:: Oh, Look, A Tumbleweed ::

For posterity's sake... :: Saturday, March 04, 2006 ::

Since we are at the eve of the Oscars, I figured I should assemble my top ten list for 2005. It might still change as I haven't seen A History of Violence, both of which I am desperate to see. In any case, here we go!

Last updated: March 27th

1. Brokeback Mountain: I mean, what did you expect?
2. Good Night, and Good Luck: Despite an unneeded subplot involving Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey, Jr., still an amazing film. I'll forgive that subplot because I worship the ground Patricia Clarkson walks on.
3. Cache: This film made my head hurt, and it is such an expertly constructed allegory that to wonder "Whodunnit?" pretty much cheats the film of the intent. Genius. Having read some responses and theories on the film, my opinion of the film went from "Pretty good, but..." to "GENIUS". See it. Then digest it. And see it again.
4. The Squid and The Whale: What can I say? I'm a sucker for family dysfunction. After all, what's my favorite TV show EVER? Six Feet Under, of course.
5. King Kong: Shut up, it's awesome.
6. 2046: Not my favorite by Wong Kar Wai (Didn't understand the point of the futuristic part - it kind of bored me) but still pretty fucking amazing. Nowhere near the level of amazingness of In The Mood For Love, but a good sequel.
7. Syriana: I'll chalk up the George Clooney Oscar to another "What the hell" decision, because there is nothing substantial enough in his role to deserve an Oscar, especially over Jake Gyllenhaal's performance, or, hell, even Matt Dillon's performance. I don't understand one thing about Syriana (Though it's not a 2001 or Mulholland Drive mindfuck of a movie, just a very deliberately vague one) but it is a very good movie. It has to do with oil, I know that much, and it's not particularly nice to the USA. Oh no! It attacks the US! How anti-American of them! They must be shot for DARING to suggest we aren't perfect! How dare you, Stephen Gaghan!
8. The Constant Gardener: Here mainly because of Rachel Weisz and some amazing cinematography.
9. Capote: Thank you, Philip Seymour Hoffman, for not doing an imitation (JAMIE FOXX) but actually creating a personality behind your character. Personally, I think Heath Ledger or David Strathairn should be getting the Oscar you're receiving tomorrow, but, hey. You were better than Jamie Foxx. Besides, I have a feeling that ten years from now, this is going to be one of those Oscar decisions that everyone looks back on saying "Really? He won over him? How'd that happen?" Not that it wasn't a good performance but...okay, I'll stop. Ledger was better, in my opinion, and I'll debate that with anyone. Drop me an IM. Anyways, as far as the movie, my only complaint is that the first half was extremely uneven. The second half, however, was phenomonal. If the first half had been as good as the second half, this probably would have cracked my top three.
10. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Shut up, and see Number Five. It doesn't have to be Citizen Kane for me to put it on my list.


Honorable Mention: Walk The Line: The standard biopic. Reese Witherspoon was fantastic.

And, of course, my award for Best Inanimate Object. Who will join such past winners as...

2004: The wine, Sideways
2003: Uma Thurman's tracksuit, Kill Bill, Vol. 1
2002: Nicole Kidman's Nose, The Hours
2001: The Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2000: Wilson, Castaway
1999: The plastic bag, American Beauty
1998: The tomato pen holder, Shakespeare in Love
1997: The iceberg, Titanic
1996: The woodchipper, Fargo

Will it be...

The shirts in the closet, Brokeback Mountain
The Empire State Building, King Kong
Africa, The Consant Gardener
The Squid and The Whale, The Squid and The Whale
Hayden Christensen, Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith

And, as if we needed any drumroll (Or any doubt, especially if you saw the movie), the winner is...

The shirts in the closet, Brokeback Mountain

Honestly, when did two shirts make you cry that much?

:: Nick Saturday, March 04, 2006 [+] ::