King Kong (2005)
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Written by: Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens
Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis, & Colin Hanks

Summary:
Set in the 1930s, this is the story of a young and beautiful actress Ann Darrow from the world of vaudeville who finds herself lost in depression-era New York and her luck changes when she meets an over-ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham who brings her on an exploratory expedition to a remote island where she finds compassion and the true meaning of humanity with an ape Kong. The beauty and the beast finally meet their fate back in the city of New York where the filmmaker takes and displays the ape in quest of his fame by commercial exploitation which ultimately leads to catastrophe for everyone including a playwright Jack Driscoll who falls in love with Ann and plays an unlikely hero by trying to save her from Kong and her destiny.

My View:
Probably the most visually appealing film of the year, Peter Jackson's epic King Kong remake was also one of the most anticipated. I expect Kong to get some attention come oscar time for it's effects, (the Kong, T-Rex fight alone is worthy of any and all effects awards) but hopefully also for it's lead Naomi Watts.

To tell you the truth though there is a reason that King Kong is not higher on my list. I felt it was too rushed and too long. The brontosaurus stampede sequence was so rushed, it ended up just looking absurd with an 80's style blue screen effect that just flung me completely out of the moment. (I hope they fix some of this stuff for Jackson's customary special edition DVD release) Jackson is a god among filmmakers but even he has his limits with a deadline. This is why I wondered why the final cut was so long. There were some places where Jackson could've trimmed the fat and it would've made for a much tighter and well paced film. I have a suggestion that he actually cut some stuff out for his eventual DVD release. Don't get me wrong I'll defend longer cuts when needed, like Jackson's Rings DVD's.

I know this is all sounding like I hated the film but nothing could be further from the truth. King Kong is an amazing thrill ride, which despite it's length demands every ounce of your attention and touches your heart with a brilliant love story. Naomi Watts finally proves her abilities with a performance that must have been difficult, given the circumstances of filming 90% of the film in front of a green screen. But it's equally as difficult not to fall in love with her character as much as Kong does. The rest of the cast fit their characters perfectly, with a surprising performance from Jack Black whose con-artistry fools everyone including himself right up until the end.

This film is brilliant and is a glowing testimonial to Peter Jackson's love of the original. If most remakes were handled with such care and appreciation you'd see a lot more of them on critics lists.

Lord of War (2005)
Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Written by: Andrew Niccol
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Bridget Moynahan, Jared Leto, Ian Holm, & Ethan Hawke

Summary:
This film charts the rise and fall of Yuri Orlov, from his early days in the early 1980s in Little Odessa, selling guns to mobsters in his local neighborhood, through to his ascension through the decade of excess and indulgence into the early 90s, where he forms a business partnership with an African warlord and his psychotic son. The film also charts his relationship through the years with his younger brother, his marriage to a famous model, his relentless pursuit by a determined federal agent and his inner demons that sway between his drive for success and the immorality of what he does.

My View:
At one point in the film Nic Cage's character's haunting narrative says "You know who's going to inherit the world? Arms dealers. Because everyone else is too busy killing each other." This really sums up Lord Of War perfectly. Arms dealers sell death and they take no responsibility for their actions. In Lord Of War we are thrown into the head of a rising arms dealer, played by Cage, and we begin to understand what drives a person like this. They don't see their actions as evil they simply see it as survival. Instead of being the ones killed, or the ones killing, they are the ones on the side lines cashing in with every bullet fired.

But Lord Of War is also not so black & white as to simply preach that selling arms is bad. It shows us that it's a business just like any other, and just what kind of person you have to be to do it. It also shows that much like any other big business it's overflowing with corruption, proven perfectly by the way the film ends. Like many people are saying about Crash, Lord Of War is one of the films of 2005 that must be seen. It presents a very unfamiliar world, and a side of war that too little know about.

