Unbound 2005: The Year That Was In Movies

The world of film is extremely subjective. One man's classic could be another man's piece of garbage. Therefore, with the glut of top ten lists in print and on the internet, it has become exceedingly difficult to genuinely pick the top movies of every year. There will always be some sort of disagreement or disparity. With that in mind, here's one author's view on the top ten movies of 2004:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Original Release Date: March 19, 2004
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson
Directed By: Michel Gondry

It's not often a movie comes a long that is so good it makes you completely forget that the entire premise of the film is utterly impossible. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of those movies. Jim Carrey stars as Joel Barish, a fumbling, socially incompetent man who learns that his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has had him erased from her memory.

In an attempt to even the score and to settle his own demons, Joel undergoes the same procedure to erase memories of Clementine from his head. Director Michel Gondry takes us backward through Joel's mind as each individual memory is erased. What follows is an extraordinary lesson about love, loss and the value of our memories.

In Eternal Sunshine, Carrey gives the most inspired performance of his career. While he has turned in standout performances in Man on the Moon and The Truman Show, Eternal Sunshine shows his full range as a dramatic actor. Kate Winslet sheds her familiar British accent and fully transforms herself in playing the complex role of Clementine, a needy alcoholic who always seems to get bored with her men.

The movie's non-linear style is a clever way to tell the story. It's not always evident where the characters are in time. Subtle details, such as the color of Clementine's hair in a particular scene, are used to identify the point in time to the viewer.

The casting in Eternal Sunshine served as one of its strongest suits. Carrey and Winslet are joined by youngsters Kirsten Dunst and Elijah Wood as assistants for Lacuna Incorporated, the company erasing Joel's memory. All four characters have their own sense of immaturity, but the balance between the subtle immaturity of Carrey and Winslet's characters and the blatant, expressive immaturity of Dunst and Wood's characters adds another layer of context to a very deep, emotional film.

On February 27, Charlie Kaufman was honored with an Oscar for best original screenplay for Eternal Sunshine. After seeing him lose for several phenomenal films like Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, it was nice to see a brave and original writer finally get his due. Without a doubt, Eternal Sunshine is clearly Kaufman's most ambitious project to date.

Hotel Rwanda
Original Release Date: December 22, 2004
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix
Directed By: Terry George

With all due respect to Jamie Foxx, Don Cheadle gives the best performance of 2004 in Hotel Rwanda. The real-life tale of the Rwandan genocide that took place in 1994 might not have been seen by the majority of the American public this winter, but it should have been. As Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, Cheadle commands every scene and puts himself into the upper echelon of today's American actors.

The story of Hotel Rwanda may not be familiar to many. In over 100 days in 1994, nearly one million people died as a result of a war between two Rwandan tribes, the Hutus and the Tutsis. This tragedy was completely overlooked the world over, especially here in America.

During this civil war, Rusesabagina housed thousands of Rwandan refugees in his hotel, the Mille de Colline. As hotel manager, he bargained, pled and bribed for the lives of friends, family members and those he didn't even know.

After numerous, but memorable, supporting roles in movies like Swordfish, Bulworth, Ocean's Eleven, Boogie Nights and Traffic, it was refreshing to see Cheadle get his chance at being a leading man. A former guest star on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Cheadle almost lost the part to his former co-star Will Smith, but director Terry George took the reins of the project before that could happen. George financed the project independently, so instead of producer's darlings like Smith or Denzel Washington, audiences were treated to the writer and director's first choice, Cheadle.

While Cheadle was the heart and soul of Hotel Rwanda, he wasn't the only bright spot. In addition to the aforementioned writing and direction from Terry George, relative newcomer Sophie Okonedo turns in a brilliant, Oscar-nominated performance as Rusesabagina's wife, Tatiana. Joaquin Phoenix and Nick Nolte also nail their supporting roles, Phoenix as an ashamed American journalist and Nolte as a struggling UN Colonel trying to keep the peace.

Though Phoenix appears in just a few scenes, he delivers the most memorable and perhaps the most accurate line depicting the Rwandan conflict. "If people see this," he says, referring to Americans watching the news at home, "they'll say, 'Oh my God, that's horrible,' and then go on eating their dinners."

Maybe, if more people get a chance to see Hotel Rwanda, that sentiment could change. This isn't just a movie; it's a film that can change lives, policy and the way we think about our actions.

Collateral
Original Release Date: August 6th, 2004
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Directed By: Michael Mann

Director and producer Michael Mann has been making epic action films for years, yet he has never really gotten his due as a director. While his latest endeavor, Collateral, didn't break the mold, it was certainly one of the crowning works of the year. Tom Cruise stars as Vincent, a contract killer making his rounds one fateful night in Los Angeles. When he offers a cab driver named Max (Jamie Foxx) $600 to drive him around for the night, things take a turn for the worst.

