TEN BEST OF THE BEST LIST 2005
As you may know, I am working my way through the New York Times 1000 Best Films list.
Actually, there are two such lists. One was published in 2000 and, just as I began the project, they made up a new list by new critics in 2004.
So, I combined them. The final list had 1176 films in it since new films were added in 2004 and I did not omit any that were on the first one.
From time to time, I have interspersed other 'best films' or films that I just read about and wanted to see; a NYTB1176F vacation. But, for the most part, I have been faithful over time to seeing the project through; so to speak.
I began this activity in March of 2004, so I have been at it for almost two years. I am now in the middle of the 'H's. This is about 335 films. (I did a round-about-count from the Netflix 'returned' list). In 2005, I have seen about 185 films.
I have 841 films to go. I am about a third finished. I figure I will be done in a little over two and a half years or about June of 2007.
We will have a party.
Actually, it will be later than that since I will surely intersperse other Bests into the mix especially the NYTimes Best 10-20 from each year hence.
Are you still with me? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Now, enough of the stats.
Drumroll, please.
Here is my own Best of the Best list for the films that I saw in 2005!
Another drum roll please
Oh! These are not in order of preference. Let me type them out and then perhaps I can tell you which one is the very tip top fucking-A best.
They are in rough alphabetical order; American name and first letter only. OK? OK.
Do the drum roll again.
Now, the other one.
Amores Perros (2000) (Mexico)—Gael García Bernal in Alejandro González Iñárritu's la ronde of consequences of a car crash. Goddam brilliant on all counts. I can still see the crash. This is the one with the fighting dogs. I didn't want to see it but I did, even if I had to duck a few times.Dekalog / The Decalogue (1989) (Poland)—an eight episode series produced for Polish television by director Krzysztof Kieslowski. The films are unified by the location in a housing project and the appearance of the same characters in many of the episodes. I can still see some scenes from this wonderful project.
La Vie rêvée des anges / The Dream Life of Angels (1909) (France)—a delicate story about a friendship between two 'lost' young women. Divorzio all'italian / Divorce Italian Style (1961) (Italy)—So laugh out loud funny that I am giggling as I type this out. The wife, Daniela Rocca, is just the funniest female character that I have ever seen and the inimitable Marcello Mastroianni is the slick, smarmy, too smart for his own good husband.
Diva (1981) (France)—This film was on the 2004 list and will, undoubtedly, be on the 2006 list because I watch it every year no matter what. This is a thriller combined with the oddest love story you could imagine. It also has the lushest concert singing you will hear in any film; probably because it is the only story-film where I have heard it done. Totally unique and wonderfully accomplished. I think I will go see it now. No. It is not 2006 yet.The Duellists (1977) (USA) —Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel play dueling/revenge/honor addicts in this Ridley Scott—Joseph Conrad film/story. Colorful, sexy, and obsessive with lots and lots of duelling. It is like a gang war with swords.Yin shi nan nu / Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) (Taiwan)—Ang Lee celebrates family, life and food. What else is there? Oh yeh, that. The second thing down on the pyramid; sex. That too. Gorgeous, heartwarming movie.Empire of the Sun (1987) (USA)—Speilberg; before he stopped seeing the world through the eyes of a boy and became a mogul. It was so good that I read the book and will probably see it and read it again another year. The real boy grew up to become a semi-famous author; the film boy is Christian Bale and 'Basie' John Malkovich his nemisis. Miranda Richardson. Boy, I like her a real, whole lot!
Europa Europa (1990) (Germany / France / Poland)—Agnieszka Holland's wonderful sprawling WWII saga of identity and national character was done in four languages. The teenage boy with a circumcision problem wends his way across borders and comes of age under the most difficult circumstances imaginable; world wide war. Marco Hofschneider and Julie Delpy. What a great film!The English Patient (1996) (USA)—Time and memory in Anthony Minghella's masterpiece. Indescribably beautiful and vexing.Fargo (1996) (USA)—The Coen Brothers' paen to the upper midwest. Funny and scary by turns, this little gem sparkles in the snow. Frances MacDormand, William H. Macey and Steve Buscemi. Harve Presnell! A great stew of characters. You want to have subtitles so that nothing is missed but then you would miss the visuals. This is another annual film so it was best of 2004 and will be best of 2006 when it is repeated.
The Flamingo Kid (1984) (USA)—Just like summer when I was a kid. I didn't want it to end. Garry Marshall's great growing up film with Matt Dillon. It is a great piece of work by all involved as Matt takes down Richard Crenna; the king of the cabanas. Hector Alizondo is the dad we all wanted even though we didn't know it. I had that kind of Dad; so I know. Ba wang bie ji / Farewell My Concubine (1993) (China / Hong Kong) Beautifuly heartbreaking with the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong as a backdrop. At times, I didn't 'like' the picture at all but I endured and ended up loving it.Grapes of Wrath (1940) (USA)—Steinbeck's novel brought to life (with help of the Criterion restoration) by John Ford with Henry Fonda and a perfectly cast ensemble of actors. I had seen this film but in grainy cut up formats and now I have seen the real thing. Perfect. Powerful.Heimat (Home Place) (1984) (Germany)—Life in a small German town from 1918 until 1982; the same heroine and many of her family members live their entire lives against the backdrop of pre war and post war life to say nothing of life during the war. This is another mini-series which was actually shown as a single fifteen hour film for a period of time. There are no words to describe this master work. It is so complete and enduring that I feel as though I am part of the larger family. The craft of the film is superb. In black and white, color is used intermittently to highlight and refine. The climax of this film; the last twenty minutes are just incredible. What a trip! Did I say it took 15 hours? I watched it in 6 or 7 sessions.OK OK.
That is fifteen! Well, the best Best ten and a half.
The 'almost ran's' include: Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The 7-UP Series (7 year followups to the same group of Brit kids; now a total of six films with a seventh just out), Driving Miss Daisy, The Full Monty, Ghost World, Breaking the Waves, The Godfathers I, II, and III. I liked II best—the one with DeNiro as the young Don Corleone), Donnie Darko, The Graduate, Heartland, Hannah and Her Sisters, Keith Jarrett: The Art of Improvization and, the great, exuberant, totally fun Warriors.
