The One with the Ten Best Films of 2004

2004 at the movies will be best remembered for producing perhaps two of the most controversial films in recent years: Michael Moore’s Bush-bashing docu “Fahrenheit 9/11”, and Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”, an account of the last hours of Jesus Christ. Yet, when all is said and done, neither of them was among the ten best films of the year. These are my picks for the year’s best:

10. The Incredibles
Written and Directed by Brad Bird; starring the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson



The partnership of Disney and Pixar strikes gold anew in this tale about a family of superheroes who, after being forced to retirement, are once again called upon to save the world. Pixar continues its stretch of providing its audience with entertaining films that cater to both children and adults, further solidifying its claim as the leader in animated features. Brad Bird has created one of the most entertaining animations in years, delivering the fun and amusement from start to finish. “The Incredibles” is a terrific film that lives up to its name – it is truly incredible.

9. Kinsey
Written and Directed by Billy Condon; starring Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, and Peter Sarsgaard



The film is an engaging look at researcher Alfred Kinsey - the man responsible for the sexual revolution in America in the 60s. Liam Neeson delivers a remarkable performance in the title role; Laura Linney and Peter Sarsgaard play supporting roles as the researcher’s wife and his assistant, respectively. Director and Screenwriter Billy Condon’s brilliantly crafted script is riveting from start to finish, making great use of humor and emotion in its narrative. All these components rolled together – interesting subject, great performances, and superb writing – make for one of the best biopics of the year.


8. The Butterfly Effect
Written and Directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber; starring Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart



One of the surprises of the year, “The Butterfly Effect” stars Ashton Kutcher as a troubled man who experiences traumatic events and memory blackouts in his childhood. One can easily dismiss the film because (who are we kidding?) Kutcher in a leading role on a serious film is like Britney Spears singing in Broadway (God-forbid). Fortunately, the material itself is strong enough to hold the film together. Although there are some loopholes on its plot, the film manages to grab its viewers primarily due to the premise of people being able to change one aspect of their past, and how it can make a ripple effect on their future. “The Butterfly Effect” is dark look into a troubled psyche; a disturbing, eerie thriller worthy of numerous viewings.

7. The Village
Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan; starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrian Brody, and William Hurt



While a lot thought Shyamalan’s latest work to be his worst (and even put it to their list of Worst for the year), I thought “The Village” to be one of the most underrated films of the year. Take away the bad marketing, the heightened expectations that this will be another “The Sixth Sense”, and what you will see is an excellent piece of filmmaking. Shyamalan builds up his story, slowly strips the mysteries layer upon layer, and comes up with a film with two interpretations - that of a 19th century community’s overprotective love and on a larger scale, of post-9/11 America. Great performances are aplenty (special kudo to newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard who I hope makes it big), cinematography and editing is exquisite, and it certainly doesn’t lack the surprises that Shyamalan is known for. So what’s not to like? Beats me.


6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón; starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson



One of the biggest reasons why I enjoyed the third installment in this series is because of one man: director Alfonso Cuarón. Previous headmaster Chris Columbus tried too much to be faithful to the books, resulting to two sloppy adaptations of several chapters shot straight from the book slapped together without any continuity and flow. Enter Cuarón, and he managed to salvage this wreck of a franchise by making the film darker and more “adult”, with each sequence seamless, incorporating his own distinct style to it. But of course, it also helped that Emma Watson’s all grown up. :D

5. Closer
Directed by Mike Nichols; starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman



A rule of thumb when adapting materials to the big screen: always have the original writer of the material do the screenplay for you. Director Mike Nichols collaborated with playwright Patrick Marber to bring the controversial play to the big screen, and the result is a riveting drama about love, lies and deceit. The four actors give equally captivating performances, playing characters you will love to hate (or hate to love, whichever way you look at it). “Closer” is an honest look at relationships, and how human behavior becomes ugly when love is selfish.

4. The Aviator
Directed by Martin Scorsese; starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alan Alda, Kate Beckinsale, and Alec Baldwin



And so, Martin Scorsese tries yet again to snatch that ever-elusive Oscar. His latest drama stars Leonardo DiCaprio as billionaire industrialist Howard Hughes, one of the most intriguing characters in contemporary America. The film covers the most pivotal points in the eccentric billionaire’s life: from producing films at a young age, his shift to a successful career in aviation (both as a pilot and engineer), his well-documented romances with Hollywood’s biggest names (most notably Katherine Hepburn, brought to life marvelously by Cate Blanchett), and his decline to obsessive-compulsive disorder that took over his later years. “The Aviator” is a compelling drama about how too much passion can lead to destruction – a great cinema from a great director.

3. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera
Directed by Joel Schumacher; starring Gerald Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson



Schumacher’s colorful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s successful stage musical is captivating from start to finish. Extravagant set designs, lavish costumes, and excellent cinematography – it has all the ingredients that make for an outstanding musical. Emmy Rossum shines as Christine, while both Butler and Wilson manage to hold their own. The film scores in entertainment value, although falters a bit with its lack of any emotional punch. The film may not be as good as Baz Luhrman’s “Moulin Rouge” or Rob Marshall’s “Chicago”, but Webber’s score is more than enough to keep you whistling for days.

2. Finding Neverland
Directed by Mark Forster; starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, and Freddie Highmore



Mark Forster crafts a beautiful film about the events surrounding J.M. Barrie and the conception of his beloved play “Peter Pan”. Johnny Depp proves himself to be one of the best actors of today with a subdued yet charming portrayal of the Scottish playwright. Freddie Highmore steals the show as the boy who inspired the character of Peter, displaying intensity beyond his years. Forster brilliantly weaves sequences of reality and fantasy to form a magical tale that tells us to never lose sight of the best things in life.

1. Hotel Rwanda
Directed by Terry George; starring Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, and Sophie Okonedo



Based on a true story, “Hotel Rwanda” is a powerful account of how hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina sheltered hundreds of refugees from genocide in Rwanda ten years ago. Don Cheadle gives the performance of his career as the hotel manager who confronts his owns fears and conquers all odds in order to save his family and the lives of people he reluctantly takes into his care. Director Terry George pushes the right buttons, slowly building up tension, making use of a faceless voice as the film’s main villain, and picturing the horrors war without Michael Moore-esque preachiness. The film is a jarring look at what evil humans are capable of. What is remarkable about the film is how it is capable of shaming and uplifting at the same time. It has drawn comparisons to Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”, and may well be the most important film of the year.

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I'm still reeling from San Miguel's loss to Ginebra. It's a tough pill to swallow, particularly because of the stupid freakin' referees. Tangina, obvious na obvious yung bias for Ginebra. One play which really broke the camel's back was when Danny Seigle was slapped an offensive foul against Eric Menk early in the 4th quarter. Seigle drove to his left, spun to his right, and got called the charge. Menk flopped to his right, perhaps anticipating that Seigle will take it strong to the right. Eh bobo naman yung referee, kumagat. Had the right call been made (defensive foul, three-point play for Seigle), San Miguel would've been up by four points. Classic case of the referees indirectly deciding the outcome of the game.

No point crying over spilled milk though. I'm still happy with the way San Miguel played. And I couldn't hate Ginebra, I have too much love coach Siot. :p