Once again, when I started sifting through the movies released in 2004 my view count quickly rose into the mid-hundreds. In my defense… I still hadn’t met Serena yet… so… yeah… I was watching a lot of movies. I’m pretty interested in seeing the results of my next list. To see if meeting Serena changed my view habits at all. However, in theory, the closer we get to the present, the smaller my yearly number should get. Confused? It’s a simple calculation of time verse availability. Since I had ten years to watch movies from 2001 and only two years to see 2009 films, it makes sense that I would have seen more films made in 2001 than 2009. Follow me?
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves because today is all about 2004 and I think my list is pretty interesting. Remember what I said about 2003 thumbing its nose at Hollywood convention? Well, I feel like my 2004 list is thumbing my nose at cultural popularity. What do I mean by that? Well, there are at least five movies on my 2004 list that most people I know hate with a passion… and they are very vocal regarding their feeling about those films. And well… I don’t quite understand where they are coming from. However, I DO know that there was a bandwagon effect fueling the dislike of these films… and I’m sure you know what people like to do with bandwagons… that’s right. They like to hop on and play the washtub bass… or jug. (Don’t worry; I’ll point out the films I’m talking about in my notes.)
(Visit schutzhappens.blogspot.com to see the trailers posted along with movie descriptions.)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a 2004 American comedy film, directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell. The film, which was also written by Ferrell and McKay, is a tongue-in-cheek take on the culture of the 1970s, particularly the then-new Action News format. It portrays a San Diego TV station where Ferrell's title character clashes with his new female counterpart (Christina Applegate). This film is number 100 on Bravo's 100 funniest movies, and 113 on Empire's 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.
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Before Sunset is a 2004 American romantic drama film and the sequel to Before Sunrise (1995). Like its predecessor, the film was directed by Richard Linklater. However, this time Linklater shares screenplay credit with both actors from the movies, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Linklater also shares story credit with the original Before Sunrise screenwriter Kim Krizan.
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Bride and Prejudice is a 2004 romantic musical film directed by Gurinder Chadha. The screenplay by Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges is a Bollywood-style adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It was filmed primarily in English, with some Hindi and Punjabi dialogue.
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Crash is a 2004 (theatrical release 2005) American drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Paul Haggis. The film is about racial and social tensions in Los Angeles. A self-described "passion piece" for Haggis, Crash was inspired by a real life incident in which his Porsche was carjacked outside a video store on Wilshire Boulevard in 1991. It won three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing of 2005 at the 78th Academy Awards.
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American romantic fantasy film scripted by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. The film uses elements of science fiction, nonlinear narration and neosurrealism to explore the nature of memory and romantic love.
Film Note: This is the first of the movies I described above. I found it funny and heartbreaking… it was remarkable. I think the backlash of this film was twofold: 1) Some folks can’t stand Jim Carry in dramatic roles, and 2) After ‘Being John Malkovich’ and ‘Adaption’ expectations of Charlie Kaufman had somehow gotten too big… and there was no way he’d be able to live up to those expectation. Regardless of what it really is, one truth remains… its worth of being on my list.
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Finding Neverland is a 2004 semi-biographical film about playwright J. M. Barrie, directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by David Magee is based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee. The film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Depp's portrayal of J.M. Barrie, and won one for Jan A. P. Kaczmarek's musical score.
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Garden State is a 2004 film written by, directed by, and starring Zach Braff, with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, andSir Ian Holm. The film centers on Andrew Largeman (Braff), a 26-year-old actor/waiter who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies. The title alludes both to the nickname for New Jersey, and to lines from Andrew Marvell's poem "The Garden" ("Such was that happy garden-state, While man there walked without a mate").
Film Note: I LOVE this movie… but some people just love to hate on Natalie Portman. Oh well.
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Hidalgo is a 2004 film based on the legend of distance rider Frank Hopkins and his horse Hidalgo, a mustang. The movie was written by John Fusco and directed by Joe Johnston. It stars Viggo Mortensen, Zuleikha Robinson and Omar Sharif.
Film Note: This is a great story… but it’s not a perfect film from a technical standpoint. Some of the CGI is VERY clunky… so just ignore it and enjoy the ride!
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House of Flying Daggers is a 2004 action-romance film directed by Zhang Yimou. House of Flying Daggers differs from other wuxia films in that it is more of a love story than a straight martial arts film.
File Note: One word, “Stunning”.