Sin City (2005)
Directed by: Frank Miller & Robert Rodriguez
Written by: Frank Miller
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Jessica Alba, Benicio Del Toro, & Elijah Wood

Summary:
A collection of interweaving stories all based in the corrupt, crime infested hell-hole that is Basin City. Heavily influenced by film-noir, the main storylines concern a hulking brute called Marv (Mickey Rourke), who is seeking the murderer of a beautiful woman who was killed while asleep in bed with him; an ex-photographer called Dwight (Clive Owen) who accidentally kills a hero cop and has to cover it up; and a soon-to-be-retiring policeman called Hartigan (Bruce Willis) who is incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit. All based on the brilliant graphic novels "Sin City", "The Big Fat Kill" and "That Yellow Bastard", written and illustrated by Frank Miller..

My View:
This was a pretty big hit for 2005, and was praised by critics and fans. Sin City is by all accounts a film-noir, but for a new generation. Gone are the slow moving plots, dialogue driven scenes and mostly small casts of yesterdays film-noir genre. Here are the still dark but visually stunning style, ensemble casts, and more brutal, violent, action than ever thought possible for the 1940-50's.

The story of these characters are woven together masterfully, with each actor completely embodying their character. Mickey Rourke doesn't just become Marv, he is Marv. With every act of brutality he dishes out, he brings that character right from the pages of the graphic novel to the big screen seamlessly.

Sin City was a a major technical achievement, as it's only the second film ever to being filmed entirely against green screens. The first was Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, which was on my top 10 list last year. This means that all the sets and backgrounds were added digitally after the actors were filmed. When you think about it this is an incredible undertaking, but when put into the hands of Mr. Rodriguez, he makes it look easy.

The success of Sin City has made sure that we are going to see further installments, with many of the characters returning for stories that Miller is writing especially for film.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)
Directed by: George Clooney
Written by: George Clooney & Grant Heslov
Starring: David Strathairn, Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, & Jeff Daniels

Summary:
In the early 1950's, the threat of Communism created an air of paranoia in the United States and exploiting those fears was Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. However, CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow and his producer Fred Friendly decided to take a stand and challenge McCarthy and expose him for the fear monger he was. However, their actions took a great personal toll on both men, but they stood by their convictions and helped to bring down one of the most controversial senators in American history.

My View:
I can't believe how much I loved this film. Good Night, and Good Luck is a riveting political mind game between two titans in the public eye. What I love about the film is how it reflects and relates to today's issues in American society. Right now in the US, they have a religious right wing administration in office pushing their beliefs, and using fear to manipulate the American public. The difference between the time periods shows us that in the 1950's journalism was a respected and honored field where brave men fought back against without fear of what may happen to them personally. Their first mission was to expose the truth, which ever side that may be.

I also love the mood and visual style created by Clooney, as he takes us deep into the belly of a television studio at that time. By keeping it in black and white, it reflects well the deep contrast between the two conflicting sides. The set pieces and small things, like the fact that almost everyone smokes and it's much more socially acceptable than today really helps you embrace the time period.

I'd like to see David Strathairn pick up an oscar nomination this year. Actually, there are many oscar worthy performances in the film but his is above and beyond. So to him I say Good Night, and Good Luck!

Munich (2005)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: Tony Kushner & Eric Roth
Starring: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciarán Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz, & Geoffrey Rush

Summary:
During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack.

My View:
Spielberg proves again why he is regarded as one of the best filmmakers ever. Munich is a beautifully shot film, that would seem at first, like a typical hollywood thriller set around a true event. But Munich also carries a very strong message about the nature of terrorism itself. What I liked about the film was it's unbiased view of either side. Munich is a study of how fighting terrorism is in itself terrorism.

This is the best performance to date from Eric Bana, whose outstanding work is guaranteed to not win him any awards. Bana's portrayal of Avner works so well because of the way the supporting cast and him play off each other. Daniel Craig is incredibly solid and is making me anticipate is bond even more now. I was left wanting to see more of Geoffrey Rush as well. His scenes with Bana are some of the best in the film.

Perhaps the most powerful scene though is the last one (and if you haven't seen it maybe you should skip this). The scene shows Avner aggressively having sex with his wife, inter cut with scenes of terrorist attacks (9/11 being the most notable). I've heard several interpretations of this scene, and the most common one being the close relationship between sex and death. I think it represents the blindness of his actions throughout the film. Avner blindly did what his country asked of him not realizing the bigger picture, violence only creates more violence. The sex at the end reflects him being changed into a more violent person as well as the world around him. That's just another interpretation of it. It certainly is a powerful film that will keep you thinking long after the credits role.