Collateral has one of the most original action screenplays in recent memory. Much of the movie is contained within the cab and the scenes outside of it are stylish and packed with emotion. Cruise delivers a strong performance out of his usual character as the silver-haired assassin. Months of training with gun-slinging definitely paid off for Cruise in terms of realism, especially during the club and alleyway scenes. There's never a point in this movie where you feel like you're watching Tom Cruise. It's always "Vincent" on the screen, and sometimes that's a hard thing for actors to pull off.

Foxx gives his second stellar performance of the year as Max, a shy, ineffectual cabbie with dreams of something more. While he earned most of his acclaim for a stunningly accurate portrayal of Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, he deserves just as much credit for his role here. Foxx really put in his background work, as evidenced by his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The nomination for Foxx was deserved, even though this was a starring role. It's obvious the Academy wanted to give him two nominations for his great work this year, so they categorized his performance in Collateral as "supporting," which often happens with successful movies. For example, Kate Winslet, nominated for her starring performance this year in Eternal Sunshine, was also a contender for a Best Supporting Actress role in Finding Neverland, even though she was the film's lead actress.

While the lead actors do give great performances in Collateral, the real star is Mann, who should have been recognized this year for his directorial work. Mann has a knack for finding that special angle in every place he films, be it Los Angeles or Africa. The shots of L.A. are brilliant and the pace and editing are magnificent. It is Mann's attention to detail that really makes this picture amazing. He specializes in giving his actors background information on feelings, emotions and past events not necessarily evident to the viewer. This makes every tiny detail and facial expression relevant and affecting. The audience always feels like there's something more going on in each character's head.

Mann has directed almost 20 films, but his only Oscar nomination for directing thus far has been for 1999's The Insider. Some of his best overlooked works were 1995's Heat, starring Al Pacino and Robert Deniro and 2001's Ali, starring Will Smith, Foxx and Jon Voight.

Million Dollar Baby
Original Release Date: December 15, 2004
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman
Directed By: Clint Eastwood

The winner for the best picture of 2004 at the Academy Awards, Million Dollar Baby featured magnificent acting and directing. This boxing character study, the latest effort from Clint Eastwood, is certainly deserving of whatever honors it received. In addition to the award for best picture, it also won Oscars for best directing (Eastwood), best actress (Hilary Swank) and best supporting actor (Morgan Freeman).

At the heart of the film is Swank, who plays Maggie Fitzgerald, an aging boxer with a hard past. When she meets Frankie, played by Eastwood, she sees a man who could take her to the top of the boxing world. Despite his efforts to get her to leave him alone, Frankie finally agrees to train her. Together, they form a bond that helps Maggie earn fame in the ring and also fills a void in each of their lives.

While Swank is remarkable as Maggie, the real treat in Million Dollar Baby is the interplay between Eastwood's Frankie and Freeman as his long time friend "Scrap." The two have the most believable on-screen friendship in recent memory. With every line and quip, the viewer has no doubt that the two have been best friends for decades.

Unfortunately, Million Dollar Baby and many of its critics have come under fire for the movie's final moments. While I won't ruin the ending by divulging it here, I can say that there is a significant and controversial twist in the last third of the film. Many critics revealed that twist in their criticism of the film's morals and motivation. In response to these critics, I can do no better than to quote renowned movie critic Roger Ebert, who wrote on the subject in a January 29 essay entitled "Critics Have No Right to Play Spoiler."

"Million Dollar Baby raises fundamental moral issues," wrote Ebert. "At a moment of crisis, the characters arrive at a decision. I do not agree with their decision. But here is the crucial point: I do believe that these characters would do what they do in this film. It is entirely consistent with whom they are and everything we have come to know about them. That is one reason the film is so good: it follows the characters all the way to the limit, and plays true to them."

Ebert mentions that the film follows its characters to the limit, characters which were first formed by F.X. Toole in his book Rope Burns. Eastwood has adapted the F.X. Toole stories perfectly and provided us with an intriguing character study that will make you question your beliefs and the actions of the characters. Great movies make you think, and Million Dollar Baby does just that.

Finding Neverland
Original Release Date: November 12, 2004
Starring: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Freddy Highmore, Dustin Hoffman
Directed By: Marc Forster

The master of the perfect accent, Johnny Depp, leapt onto the big screen again this year in the immensely successful Finding Neverland. While the film's title may lead some to poke fun, with the Michael Jackson trial in full swing, this movie is nothing to laugh at. It is a touching look at the life of J.M. Barrie, the playwright behind the legendary Peter Pan.

