Scott Freeman’s Best Films of 2005
January 9th, 2006 | by Scott |I’m finally back in the office after a two week vacation and while wondering if we can impose some kind of cap on the number of releases Ryan Adams can make in one calendar year I thought I would share my favorite films of the year just past.
I’ve always been a big movie buff but I have scaled back my watching in the last few years (having 3 kids will do that). So my number of movies seen this year is not quite as extensive as years past.
I decided to go with the same format as the Academy Awards since I am such a fan. I have seen every best picture winner and all but the first two best actor winners. In addition, I have seen every best picture nominee dating back to 1995. (Alas, that string may be broken this year. I just don’t think I can force myself to see that “Brokeback Mountain.” I’m all for tolerance but I don’t have to watch it, you know?)
Anyway, here we go:
10. Coach Carter–I’m a sucker for a sports flick based on true life events. A sports flick about a coach who values academics over winning? Priceless
9. Flightplan–Yeah, I know. You could fly a plan through the plot holes but it was pure fun. And Tracy and I got to go see it together. These movies are few and far between.
8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory–I ask all the time why Hollywood insists on remakes. Here is the answer: they just might make it better than the original. “Charlie” does just that. It’s better than “Willy Wonka.” Period. Johnny Depp channels Michael Jackson here.
7. War of the Worlds–You know the plot: Xenu attacks the planet Earth. Oh wait, that’s Scientology. Despite Tom Cruise, this was a great film.
6. A History of Violence–A chance heroic encounter leads to a past buried finding its way back. This movie will bug you. In a good way, of course.
5. Munich–Important for the questions it raises on terrorism and the efficacy of responding to terrorism.
4. Syriana–10 minutes into this film I wished I had read a synopsis first. 30 minutes in I was so lost I couldn’t tell you what was going in. One hour in I wanted to leave. 90 minutes in I was hooked. At the conclusion I was breathless. Now, three weeks later I still am not through wrestling with this one. I need to see it again.
3. King Kong–Remember what I said about remakes? I’ve seen the king and his name is Peter Jackson.
2. Good Night, and Good Luck–This movie is NOT propaganda but a thoughtful look on the cost of hysteria and paranoia in a world of uncertainty. Lessons abound for us today. Dissent is not disloyalty but needed when emotion runs unchecked.
1. Crash–To me, the mark of a great film is when it changes you. Crash was a visceral gut-punch of a movie that left me questioning my own prejudices and attitudes. It is the best film of the year and multiple acting nominations are deserved including nods for Sandra Bullock and Matt Dillon.
12 Responses to “Scott Freeman’s Best Films of 2005”
By Jason Bybee on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
Can’t argue with your assessment of “Crash”. Wish I’d seen it before I made my year-end movie post. It’s definitely one that’s still with me, weeks later.
Kong was purely a popcorn flick, but it was the most fun I’d had at the movies in quite a while. Sunny and I got to see it together, which probably also had something to do with it for me.
Gotta call you out on War of the Worlds, though. I was underwhelmed. Guess I’ve seen Tom’s earnestly-flawed-yet-defiantly-determined-jaw-clench one too many times.
No “March of the Penguins”? What gives?
I can’t get anybody to see Munich with me. Guess that’s a solo date. You need to move closer to Nashville, man.
By Tracy on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
OK, you totally need to read Deanna Nall’s review of King Kong. I’m glad I didn’t go see it with you. Here’s the link: http://deanaland.blogspot.com/2006/01/king-kong-chronicles.html
By Lane on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
Hey Freeman! Found this through Bybee’s blog. I love your list, agree for the most (especially Kong), but was disappointed not to see Cinderella Man. Despite its sissy title, the movie was pure genious!
-lane
By scott on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
Lane Widick! How are you, brother? Good to see you around. I have not seen Cinderella Man. I figure that and Constant Gardener will mess up my list when I see them.
By scott on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
Granted, Jason, it’s no Con-Air but I enjoyed War of the Worlds.
By Jason Bybee on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
What’d you think of Walk the Line? As a Cash fan, I loved it. As a movie fan, it was pretty ordinary. Maybe an Oscar nod for Phoenix.
I agree with Lane. Cinderella Man is great.
By Sis on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
Have to say it, War of the Worlds gets my vote for biggest disappointment of the year. This was a movie I was totally fired up about, but it failed to deliver.
By Lachen on Jan 9, 2006 | Reply
What is SAD is that I have only seen ONE of these films (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and I agree with your smack-on assessment). What the heck have I been doing with my time???
By scott on Jan 10, 2006 | Reply
Ok, maybe my expectations were tremendously low for War of the Worlds but I enjoyed it. Jason, I still haven’t seen Walk the Line.
Lachen, you can wait for video on most of these. It’s not the greatest year for movies.
By Chris Campbell on Jan 10, 2006 | Reply
Each of those movies has one thing in common…I haven’t seen ANY of them. But I enjoyed “Sky High.”
By George Freeman on Jan 10, 2006 | Reply
It is hard for me to imagine you even listen to Ryan Adams.
First, the boy need to get some new jeas and wash that ugly stuff off his hands.
Second, he is a poor talent. His best recording off this new album is a rip-off of an old Canned Heat song…On the Road Again.
By scott on Jan 10, 2006 | Reply
Ohh, I’m not a Ryan Adams fan. That is why there should be a limit on the number of albums he releases each year.