Crash (2005)
Directed by: Paul Haggis
Written by: Paul Haggis
Starring: Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Sandra Bullock, Ryan Phillippe, & Terrence Howard

Summary:
Several stories interweave during two days in Los Angeles involving a collection of inter-related characters, a black police detective with a drugged out mother and a thieving younger brother, two car thieves who are constantly theorizing on society and race, the distracted district attorney and his irritated and pampered wife, a racist veteran cop (caring for a sick father at home) who disgusts his more idealistic younger partner, a successful black Hollywood director and his wife who must deal with racist cop, a Persian-immigrant father who buys a gun to protect his shop, a Hispanic locksmith and his young daughter who is afraid of bullets, and more.

My View:
When I first saw Crash earlier last year, I have to admit I didn't realize what all the hype was about. I liked it, but everyone was just going on and on about it, hyping it more and more. It wasn't until after a few months went by, I realized I was still thinking about this film. It must have had some, subconscious affect on me because I was still concerning myself with these characters, and their individual and connecting relationships. Crash is like a Robert Altman or PT Anderson film, using many interconnecting stories to study one theme, racism.

What I love about Crash though is it's portrayal of racism is not black and white, but rather a blurry gray area where people can collide abusively in unintentional ways. A racist white cop who sexually molests a black woman because he abuses his power, but then risks his own life to save the same woman because that's his job. Crash offers up a half dozen other stories just like that that all connect some how.

I've heard some people complain because the film makes no clear cut "racism is wrong" statement, which to me is not the point of the film. To me it's simply showing us that we're all capable of racism, and our actions affect people in ways that we sometimes don't think about.

Serenity (2005)
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Written by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, & Jewel Staite

Summary:
The crew of the Serenity is getting desperate. They have lain lower and lower to protect their doctor, Simon Tam (Sean Maher), and his telepathic traumatized little sister, River (Summer Glau), from the alliance, whom he rescued her from a year earlier. This has made getting jobs harder and now they are desperate. When they take River on a robbery during which Reavers (humans who have gone crazy and turned into cannibals) attack, Simon decides that its time to leave the crew of the Serenity for his and River's safety. She then mutters "Miranda" and goes berserk and nearly shoots Capt. Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), until her brother says the safety word to put her to sleep. Reynolds decides to take them back on board for safety, only now an alliance operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is on their tracks and making Reynolds determined to find out what "Miranda" is and what the Alliance is hiding.

My View:
Serenity is by all accounts a phenomenon. Think about it. When in the history of film or television has there ever been a tv show that was cancelled after only 11 aired episodes, then through sheer fan devotion brought back in feature film form? Yes the fans are a bit eccentric, but don't let them scare you away from the best sci-fi franchise to come along in years.

Joss Whedon has crafted a brilliant, fresh, funny, intense tale of the future. With characters you share every laugh, tear, and heartache with. Whedon makes you love these characters like members of your own dysfunctional family and then puts them through hell. He writes like more writers should, not handing the audience exactly what they expect. Main characters die as if they are a red shirted guy on star trek, which makes for a very tense experience that actually invokes an amazing amount of emotion from the audience. If Serenity were a drama directed by Clint Eastwood set in some western town it would probably be up for best picture, but because of the science fiction setting most people dismiss it completely.

It's a sad time to be a Firefly/Serenity fan. The movie as good as it is did not do well at the box office, which basically means no more feature films. I have heard rumblings of a mini series for the sci-fi network so lets keep our fingers crossed. If Serenity makes a strong presence in the DVD market anything is possible.

Hustle & Flow (2005)
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Written by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, & DJ Qualls

Summary:
A rap star from the Dirty South who is trying to make it in the hip hop world, he has to deal with many different types of people who try to bring him down, including strippers, baby's mama, and all the things that try to keep a player down. This is probably his last chance to make it, he is approaching his 40's, and his life is looking downhill.

