Favorite Movies 2004

I always have a hard time enumerating my favorite films of the year, because it’s so hard to compare in my mind a film I saw ten months ago with a film I saw last week. Add to that the fact that there are a couple films released this year that I still really want to see (but can’t because I don’t live in New York City), and I wonder why I should even bother. I’m going to try anyway. First I’ll list a few honorable mentions, then my Top 8 Films of 2004.

Honorable Mention

• Hellboy
  Note that this film, not the other superhero film is on my list. I dug Spider-Man 2 in its own way, but Hellboy was cooler and more original.
• Jersey Girl
  Unfortunately overshadowed by the Bennifer phenomenon. It’s sappy, and it knows it, but it’s good anyway.
• Fahrenheit 9/11
  Whatever you think of Michael Moore, this was arguably the most important film of the year.
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  2004 will be remembered as the year when Harry Potter cast off the yoke of Chris Columbus and finally got awesome. I don’t even like watching the first two anymore.
• Shaun of the Dead
  “A romantic comedy. With Zombies.” What’s not to like?

Top 8 Films of 2004

8. Maria Full of Grace
Soul-crushing realism. I waited for months to see this film until it was playing in Washington Township and almost skipped it once it arrived because I didn’t want to see such a ‘downer’ of a movie, but I was glad I got the opportunity.
7. Hero
Plenty has been written about the questionable message of the film, but just try watching it as a story unto itself, without judging. Absolutely stunning in every way. House of Flying Daggers was awesome too.
6. Ray
Complex film about a complex man. I still think that Jamie Foxx deserves the Best Actor Oscar (though perhaps not as forcefully as I originally said). Bonus points for actually introducing me to most of Ray Charles’ catalog.
5. Million Dollar Baby
Added 2005-01-21.
4. Sideways
Paul Giamatti and Jamie Foxx in a battle to the death for Best Actor. The fact that I even liked this film means I’m a grown-up; the fact that it’s one of my favorites of the year means something I’d rather not contemplate. And I am NOT drinking any fucking merlot!
3. The Incredibles
Would you believe I still haven’t seen The Iron Giant? Forget all the Ayn Rand-hype (the way you forget the jingoistic Chinese-hype during Hero) and just enjoy yourself when you watch this.
2. Garden State
The film (well, trailer, actually) that propelled Frou Frou into my “Favorite Songs of 2004” list. Yay Zack Braff! Yay Natalie Portman! Yay Peter Sarsgaard! Yay Ian Holm! Yay least-meaningful film blurb ever!
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
After much internal debate, I decided I love the message of this film. I’m a big fan of Jim Carrey The Serious Actor, and Charlie Kaufman continues to write some of the coolest/weirdest movies ever.

December 20, 2004 - 11:58 AM

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