(includes all movies released
in 2004 that I saw in theaters)
65
WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?
Dramatizations
Featuring the worst acting
I have ever seen
64
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
Cool to look at but
The trailer would have sufficed
A dull, boring film
63
OPEN WATER
"Excellenté!" cried
A fellow moviegoer
What was she watching?
62
SHREK 2
Not close to the first
An insulting commercial
That's poorly disguised
61
SILVER CITY
A "message" movie
That was a little too veiled
To make its point well
60
BEING JULIA
It's a dull drama
And a laughless comedy
No need to bother<
59
INTIMATE STRANGERS
Great idea (fake shrink)
But the meandering pace
Took me out of it
58
ALONG CAME POLLY
"A" for the trailer
But not much left for the film
Plus, no chemistry
57
AN AMAZING COUPLE (THE TRILOGY #2)
So disappointing
After part one that I skipped
Part three completely
56
GOODBYE, DRAGON INN
Most overrated?
I missed what the critics loved
And was really bored
55
THE SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD
Style over substance
With a few laughs here and there
I dug the glass boot
54
UNDERTOW
I expected more
From this "southern noir" film
Dry, predictable
53
THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON
Not much more than Penn
His performance was better
Than the rest of it
52
THE BROWN BUNNY
Not awful, not good
The driving scenes were highpoints
Why bother, Chloe?
51
I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD
Never got going
Decent performances from
Owen and McDowell
50
WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
Four main characters
Each of them unlikable
Should've been better
49
THE CORPORATION
The longest hour
Of "20/20" ever
Dampened the message
48
STARSKY AND HUTCH
All the same people
Were in "Anchorman," which I
Liked a lot better
47
THE AVIATOR
More Oscar hunting
Couldn't wait for it to end
Over-overkill
46
SUCKER FREE CITY
This Spike Lee pilot
Was not picked up by Showtime
But had potential
45
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
This was a huge hit
And yet no one watched the much
Better "Freaks and Geeks"
44
RIDING GIANTS
Another surfing
Documentary that looks
Better than it is
43
IN GOOD COMPANY
Bland, disappointing
Reminded me a lot of
"Jerry Maguire"
42
MEET THE FOCKERS
Dustin & Babs: yes!
Baby subplot slowed things down
A few hearty laughs
41
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT
Very long indeed
Moving at times; editing
would have helped a lot
40
SPIDER-MAN 2
A better villain
But not enough Kirsten Dunst
The subway ends where?
39
ON THE RUN (THE TRILOGY #1)
Really cool idea
Ending: ridiculous and
Kind of pointless too
38
BAADASSSS!
Substance over style
Could have been a lot more fun
End credits were cool
37
IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL
Henry Darger's art
Seems just as fascinating
As his life - bizarre
36
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
Why do these movies
Have to be so stinking long?
They should be more fun
35
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
Amazing to watch
But it got somewhat silly
I preferred "Hero"
34
MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Good performances
Mixed with a few not-so-good
The lead was superb
33
BAD EDUCATION
"Talk To Her"
Moved me in ways this did not
Payoff wasn't much
32
THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU
Unfocused and flat
Better on second viewing
But still a mis-step
31
GARDEN STATE
A little cutesy
But still pretty likeable
And better than "Scrubs"
30
SUPER SIZE ME
Clever and funny
Wanted more re: school lunches
Seemed a little staged
29
ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY
Quick ninety minutes
Of throwback 80s-style fun;
Loved the news "rumble"
28
RAY
Acting was stellar,
Music even better but
Script a little flat
27
OCEAN'S TWELVE
Many hated this
But I enjoyed its slightness
A fun, mindless film
26
KINSEY
Kinsey's nickname, "Prok,"
Bugged me the entire time
Saarsgard: always great
25
CLOSER
How can anyone
Consider someone other
Than Owen as Bond?
24
FAHRENHEIT 9/11
What is left to say?
A better statement than film
Released too early?
23
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
Excellent cast but
Meryl was over the top;
As good as the first
22
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
Decent overall
But I still would have preferred
A half hour less
21
MIRACLE
Solid retelling
Cool "where are they now?"
at end
And not too sappy
20
HERO
A Jet Li movie
Sneaks into the top twenty?
Yup - it's a fun ride
19
THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
I am on record:
Pro-Damon, anti-Affleck
(Casey's ok though)
18
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Not a big Swank fan
But she won me over in
The last half hour
17
CONTROL ROOM
An eye-opener
Even more than "Fahrenheit"
Some scenes were chilling
16
THE SEA INSIDE
Javier Bardem
Is an amazing actor
A heart-wrenching film
15
COLLATERAL
Looked great, sounded great
"Miami Vice" in L.A.
A fun summer flick
14
I HEART HUCKABEES
A bit of a mess
But a few of the year's best
Film moments within
13
THE INCREDIBLES
These Pixar dudes sure
Seem to know what they're doing
Craig T. Nelson? Nice.
12
THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS
More from Lars von Trier
But this time he's having fun
I enjoyed all five
11
FINDING NEVERLAND
A welcome surprise
Could have been much cheesier
Well paced and acted
10
COFFEE AND CIGARETTES
Saw this with a group
I liked it more than they did
Stylish and funny
9
HOTEL RWANDA
Manipulative
But extremely effective,
Powerful and harsh
8
DOGVILLE
"Our Town" for the 'aughts
Clever and original
Riveting throughout
7
PRIMER
Riddled with puzzles
And fascinating plot twists
Terrific debut
6
VERA DRAKE
Mike Leigh has a way
Of making you care about
Each person on screen
5
KILL BILL VOLUME II
Rush of energy
Even better than the first
Uma: fantastic
4
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
A nuanced Carrey
And mesmerizing Winslet
Made this one unique
3
EVERYDAY PEOPLE
Moving, heartfelt, real
Should have become a series
What an ensemble
2
SIDEWAYS
Superb script and cast
Just as good the second time
Should I have watched "Wings?"
1
BEFORE SUNSET
A worthy sequel
I didn't want it to end
Part three in '13?
2004
LISTS
dan
mitch
sujan
chris m.
amy w.
kaci
donovan
bill w.
jeremy
