Top Ten Films of 2004
Facebook is created (that’s right the setting for The Social Network happened this year! wow!)
Four of the movies in the top ten grosses are sequels. The others are Harry Potter, James Bond, Jesus, The Incredibles, Shark Tale, Troy, and Meet the Fockers.
I think this is the year I saw a movie in theaters for the first time since I was a little kid. I was apart of that Shark Tale high box office. I liked it and loved Will Smith at the time so I wanted to see his movies and that was one I could convince my christian mother to let me see.
11-25
Down to the Bone (Directed by Debra Granik)
Garden State (Directed by Zach Braff)
I <3 Huckabees (Directed by David O. Russell)
Kung Fu Hustle (Directed by Stephen Chow) - Netflix
Man on Fire (Directed by Tony Scott)
Mysterious Skin (Directed by Gregg Araki) - Criterion Channel
Ocean’s Twelve (Directed by Steven Soderbergh) - Netflix
Saw (Directed by James Wan)
Sideways (Directed by Alexander Payne)
Spider-Man 2 (Directed by Sam Raimi)
Team America: World Police (Directed by Trey Parker) - HBO
The Aviator (Directed by Martin Scorsese)
The Bourne Supremacy (Directed by Paul Greengrass)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Directed by Wes Anderson) - Amazon Prime
The Woodsman (Directed by Nicole Kassell)
top ten
10. The Village (Directed by M. Night Shyamalan) - Amazon Prime
Maybe his most divisive film from a director who almost exclusively divides. I don’t think the twist here works but it does make the rest of the movie more interesting to think about. If you separate yourself from the twist and just watch it with that knowledge I think it is better.
9. The Machinist (Directed by Brad Anderson) - Amazon Prime
Known as the movie where Christian Bale got down to 89 pounds at one point because he is an insane person, but it is more than that to me. I think it’s a good psychological thriller with great performances and a real visual style. It’s always wonderful to get Michael Ironside in a movie.
8. Saved! (Directed by Brian Dannelly) - Amazon Prime
The way people talk about Mean Girls is how I would talk about Saved! I like this movie a lot and it deals with christianity and being surrounded by certain types of high schoolers that is smart while also being very silly and fun.
7. Birth (Directed by Jonathan Glazer)
An odd feature from an odd filmmaker that is a true artist. His three movies, soon to be four, are all distinctive and wonderful in many ways. One of Nicole Kidman’s best performances and one of the eeriest and quiet atmospheres for a high concept movie I can think of right now.
6. Shaun of the Dead (Directed by Edgar Wright)
Feels wrong putting this six until I see what is coming and I get it. This is one of the most perfectly executed movies I’ve ever seen. Magnificent attention to detail while not being annoying. Great acting on the comedic or dramatic side. It’s so fun and makes you care. If you haven’t seen it in a while fire this up and enjoy your night.
5. Collateral (Directed by Michael Mann)
Small thing that doesn’t matter but I think the word collateral looks wrong. I think its the double ll before a single t? I’m not sure. Something feels off and I can’t spell it right without thinking hard. I remember it easy because it is Col + the word lateral, but still. Kinda gross to me. Anyway, this movie slaps ass. Tom Cruise’s second best performance and Jamie Foxx really trying to get that Oscar, which he did soon after, and Ruffalo with a good supporting role. I love this LA, car scenes, and the scene in the jazz bar is an all timer. See this.
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Directed by Spike Jonze) - Netflix
Another movie that in another year could be number 1. Jim Carrey is such a good actor and Kate Winslet transcends the pixie dream girl to me. I think this movie knows that’s what she is and plays with that. The supporting cast is huge and perfect. It’s one of the best movies about the heartbreak of relationships and I understand not just putting this on.
3. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Directed by Adam McKay)
The most influential comedy of the 21st century for awhile and although it led to some bad ones, I love it so much. It got over quoted and annoying fans of it ruined it some, but if you are in the right mood it will be better than you remember. I love the sequel (as you’ll see sometime in the coming weeks) but you can’t beat this first one. Will Ferrell is a comedy legend for a reason but every person brought their A game in this.
2. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (Directed by Quentin Tarantino)
I have a hard time deciding which one of these I like more and since it’s all one movie I don’t have to. I love the ending and parts of this one so much that I think I would pick it over the first. It’s slower and more emotional. It’s less a fight movie and more sobering. I love all of it, except for one part towards the end when Uma meets a certain friend of Bill’s in a bar, but it is near perfect.
1. Before Sunset (Directed by Richard Linklater) HBO
A lovely film that after nine years is the continuation of the first one. It’s my favorite of the three and has one of my favorite endings of all time. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are so good. I love this movie. That feeling of being reunited and how that can be better than the original meeting. The second time can be better than the first.