on DVD.

 

Grizzly Man

 

I have to catch this on TMN. I enjoy a good documentary, and any movie about a guy who devotes his life to grizzly bears, lives with them, makes a documentary about them, and then ends up getting eaten on film by a grizzly? Come on. Must see.

 

A Sound of Thunder

 

I admit it. I am a sucker for Time Travel films. I heard that this would have been great but the budget got cut so the special effect are laughably bad. I don?t care?I?m renting it.

 

Transporter 2

 

I liked the first one, and I hear this one is better. Besides, with all the good action stars getting so old, we need to support the new ones. Written by Luc Besson and starring Jason Statham makes it worth the risk to buy on DVD.

 

History of Violence

 

This got some good Oscar buzz at one point. It looked good to me, but was in and out of the theatres so quick?plus nobody wanted to see it with me. Jerks.

 

Wallace & Gromit: Tale of the Were-Rabbit

 

Hey, I like Wallace and Gromit, so sue me. I?m going to buy this and watch it with my Goddaughters.

 

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

 

This looked and sounded great?but it was in and out of the theatres so quick. I?m going to catch it on TMN.

 

The Weather Man

 

They say Cage might get an Oscar nomination for this. If he does, and it gets re-released I will go and see it. If not, I will wait until it?s out on TMN.

 

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

 

I will still see this in the Theatre?.methinks it will be out for quite a while. I read all of the books when I was a kid, and am looking forward to seeing this a lot. UPDATED as of 01/21/06! I changed my mind. I'm going to wait for this one to come out on DVD...I can't be bothered.

 

The Ringer

 

Yeah yeah yeah?I admit it. I laughed at the previews. I will rent this, and probably feel a bit guilty afterwards.

 

Munich

 

A must see, so I will. This weekend in fact! UPDATED as of 01/21/06! I saw this and loved it. It will make my Top 10 for 2006 I would bet. Excellent film, well made, well paced, well acted, and fairly presented. After everything Speilberg has done for his people and WWII vets, I respected his viewpoint regarding the conflict in the Middle East, although I am not as optomistic as he is about peace. Great film.

 

Sin City

 

I heard so much great stuff about this film, but due to work I just couldn't get out to see it in the theatres. I plan to pick up the extended version on DVD when I can afford it. It looks like something I would like.

 

Mindhunters

 

Much like I am a sucker for time travel movies, I am a sucker for Serial Killer movies and suspense novels. That probably makes me a bad person. Even though this has LL Cool J in it, I still want to see it on TMN. Hey, he was good when he was on House MD.

 

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

 

I think Angelina is some freaking hot in a skanky kind of way...and the whole married hit men thing looked novel. This got some good reviews so it might be worth a look on TMN.

 

The Bad News Bears

 

"You can love baseball, but it won't always love you back. It's kinda like dating a german chick." Come on...that's funny and this looks like a good TV time waster too. Billy Bob is usually good for a performance if nothing else.

 

Lord of War

 

The look of this film intrigued me, I must admit. I am going to check it out.

 

Two For The Money

 

I could watch Al Pacino read the phone book and enjoy it...and this looked half way interesting from the trailers I saw. Hey, I even liked Any Given Sunday for gawd's sake.

 

Doom

 

What the hell.

 

* * * * * * *

Movies Other People Told Me I Should See?but I Still WON?T

An Unfinished Life

 

I know, Redford and Freeman?but it looks boring as hell?and the fact that the studio sat on it for a couple of years is a bad sign.

 

Good Night, and Good Luck

 

George Clooney has announced that he feels it is his duty as a ?big fat liberal? (his words?not mine) to make movies that get his political point across. So he still has an axe to grind with McCarthy (which isn?t saying much?a lot of Conservatives opposed him too.) Meh. I know McCarthyism was bad, I don?t need to pay to hear it.

 

Syriana

 

See above, but substitute the word ?McCarthy? with ?Big Evil Oil Companies.?

 

Hitch

 

I?d like to punch Will Smith in the mouth. He might not have to cuss to sell his records, but I do?so fuck him and fuck you too. Actually?I?m never forgiving him for Wild Wild West and I, Robot.

 

Kung Fu Hustle

 

I probably should want to see this movie, but I don?t.

 

Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

 

I saw the ?NOOOOOOO? part. That was enough for me. I still can?t still through the original Star Wars?and somebody dragged me to see Episode One, and I have never forgiven them. I don?t like Star Wars movies. I?m a Trek man, myself.

 

The Wedding Crashers

 

This looked mildly interesting, but SO many people told me it was SO hilarious and that I HAD to see it, now I know it?s been over-hyped and could never live up to that.

 

The 40 Year-Old Virgin

 

See above.

 

Four Brothers

 

For some reason, Mark Wahlberg acting tough always makes me laugh?and aside from The Basketball Diaries, the man can?t act.

 

Just Like Heaven

 

My wife actually dragged me to see this?but it was SOLD OUT and I got to see The Exorcism of Emily Rose instead! I dodged a bullet! HA!

 

Jarhead

 

I don?t like Jake Gyllenhaal. He annoys me. He was in The Day After Tomorrow, and for that he deserves to be punished. This looks like a poor man?s ?Three Kings.? I have no desire to see this movie, I don?t care how much people liked it.

 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

 

Never. Never read a Harry Potter book, never saw a Harry Potter movie, and probably never will.

 

Brokeback Mountain

 

I don?t care what kind of buzz it?s getting, everybody I know that saw it said it sucked. I get out to the movies so rarely, if I do get to go I need to see Narnia and Munich. Gay Cowboys will have to wait for my dreams.

 

?

 

Was that last part out loud?

