BS: Best Movie of the Year

Subject: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Peter T.
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 03:09 PM

A pretty crappy year for movies, all round, but the time has come round again when the papers are doing this. My vote is for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" which was a beautiful, well written film, and Jim Carrey (who I usually hate) and Kate Winselt were superb. The design of "Hero" was the only other award I would give out -- really stunning. The film's politics were a bit scary.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Amos
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 04:20 PM

I don't know when they were made but I would vote for Frida, and The Scent of Green Papaya, in a heartbeat.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Dec 04 - 04:19 PM

Gosh. I have not see one of those. What's "Frida" about? For that matter, what's the Papaya one about?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Kim C
Date: 20 Dec 04 - 04:24 PM

We watched "Hero" last night. Very pretty to look at - very strange film. I'm still not sure I understood it. It's definitely not your everyday Kung Fu movie.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Dec 04 - 05:20 PM

The IMDB lists 13491 movies from 2004... who saw enough of them to say which one was 'best'? (Whatever that means...)

So, how about somethng more relivent...   Which movie that you saw this year did you LIKE the most?

I might have to go with The Incredibles....

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Chris Green
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 08:53 AM

Bertolucci's "The Dreamers" for me!

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: JulieF
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 09:28 AM

Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
Lost in Translation
Shaun of the Dead


Did end up seeing Up Town Girls with a friend and her teenage daughter.   Not a good experience.

Julie

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 08:12 PM

Vera Drake. Period.   The acting and the plot does not get better than that.
Shrek 2---truly clever and for all ages.
The Incredibles===Ditto

The critics rave but my choices for worst of all:
The Aviator
Sideways
I Heart (love) Huckabees---pure crap
And those I did not see because I figured they are bad news"

Alexander
Anything with 10,000 warriors and special effects.


So--don't go by critics.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 03:57 AM

What was wrong with The Aviator?

It has yet to come out here yet and we were looking forward to seeing it?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 04:16 AM

Not been to the cinema this year. Quite happy to wait for them to appear on our glorious BBC. Did see 'The amazing Mr Ripley' a few nights ago on BBC2, that was good, very tense.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 04:22 AM

The Motorcycle Diaries, I would have to say.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 10:25 AM

I don't think it came out in 2004 but I saw (and bought the DVD) "Skins" this year and thought it was a very good film. I must agree, though. I haven't seen anything I'd really like to see but I'll keep an eye out. I did manage to get some pretty good movies on DVD. The Meaning of Life, Beetlegeuse, Labryinth, Dreamkeeper, and a really odd collection of Jack Nicholson's first three films: Little Shop of Horrors, The Terror and Hells Angels on Wheels. Boy was he bad! But it was because he obviously (PAINFULLY obviously) hadn't found his natural groove, his actor's self yet. He has improved.

CB

PS I'll use this thread to get a handle on what is "out there" and spend some quality time in front of my tube. Didn't get a flu shot, won't go to public places like a cinema. I'm too old.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 10:30 AM

Let's see. Was "Dumb and Dumber-er" out this year or was it last? I can't dismember if Ozzie Osbourne had a movie out...but...if he did, I nominate that one for Best Movie, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Once Famous
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 10:32 AM

My boss said "Sideways" is truly great and he's a pretty decent guy.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:10 AM

Is it just me or do films these days tend to be enjoyable but easily and quickly forgotten? Lots of good ideas, action, acting - 'bells and whistles' etc. There was one we went to see that I really stuggled to recall much about at all - even its title (The Village). Perhaps many always were forgettable in this way but it would be interesting to know what folk consider to be the most unforgettable ones?

Saw the Incredibles last night. A real treat in so many ways but I wonder how well and for how long I will remember it? 10 years to make - two hours to watch and forgotten in how long?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: The Beast of Farlington
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 04:30 AM

Shambles. have you thought that it might not be the films but your memory? ;-)

Lots of people have said how great Lost In Translation is - but I found it really disappointing and quite dull. It sure lost me.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Peace
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 04:37 AM

Has to be one I didn't see.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 09:04 AM

I just saw the new film adaptation of the Merchant of Venice, it's brilliant.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 10:05 AM

I think "Lost in Translation" was a wonderful movie, but it helps if you have spent long days in foreign hotels.

