This way, you you can argue with yourself, your friends, or even with us on our message board over what's worth seeing. You can also use these as a guide when you hit the video stores or Netflix.
Since we believe every view is valid, some films (Melinda and Melinda, Broken Flowers, Rent, Revenge of the Sith) are praised by one reviewer and bashed by another. We're also all actually human beings, so the absence of a film from a given list may just be because the reviewer didn't see it yet. If you want to know more about a particular film, access the full review elsewhere on this site. Some are still posted as current, others are archived. Enjoy.
ALEX MECHLIN'S TOP 10
1. Batman Begins
2. The Constant Gardener
3. Me and You and Everyone We Know
4. Layer Cake
5. Broken Flowers
6. The Upside of Anger
7. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
9. Melinda and Melinda
10. Cinderella Man
One movie that wasn't released in theatres, but would be on my top 10 list if it was, is "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan". With a running time of almost four hours, and assembled from hours of Dylan interviews and documentary footage, this sprawling movie traces the development of Dylan, and the folk movement that eventually made him their symbol. The film is tied together by perhaps Dylan's most famous song, Like a Rolling Stone. Martin Scorsese, the director, interweaves acoustic and demo tape versions of the song over key moments in Dylan's early career. This exposes the process of refining the song, and of refining Dylan's change from acoustic to electric guitar recordings. The final scene shows a fan calling Dylan "Judas", and Dylan responding by telling his band to "play it loud" as the first organ notes of Like a Rolling Stone kick in. Wherever Dylan's final musical home was, he wasn't about to change his direction for anyone.
MICHAEL JAMES ALLEN'S TOP 10
1. Good Night and Good Luck
2. A History of Violence
3. The Passenger (OK, technically it was released in 1975. But it only received mainstream exposure in 2005, and this newfound exposure is extremely well-deserved.)
4. Grizzly Man
5. The Constant Gardener
6. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (This receives the Guilty Pleasure prize of 2005.)
7. Melinda and Melinda
8. Batman Begins
9. The Aristocrats
10. The Baxter (Runner-up for the Guilty Pleasure prize of 2005.)
The biggest theme of 2005 was, sadly, disappointment. There was a real cavalcade of promising films being released that, ultimately, failed to deliver. And it wasn't that they were terrible; if they had been simply terrible then you could just shake your head and move. They were, instead, just mediocre which, in many ways, is worse than terrible because it indicates that these films might have been amazing had just a few more key elements come together. “Sin City?” A well-made film that felt like it was in far too much of a rush. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?” Beautiful and sweet, but hampered with unneeded back-story and one of the few Johnny Depp performances to not succeed. “Land of the Dead,” “Corpse Bride,” and many more were all decent movies that could have been incredible movies. But the year's biggest example of this trend-and it's probably no surprise what film I'm referring to-is: “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.” This is a film that contains moments of thrilling adventure and beautiful emotion. But this is also a movie that eats up any good will it's earned by delivering some truly god-awful moments. As is the case with all of these films, “Revenge of the Sith” could have been a true masterpiece, but something got muddled along the way. And my feelings on that can best be described by quoting Darth Vader on learning of his Padme's death: “NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
NED O'REILLY'S TOP 10
1. Crash
2. A History of Violence
3. Batman Begins
4. The Upside of Anger
5. Cinderella Man
6. Pride and Prejudice
7. The Constant Gardener
8. Rent
9. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
10. In Her Shoes
Since I try to avoid seeing crappy movies, I can't name the worst film of the year, but there are a few films that I thought were important, even though they didn't make my list. “The Wedding Crashers” was a lot of fun, and, like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” was adult fun. Some of the humor certainly appeals to horny high school and college kids, but the characterizations and the situations felt mature. “Unleashed,” for an action flick, had a lot more depth than most, driven by great performances. Among animated films “Madagascar” most got beyond kid stuff to entertain everybody, although “Corpse Bride” has a great screenplay. “Good Night and Good Luck” was a great film to see and is full of fine actors, but ultimately informs more than it moves or entertains. Anything with Dakota Fanning this year (“War of the Worlds,” “Hide and Seek,” “Nine Lives”) is worth a rental. She's that good, even at 10 years old.
