Solid on the last few choices bar Seabiscuit which was pretty bland by the numbers filmmaking.

90.



Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby is a film about a boxer, that doesn't care about boxing or the matches themselves whatsoever. Instead in typical high quality filmmaking standards, the abbreviated MDB is about the characters themselves in the film and what they are going through. I haven't seen Unforgiven, but Eastwood proves his worth here as one of the most beloved directors in Hollywood, shooting and creating his ass off in this film. Million Dollar Baby isn't concerned with underdog triumph, or the unlikely story, rather it always has it's heart dead set on other matters. Technicals are amazing in the film, from cinematography and direction to acting and writing, it is a triumph. The ending packs an emotional punch a strong as anything released in its year, while never ever getting too sentimental or overbearing. Best Picture win deserved over The Aviator, Scorsese being due or not.

89.


The Family Stone was probably the biggest surprise of last year for me. Coming into the holiday season I wasn't really looking forward to it, seemed like a passable Christmas flick. I heard about it being a topical drama instead of the marketed comedy, and my opinion did change much, I would see it by way of rental and expect a passable film. What I got was a film that entered my top 3 of last year. In short, this is for me nearly the perfect Christmas-ensemble film, in both the comedy(it is funnier than a lot make it out to be, it's not a total drama), and the issue-heavy dramatic stuff, I thought the film was as perfect for it's subject matter and setting as it could nearly possibly be. The cast sans Mulroney is excellent, from Keaton to Nelson to McAdams to Parker to even Wilson, Danes was underused but she was likable. The Family Stone is a film that can be all at once fluffy, tearing, comedic, and intense, it is the perfect holiday big cast package.

I love The Family Stone. It's such a delightful, wonderful and heartfelt film. Not to mention it stars my personal favorite actress Rachel McAdams It was my #4 of 2005. Great inclusion

88.


Face/Off

A classic for the action genre, by way of John Woo and Nicolas Cage/John Travolta. The idea of switching faces is something that would seem absurd, but at the same time it is wildly daring and original, and the PERFECT set-up for an all-out action flick. Both the leads give excellent performances, though really, the action sequences and just wild fun of the film is what makes it worthy. John Woo proves why he is one of the better stylisted action directors around, pulling out all the stops in his best film. While the film is overall very popcorn, it also brings up a fair level of themes and messages about identity and how it defines and envelops us.

87.


The Legend of Baggar Vance

What an underrated film. As a box-office dud, it's mostly seen as a disappointment, especially considering the director in Redford and cast in Matt Damon, Will Smith, and Charlize Theron. Lies I tell ya, lies! The Legend of Baggar Vance is very simply one of the best sports films ever. Golf is a graceful game, and I don't think any other dramatic film from the genre has come even close to the level of quality that Baggar Vance does, it's the definitive film for the sport in my opinion. With lighthearted pacing and side characters, a wonderful use of the comeback from nowhere arc for the main character, Theron as a solid female lead, and best of all Smith as the wise and all-knowing title character, it's a knockout.

86.


The Lonely Guy

It's been a while since I've seen this, but I have to say, The Lonely Guy is probably Steve Martin's most underrated film and comedy. The concept of lonely guys is a bloody brilliant one, and the illogical but hilarious world that is created for them in the movie is just great... even small things like radio broadcasts playing things like '6 more lonely guys killed themselves tonight. Authorities say nobody noticed' in the background of scenes, or guys constantly jumping off bridges when they are crossed or walked on, or just Martin's narration at this character's path is weaved. The Lonely Guy can also be a bit touching at moments, it rings true in a lot of its statements. I think the best scene in the film though is when Martin is flipping the channels on his tv at the end and stops on a channel showing himself watching tv, frozen and in a petrified state as men in spaceman suits carry him out. Such random hilarity but it nearly made me cry. Now get that special edition out.

85.


I'm not ashamed!

The Notebook was for me one of the most fulfilling and complete full-out romances that has been made anytime recently, and it would probably rank among my favorites for that genre overall. Did it make me cry? Surprisingly nowhere near, I actually thought the tear-jerking reputation was a bit overhyped. Rather I thought the film was emotionally grasping and very powerful, with fantastic leads in Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams... As with most love stories the core of whether the film works or not lies in the actors and characters themselves and whether you believe their love and relationship, and in The Notebook, Gosling and McAdams have such energy and chemistry that it is impossible not to believe it. Gena Rowlands and James Garner as the present day version of the characters do their jobs anchoring the story, though really it is the young actors who make the movie what it is. What more can I say? A nearly perfect love story that came out of nowhere. It got to me, enough to make it as one of the top movies of its year.

