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| jasonmayer.net | |
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top 10 movies of 2004 |
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1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Charlie Kaufman has already proven that he has one of the most imaginative minds in Hollywood. With Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, he is able to combine that with an incredibly heartwarming story about love and loss. The movie would not be at the top of this list, though, were it not for the performances of the two leads, Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Carrey is perfect as Joel Barish and Winslet is equally magnificent as Clementine, the spontaneous emotional center of the film who changes her hair color as often as her moods. Kaufman takes us through their relationship backwards as Joel attempts to erase her from his memory. As the bad turns into good, he remembers what it is he loved about Clementine and fights to keep her memory. In the end, the film reveals how the experience is worth more than anything and that love can somehow conquer all. Was anything learned and will things be any different? Eternal Sunshine seems to say that it is all worth finding out yourself.
2. Sideways Sideways is the buddy/road picture that transcends the genre and becomes so much more. Miles is a down-on-his-luck writer taking his friend Jack on a weeklong trip through wine country before his wedding. The two meet Maya and Stephanie and the trip becomes so much more than just one last fling. The movie was directed and co-written by Alexander Payne, who has a knack for highlighting the worst human characteristics in someone and finding redemption in them. Paul Giamatti as Miles is excellent. Miles truly hates himself and is self-destructive (the scene in the crowded winery is a classic). He has never been the same after his divorce and the only thing that he is passionate about is wine. Meeting Maya eventually stirs something inside him as someone who believes in him, something he has been missing for too long. The film comes together perfectly. There are plenty of laughs supplemented with tender moments of introspection. It’s a realistic look at people who have reached that point in their lives where the future seems bleak and the past is a waste, until they find the answers they were never even looking for.
3. The Incredibles What would my top ten list be without the latest film from Pixar? Just when I think that it can’t get any better after the phenomenal Finding Nemo, they nearly top themselves again with The Incredibles. This movie practically jumps off the screen with its exuberance and vibrancy. Every single character is richly detailed and fully realized, and the action sequences are more thrilling and mesmerizing than any I’ve seen in the past few years. But even as good as the action is, the best scenes of the movie are of the home-life these superheroes have created. Seeing Bob in his dead-end, boring job and the kids forced to suppress their abilities are both funny and disheartening. And the best line from the movies this year is uttered here as Bob learns of his son’s “graduation” from 4th to 5th grade: “They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity.” Why can’t non-Pixar films be this original and offer this kind of social commentary? Anyone who still dismisses animated films as mere cartoons is doing himself a great disservice by avoiding this movie. The Incredibles is intelligent, humorous, and endlessly entertaining.
4. Million Dollar Baby Strip away all the controversy, and you’re still left with one of the most powerfully moving films I’ve seen in a long time. Life is about difficult choices, and the ones made by the characters in this film may not be the right ones for us, but they are for them. Clint Eastwood directs with a minimalist flair, giving the film richness in its deliberate pace. All three main characters have a story to tell and Eastwood doesn’t let anything get in the way. Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, and Eastwood are all exceptional as questions of faith, loyalty, honor, and love affect each one of them differently. There are no maudlin moments in Million Dollar Baby, just compelling and effective storytelling.
5. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 The remaining chapter of this two-volume saga (Volume 1 was in my top ten list last year) fills in the holes left by the thrilling first part. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 relies less on inspired and stylized fight sequences and more on plot and story. We learn what happened to the Bride that spurred her revenge and follow her as she makes her way to her ultimate destination, knocking off the rest of the Vipers. Quentin Tarantino once again provides shimmering dialogue and directs with a certain flair, differentiating time periods with various color schemes, which lends itself to an epic feel. Not only is this the perfect complement to its frenetic other part, but Kill Bill: Vol. 2 stands alone nicely, too.
6. Hotel Rwanda This is a true story about a man who saved over a thousand refugees from the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Paul Rusesabagina was a hotel manager in Rwanda when the struggle began. He risked his own life to try to save his family and the people that came to depend on him. Hotel Rwanda is a harrowing look at a moment in history that went largely unnoticed. The fact that I barely remember this occurrence is testament to the fact that the Rwandans saw little help from the world community. Don Cheadle makes this movie with his portrayal of Rusesabagina. A quiet and unimposing figure, Paul was able to command the respect of the superiors around him and the admiration of those he was trying to protect. There’s nothing better than a hopeful story about the abilities a man has in a hopeless situation. His faith and determination are inspirational, and the movie is an amazing tribute to his acts.
