Top 10 Films of 2004

The year is 2004, and a lot has happened in the movie world. To help take you back in time, here's a look back at some of the film-related events that took place:

Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ opens to huge box office numbers and becomes one of the most talked about films of the year.

Shrek 2 becomes the year's highest-grossing film, earning over $919 million at the worldwide box office.
Million Dollar Baby wins four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Clint Eastwood) and Best Actress (Hilary Swank).

The world loses the likes of Peter Ustinov, Ronald Reagan, Marlon Brando, Jerry Goldsmith, Fay Wray, Elmer Bernstein, Janet Leigh, Rodney Dangerfield and Christopher Reeve.

I've been able to see 71 films released in 2004, and from those, I've compiled my own top ten list. As one can imagine, some great films had to be left off the final list. Here's a look at some of the movies (listed alphabetically) that just missed the cut:

Open Water
The Passion of the Christ
Riding Giants
Secret Window
Shrek 2

But enough about the runners-up; here's the list you've been waiting to see! Counting down from number ten to number one, I've listed each film and have given the principal cast list as well as if and how fared at the Academy Awards. Also, I've listed the film's rank on my "Best Films of All-Time" list, if applicable. So without any further delay, here's my top ten movies of 2004!

*****

10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Rated: PG
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Timothy Spall
Academy Awards: 2 nominations
***
Although I have never read the source novels, I've managed to enjoy the Harry Potter film franchise quite easily, and this third installment proves to be the best, in my opinion. This is where the storyline starts to turn a little bit darker for our wizarding trio of heroes, and Alfonso Cuarón was the perfect choice to take the franchise in that direction. This one's at least a head above the next closest Potter film, in my opinion.

*****

9. The Incredibles
Rated: PG
Directed by: Brad Bird
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Spencer Fox, Sarah Vowell
Academy Awards: 4 nominations, 2 wins
***
It's going to be tough to leave any Pixar films off these top ten lists, and The Incredibles did enough to warrant at least a number nine spot. Combining their fantastic visuals with an action-oriented storyline, Pixar managed to make a pitch-perfect popcorn-muncher that delivers the excitement of an action/adventure flick with the laughter and sentimentality that has become a Pixar trademark. Cemented by great vocal performances from the likes of Nelson, Hunter and Lee, this one's not one to miss.

*****

8. Friday Night Lights
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Tim McGraw
***
You know that feeling you get when you're completely surprised by how good a movie turns out to be? That's how I felt after watching Friday Night Lights. What seems like your standard high school football movie about a team destined for greatness takes a different turn and proves to be one of the most powerful sports films I've ever seen. Aided by strong performances from Thornton, Luke and a spectacular Tim McGraw, this is a football movie that every sports fan should be sure to watch.

*****

7. Ray
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Taylor Hackford
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Terrence Howard
Academy Awards: 6 nominations, 2 wins
***
It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to see Ray, but I can remember that this one was all about Jamie Foxx and his brilliant performance of the late musician Ray Charles. Otherwise your standard biopic, Foxx found a way to encapsulate everything that was Ray Charles and bring forth the very character of the man whose music so many people had grown to know and love over the years. The tale has its ups and downs, but at the end of the day, this film is truly inspiring.

*****

6. Garden State
Rated: R
Directed by: Zach Braff
Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm
***
I've only seen Garden State once, but it brought together a lot of my favorite plot and character devices and consolidated them all into one film. We have an easily relatable character in the leading role, and the quirky, offbeat style of drama and comedy works well and blends together. Throw in the charm of the cast as well as the successful romantic arc, and you're going to have me hooked. I'd have to say we should applaud Braff for his directorial effort here.