84.


The Departed

While The Departed has been placed on some pedastals next to The Godfather films or Goodfellas, in my opinion away from the subject matter it couldn't be more different: While the latter 2 are deep, dark, and slow burning mob pieces, The Departed is just the opposite: It is a stylistic, intentially over the top and bloody, and as popcorn and fun as it can be. Closer to The Untouchables, it sacrifices realism for style, wit, and pure audience pleasure: And Martin Scorsese's return to grit form of a film succeeds in all it strives out to. Marty's direction itself is bliss in the film, as is the amazing cast, with Leo giving his best performance to date, Damon delivering one very up there, Nicholson giving a crime boss performance that only gets more impressive with repeat viewings, Wahlberg hilarious in stealing every scene he's in, and Baldwin, Sheen, and Farmiga rounding out the cast excellently. As expected cinematography, music, and all other technicals are top notch as well. Scorsese will win his Best Director Oscar for the type of film that made him famous, and deservingly so: It's one of his best.

83.


Hustle and Flow

It's hard out here for a pimp...

Hustle and Flow was one of the most surprising features of the last couple years. In something nobody saw coming, an MTV-based urban pimp drama became... an Oscar contender? The truth is, Hustle and Flow deserved what it got. First of all, Terrence Howard in this film is a force of nature, delivering the best performance by a male or female of last year, injecting the lead role with spirit, emotion, anger, joy, and everything in between. The rest of the cast, including Taraji P. Henson, Paula Jai Parker, Taryn Manning, and even Anthony Anderson and DJ Qualls, are excellent as well. Hustle and Flow is probably the best film about rapping ever, though really, as you would expect, the film isn't really about rapping. The music in the film is excellent, and how awesome is it to have scenes of the characters coming up with these songs on the spot in the most spectacular way possible? Hustle and Flow exudes spirit and essence through every way, and it ranks as one of the best 'urban' movies ever, in my opinion.

82.


A Simple Plan

Sam Raimi directs and creates such a great tale and film in A Simple Plan, that it puts the Spiderman films to shame, really. A Simple Plan takes a lot from it's title... Some friends find 4 million dollars in a crashed plane in the forest, and decide to keep the money and hide it until it is completley safe to use it. What Raimi recognizes so well in this story is the inability for us to have patience, and the fact that holding a big secret over time is impossible with the way multiple souls unravel. It has a take on how even friendships crumble under pressure and scrutiny of keeping one big secret. Raimi does a great job just telling this story, from the original discovery, to the 3 characters as their world falls apart because of their simple plan. Acting is all good, especially by Billy Bob Thornton... now stop making shit movies like School for Scoundrels and Mr. Woodcock, Mr. Thornton, you know you can do better. The twist at the end of the film just puts the perfect spin and conclusion on Raimi's tale, the idea of all this, the loss of your life and the death of your friends, being for worthless and marked money, is the perfect ironic way to finish it off. Spielberg, take notes on how not to end your movies happy.

Do you post one movie per day?

Not specifically. I was doing 3-4 a day for the first couple, then I went a bunch with none, because I've been hella busy lately.

Will continue now though.

81.


Running Scared

An incredibly visceral and intense film is an understatement when describing Running Scared. It is very simply, one of the very best streets or crime films of the last couple years. I'm interested in what Wayne Kramer does after this film, as in my opinion his direction is what makes this film. The atmosphere, cinematography, shadows, etc., is what makes this film just so intense. The violence and blood-spilling is used very well in here, it doesn't really hold back anywhere. Acting isn't spectacular, but Paul Walker gives his best performance ever. The nice thing about Running Scared too is that it gets better on repeat viewings. Riveting, awesome, thrilling, intense, what more can I say. One of the year's most criminally underseen films, and I could almost nominate Kramer for a Best Director Oscar.

80.


