Deep Blue
A gorgeous film to behold; unfortunately it doesn’t give as much information as I would have liked. But for nature-lovers it is a must see for some of the most amazing close-up undersea footage I have ever seen.

Rent
The first twenty minutes or so feels uninspired but after “Tango Maureen” the film takes off and is the gloriously entertaining film you would expect with the great additions of Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms.

MirrorMask
A simple plot is driven by the amazing imagination of Neil Gaiman. The world created is so in depth and full of life that the world itself sometimes takes over the plot. But if half of all the films released in Hollywood had this much imagination put into them, Hollywood would be in much better shape.

Brokeback Mountain
The fact that this is not higher on my list is a disappointment for me as it was my second most anticipated film of the fall. For me the film covered way too much time to allow the audience to get much insight into large periods of time. I was also bothered by the amount of praise Michele Williams reaped for her role, she seemed more off her rocker to me than distraught by her husbands actions. But it still deserves a mention because of the amazing emotion that Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal inject into their roles. The longing they both feel but deal with in different ways is equally devastating. A very admirable film.

15) Murderball
Apparently, the most inspirational film of the year is not only about overcoming great obstacles to accomplish great things; it is also about cussing a lot, drinking a lot, and having sex. Murderball takes us inside the lives of the American and Canadian wheelchair rugby teams and introduces us to some of the most eclectic people this side of Oz. The thing I loved most about Murderball was how none of the players wanted your sympathy, your pity or your empathy. One man told of how angry he gets when people ask him if he needs help loading his groceries; his reply is always something like, “Do you think I wouldn’t have came by myself if I couldn’t take care of myself?” And amazingly, the only time you do feel sorry for the players is when Teams USA and Canada finally face off and you know one or the other is going to be packing. A truly great and eye opening film.

14) Good Night and Good Luck
George Clooney’s Good Night and Good Luck is possibly one of the most important films to be released in several years. It reminds us that the media should be a tool used to inform the public, not a corruptible machine manipulated by large business or intimidated by a big brother type of government. Clooney uses black and white cinematography and enclosed studio settings to help create a concise film where every scene has something to say. As Murrow and his team attempt to expose the lies of Sen. McCarthy, you can see the pressure the studio executives are exerting in order to step in line with what the government wants. It is a scary film and made even scarier by the parallels drawn to today’s media and government censorship. Just substitute the word terrorist for communist and it is terrifyingly similar they are. With this and Syriana, we are seeing one of today’s most popular stars develop into one of today’s most important filmmakers.

13) Batman Begins
Most superhero films rush to get their star onto the screen ASAP. The wonderful thing about Batman Begins is the Nolan chose to not show a developed hero until the better part of an hour was over. Instead we are introduced to a reckless and lost Bruce Wayne and we see him morph into Batman slowly and with lots of help. As played by Christian Bale, Bruce Wayne is a tortured soul that inhabits a playboy’s body, instead of the other way around as we have seen with previous actors. And for once, multiple villains work for the film instead of against it because each villain develops as the result of an action of another villain instead of independently. The highlight being the devilish Scarecrow of Cillian Murphy. One of the best superhero films ever made and hopefully an indication of what to expect with future Batman films.

12) King Kong
Almost everything about Peter Jackson’s huge remake works. Although there are several flaws, most of the first hour, despite being entertaining is unneeded. An attempt at character development is nice in popcorn movies but Jackson dwells too much on characters that are inconsequential. Secondly, Jack Black is in the most miscast role of the year. Almost every scene he is in, you feel like he is prepping for a punch line that is not coming. Other than that, Kong makes for some amazing spectacle. Great action, amazing special effects and spectacular performances from Naomi Watts and Andy Serkis. Their scenes together propel King Kong beyond the typical action film and prove that Jackson may be the next lord of special effects laden entertainment.

11) The New World
This methodically paced telling of the Pocahontas story is unlike any I have seen before. Terrence Malick, a filmmaker that I just have not warmed up to, creates an entire character out of the land and showcases some of the year’s best cinematography. Not for the impatient, The New World tells its story with three different narrators (John Smith, Pocahontas, and John Rolf) which makes for an unusual but ultimately more satisfying storytelling style. The New World is a complex love story where Pocahontas is torn in three different directions because of her love of Smith, her land and eventual husband, Rolf. Newcomer Q’orianka Kilcher is flawless as Pocahontas and Colin Farrell does some of his best (if not the best) work. Long stretches of silence only help to develop the world that Pocahontas is being torn from and the main reason that this film is slowly paced, but it is well worth the journey.

10) Grizzly Man
What at first appears to be an unusual nature documentary turns out to be a psychological study of one mans obsession and the demons that drive him. Timothy Treadwell was a man that defied easy explanation. Some called his naturalist, some a performer, others a naïve idiot shot s few chromosomes. The beautiful thing about Werner Herzog’s documentary is that it discusses all of the accusations and then lets the audience make up its own mind. Guided by the compassionate narration of Herzog himself and the amazing footage shot by Treadwell as he spends his summers in Alaska with his bears, Grizzly Man is both a concerned nature documentary and a deconstruction of Treadwell. Not to be missed by documentary lovers, naturalists or lovers of great cinema.

9) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Who would have thought that a film starring Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. would turn into one of the best off-kilter buddy comedies of the last several years? Shane Black has written one of the funniest films of the year and redefined what a buddy film can be. As we are taken on each twist, Black acknowledges the ludicrousness of the situation, winks and does it again. And the pairing of Kilmer and Downey Jr. is absolutely brilliant; toss in the sex appeal of Michelle Monaghan and you have the best comic trio of the year.

