Roger Ebert's Top 10 of 2005
12-20-05, 07:43 AM
#26
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Originally Posted by slavetotherave
Oh, I'm not saying I hated Crash. I own it and I'll say it's a good movie, but that's the most I can give it. It was quite contrived and lacked subtlety of any kind. Certainly not number one. I'm not sure I'd put it in a top ten - but I wouldn't have a problem with it being, say... 6-10.
Amen.I too enjoyed Crash but felt as you did on it being contrived and without subtlety. I could never quite think of the right words to describe it though until your post. We watched this as an assignment for class and I was the only one who had issues with the movie. I was only able to relay that I felt the movie "tried to hard." Saying it was contrived and lacked subtlety would have been better.
12-20-05, 08:26 AM
#27
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Out of *****
1. Crash (**1/2)
2. Syriana (**)
3. Munich
4. Junebug (*1/2)
5. Brokeback Mountain
6. Me and You and Everyone We Know (**)
7. Nine Lives (*1/2)
8. King Kong (***1/2)
9. Yes (*)
10. Millions (**)
I still haven't seen Brokeback or Munich but I hope they are good.
1. Crash (**1/2)
2. Syriana (**)
3. Munich
4. Junebug (*1/2)
5. Brokeback Mountain
6. Me and You and Everyone We Know (**)
7. Nine Lives (*1/2)
8. King Kong (***1/2)
9. Yes (*)
10. Millions (**)
I still haven't seen Brokeback or Munich but I hope they are good.
12-20-05, 08:37 AM
#28
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by Perkinsun Dzees
I thought "Crash" was purdy good myself, but then I like most Cronenberg movies. But still, wouldn't "A History of Violence" have been a more suitable choice. I mean, "Crash" is how old? Still, I gotta give Ebert props for going out on a limb with this one.
12-20-05, 08:48 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by slavetotherave
I think the fact that Crash is his number one movie of 2005 immediately disqualifies this list's credibility.
You either like a film or you don't. It isn't really about credibility. You could tell me your favorite film of the year was something I thought sucked. Neither opinion does anything to make either of us anymore credible.
Last edited by Pointyskull; 12-20-05 at 08:52 AM.
12-20-05, 09:33 AM
#30
I'm sure Ebert's list will be more credible than a clown like Joel Siegel.
I've only seen 2 of his top 10 (Kong, Crash), but both are in my list as well. I have Crash #3. Capote 2 and then Kong #1. Kong left me in a daze after the movie was over. I was blown away by it and was very caught up in the story. I plan on seeing the other "Oscar" contenders in the coming weeks, so my list will change. But those 3 films will remain. I loved all 3.
I've only seen 2 of his top 10 (Kong, Crash), but both are in my list as well. I have Crash #3. Capote 2 and then Kong #1. Kong left me in a daze after the movie was over. I was blown away by it and was very caught up in the story. I plan on seeing the other "Oscar" contenders in the coming weeks, so my list will change. But those 3 films will remain. I loved all 3.
12-20-05, 09:38 AM
#31
DVD Talk Hero
I'm gonna come out and say that Crash was an absolute pile of shit, and that I thought Ebert would've been too smart to get suckered in by it... I guess not.
This guy says it best:
Crash is filled with smug Afterschool Special nonsense. One should not walk out of a movie about racial tolerance with an overwhelming urge to commit genocide, but I left my screening of Crash just about ready to end all of humanity.
What makes Crash most insidious is that it’s well made and well acted. It fools you into thinking that it’s worth a damn, but it’s really a wholesale rip-off of Magnolia soldered onto a Very Special Episode of Diff’rent Strokes. At least in Magnolia the coincidences that brought the characters together were part of the point of the movie – here they’re just a distracting series of plot contrivances engineered by a writer/director so full of himself that there’s no room left for dessert. Characters don’t behave like people or even stereotypes – they simply move across the screen like chess pawns, doing whatever the simplistic themes of the film require.
I call foul on every critic who fell for this film. I call foul on people like Roger Ebert, who have put it at the top of their ten best lists for the year. I call foul on any group that gives this film an award. This is a false movie. This is a movie made up only of manipulation and simplicity, a movie designed to pat you on the head and never truly challenge you with a new or original thought or concept. It’s the White Man’s guilt movie of the year, assuring us that everybody is just as bad as we are, and then giving us a greasy prostate massage of utter falsity. The fact that America’s movie theaters weren’t burned to the ground during the scene when the Saintly Hispanic daughter of the Saintly and Misunderstood Hispanic locksmith was “shot” proves only that the movie-going public is corrupt and depraved.