I would guess that there are always only a few movies that really grip you and will not let go. I am still recovering from seeing The Piano, however many years ago that was.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 01:13 PM

Is it just me or do films these days tend to be enjoyable but easily and quickly forgotten? Lots of good ideas, action, acting - 'bells and whistles' etc. There was one we went to see that I really stuggled to recall much about at all - even its title (The Village). Perhaps many always were forgettable in this way but it would be interesting to know what folk consider to be the most unforgettable ones?

Saw the Incredibles last night. A real treat in so many ways but I wonder how well and for how long I will remember it? 10 years to make - two hours to watch and forgotten in how long?

Perhaps it might be my memory.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 01:22 PM

I would guess that there are always only a few movies that really grip you and will not let go. I am still recovering from seeing The Piano, however many years ago that was.

Interesting that Holly Hunter starred in The Piano and also provided the voice for The Incredibles. I preferred her in the Piano - as she did not speak in that one. Did she get an Oscar BECAUSE she did not speak in that one?

Perhaps it is films like The Piano that pose many questions but do answer them all, that you remember. The ones with all the incredible special effects tend to provide all the answers and don't leave very much for your imagination to work on?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Mudlark
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 01:29 PM

I don't know about the year, but I'm voting for Bad Santa for picture of the season. It certainly picked up my spirits last night.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 01:32 PM

I really liked "Sideways" myself, but my vote for Best Movie goes -- easily -- to "Ray." Incredible performance by Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, and much more.

Kevin Spacey's performance as Bobby Darin is almost as impressive, and Kevin sings on the soundtrack whereas Jamie is lipsynching Ray's recordings (and fingering the piano inaudibly but convincingly). However, "Beyond the Sea" is not that great a film, while "Ray" is superb.

"Lost in Translation," by the way, was nominated for several Oscars *last* year (and won at least one, if I'm not mistaken). Most people probably didn't get to see it until well into 2004, but it's officially a 2003 movie.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 01:38 PM

"Bad Santa" was definitely kicks, and treated a subject close to my heart, but I really enjoyed a much less cynical Christmas comedy, "Elf," when I finally saw it for the first time recently (on DVD).

I was not that anxious to see "Elf" last year and did not witness its theatrical release, so I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I found it held up to repeated viewing better than "Bad Santa" (which I *did* enjoy well enough to watch more than once).

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:55 PM

It is really rare that I walk out on a film---but The Aviator, with its 3 hr interminable length, was getting so boring and the charactarization of Hepburn I thought so awful I left. Thought my life was going to be spent in that theater.

Sideways had its moments but is just another "buddy" movie as far as I can see. The wine tasting and discussions were a bit much for a vodka drinker. Yet the critics loved it---so go figure.


Vera Drake, as I said, that film to me is just awesome---great plot, phenominal acting, and making a point. You can't want more than that.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: DougR
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 05:57 PM

What? No votes for Farenheit whatcha-ma-call it? Unvelievable!

I think, generally, it has been a lousy year for movies. I could be wrong Amos, but I think the Scent of Green Papaya came out a year of so ago. It's been a long year, though, so you could be right.

I haven't seen the Aviator yet, but based on comments here, I think I'll probably wait until it comes out on DVD. Frankly, I can't think of a movie that has come out this year that I would reommend to anyone.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 06:48 PM

Farneheit 911---really good. But as to being a favorite. Well, I was thinking more along the lines of drama. As to documentaries--it was wonderful. Though, I am sure there are others that are more objective and reasoned. And this comes from a person who liked it and hoped it would change things.

I go back to Vera Drake---like last year's House of Sand & Fog---memorable and unforgettable.


Bill Hahn---who is off to see Polar Express (not in a million years)

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:03 PM

for the Music alone Master and Commander

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:31 PM

Master and Commander was a superb movie, the finest film ever done of that general subject (the age of fighting sail), and I hope it inspires further films along the same line.

I also really liked "The Alamo", although I wouldn't call it the Best Movie of the year...just a pretty good one.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: MAG
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 10:16 PM

JOhnny Depp was really good in *Finding Neverland.* The departures from the real story almost didn't bother me.

But I agree *Eternal Sunshine* was a very very good movie.

*Vera Drake* also very good, if gut-wrenching.

I can't pick an "I liked best" until I see a few more holiday releases.

*Unfortunate Events* is a shoo-in for sets.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Movie of the Year
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Dec 04 - 12:09 AM

Shaun Of The Dead.

Seamus