Revised: Best of 2004

Here is my revised list, my first list (here) was for 2004 films seen theatrically within the calendar year. This list includes all 2004 releases I've seen theatrically including those seen in 2005. There also may be some shuffling since the original list, but this should be considered my final '04 list. Only lists that changed appear here, so please be sure to visit my more extensive prior list.

Top 10 Films of the Year

• 10. The Saddest Music in the World. Here is a movie which surprised me. It is one of the most bizarre films I've seen. I'm not sure I could adequately describe this great movie.
• 9. A Very Long Engagement. Jean-Pierre Jeunet has crafted a wonderful WWI romance and Audrey Tautou gives a powerful heartfelt performance.
• 8. The Aviator. Scorsese strikes again giving us this look into the bizarre world of Howard Hughes. This is one of the better bio-pics I've yet seen. Leonardo Dicaprio proves that he is a talented actor. Also features fine supporting acts.
• 7. Sideways. Alexander Payne weaves a tale of real people and real situations. Great performances and dialogue highlight this comic drama.
• 6. Garden State. Who knew Scrubs' Zach Braff had this in him? He has come out as a new voice for the big screen. I look forward to what he does next. I can't recommend this enough.
• 5. Hotel Rwanda. Amazing film, Don Cheadle gives one of the best performances of the year. It took me awhile to regain my composure afterwards.
• 4. House of Flying Daggers. Easily the most gorgeous film I've seen this year. I know this was actually released back in 2002, but it finally made it to the US screens. Jet Li stars in this martial arts epic.
• 3. Kill Bill Vol. 2. The completion of an epic revenge tale stands alone as it takes The Bride's quest to an end. Tarantino has taken many of his influences and put his own stamp on it.
• 2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This film blew me away. It's visual inventiveness and emotional resonance are second to none. There was no way to predict how this would connect with me. A definite must see for anyone who likes movies, or has known the feeling of lost love.
• 1. The Passion of the Christ. An absolutely incredible experience. Beautifully shot and acted. Please see it before making up your mind.

NOTES:

• I replaced Hero with House of Flying Daggers mainly based on the whole release year thing.
• Bad Education and Spider-Man 2 were dropped from the list, both are still very good films, but they didn't make the final cut.
• Saddest Music in the World dropped from 7 to 10.
• Garden State and Sideways each dropped one spot to 6 and 7.
• Hotel Rwanda inserted at number 5.
• A Very Long Engagement entered at number 9.

Top 3 Documentaries

• 3. Control Room. Fascinating look inside Al Jazeera. Granted, it is peddling it's own brand of propaganda, it is eye opening in it's own right.
• 2. Born into Brothels. An insightful look into the troubled lives of children in the Red Light district of Calcutta.
• 1. Super Size Me. Morgan Spurlock's fast food binge makes for great entertainment.

NOTES:

• Removed The Corporation in favor of the moving Born into Brothels at number 2.

Top 4 Foreign Language Films

• 4. I'm Not Scared. Here is an impressive film about a young boy who discovers his family is involved in a kidnapping plot.
• 3. Bad Education. A film you have to work at to decipher, but it's worth it.
• 2. A Very Long Engagement. A beautiful film with an underlying sweetness.
• 1. House of Flying Daggers. Simply gorgeous.

NOTES:

• Replaced Hero with House of Flying Daggers, same reasoning as in the Top 10 list.
• Inserted A Very Long Engagement at number 2.
• Dropped Bad Education and I'm Not Scared each one spot.

Top 5 Actors

• 5. Tom Hanks for The Terminal. Hanks puts on a clinic here, an absolutely mesmerizing performance, that reminds me of Cast Away.
• 4. Johnny Depp for Finding Neverland. Another wonderful performance filled with a childlike innocence.
• 3. Paul Giamatti for Sideways. Following up last year's American Splendor comes an even better performance as a wine connoisseur who is also at a crossroads.
• 2. Jim Carrey for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. A great subtle performance in a very moving film.
• 1. Don Cheadle for Hotel Rwanda. An absolutely breathtaking performance, a lot more layered than I was initially expecting.

NOTES:

• Removed Zach Braff.
• Dropped Johnny Depp from 2 to 4.
• Moved Paul Giamnatti up to 3.
• Dropped Jim Carrey from 1 to 2.
• Inserted Don Cheadle at number 1.

Top 5 Actresses

• 5. Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby. I may not be the biggest fan of the film, but her performance is very good.
• 4. Kate Winslet for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I am not a very big fan of her, but her job her goes far in turning me, it's a good performance.
• 3. Maia Morgenstern for The Passion of the Christ. A beautiful near silent performance.
• 2. Uma Thurman for Kill Bill Vol. 2. Physically and mentally exhausting tour de force of revenge.
• 1. Bryce Dallas Howard for The Village. An incredible performance in a terribly disappointing film.

NOTES:

• Removed Natalie Portman.
• Moved Kate Winslet up to 4th.
• Inserted Hilary Swank at number 5.

Top 5 Supporting Actors

• 5. Morgan Freeman for Million Dollar Baby. Top performance in a very good film. A role of quiet power.
• 4. Tony Leung for Hero. I love Leung's performance emotional and powerful at the same time.
• 3. Thomas Haden Church for Sideways. Just one of a great ensemble performance.
• 2. Jamie Foxx for Collateral. What a performance! I had no idea this talent that Foxx had, this is a truly eye-opening performance.
• 1. David Carradine for Kill Bill Vol. 2. Hands down best supporting performance of the year.

NOTES:

• Removed Willem Dafoe.
• Moved Jamie Foxx from 5 to 2.
• Dropped Thomas Haden Church from 2 to 3.
• Inserted Morgan Freeman at number 5.

Top 5 Supporting Actresses

• 5. Isabella Rossellini for The Saddest Music in the World. A fun, legless performance.
• 4. Cloris Leachman for Spanglish. Ahhh, the advice given from a drunk. Hilarious.
• 3. Natalie Portman for Garden State. A character you feel for, yet never really know.
• 2. Virginia Madsen for Sideways. Possibly the best role of her career.
• 1. Cate Blanchett for The Aviator. The second coming of Katharine Hepburn.

NOTES:

• Removed Dakota Fanning.
• Dropped Isabella Rossellini from 4 to 5.
• Dropped Cloris Leachman from 2 to 4.
• Moved Natalie Portman from 4 to 3
• Inserted Virginia Madsen at number 2.

Top 5 Directors

• 5. Jean Pierre Jeunet for A Very Long Engagement. A beautiful romance told amongst great tragedy.
• 4. Martin Scorsese for The Aviator. Worlds above Gangs of New York. Scorsese's knowledge of film history is put to great use.
• 3. Alexander Payne for Sideways. Combining laugh out loud comedy and heart wrenching drama is no easy task.
• 2. Quentin Tarantino for Kill Bill Vol. 2. What can I say? His work here is genius. Can't wait for what's next.
• 1. Michel Gondry for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Comedy, drama, science fiction, all blended into the best film of the year.

NOTES:

• Removed Pedro Almodovar.
• Inserted Jean Pierre Jeunet.

That brings this edition to an end. This is hopefully my final list for the the 2004 year. It could change again, but for all intents and purposes this is it. What do you think?