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Kill Bill Vol 2 is a two-part action thriller film released in 2003 and 2004 by writer-director Quentin Tarantino, and starring Uma Thurman as The Bride. Originally conceived as one film, it was released in two "volumes" (in late 2003 and early 2004) due to its running time of approximately four hours.
Film Note: Many people who liked ‘Kill Bill Vol 1’ felt let down by the sequel, but I loved both for very different reasons… mainly because they are very different movies in terms of style. ‘Vol. 1’ was a dynamically fast-passed Kung-Fu movie… and of course, that’s what people were expecting with ‘Vol. 2’. However, Tarantino opted to challenge his audience by slowing down the second installment… so slow and methodical that ‘Vol. 2’ had more in comment with Spaghetti Western than a Kung-Fu movie. One story, two different styles… a combination only Quentin Tarantino could pull off.
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Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 action comedy film directed and produced by, and starring Stephen Chow. The other film producers were Chui Po-chu and Jeffrey Lau, while the screenplay was written by Huo Xin, Chan Man-keung, and Tsang Kan-cheung. Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Danny Chan, and Bruce Leung co-starred in prominent roles.
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Maria Full of Grace is a 2004 joint Colombian-American film, written and directed by Joshua Marston, who won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay. Although the movie depicts rural life in Colombia, it was actually filmed in Ecuador. The title is a double-entendre alluded to on the poster—a simultaneous reference to the Hail Mary and to what Maria carries in her into the United States.
Film Note: This is the first movie Serena and I ever watched together.
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Mean Creek is a 2004independent film produced by Susan Johnson, Rick Rosenthal, and Hagai Shaham, written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes and starring Rory Culkin, Trevor Morgan, Carly Schroeder, Scott Mechlowicz, Ryan Kelley, and Josh Peck. The film concerns a group of teenagers and young adults who devise a plan to humiliate an overweight, troubled bully on a boating trip. The movie was filmed mostly in Clackamas County, Oregon, including the cities of Boring, Sandy, and Estacada, though footage on the river itself was filmed in SE Washington.
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Mean Girls is a 2004 American teen comedy film, directed by Mark Waters. The screenplay was written by Tina Fey and based in part on the non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, which describes how female high school social cliques operate, and the effect they can have on girls. The film stars Lindsay Lohan and features a supporting cast of Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, and Lizzy Caplan. The film also features several Saturday Night Live cast members, including Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, and Amy Poehler.
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Meet the Fockers is a 2004 comedy film directed by Jay Roach and the sequel to Meet the Parents. The film stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo and Owen Wilson.
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Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 American comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess's first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca, the first - and currently only - MTV film rated PG (all prior MTV films had a PG-13 or R rating).
Film Note: First of all I think this film is hilarious, but I also have to admit that I have a personal connection to this film. Those of you who read SchutzHappens often will know of my best friend Costello… well, his old brother, Joe, appears in this movie. And Joe’s best friend Chris Wyatt produced this movie which earned him an Indie Spirit Nomination for ‘Best First Feature’. And to close the circle, Chris and I sat at the same table at Joe’s wedding reception. I know… you think I’m cooler now. Lol. Personal association with this film aside… Napoleon Dynamite is definitely Top 25 worthy.
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Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 British romantic zombie comedy directed by Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and written by Pegg and Wright. Pegg plays Shaun, a man attempting to get some kind of focus in his life as he deals with his girlfriend, his mother and stepfather. At the same time, he has to cope with an apocalyptic uprising of zombies.
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Sideways is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payneand directed by Payne. Adapted from Rex Pickett's 2004 novel, Sideways follows two forty-something year old men, portrayed by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, who take a week-long road trip to the wine country of Santa Barbara. Payne and Taylor won multiple awards for their screenplay. Giamatti and Church, as well as actresses Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh, playing local women who become romantically involved with the men, all received accolades for their performances.
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Spanglish is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written and directed by James L. Brooks, and starring Adam Sandler, Paz Vega, and Téa Leoni. It was released in the United States on December 17, 2004 by Columbia Pictures and by Gracie Films.
Film Note: I for one REALLY like Spanglish… but most people hated it because they don’t like seeing Adam Sandler in a dramatic role… even though it was still half comedy. Listen. Comedians always make the best dramatic actors so get over whatever Billy Madison obsession you have with Adam and let the man grow up. Plus, who can go wrong with a James L. Brooks movie?