The film follows Barrie as he struggles to complete the story and production of Peter Pan. Along the way, he meets up with a widowed mother (Kate Winslet) and her young sons. Barrie helps one of the boys, an introverted youngster played by Freddie Highmore, discover his joy for writing and life. Through the boys, Barrie finds the inspiration for his next play. Through Barrie, the boys re-discover the father figure they lost years ago.

Finding Neverland tugs at all strings. At any time it can be funny, touching, poignant or agonizing. The goal of the story is to pull at your emotions and the film succeeds in every way. While all aspects of this movie were very successful, it's the performances by the actors that put it over the top.

Depp earned - and I do mean earned - yet another best actor Academy Award nomination for his performance as J.M. Barrie. Despite the fact that he was nominated last year for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, the committee had no choice but to give him his second straight nod. After being snubbed by the Academy for several roles in the 1990s, including Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and especially Donnie Brasco, he's finally getting his just desserts as an actor.

Winslet also turns in a heart-wrenching performance as Sylvia Davies, an ill-stricken, single mother of four. Pair this role with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Winslet managed to turn in a year of performances in 2004 that most actresses would love to have in a lifetime.

In addition to Depp and Winslet, 12-year-old Freddie Highmore burst onto the screen in Finding Neverland as perhaps the next great child actor. In fact, Highmore was so good playing one of Davies' four sons that acclaimed director Tim Burton decided to cast him alongside Depp again this summer. He is set to play Charlie Bucket in a new version of Roald Dahl's children's novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, due out in July.

Garden State
Original Release Date: July 30, 2004
Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm
Directed By: Zach Braff

In 2004, Zach Braff emerged as one of the year's best success stories. Braff, a star on NBC's TV sitcom Scrubs, found distribution for his pet project Garden State, which he wrote, directed and starred in.

In Garden State, Andrew Largeman (Braff) returns home to bury his mother in New Jersey after 10 years of living on the west coast as a struggling actor. He has been held down his entire life by anti-depression medications. On this trip back to his roots, he leaves behind the medication and his reservations. With the help of a few friends and a girl named Samantha, played by Natalie Portman, Andrew embarks on a journey to rediscover happiness and himself.

The screenplay for Garden State might not satisfy those who are looking for action and excitement. But, like Lost in Translation in 2003, Garden State is certainly a solid movie. No, nothing explodes, but if you're looking for engaging dialogue about self-discovery and an appealing story about a young man returning to his roots, this is the movie for you. Braff's screenplay is clever and witty and his characters have many layers.

The best thing about Garden State, as I've said before, is its intelligent look at life. One scene in particular illustrates this notion the best. When Andrew downs an ecstasy tablet at a party, he begins to observe the things going on around him. Things move quickly, then slowly, and back and forth, in and out as people go about their business. In his heightened state, Andrew begins to see things in perspective. As he sits on the couch, partygoers pass him by at lightning-speed; much like life passes us by as we sit and watch, oblivious to the fact.

It's these kinds of indirect metaphors that make Braff's script so incredible. Watch the pool scene, figure it out and you'll see why.

The acting is also high-level. Braff brings the perfect pitch to the character of Andrew, someone just recently freed of the medications that bound him for so many years. And although she'll dive back into Star Wars this spring, Portman helps to shed her "Queen Amidala" image with a quirky performance as Samantha. With mature and complex roles in 2004 films like Garden State and Closer, she shouldn't be in danger of being typecast.

The Passion of the Christ
Original Release Date: February 25, 2004
Starring: James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Rosalinda Celentano
Directed By: Mel Gibson

One of the two most controversial films of the year, along with Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, The Passion of the Christ is a visual masterpiece. The Academy recognized it with nominations for cinematography, original score and makeup. While the content and storyline may not appeal to those unfamiliar with or opposed to Christian beliefs, it's hard not to respect what Mel Gibson brought to the screen on this project.

One often overlooked aspect of many period epics is that everyone usually speaks English, when it is quite obvious that a Roman emperor or warrior during the Crusades would not have spoken that language. In Passion of the Christ, the dialogue is presented in the two languages of that time period, Aramaic and Latin, with English subtitles. This adds to the authenticity of the picture.

James Caviezel gives a spirited performance as none other than Jesus Christ. His affect on the picture has less to do with his actual lines than with his facial expressions as he is beaten and flogged repeatedly.

Indeed, beating and flogging must make up at least 75 percent of this film. I can say without a doubt that this will be the most violent movie you will ever see. Gibson has made certain of that, opting to focus on the Christian message of Christ's suffering and the last hours of his life rather than on his teachings. The result is a powerful image that may be too much for some viewers to handle.

Nonetheless, The Passion of the Christ accomplishes what it set out to do. For those interested in the life of Jesus Christ, Gibson has painted a substantially gruesome, yet visually stunning and moving epic for viewers.