This guy says it best:
Crash is filled with smug Afterschool Special nonsense. One should not walk out of a movie about racial tolerance with an overwhelming urge to commit genocide, but I left my screening of Crash just about ready to end all of humanity.
What makes Crash most insidious is that it’s well made and well acted. It fools you into thinking that it’s worth a damn, but it’s really a wholesale rip-off of Magnolia soldered onto a Very Special Episode of Diff’rent Strokes. At least in Magnolia the coincidences that brought the characters together were part of the point of the movie – here they’re just a distracting series of plot contrivances engineered by a writer/director so full of himself that there’s no room left for dessert. Characters don’t behave like people or even stereotypes – they simply move across the screen like chess pawns, doing whatever the simplistic themes of the film require.
I call foul on every critic who fell for this film. I call foul on people like Roger Ebert, who have put it at the top of their ten best lists for the year. I call foul on any group that gives this film an award. This is a false movie. This is a movie made up only of manipulation and simplicity, a movie designed to pat you on the head and never truly challenge you with a new or original thought or concept. It’s the White Man’s guilt movie of the year, assuring us that everybody is just as bad as we are, and then giving us a greasy prostate massage of utter falsity. The fact that America’s movie theaters weren’t burned to the ground during the scene when the Saintly Hispanic daughter of the Saintly and Misunderstood Hispanic locksmith was “shot” proves only that the movie-going public is corrupt and depraved.
12-20-05, 09:51 AM
#32
Moderator
1. Crash - average not great; flawed script, some character arcs felt unresolved.
2. Syriana - interesting premise, however it failed to give any soul to the film's characters. Too self indulgent.
3. Munich - rivetting, taunt thriller. Further character development could helped the film but overall a solid film.
4. Junebug - great acting, mood and cinematography were well suited to the story, gaps in storyline made the film feel lacking though.
5. Brokeback Mountain - great performances, and IMO the best of the films Ebert raves about, an A+ from me.
6. Me and You and Everyone We Know - didn't care for the story or characters for that matter, the director came across as a Todd Solondz wannabe
7. Nine Lives - great camera work and story structure, but inconsistent acting and a couple of the episodes went nowhere brought the film down.
8. King Kong - technically incredible but superfluous characters, hammy performance from Jack Black and Jackson's intuitive nature to go over the top, mar the film.
9. Yes - interesting use of iambic pentameter, however in one scene seems very forced and borders on self parody. The story's final quarter is predictable.
10. Millions - wonderful performances, witty, imaginative and from what I have been told - faithful adaptation of original story.
2. Syriana - interesting premise, however it failed to give any soul to the film's characters. Too self indulgent.
3. Munich - rivetting, taunt thriller. Further character development could helped the film but overall a solid film.
4. Junebug - great acting, mood and cinematography were well suited to the story, gaps in storyline made the film feel lacking though.
5. Brokeback Mountain - great performances, and IMO the best of the films Ebert raves about, an A+ from me.
6. Me and You and Everyone We Know - didn't care for the story or characters for that matter, the director came across as a Todd Solondz wannabe
7. Nine Lives - great camera work and story structure, but inconsistent acting and a couple of the episodes went nowhere brought the film down.
8. King Kong - technically incredible but superfluous characters, hammy performance from Jack Black and Jackson's intuitive nature to go over the top, mar the film.
9. Yes - interesting use of iambic pentameter, however in one scene seems very forced and borders on self parody. The story's final quarter is predictable.
10. Millions - wonderful performances, witty, imaginative and from what I have been told - faithful adaptation of original story.
Last edited by Giles; 01-09-06 at 01:31 PM.
12-20-05, 09:56 AM
#33
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Originally Posted by slop101
It’s the White Man’s guilt movie of the year, assuring us that everybody is just as bad as we are, and then giving us a greasy prostate massage of utter falsity. The fact that America’s movie theaters weren’t burned to the ground during the scene when the Saintly Hispanic daughter of the Saintly and Misunderstood Hispanic locksmith was “shot” proves only that the movie-going public is corrupt and depraved.
Wow, this guy has got a problem. I think whoever you quoted needs to chill, and also maybe go out and see what some US cities are truly like after he checks out of rehab.
As for Ebert's top 10 list, I haven't seen too many of those movies (still wanna see Kong, and might bump up Millions in my Netflix queue) but I will eventually.