My View:
A surprising film for me. I in no way thought I'd be ranking this on my top ten list, let alone this high. I'm not a big fan of rap music, and MTV produced films have never really made an impression on me. All that aside, I absolutely loved Hustle & Flow. This film is gritty and real beyond any other film this year, and shows that even those you might think are the lowest people on earth have dreams, and some have the ambition to act on those dreams. I found it incredibly inspiring to watch DJay get bitten with this bug and watch it grow until it was a fire in his belly and he had to get out, he had no choice. Most people would immediately label DJay as a lowlife without looking at where he's from. What I saw was a man who had no other means of survival, he never wanted to be a pimp, but that was his only choice besides drugs. The best scene in the film takes place in a church where DJay is moved too tears by watching a choir, that he realizes he must do anything to change his life.

Terrance Howard is so deserving of the best actor oscar this year it's going to be heart breaking when he's not even nominated. There are so many scenes that he makes so much more powerful than I think any other actor would have. Another performance that stood out to me was Shug, played by relatively lesser known actress Taraji P. Henson. Her scenes with DJay are among the most emotional as she represents innocence that is so lacking in DJay's life.

I also like the statement Hustle & Flow makes about the state of the music industry today. Music has become as trendy as fashion, and conveys no real thoughts or ideas anymore because it's so out of touch with reality. Skinny Black embodies this as a character. The film is almost saying there are real artists out there if you look beyond the mass marketing machine.

Cinderella Man (2005)
Directed by: Ron Howard
Written by: Cliff Hollingsworth
Starring: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, & Paddy Considine

Summary:
During the Great Depression, a common-man hero, James J. Braddock--a.k.a. the Cinderella Man--was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace who had hit rock bottom. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him--his family--was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became the mythic athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, Braddock rocketed through the ranks, until this underdog chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight champ of the world, the unstoppable Max Baer, renowned for having killed two men in the ring.

My View:
The most overlooked film at the box office in 2005, Cinderella Man, is more than just a biopic of a depression era boxer. It's a beautiful film about a family's survival during that time, and how they not only survived physically but as a family as well. Braddock's boxing come back is presented as a reflection of the love he has for his family, and the struggle to provide for them. It's this love that gives him the god-like power he has in the ring.

It really surprised me that this film didn't do well. Ron Howard did an exceptional job crafting this inspiring tale. Everything, down to the finest detail of that time period is presented with perfect accuracy. The cinematography is excellent, highlighting everything in dreary tones to give the viewer an almost dirty feeling.

Crowe had a rough year, what with his gold medal in the phone throw, but this film is a highlight. He has a good chance to make another oscar showing this year, but to me the real shining star of the film is Renee Zellweger. This is the best performance of her career and could grab her another oscar as well.

Batman Begins (2005)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Written by: Bob Kane, David S. Goyer, & Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, & Cillian Murphy

Summary:
Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

My View:
Yes my inner geek took hold of me this year, but Batman Begins is so much more than simple superhero, comic book story. I truly believe it's the best film of the year and not just for the fact that it was everything I've wanted to see in a Batman film since I was a kid. Nolan takes us deep into the mind of a troubled youth who lashes out at the world because of his traumatic past. The fear and regret would eat him alive if he was not taught to channel it for a greater purpose. Nolan shows us a gritty, real version of Batman and Bruce Wayne which is so much easier to relate to in this film than previous adaptations. We feel his pain and confusion as he struggles with whether his actions are right or wrong. We see that his complete devotion to a cause and ideal is what makes him super, and that power is within all of us.

Christian Bale was the perfect casting choice as he effortlessly fills both roles of Batman and Bruce Wayne. Spending equal amounts of time as both characters in the film would have proven a tremendous task for most actors, but Bale handles the pressure easily, looking comfortable in either role.

The future looks bright for Batman fans. We've found a film formula that works and all those people involved with this film have chosen to return for the sequel. The obvious storyline revolving around The Joker, which I hope they make a little more sadistic and true to the comic than previous adaptations. It would be cool if they focused on Batman's excellent detective skills in unraveling the mystery of The Joker. Ok, I'm a raging geek I know.