Cinderella Man

Sorry Raging Bull, Rocky, MDB... It's Cinderella Man that is the best boxing film ever. It's also one of the best depression films that I've ever seen, if not the best. Ron Howard is a hit and miss director, in this case however, he hits. Cinderella Man is an underdog rise to the top story, however it always feels like so much more than the typical films that use that plot device a la Invincible, The Rookie, etc. Cinderella Man is on an entirely different level when it comes to quality. First of all, Howard does a very good job directing, he creates the Depression world well and the boxing scenes are excellent. Russell Crowe gives one of his better performances as the lead, a performance that should've replaced Phoenix in last year's Best Actor pack to create the best 5-piece of nominated actors ever. Renee Zellwegger is very good as the wife as well. Cinderella Man is a rags to riches story that's more than just about overcoming sporting odds, it's about this man and his life, what the depression did to people, and how sometimes you can bounce back. Wait for it, wait for it... quite possibly the best sports film ever. In any case there's no other sports film higher on my list, it's the best I've seen to date.

I liked Running Scared but top 100?

Cinderella Man is high enjoyable.

This is the point where I start to really really love the films on the list, it's actually a pretty clear point, I guess there's really only 79 films on my list that I find *amazing*.

79.


Toy Story 2

Many people say Toy Story 2 is an improvement over the first. I am not one of those people. However, that doesn't stop the fact that Woody, Buzz, and the gang, is the best collection of characters that have ever been presented in CGI, are right up there in animation in general. The idea of making an animated film about toys who come to life is wonderful and genius, and with the 2 films, Pixar forever set their place down in film history. Jessie is a very good addition to the 'cast', and the storyline overall works pretty well. One of the best animated features out there... Now bring on the 3rd!

78.


Chasing Amy

One of the most honest and truth-striking films ever. I'm not going to lie, I love Kevin Smith... And this is almost his triumph. While for personal reasons I have another one of his films higher on the list than this, I think as time goes on, Chasing Amy may hold the best for me. It is without a doubt in terms of character, acting, and writing, his one great dramatic breakthrough. Amy is not a hilarious film, but it doesn't need to be. Instead, it takes on the simple story of 3 characters, the relationships between both romantic relation and long lasting friendship, and the truth and honesty of it all. Affleck, Lee, Adams, Smith, consider this a job as well done as it can be.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks Toy Story 1 is better than 2.

Some interesting choices, but I likeeee the inclusion of Face/Off and The Departed.

my top ten

1. Godfather Part-1
2. Fellowship ( it has replaced Rotk)
3. Godfather Part-2
4. Lawerence of Arabia
5. Star wars: Empire Strikes Back
6. Bridge over the River Kwai
7. Pirates: Curse of the Black Pearl
8. Return of the King
9. Revenge of the Sith
10. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Honourable Mention: Mr Smith goes To Washington.

77.


Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Ah, The Empire Strikes Back. The sequel to the biggest cultural phenomenom probably ever. And while I don't consider it to be the best of the series, with the massive expecations it had, it delivers and then some. It is Empire that made Star Wars a franchise, Lucas knew in this film that he couldn't hold back on anything, he couldn't just phone it in and cash in off the first film's popularity... He had pride enough in those days to make something wonderful. Empire also ends its film with balls and then some, by not only having Han Solo still frozen in carbonate, but of course having that infamous surprise ending. I can only imagine how big of a 'holy shit?' moment that must've been for un-spoiled people seeing it in theatres. Empire does a swell job of taking the characters and story that the first film created, and just builds on it, as a great middle step. What more can I say? It's the second Star Wars film. A bonafide piece of cinematic history.

76.


The Pianist

The Pianist in my mind, is both the best survival film and Holocaust film that has ever been made. I recently saw Schindler's List for the first time, and while that was well made, The Pianist is in my mind just a much stronger film. Polanski puts this man in the Holocaust, and as things get worse and worse around him as the movie goes on, the movie never ceases to stop, it never ceases to be as haunting and devestating as it can be. Whether it'd be a scene of a man in a wheelchair being thrown off a balcony(directed to perfection by Roman), or Brody's family being taken away in an instant never to be seen again, The Pianist is incredible. Brody gives a very very good performance that is deserving of its accolades, and overall the technicals in the film from direction to authenticity to acting to writing are all top-notch. How did Chicago hold this off again? I have no clue. An astounding historical drama.

More decent choices there Shack (braces in case Click appears).