8) Sin City
Is the dialogue cheesy? Yes. Are the characters overblown? Yes. Do I care? Not an iota. In Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’ homage to classic noir and street justice films we are introduced to a world where corruption and murder are the norm. Stylized and incredibly acted, Sin City is the ride of the year. The black and white cinematography with splashes of color also makes it the best looking film of 2005. Because of the graphic violence, many will be turned off so do not say you were not warned.

7) A History of Violence
For a film with such a simple premise, A History of Violence sure does ask a lot of questions that are extremely relevant to America’s culture of violence. Do violent actions of self defense spurn non-defensive violent acts? Can an instinct that is inherently violent ever be changed? When a family member’s violent act is a reaction to something you caused, must you shoulder the other person’s burden as well as your own? These questions and more are not easily answered and this makes A History of Violence a film that must be watched several times to develop a true appreciation for. Fortunately this is much easier to do for most people since this is one of director David Cronenberg’s most easily accessible films, unlike Naked Lunch, Scanners or to a lesser extent, The Fly. But just like his other films, A History of Violence will leave you pondering many aspects of the American lifestyle.

6) Howl’s Moving Castle
Hayao Miyazaki’s latest only reinforces my beliefs that hand drawn animation is far from dead; it only needs motivation other than financial rewards. Studio Ghibli films, and especially those of director Miyazaki, have always worn their heart on their sleeve, and Howl’s blatant anti-war message will be picked up by the youngest of viewers. Even though Howl’s Moving Castle does not quite measure up to Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away, it does combine the best of both worlds: Mononoke’s fast pacing and Spirited Away’s expansive imagination. This is a film that all families can enjoy and for those progressive enough, start their children on a path of thinking for themselves.

5) The Constant Gardener
With a line up like Fernando Meirelles (director of Brazilian masterpiece City of God), Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, you expect a compelling story complemented by great acting. What you don’t expect is to see the two leads play off of each other as well as they do. The Constant Gardened is essentially a romantic thriller, but unlike most in the genre it has brains and allows the love story to unfold realistically. Fiennes and Weisz’ scenes together are so captivating and honest that it makes the inevitable climax that much more heartfelt. You also will not be able to miss my favorite score of the year, which is completely steeped in African chats and beats which adds to every single scene.

4) Match Point
Sadly, this is only the second Woody Allen film I have seen (the other being Annie Hall), so I can not report on whether Match Point is almost a remake of his earlier film, Crimes and Misdemeanors as some have suggested. Regardless it still does not change the fact that Match Point is intriguing, surprising, riveting and down-right sexy. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson have unworldly chemistry as lovers cheating on their significant others as much as for the rush of possibly being caught as
for their feelings for each other. As the film jettisons into dark territory, you find your emotions being torn rooting for characters that commit fairly unlikable acts because Allen and his cast have created these wonderful characters and even you have gotten sucked up in the thrill of the chase.

3) Syriana
One of last year’s most polarizing films, Syriana is a blatant attack on our political system’s approach to dealing with foreign nations when our interests intersect and how oil influences those decisions. It bravely assails the tactics that the government and media corporations use to distort information and destroy lives. The largest complaint I have heard about Syriana is that it is too confusing and complex for its own good. I think the problem with many moviegoers is that they feel a need to figure out a plot instead of allowing it to unravel itself. That approach will not work when watching a film where every scene is essential to forwarding the plot. If viewers just let the story unfold and catch as much as possible, then comprehension will not be a problem.

2) Crash
Crash has been accused of being one of the most manipulative and overly self-important films of the year and I would say that the detractors have a point. But I would also say that any filmmaker who has ever made a film about social change viewed their film as important. I also feel that director Paul Haggis’ choice to use coincidence as a way to develop plot works well despite its simplicity. Haggis keeps the plot flowing well with its multiple plots by interconnecting events that are seemingly unrelated. Possibly the most surprising thing of all are the performances. Don Cheadle and Brendan Fraser are typically good but the lesser known actors of Terrence Howard and Thandie Newton shine in every scene and Sandra Bullock and Matt Dillon remind us why they are household names. Not as important as what some think but it is a very moving film that honestly provokes discussion which is what excellent films do.

1) Munich
Steven Spielberg and writers Tony Kushner and Eric Roth have crafted in Munich an even-handed and extremely powerful political film. Spielberg, a filmmaker known for wearing his heart on his celluloid, remains surprisingly distant; and in doing so has created a film that ranks among his more sentimental masterworks.
Eric Bana, in the years most overlooked performances, is nothing short of brilliant as the head of a squad of men entrusted to eliminate the planners of Black September. Hi Avner is a man so conflicted by loyalty, shame, love, loneliness, hate and duty that he begins to lose his soul with every death he hands out. Spielberg has built a career out of films that do not have much moral ambiguity but he has begun to change this image with A.I. and Minority Report. He confronts that image in the face with Munich and proves that he has transformed himself into one of America’s most challenging mainstream directors.

Best Director
Steven Spielberg - Munich

Runner-Up
Woody Allen - Match Point

Best Actor
Eric Bana - Munich

Runners-Up
Jeff Daniels – The Squid and the Whale
Ralph Fiennes – The Constant Gardener
Viggo Mortenson – A History of Violence
Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Heath Ledger – Brokeback Mountain

Best Actress
Q’orianka Kilcher – The New World

Runners-Up
Naomi Watts –King Kong
Judi Dench – Mrs. Henderson Presents
Scarlett Johansson – Match Point
Keira Knightly - Pride and Prejudice

Best Supporting Actor
Jake Gyllenhaal – Brokeback Mountain

Runners-Up
Terrance Howard – Crash
George Clooney – Syriana
Mickey Rourke – Sin City
Kevin Costner – The Upside of Anger

Best Supporting Actress
Rachel Weisz – The Constant Gardener

Runners-Up
Thandie Newton - Crash
Maria Bello – A History of Violence
Amy Adams- Junebug