JORDAN GREENBERG'S TOP 10
For me, 2005 proved to be a disappointing year at the movies. I spent more money than I can count for a steep increase in body fat percentage and a sharp decline in enjoyment. The few bright spots of the last year (starting on January 1st) were far outweighed by the disappointments. Poor writing is the stamp I'd put on most of the problem films of 2005, among them “War of the Worlds”, “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”, “Kingdom of Heaven”, “Elizabethtown”, “The Brothers Grimm”, “Lord of War”, “Broken Flowers”, “Syriana”, “Jarhead”, and “March of the Penguins” to name more than a few. There were interesting films in the margins, but these were still marginal when compared to last year's best films, “Million Dollar Baby”, “Sideways”, “Spiderman 2”, and “The Incredibles”.
The Oscar season is still in full bloom, though, and more than a few critical and commercial darlings are still waiting to debut, Peter Jackson's “King Kong” among them. I'll keep my fingers crossed and my wallet always open, hoping for much better in 2006, but until then, let's celebrate the best of 2005.
1. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Both the cast and the creator (George Lucas) found their stride in this, the most powerful of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. With a brilliant score, beautiful scenery, and action sequences that reminded us of the force behind the original trilogy, this was an unforgettable finish to the best franchise in movie history.
2. Cinderella Man
Expertly acted and directed, this wonderful film shows how the American spirit, filled with hope and adventure, survives and thrives during even a time of the greatest despair.
3. Hustle and Flow
A vehicle for actor Terrence Howard to show off his shine, this film gave the star a complex role, an engaging script, and every opportunity to earn his first Oscar nomination for best actor.
4. Walk the Line
This Johnny Cash biopic allows us insight into the early life of one of modern music's all-time engineers. With Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon taking on both the spirit and voice of Cash and June Carter, this movie deserves an encore.
5. Wedding Crashers
The best comedy of the summer, by far, this Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn movie pairs up two of today's best comedians to great effect. Though the end of the film comes twenty minutes too late, it will put a smile on your face and a split in your side every time.
6. Good Night and Good Luck
All too often, history becomes conveniently forgotten. This film, however, doesn't shy away from one of the darker and more fear-filled times of the modern American experience, the red scare stirred up by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy. George Clooney directs a solid performance by David Strathairn as news man Edward R. Murrow during his risky and heroic fight over the airwaves against McCarthy's persecution.
7. Old Boy
A psychological thriller, both intriguing and full of despair, this Korean film is unlike anything else released this year. Great acting with direction and plot that keeps you off balance, this is a worthy foreign import.
8. Murderball
A documentary about paraplegic rugby, this movie is as uplifting and inspiring in its portrayal of these real athletes' lives, their challenges and triumphs as any fiction could conjure up.
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
A fantastic world created in the imagination of C.S. Lewis, Narnia was brought to the screen with beautiful clarity that should meet the expectations of readers the world over. Good acting and not a little bit of magic makes us anxious for the next trip into the wardrobe.
10. Green Street Hooligans
Some charismatic acting by Englishman Charlie Hunnam brings this film of soccer (football) hooliganism to life. Neither flat nor sensational, striking characters and situations covering the spectrum from humorous to dangerous make this one impossible to turn from.
Though movie trailers are now more science than art and star power is once again becoming king, this list should show that there is no substitute for story. Pixar has it right, so does Ron Howard. Here's hoping that in 2006, the rest of the community catches up.
ALAN SIMONIS' TOP 10
1. Crash
2. Good Night, and Good Luck
3. Shopgirl
4. The 40 Year Old Virgin
5. Batman Begins
6. Cinderella Man
7. The Corpse Bride
8. Sin City
9. Elizabethtown
10. Mr. & Mrs. Smith/The Ice Harvest (tie)
Special Mention: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
While not one of the 10 best of the year, perhaps no film was more noteworthy in 2005 that the final installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Its arrival in May brought with it a whirlwind of media attention, from TV specials to merchandising to product cross-promotion. Along the way it became the biggest moneymaker of the year, and seventh overall in total box office. More important than the financial impact however, this film marks the end of an era; there is no more “Star Wars” coming, at least in pictures. Was it what I (or most people for that matter) expected the final chapter to be? No, not really- I doubt anyone six years ago expected a coughing robot to play such an important role. But as a conclusion to the prequel story, this film served its purpose well. This chapter of our cinematic lives is over, and it's time to move on. Here's to a 2006 that carries movie storytelling forward, and leaves the 2005 of remakes, sequels, and other clones behind.
