By Terry Jinks
Film Critic
When it was 2005, it was a very good year—for wonderful films, that is. Demographers argue that boomers were less likely to go out to the movies to be enveloped by the atmospheric English countryside in “Pride & Prejudice” or to feel the intensity and surprise of Officer Matt Dillon as he discovers that the woman he is rescuing from a burning car is the same one he sexually molested in a racially motivated traffic stop in “Crash.” DVDs may partially explain a seven percent decline in attendance this past year. It is unfortunate. No lumpy lounger and large screen TV have ever compared to a sound system with 50 speakers backing a titanic silver screen in a real movie theater—with movie popcorn even Paul Newman’s can’t rival. That’s what I’m talking about. It’s the experience and this year, 2005, it's the quality movies.
A decrease in box office cash of $400 million, to $8.8 billion, is one of the biggest drops ever according to the tracking firm Nielsen EDI. Exhibitor Relations calculates the drop in revenue to be even bigger, from $9.4 billion to $8.9 billion.
For the record, Warner Bros. was the No. 1 studio in total box office—and had three movies with more than $200 million each. Fox was No. 2, an achievement helped along by the release of the top picture, "Star Wars—Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,'' which garnered $380.3 million.
Jinks’ Top 10 films for 2005
1. "Crash"—Racial and religious prejudices are dramatically revealed in the directing debut of Paul Haggis (“Million Dollar Baby”). Truly disturbing and riveting performances by an all star cast headed by Matt Dillon.
2. "Pride & Prejudice"—Unquestioningly more impressive than its predecessors, including the hall of fame original cast and production. Keira Knightley’s charm is rivaled only by the beautifully shot English countryside in Jane Austen’s novel.
3. "Cinderella Man"—Ron Howard’s shots ring true once again as the directorial corner man for Russell Crowe’s masterful portrayal of Jim Braddock, who fought back from injury to win the heavy weight title and support the family he once had lost and so dearly loved. Paul Giamatti will get the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
4. "Me and You and Everyone We Know"—This wonderful romantic comedy captures the playful spirit of early love delightfully delivered by Miranda July who writes, directs, and stars.
5. "Good Night and Good Luck"— Captures the smoky TV studio control room as the planning room for Edward R. Murrow’s (David Strathaim) CBS broadcasts that eventually brought McCarthyism to its knees. One of three 2005 feathers in the cap of director and actor George Clooney.
6. "King Kong"— is Peter Jackson’s spectacular version of beauty (Naomi Watts) and the beast, done with an empathy that supersedes its celebrated special effects and even the emotional voice of the original.
7. "The Constant Gardner"— Rachel Weisz brings this film to life as Tessa Quayle, passionate activist married to a British diplomat played by Ralph Fiennes.
8. “The New World” Terrence Malick’s version of Pocahontas (Q’Orianka Kilcher) falling in love with John Smith (Colin Farrell). Done with Malick’s unmatched attention to the unexpected.
9. "Match Point"—It’s whether it is more important to be lucky than good in Woody Allen’s thriller starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as a poor tennis pro who marries wealthy Emily Mortimer but prefers Scarlett Johansson. I’d rather be lucky and good...in that order.
10. "Broken Flowers"— Actor Bill Murray again leaves comedy, this time to play a millionaire who's isolated until he discovers the possibility that he has fathered a child and decides to meet the potential mothers.
Here is how films qualify for an Oscar. Nomination ballots and a complete list of eligible films are mailed to Academy members. To qualify for consideration, a feature-length motion picture must have a running length of more than 40 minutes and have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film or in a qualifying digital format. Additionally, films must have opened in a commercial theater, for paid admission, in Los Angeles County between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2005, and run for seven consecutive days. Eligible films were required to submit official screen credit forms and copies of the main and end title credits before Dec. 1. The 78th Academy Award nominations will be announced Jan. 31.
Terry Jinks has been a voting member of the Chicago Film Critics Association since 1990. |