7. Maria Full of Grace A young Colombian girl, in search of a job and a better life, decides to become a drug mule, swallowing over 60 latex capsules full of white powder to transport to New York. The beauty of this film is not just in the wonderfully tense situations that arise for Maria, but in indirectly showing the appeal that the promise of a life in the United States holds for a poor girl who will never know any better back home. Catalina Sandino Moreno is simply amazing in her film debut, which is, hopefully, a sign of things to come from her. She’s strong-willed and vulnerable at the same time. The final moments of the movie are unforgettable and Moreno pulls it off perfectly.
8. Before Sunset Why can’t all sequels be this good? Before Sunset picks up nine years from where Before Sunrise left off. Jesse and Celine meet up again in Paris and discuss everything from their worldviews to the consequences of their initial chance meeting. This movie works so well because of Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. They are so convincing as these star-crossed lovers, that they are sometimes accused of playing themselves. Before Sunset is practically an 80-minute conversation, and their topics reflect the extra nine years they have aged. There is also little time for these two to reconnect as Jesse has an evening flight to catch. As the time to leave draws nearer, you get the sense that these two aren’t going to make the same mistake twice and the film sets up for one of the best final scenes in recent movie history.
9. Garden State Zach Braff wrote and directed this coming-of-age film that has drawn comparisons to The Graduate for its portrayal of a disaffected youth. Natalie Portman is ten times better here than in her Oscar-nominated role from Closer as Sam, the optimistic and carefree perfect match for Braff’s Andrew. Sam is able to remind Andrew of what he has been missing in life and he finds a way to forgive himself and repair the strained relationship with his dad. It is an effective debut from Braff and one of the feel-good movies of the year as you root for Sam and Andrew to make the right choices for their lives.
10. Spider-Man 2 A great superhero film, probably the greatest one ever made. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst give great performances, and, finally, the special effects take a backseat to the story in one of these blockbusters. Spider-Man has always been my favorite superhero because of the normal, everyday problems he must constantly deal with, and director Sam Raimi interweaves all these storyline threads effortlessly throughout the film. Raimi and crew learned from the mistakes they made in the first one (clunky visuals, one-note villain) and improved upon them here. The result is a staggering film filled with action and pathos.
honorable mentions Baadasssss! Mario Van Peebles wrote and directed this film detailing what his dad Melvin Van Peebles went through in making the seminal Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Mario doesn’t sugarcoat anything, including the relationship he had with his father at the time and the methods his dad used to get the film completed, and produces a stirring film while illustrating the importance of his father’s work. Touching the Void A documentary that combines real-life interviews with dramatic re-creations of the story. This is a harrowing true story of two climbers ill-fated ascent of a mountain in South America. It’s amazing to realize what these two climbers survived and the choices they were forced to make. Super Size Me A documentary that clearly delineates the true horrors of fast food, most notably McDonald’s. Morgan Spurlock takes us on a risky experiment with his body, which proves to be both fascinating and entertaining. In Good Company Dennis Quaid is wonderful here in this extremely satisfying comedy/drama. His understated performance as a father who must deal simultaneously with his daughter (Scarlett Johansson) going to college and a young upstart (Topher Grace) becoming his boss is perfect. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Anchorman is easily the best pure comedy to be released this year. Will Ferrell is the funniest man in movies today and his irreverent take on local news and the 70s is hilarious.
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Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Sandra Oh, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, and Paul Giamatti in Sideways
The Incredibles
Clint Eastwood and Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby
David Carradine and Uma Thurman in Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda
Catalina Sandino Moreno in Maria Full of Grace
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunset
Peter Sarsgaard, Natalie Portman, and Zach Braff in Garden State
Spider-Man 2
Mario Van Peebles and Joy Bryant in Baadasssss!
Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid and Scarlett Johansson in In Good Company
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