The Film Palace
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

 

 

2005

 

1. The Weather Man (Dir: Gore Verbinski)

2. War of the Worlds (Dir: Steven Spielberg)

3. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Dir: Steve Box, Nick Park)

4. Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith (Dir: George Lucas)

5. A History of Violence (Dir: David Cronenberg)

6. March of the Penguins (Dir: Luc Jacquet)

7. Sin City (Dir: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino)

8. Lord of War (Dir: Andrew Niccol)

9. Batman Begins (Dir: Christopher Nolan)

10. Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (Dir: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson)

 

Honorable Mention: The Ape, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Downfall, Feed, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Munich, Robots, Shopgirl, Two for the Money, Wolf Creek

NOTES: While following up a box office success with a part this or a chapter that has become a largely tiresome practice, it was almost justified in 2005 by the arrival of Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith (the best Star Wars flick since The Empire Strikes Back) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the best Harry Potter flick since, well, the last Harry Potter flick)... Batman Begins is not a prequel to Tim Burton‘s rather clunky 1989 Jack Nicholson vehicle; Christopher Nolan’s take on the Dark Knight legend is more psychologically complex, and will spin off at least two more similarly grim episodes... Seeing how graphic novels are thought-out in a very cinematic way, it makes sense that they’re inspiring more visually arresting movies than the non-illustrated variety. I refer you to A History of Violence and Sin City... Nicolas Cage reconfirmed this year why he’s one of my favorite actors with two brilliant back-to-back turns in Lord of War and The Weather Man. The latter played in the first-run theatres for barely two seconds, but Gore Verbinski’s near-masterpiece should pick up a following on DVD... March of the Penguins offered up the year’s most heart-rending moment when the male emperor penguins (charged with tending to the little ones) erupt into a joyous ovation when their better-halves return from a long, grueling hunt for sustenance... In his annual top-ten list, Roger “I walked out of Do the Right Thing with tears in my eyes” Ebert selected Crash as the best picture of ’05. A reminder, perhaps, as to why you should “trust” Edward L. Terkelsen at The Film Palace over that tubby dolt at The Chicago Sun-Times. —ELT