*****

5. The Aviator
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, Ian Holm, Danny Huston, Gwen Stefani, Jude Law
Academy Awards: 11 nominations, 5 wins
All-Time Ranking: 124
***
The Aviator tied together one of Scorsese's strongest career efforts with DiCaprio's best career performance (in my opinion), and yet I feel as though it hasn't received the recognition it deserves. Upset at the Academy Awards by Million Dollar Baby, the film still took home five awards at the end of the night, but it deserved so much more. This film should rank as one of the better films of the 2000s, and as you can see, I've ranked it as one of the best I've ever seen.

*****

4. Collateral
Rated: R
Directed by: Michael Mann
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tom Cruise, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo
Academy Awards: 2 nominations
All-Time Ranking: 92
***
For those of you who aren't sold on Tom Cruise's ability to act, I'd wave you towards this little gem of a film. Despite receiving two Academy Award nominations, Collateral managed to slip under the radar for most people, and that's quite a shame considering we're getting top-notch performances from a great cast as well as a stellar screenplay to boot. And seeing Cruise in the antagonist role is quite a refreshing change, to say the least. He definitely knocks this one outta the park.

*****

3. Shaun of the Dead
Rated: R
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Penelope Wilton, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Bill Nighy
All-Time Ranking: 75
***
Shaun of the Dead was my first introduction to the comedic genius that is Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and I'll never forget the first time I saw it. I was sixteen years old, and my mother decided we should make it a family outing see as the titular character spelled his name the way I spell mine. And so, with my mother and younger sister in tow, we went into this gory, raunchy romp of brilliance. They didn't much care for it, but I fell in love with Shaun of the Dead from the opening credits. This is horror-comedy at its finest, folks.

*****

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Rated: R
Directed by: Michel Gondry
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson
Academy Awards: 2 nominations, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 64
***
I first saw this film about a year after it was initially released, but it wasn't until I re-watched it recently that I truly saw how brilliant it is. With a Charlie Kaufman-written screenplay, it only makes sense to throw Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet into the offbeat mix. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more original romantic dramatic comedy out there, and this one's so well-done that it's going to keep even the most skeptical viewer engaged throughout its entirety.

*****

1. Finding Neverland
Rated: PG
Directed by: Marc Forster
Starring: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Freddie Highmore, Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman, Radha Mitchell
Academy Awards: 7 nominations, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 59
***
Call me a sap and call me biased towards films relating to the "Peter Pan" story, but there's something incredibly magical about this journey into the creative process behind J.M. Barrie's writing of the original "Pan" play. Mixing in a story of romance only adds to the emotional tale, and a powerhouse supporting performance from a young Freddie Highmore puts the final seal of approval on this one. It's a fun film good for the whole family, and at the end of the day, that's part of its overall appeal.

Happy Birthday, Jim Carrey!

Today we're celebrating the 50th birthday of A-list funnyman Jim Carrey. Carrey has enjoyed a successful comedic career that has included by film and television. He first came to prominent national attention after appearing on the TV show "In Living Color" for over ten years, but it was his film career that truly elevated him to superstar status. His first smash hit came with his two Ace Ventura films in 1994 (Pet Detective) and 1995 (When Nature Calls), and audiences were hooked. He appeared in a slew of comedy and dramatic comedy films throughout the 1990s, including such big-time fare as 1994's Dumb & Dumber, 1997's Liar Liar and 1998's The Truman Show. He has worked consistently throughout his career, and although he made a name for himself in comedy, he has tried out some more dramatic roles as well. For example, take a look at his performances in 2001's The Majestic, 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and 2007's The Number 23. While he hasn't received as rave of reviews for his dramatic portrayals, I personally have found them to be nearly as good as his comedic counterparts. Most recently, audiences have seen Mr. Carrey in the 2011 comedy Mr. Popper's Penguins, and it won't be until 2013 until we see him again in the comedy Burt Wonderstone. So to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Carrey's performances. I hope you enjoy the videos. Once again, happy birthday Jim Carrey!