12-20-05, 10:08 AM
#34
Moderator
what's interesting, is that all the films sans 'Munich' and 'Brokeback Mountain' (which I understand is getting a wider national roll out in January) are films that were released earlier in the year, its a nice little slap in the face to the studios that release their uber elitist films that get shown in New York, LA for one-week Oscar qualification/consideration.
12-20-05, 10:41 AM
#35
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Originally Posted by Giles
6. Me and You and Everyone We Know - didn't care for the story or characters for that matter, the director came across as a Todd Solondz wannabe
12-20-05, 02:03 PM
#39
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt
Ebert seems to have a soft spot for any movie that deals with racial tensions...perhaps because he's involved in an interracial marriage himself. I remember his extremely high praise for "Do The Right Thing," "Boyz N The Hood" and other films.
12-20-05, 02:45 PM
#40
Originally Posted by Drexl
That's true; he had Monster's Ball at #1 a few years back.
12-20-05, 03:13 PM
#41
Moderator
Originally Posted by Drexl
That's true; he had Monster's Ball at #1 a few years back.
12-20-05, 04:41 PM
#42
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by cungar
I always pay attention to this. When he reviews films about blacks or involving race relations, I don't think I've ever heard him say a bad word about them. Sorry Roger, there are some lousy black films. Hate to break it to you.
12-20-05, 04:57 PM
#43
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
My list would probably be disjoint with Ebert's, and would include the following in some order:
Head-On
Thumbsucker
Rize
3-Iron
Broken Flowers
Kung Fu Hustle
9 Songs
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Nobody Knows
2046
I have yet to see:
The Squid and the Whale
King Kong
Munich
Brokeback Mountain (never liked a Lee film though)
The Constant Gardener
Lord of War
Mysterious Skin
Howl's Moving Castle
I don't begrudge Ebert his opinions. He is very much a populist film critic, and while I think he has some interesting things to say sometimes, I also know not to take his recommendations too seriously.
Edit: I just looked at my own list, and I have to say: what a good year for Asian cinema. I normally prefer European films, but I am hopeful that this is a sign of more diverse, quality Asian cinema. (I know a lot of people liked Oldboy as well.)
Head-On
Thumbsucker
Rize
3-Iron
Broken Flowers
Kung Fu Hustle
9 Songs
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Nobody Knows
2046
I have yet to see:
The Squid and the Whale
King Kong
Munich
Brokeback Mountain (never liked a Lee film though)
The Constant Gardener
Lord of War
Mysterious Skin
Howl's Moving Castle
I don't begrudge Ebert his opinions. He is very much a populist film critic, and while I think he has some interesting things to say sometimes, I also know not to take his recommendations too seriously.
Edit: I just looked at my own list, and I have to say: what a good year for Asian cinema. I normally prefer European films, but I am hopeful that this is a sign of more diverse, quality Asian cinema. (I know a lot of people liked Oldboy as well.)
Last edited by illennium; 12-20-05 at 05:02 PM.
12-20-05, 05:56 PM
#45
DVD Talk Hero
Funny. I wonder if the creators of Nine Lives and 9 Lives will sue each other.
I'm easily amused.
Anywho, Merchant of Venice made his "runners up" list two years in a row.
Heh.
I'm easily amused.
Anywho, Merchant of Venice made his "runners up" list two years in a row.
Heh.
Last edited by RichC2; 12-20-05 at 05:59 PM.
12-20-05, 08:32 PM
#46
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I feel like a real schmoe. I haven't seen a single one of these movies. Not one. I've seen lots of other movies (pre-code, a Kubrick festival, etc.), but not many new ones.
That's really funny about Ebert putting Merchant on his runner up list when it came out in 2004!
That's really funny about Ebert putting Merchant on his runner up list when it came out in 2004!
12-20-05, 11:24 PM
#47
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Groucho
Not true. He gave Monster's Ball four stars, but it didn't even make his top ten. #1 was Minority Report.
12-20-05, 11:51 PM
#48
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I liked Ebert's additional list of "jury prize" films better than his top ten. Gregg Araki's Mysterious Skin is the most powerful film I've seen this year, while Oldboy is unforgettable, and Sin City and Batman Begins took comic book films to new heights of entertainment and excitement.
12-21-05, 12:45 AM
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No Batman Begins or HP-GoF, List is garbage. 
I did like Crash though, flawed yes, but I enjoyed the performances and Haggis did a great directorial job.
Syriana, way overrated. Decent performances, overall it was dull.
I did like Crash though, flawed yes, but I enjoyed the performances and Haggis did a great directorial job.
Syriana, way overrated. Decent performances, overall it was dull.