Spiderman 2
Original Release Date: June 30, 2004
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris
Directed By: Sam Raimi

When the original Spiderman hit the big screen in 2002, it helped to reinvigorate the comic book movie franchise. While the sequel has its corny moments, Spiderman 2 stays true to the first film both visually and in the spirit of the characters. The film builds on the story from the first movie, where Peter Parker first learns of his unique, spider-like abilities.

If you're watching a sequel, chances are you've seen the first movie. Therefore, this go-around is geared towards developing the characters and their relationships. Peter, a.k.a. Spiderman, is having trouble dealing with his double life, balancing a job and classes with his duties as a masked crime-fighter. His love interest, Mary Jane Watson, has grown tired of waiting for him and is engaged to a wealthy space cadet. Parker's best friend, Harry Osborn, is still dealing with the death of his father, for which he blames Spiderman. Throw a new villain into the mix, Dr. Otto Octavius, and there you have it.

Director Sam Raimi uses the same style he did in the first movie, but makes significant advances in special effects. The moving tentacles of "Doc Ock," in particular, helped earn Spiderman 2 an Academy Award nomination for best visual effects.

As expected, Tobey Maguire delivers as Peter Parker. His shy, gawky demeanor is perfect for the role and fans of the series can only hope he stays on for the duration of the franchise. He was rumored to have been replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal for this film due to a back injury, but stuck with the project. His status for Spiderman 3 is up in the air.

Alongside Maguire, Kirsten Dunst's performance as M.J. is so comic book-like that you can almost envision a box over her head containing her lines. While not the best actress in some situations, she is definitely the perfect choice for this role, a part that requires a certain amount of overplaying at times.

Then, there are the character actors, most notably J.K. Simmons as Jonah Jameson and Alfred Molina as "Doc Ock." Both do a fine job and add something special to their scenes. Molina has a presence about him that oozes complexity. You can feel the internal conflict between "Doc Ock" and Otto Octavius, especially towards the end of the film when Octavius tries to pry himself away from the prosthetic tentacles that bind him.

Several potential villains are introduced subtly throughout the film as well, although I won't spoil the surprises for fans of the original comic book. Hopefully, those fans will get to see these new villains in many future installments of the franchise. As long as the core of Raimi, Maguire and Dunst stays in tact, moviegoers can always expect a treat from their friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

Friday Night Lights
Original Release Date: October 4, 2004
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez
Directed By: Peter Berg

Take Varsity Blues, replace the humor with drama and you have Friday Night Lights. In this sports flick, Billy Bob Thornton stars as the embattled football coach at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. The film focuses on the team's run at the Texas State Championship in 1988.

Apparently, a prerequisite for American actors is to appear on screen as a coach. If you don't believe that, just look at the list. It features: Al Pacino; Gene Hackman; Nick Nolte; Denzel Washington; Walter Matthau; Jon Voight; Tom Hanks; Tom Berenger; Kurt Russell; Samuel L. Jackson; James Caan; Kevin Bacon; Keanu Reeves; John Candy; Emilo Estevez; Dennis Hopper; Danny Glover; Rodney Dangerfield; Henry Winkler; Burt Reynolds; John Goodman; Rick Moranis; Ed Harris; and James Earl Jones. Now, Thornton can add his name, and his performance should put him somewhere near the top.

This isn't the perfect movie. Some of the characters aren't fully developed throughout the film and the state tournament montage towards the end seems trivial. Permian had gone through several tough losses, but suddenly they were unbeatable and the games weren't even in question. Maybe a more dramatic look at those contests would have helped, but overall it doesn't severely damage the story.

The young actors who comprise Thornton's footballers are a serviceable bunch, the most notable being Derek Luke. Luke turned in a quality performance alongside Denzel Washington in Antwone Fisher and comes through again in Friday Night Lights.

The movie is based on H.G. Bissinger's best-selling novel, and those who have already read it will not be shocked by the way things unfold. However, those experiencing this story for the first time will be surprised. This is not your typical, cookie-cutter sports movie. That alone should set it apart from its predecessors.

For Thornton, add Friday Night Lights to his growing list of respectable movie roles. Previously, he's turned in memorable performances in films like Tombstone, Monster's Ball and Bad Santa. His new career path, however, may be as a football coach. He'll play one again this year, when a remake of The Bad News Bears is released to theaters this spring.

Just Missed the Cut:
The Aviator, The Butterfly Effect, Closer, The Incredibles, Ray, Saw, Sideways, Shrek 2

Ben Samara is Editor-in-Chief of unbound. He is a junior journalism major at The College of New Jersey, with a minor in interactive multimedia. He is a freelance web designer and is also currently employed by the official website of The Ivy League, www.ivyleaguesports.com, where he designed their 2004 Ivy League football media guide.