Top Ten Films of 2004
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. The Incredibles
3. The Five Obstructions
4. The Passion of the Christ
5. Undertow
6. Collateral
7. Million Dollar Baby
8. The Terminal
9. Saw
10. Primer
Honorable Mentions: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Supersize Me
Most overrated: Spiderman 2
Singled out for hate: Sideways
I haven't watched any of these movies since 2004-2006 when I first watched them. I haven't watched any of them more than once.
Brief comments:
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
You guys have already talked this one to death.
2. The Incredibles
I skipped this one when it first played and didn't see it until I won a DVD copy by correctly answering the "brain buzz" trivia question that we'd listen to (and call in to) every morning at my work up in Buffalo. I like it. It's better than 98% of all other superhero movies.
3. The Five Obstructions
Probably my favorite Von Trier film and the only one that I would recommend unreservedly. Abby insists that I fell asleep to this and never finished it. I think I finished it.
4. The Passion of the Christ
This is definitely a movie that is "cool to hate." I saw this with my friend Ben after a session at the Buffalo Brewpub. We had fun pretending that we were going to see a Summer Blockbuster and shared a giant tub of popcorn. There's plenty to criticize about all the events and people swarming around the cultural phenomenon that this movie was. [Aside: I especially find the evangelical orgiastic response peculiar considering the source material for the film. This film is really only very loosely based on the Gospel narratives. The Passion of the Christ is actually an adaptation of the "mystical" visions of a 19th century nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich. Besides that aspect, churches bussed in vans full of people to pack the theaters for this bloodbath. The irony of all of these folks flocking to an R-rated "torture porn" flick was apparently lost on all involved. On the other hand, so many critics jumped on top of one another to be the loudest to condemn the violence in this film, somehow forgetting all of the times that they'd gone to bat for equally gruesome films.] The film itself, though, taken on its own terms, is a marvel. Gibson's earnestness and sincerity shine through. Gibson films the Passion narrative as a war film and takes no prisoners. It's easy to hate Gibson. He's a complete screw-up and wears his sins on his sleeve. I'll still see anything with his name attached. Beaver, anyone?
5. Undertow
Oh, David Gordon Green, I wish you had watched Reefer Madness as a child and been scared sober. Judd Apatow can hang. Film nerds want you back!
6. Collateral
This might be my favorite movie of the year if it didn't fumble so horribly in the end.
7. Million Dollar Baby
I don't know. I only "kinda" like this.
8. The Terminal
I'm in a small minority that really loves this film.
9. Saw
Perfect double feature with Passion of the Christ, no? I liked this when it came out. I haven't seen it since.
10. Primer
I can't remember much about this one. I know that Ben loves it. I have his copy (borrowed since last Fall), which is probably the only reason why he hasn't re-watched it recently.
Okay. I'm done.
I haven't seen:
Before Sunset, The Motorcycle Diaries, The Life Aquatic, The Aviator, The House of Flying Daggers, Bad Education, Kill Bill V. 2, Dig!, Shaun of the Dead, Hotel Rwanda, A Very Long Engagement, Garden State, Crimson Gold, The Dreamers, Saved!, Wicker Park, The Door in the Floor, In the Realms of the Unreal, Spring.. and Spring, or most other movies honorably mentioned. I do remember falling asleep during Coffee and Cigarettes and never going back and finishing it. Lisa, I also really enjoyed I, Robot.
I really don't care much for the Aughts. I do still completely stand by my Top Ten Films of the Aughts List. Those are the films that I'll take away from the decade. Most of the rest can burn.
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