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Stage Beauty is a 2004 British/American/German romantic period drama directed by Richard Eyre. The screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher is based on his play Compleat Female Stage Beauty, which was inspired by references to 17th century actor Edward Kynaston made in the detailed private diary kept by Samuel Pepys.
Film Note: People quickly write this movie off as a ‘Shakespeare in Love’ rip off… but they are dead wrong. It’s a totally different ride and well worth the time and it contains some of the best acting I’ve ever seen.
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The Incredibles is a 2004 computer-animated superhero comedy film about a family of superheroes who are forced to hide their powers. It was written and directed by Brad Bird, a former director and executive consultant of The Simpsons, and was produced by Pixar and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The starring voices areCraig T. Nelson as Bob Parr, a superhero called "Mr. Incredible" who is forced to give up saving people's lives; Holly Hunter as his wife; Sarah Vowell as their teenage daughter; Spencer Fox as their young son; Jason Lee as Mr. Incredible's most avid fan; Samuel L. Jackson as Bob's friend; and Elizabeth Peña as the beautiful assistant of a vengeful super villain. Bob's yearning to help people draws the entire Parr family into a battle with the villain and his killer robot.
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The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is an American comedy-drama film directed, written, and co-produced by Wes Anderson. It is Anderson's fourth feature length film, released in the U.S. on December 25, 2004. It was written by Anderson and Noah Baumbach and was filmed in and around Naples, Ponza and the Italian Riviera.
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The Terminal is a 2004comedy-drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. It is about a man trapped in a terminal at JFK International Airport when he is denied entry into the United States and at the same time cannot return to his native country, the fictitious Krakozhia, due to a revolution. The film is partially inspired by the 18-year-stay of Mehran Karimi Nasseri in the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Terminal I, Paris, France from 1988 to 2006.
Film Note: Again. Most of the people I know loath this movie and I totally loved it. Now, I’m not going to say it was one of Tom Hanks’ best performances… but the story was amazing and thoughtful. I just think people were tired of Tom Hanks making hit after hit after hit… and they longed to see him fail… and when he didn’t folks decided to pick on the imperfections of a well told story. Sure, Tom’s accent wasn’t exact a spot on depiction of the tradition Krakozhian dialect… because we all know what a Krakozhian is supposed to sound like... because modern linguistics as extend into the realm of fictional countries… um… You get my point. If you let something as ridiculous as Tom’s made-up accent of a fictional country ruin the film for you, well… that’s just ridiculous.
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The Village is a 2004 American fantasy-thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan about a turn-of-the-20th-centuryvillage whose inhabitants live in fear of the creatures inhabiting the woods beyond it. The movie was shot in a recreation of a 19th-century village outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, following Shyamalan's penchant for staging his films near his hometown. The movie opened to reviews ranging from overall negative to mixed and was not as financially successful as some of Shyamalan's earlier movies. Despite this, the film gave composer James Newton Howard his fourth Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.
Film Note: On man… this is going to be the pick that gets me the hate mail. I personally think ‘The Village’ is M. Night’s finest film. However, I have seen some of the most hateful discussion board regarding M. Night and this movie. I’ve seen people say point blank, “If you liked ‘The Village’ then you’re an idiot.” And well… that’s just not productive... and apparently I’m an idiot.
In the dark seedy world of amateur internet movie reviews, people seem to get thrills out of declaring a movie awful when it doesn’t merit it. They like to feed the hype of a project to the point that there is no way on Earth the movies could ever live up to that hype.
Sure, I’ve ripped on ‘True Grit’ this year, but I still love the Coen Brothers and Jeff Bridges… ‘True Grit’ is just one movie. But the things I’ve seen written about M. Night, just because people don’t think his subsequent movies are as good as ‘The Sixth Sense’ is just awful. ‘The Village’ is a good movie. M. Nights last good movie... yeah… I didn’t really get ‘Lady in the Water’ or ‘The Happening’… but I still respect the guy.
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Wimbledon is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Richard Loncraine. The film centers on a washed-up tennis pro named Peter Colt (played by Paul Bettany) and an up-and-coming tennis star named Lizzie Bradbury (played by Kirsten Dunst) during the Wimbledon Championships. The story was inspired by Goran Ivanišević, a Croatian tennis player who won Wimbledon in 2001, becoming the only player to win men's singles at Wimbledon with a wildcard entry.
Film Note: Yeah… I’ll admit it. I like this movie. If I find it while channel surfing I will stop and watch. I this it’s a fun movie… and if that’s going to cost me my man card than so be it.
