Ten Best of 2005

Here are the ten best movies of 2005 as according to Bleach Bypass' own Brett Scieszka.

10.) Frank Miller's Sin City - Robert Rodriguez
Anyway you cut it this movie is a load of fun. Made with an enthusiastic spirit and a true love of original subject material. The whole Tarantino "guest director" thing is a bit goofy, but it certainly fits with the feel of the picture. Let's not forget that the film's visual sense is one of the few, but precious, examples of of computer imaging working towards good instead of evil. Finally, let's also remember that a film featuring a talking, nearly severed head, and a penis hand-ripped from a body was in theaters the week the Pope passed.

9.) Syriana - Stephen Gaghan
Screenwriter Stephen Gaghan manages to make one of the most engaging and politically intelligent films of the year, one that is leaps and bounds better than the pat, easily compartmentalized "Traffic." Easily the best sound design of the year: muted backgrounds amplify the almost surreal insularity of the film's world. An excellent example of storytelling with only one superfluous plotline (namely the young boys turned muslim terrorists). Great cinematography on this one as well.

8.) 2046 - Wong Kar Wai
Wong Kar Wai isn't exactly the least indulgent director on the planet and lots of things about "2046" made it look like it was a train-wreck in the making. Yet Wong manages to make a remarkably restrained picture. "2046" is nothing really new for him, same themes and visuals for the most part, but if 'aint broke don't fix it. As usual, this is an excellent example of mood and atmosphere in an extremely asian context. He won't be able to make too many more of these before they get old, but its great while it lasts.

7.) A History of Violence - David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg's most commercially viable movie to date manages to be an excellent film. Based off a graphic novel (an increasingly popular film trend), Cronenberg plays this one exactly as its supposed to be played. The simplicity of the film's morality is an excellent complement to its brilliant action sequences. Walking a taut line between cold distance and intense visceral rage, the former always manages to win, to a terrifically unsettling effect.

6.) Me and You and Everyone We Know - Miranda July
Miranda July's first feature proves that this fine arts darling can piece together a wonderful narrative for the screen. This film as sweet is as pie, tender as veal, and has a comedic sense worthy of the best stuff out there. July's performance is exactly is un-annyoingly quirky, and the child actors make the picture. All the hype concerning the sensational nature of the child sexuality is so off the mark that you are allowed to punch anyone who brings it up.

5) Last Days - Gus Van Sant
The one-two punch of Gus Van Sant and DP Harris Savides is one of the great art-house pairings of our time. Gus Van Sant's heavily modified take on Kurt Cobain's icon-making end may be (sadly) lacking in fanboy accuracy, but is undeniably beautiful and often cleverly made at the same time. There's plenty of uber-indulgent cringe worthy moments, but the sum total is better than the parts on this one. I also worked on a student film with one of the actors from this movie once. Shout out to Nicole Vicius. Bemoana herself.

4.) Good Night and Good Luck - George Clooney
There's obviously a slew of cogent political implications that go with this movie. It may be vogue to say its "timely" or that "we need to learn from history," and that's all true, but it also does this great film injustice by leaving it at just that. Its notable that of all people, Mr. celebrity himself, George Clooney, makes this list twice (Syriana, doi), and here he's in the director's chair. David Strathairn's Murrow is flawless, but this is also coming from the guy who played Pierce Patchett in "L.A. Confidential." Great stylistic choice to portray McCarthy only in stock footage and to limit the world of CBS journalism to the studio, making the film a kind of historical chamber drama with the outside world nearly knocking down the gates.

3.) The Squid and the Whale - Noah Baumbach
Quite simply an excellent film. A heartrending autobiography with a wry Wes Anderson sense of humor and brilliant performances. As a period picture it stinks. "The Squid and the Whale" feels as much as it was set in the 80's as "That 70's Show" is true to its namesake decade. Luckily for Buambach his script and direction is so good that it never seems to matter. While a couple movies on this list were beacons of political and social intelligence, Buambach manages to bring it much closer to home with a divorce as emotionally real as familial relations are funny (in that way where you have to have a sense of humor). This is a near perfect combination of drama and humor despite the preposterously shaky cinematography.

2.) King Kong - Peter Jackson
Its hard not to like a film that's made with all the honesty and love of a good home cooked meal. Devotion oozes out of every cell of this classic remake. Through its sense of adventure, heart, and wonder audiences get one of their best ticket buys of the year. Jackson's "Kong" possesses all the soft-center that was absent in the original but reassuringly resurfaced in another Merian Cooper production "Mighty Joe Young (1949)." I'm willing to say that the giant pink long-toothed worms are the single greatest cinematic moment of the year. Simply put, Peter Jackson loves his subject matter and it shows up crystal-clear onscreen. Though this Kong is digitally immaterial as opposed to solid armature draped in rabbit fur, he possess just as much personality as his predecessor. The extensive use of digital effects is also a beacon to would-be computer animators as proof that the medium doesn't necessarily have to be schlocky looking. See the original before you see this one if you're new to Kong. If not, you already know what I'm talking about.

1.) Land of the Dead - George Romero
The cream of the crop and the icing on the cake. We as film fans should be grateful that a brilliant talent like George Romero is still going strong. Times may have changed a bit since the last zombie installment, but the brilliance of themes and craft aren't a bit dusty. While Romero's zombie films tend to be a realistic series of human portraits in crisis situations, the latter ones tend to have the weight of bible parables. You can watch all the funny zombie movies you want but I'll give you ten of those for one good serious one.