Best movies of 2005 for me were the followin:

 

-Broken Flowers

-King Kong

-SAW 2

-Devil's Rejects

-Star Wars Episode 3

-Crash

 

All fuckin' brilliant movies IMO... If you've not seen any of these, make it a point to do so as soon as possible!

I won't get as in-depth as Dave, but here are my top picks for 2005:

 

- Batman Begins: We all wondered if it could live up to high expectations and it easily did that. Since its release, I've only found a couple of people who say they didn't like the movie. My opinion of them took a bit of dip after hearing that.

 

- Sin City: I'm not sure if many of us realized how lucky we were to have two such incredible comic adaptations hit the big screen within the span of a couple of months. I was just thinking about this one about an hour ago. Its visual style immediately sets it apart from the others, but faithful dialogue and great casting make this a true comic adaptation classic.

 

- Walk the Line: I loved Ray, but without Jamie Foxx, it's one of those okay biopics. Walk the Line features a great performance by Phoenix, but also a strong supporting cast.

 

- Million Dollar Baby: Great movie, but not one that you're going to go reaching for off the DVD shelf next Saturday night.

 

- Wedding Crashers: Like Batman Begins, I saw this one three times in theaters. I wasn't all that optimistic going in the first time and it wasn't until I had seen it twice that I began to appreciate more than Vince Vaughn (who I still think carried the movie to the next level). Its length hurts a bit and I'm a little worried about the uncut version that's going to be released next week, since that indicates it may be even longer.

 

- King Kong: The length is either something you loved or hated. The running time didn't bother me. Although it could've been edited down a bit, the movie held my attention throughout most of it, so the running time wasn't really a factor for me.

 

- Good Night & Good Luck: I was shocked we even got this here, but glad we finally did. One of those flicks that's right up my alley. The lack of action demands strong dialogue and an engaging cast, both of which GN&GL has to offer.

 

Other movies I saw in 2005:

 

- Phantom of the Opera: I've seen the stage version so many times, so I liked this, since it stays faithful to it for the most part.

- Star Wars Ep. III: Mixed feelings. Easily better than the first two of the new trilogy, but still has a lot of flaws.

- Hitch: Too long. Comedies really shouldn't break the two-hour mark most times.

- The Longest Yard: Man, I can't believe I used to adore Adam Sandler. Actually, it's not fair since his earlier movies are still great to me. I just grew out of wanting to see him be the same character in every movie he was in.

- Kicking & Screaming: The first time Will Ferrell's schtick didn't have me in stitches. Still a fun movie.

- Bewitched: Not sure what to think of it still. Had its moments, but comes off as too hollow when it's all said and done.

- Hostage: Not bad. I don't really care for these kinds of movies, but wifey has a Bruce Willis fixation, so I was stuck.

- Guess Who?: Also not that bad. Kutcher annoys me, but he does a nice job here. Mac's the star.

- Stay: One of those movies that'll make ya think. I actually put it close to Mulholland Dr. in the amount of twists and turns it takes you on and leaves you with a full plate of questions to answer on your own.

- Skeleton Key: Bad, bad, bad. One of those movies I knew was going to be ass and I got stuck going to anyway.

- The Exorcism of Emily Rose: See above. Courtroom drama or horror movie? I don't know and neither did the director, apparently.

- Waiting: I thought I was going to really dislike this one, but to my surprise, I loved it. I hear working in the service industry makes it even more accessible, but it was still a keeper, despite me never being in the industry.

- Just Friends: Bleh. Reynolds is a charming guy, but this was a waste of coin.

- Hide & Seek: Movies like this make me bitter on how much movie tickets cost now. Makes seeing a bad movie almost unforgivable.

- The 40-Year-Old Virgin: Thought it was too crass at times, but still one of the best comedies I've seen in years.

 

I'm sure there are a few more I'm forgetting, but I didn't realize how much my theater-going had expanded. I saw a lot of movies in 2004, but prior to that, going to the theater was a rarity.

I only saw a few movies in the theater this year:

 

(1) Crash

(2) The 40-Year Old Virgin

(3) Rent

(4) Brokeback Mountain

 

I'd probably put them 2, 1, 4, 3, if I was ranking them in the order I liked them.

 

Oscar time always frustrates me, because I've never seen anything getting discussed. Sadly, I missed North Country, which is expected to do well.

Last year's Oscars featured one of the few years in which I had a strong interest in seeing everything that was up for Best Picture. Well, except for Sideways.

^ironic that 'sideways' was the best nominee.

 

'broken flowers' is the only movie i saw this year that i'd consider great. just one of those things where everything fits, totally on point, simple and true.

 

'mysterious skin' came close to that. it would be wrong to say it was more flawed than 'broken flowers', but it just didn't have the impact.

 

after that i'd probably place 'brokeback mountain'. i know it was flawed, but for whatever reason it had me hooked right to the end (well...from the cowboys saying goodbye for the first time to the end).

 

nothing else that holds up too well in my memory, but that's really to be expected. every five years or so, we get a year with a whole bunch of great shit, followed immediately by a year of nothing. happened in 94/95, happened in 99/00, happened again here.

I agree with gtd. Sideways was absolutely brilliiant.

I wasn't knocking it. It just didn't have a premise that intrigued me all that much. I've since caught bits and pieces of it on HBO and admitedly, the dialogue seems right up my alley.

oh, and '2046' was easily the most overrated movie of the year. critics obviously made up their mind about how good it was before they saw it, and most spent their reviews just talking about wong kar-wai's career and how great it looks and how that makes it a great movie, even while admitting that the structure is clunky and doesn't work and doesn't really make sense.

I can't imagine any movie doing more for me than Syriana, this year. That whipped my ass and then some.