The Best of 2005: Movies

As 2005 is closing, it's time to recount the movies that mattered to me in the past year. This is, of course, an incomprehensive list as I did not watch all the movies that were released. I might see Munich before the year ends, so that may be added to the list.

Batman Begins.
After Joel Schumacher devastated the Batman franchise with the release of the ultra campy Batman & Robin, salvation comes in the form of acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. Together with writer David Goyer, Nolan envisioned a dark and realistic retelling of the caped crusader's origins. The result is a smart and thrilling action movie starring the brilliant Christian Bale as the tortured protector of Gotham City. This is a comic book movie done right.

The Constant Gardener.
This is a beautifully shot movie that sheds light on the dire condition in Africa and, more importantly, what different people do about it. Ralph Fiennes gives a wonderful performance as a tepid diplomat that has to go through a revelatory journey when his wife died in mysterious circumstances. Fernando Meirelles, director of City of God, crafts a movie with stunning images of the poverty stricken Africa nations.

Kung-Fu Hustle.
By far, the funniest movie I've seen this year. (Good) slapstick comedy is a dying breed. The last time I remember enjoying a slapstick is the Jim Carrey's classics, the Ace Ventura movies and Dumb and Dumber. Stephen Chow manages to craft a hilarious and inspired slapstick by tapping into the old Looney Toons animation with its surreal and violent comedy.

Sin City.
This is film noir on steroids. It's not really an adaptation, but rather, a translation of Frank Miller's series of graphic novels. Using digital effects to emulate the black and white panels from the book, Directors Robert Rodriguez and Miller has created a truly unique looking beast. Mickey Rourke's once in a lifetime performance as the giant hustler with a heart of gold, Marv, is worth the price of admission alone. The stellar cast, the innovative art direction, and the hardcore ultra violence cap off a fantastic film.

A History of Violence.
Director David Croenenberg crafts a truly ingenious study on violence. The violence in this movie, which is plenty, is portrayed in realistic details. Fights are finished with just a few, crucial blows. You could see the gruesome and unattractive part of violence, be it a broken nose, a burned face, or a bullet wound. Violence is also shown as main cause of problems in a peaceful small town family. But when the hero takes up the fight to the bad guys, brutally pummeling them with inhumane beating, you couldn't resist the temptation to cheer for him.

Serenity.
See my review on a previous post for a lengthy review. The short version: It's how a sci-fi movie should be.

Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story.
This is really a three episode story arc of the animated series Family Guy that was released straight to DVD. But this is so unbelievably hilarious, I just have to put it on the list. The best character in Family Guy, Stewie, gets the center stage and that's a good thing. A lot of the joke depends on your knowledge of pop culture reference, but if you know them, it's priceless.

Good Night, and Good Luck.
Somebody give David Strathairn an Oscar for his performance of Edward Murrow. His mannerism, his voice, his speech pattern, his posture, the way he looks at the camera, they all portray a man you would trust on giving you the truth on the news. Murrow's speech at the beginning and the end of the movie is brilliant. Director George Clooney has made a fantastic picture that pleads the press to stay unswayed in their journalistic integrity.

Syriana.
Written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, this is a film in Traffic's mould, a collection of seemingly separate stories that interweave in a complex web. While Traffic is about the drug smuggling business, Syriana is about the inner workings of the oil industry. We see how oil companies, Arab states, the CIA, powerful Washington law firms, corruption, and terrorism play a part in the game. You might not get how everything is connected, as it is meant to be complicated. But the important thing is, you will see how the different players are desperate to control the quickly disappearing resource.

King Kong.
Kong is a special achievement in special effects. There are moments where you just forget your suspension of disbelief and think somewhere in the world a 25-feet tall gorilla exists and he could act wonderfully. Naomi Watts shows why Kong is crazy for her Ann Darrow. With her sad, glistening eyes and blond hair, she looks like the glamorous leading ladies from Hollywood's golden age. Despite the hectic and unrelenting action, Peter Jackson manages to establish a connection between a giant gorilla and a human girl, a major improvement from the original 1933 movie. The scenes of Kong and Ann’s interaction are warm, funny, and touching. That relationship gives a heart to this thrilling action movie.