5. Bruce Nolan
Bruce Almighty (2003)


*****

4. Truman Burbank
The Truman Show (1998)


*****

3. Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)


*****

2. Joel Barish
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)


*****

1. Ace Ventura
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) / Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)

Movie Review: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

2004
R


"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."
-- Mary

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 Academy Award-winning dramatic film directed by Michael Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman. After the end of a two-year relationship with a woman named Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) learns that she has used a revolutionary new technique to erase any trace of him from her memory. Distraught and deeply depressed, Joel decides to have the same intercession in order to erase Clementine from his own memory. He meets with Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) to discuss the procedure and has everyone planned for an immediate operation, which is to be performed at his home while he sleeps that very night. While technicians Stan (Mark Ruffalo) and Patrick (Elijah Wood) supervise the process, Joel's subconscious starts to rebel against the memory-forgetting agent as he desperately tries to cling to any little piece of Clementine that he can find.

Although I've seen this movie before, I honestly didn't have any real recollection of it. I first saw it on a red-eye plane flight sometime soon after its release, but I can't quite remember whether I stayed awake for the film's entirety. That being said, I always wanted to give it another chance considering the fantastic it reviews it received upon its initial release in 2004 and considering the very favorable word of mouth publicity the film has received since. Add the fact that you've got Carrey and Winslet co-starring in a Kaufman-written film, and there's quite a bit of reason for me to give it a gander.

Since we're already mentioned Kaufman, let's start with the screenplay. At first glance, it might not seem all that splendidly fantastic. Sure, it's a little bit out there, but based off what we've seen him create in the past (here's looking at you, Being John Malkovich), anyone looking for a little bit of normalcy should probably look a little bit further from this one. Still, the basic storyline is one of love, and it's ultimately not all that complicated. The plot, however, moves so quickly and so carefully that it almost seems as though there's more to think about than there should be. Any time a films dares to go into a character's subconscious, there's always going to be a little bit of trickery when it comes to conveying it to the audience. Dealing with memories is never the easiest thing to show, but it's well-conceived here, especially considering we're watching the deterioration and forgetting of memories right before our eyes. At the same time, however, we're seeing how each and every character is intertwined with the person next to them, and the final ten minutes of the film help to serve as a perfect "tying-the-bow-on-top" effect. In a sense, everything comes full circle, and those of you who have been reading me for a while know how much of a sucker I am for full-circle screenplays. So while on the surface the screenplay seems a bit rote and predictable, the underlying plot devices and character development make this one a brilliant story that's going to pull at your heartstrings. There's a reason it managed to nab the Oscar statuette for Best Original Screenplay.

We're also getting a stellar set of performances from an all-star cast that's sure to hold a few surprises here and there. We all know just how good Oscar-winner Winslet can be, but there's something about her performance here that's very different from anything else she had done to date. Until this film, she had mostly been seen in intensely dramatic roles that usually came in period films. Here, she gets to burst out of that shell and play a trendy young woman who's trying to make the most of her life. Perfectly balanced with her is Carrey's sullen and seemingly "boring" Joel, and together, the two make for a pair that complements one another perfectly. It should be noted that Wilkinson and Ruffalo also play decent roles, and even Elijah Wood gives a few good scenes here and there. The real surprise, however, comes with the very strong performance from Kirsten Dunst, who at that time was most famous for her leading role in 2002's Spider-man. While I'm not a huge fan of Dunst's overall level of acting, I do have to say that I was impressed with her supporting role here, so I shall give credit where credit is due. Also be on the lookout for bit performances from David Cross and Jane Adams, who play their parts well.

Overall, I'm surprised with just how good Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind turned out to be, and as a result, I'm a little annoyed with myself for having waited this long to give it another view. It's definitely one of the defining cinematic romances of the twenty-first century, and with a powerful screenplay backing the superb performances, there's quite a bit to love about this particular film. If you have yet to give it a chance, I strongly suggest you add it to your "To Watch" list. Don't wait as long as I did to finally take it in.

Movie Review Summary
Grade: A
2 Thumbs Up