The 2005 Critics' Choice Awards
Our second annual Critics' Choice Awards pick the Top 10 Films of 2005—a list that somewhat resembles others in the mainstream, with a few surprises thrown in.
directed by Joss Whedon | posted 2/08/2006
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Last week, we posted our 10 Most Redeeming Films of 2005. And this week, we present our Critics' Choice Awards for the Top 10 Films of 2005.
What's the difference between the lists? The "redeeming" list speaks for itself—films that told a story of redemption (something or somebody bad turned good, an uplifting story that celebrates truth, goodness and/or biblical values, etc.). Our Critics' Choice list, on the other hand, consists of the 10 films that our panel believes were the most excellent films of 2005, whether they carried a "redeeming" message or not. But all are films of excellence, and many are up for various honors at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Our list resembles some you've seen in the mainstream, but we've got a few off-the-beaten-path picks as well—especially our No. 1 choice. We also let each of our panelists choose "One That Got Away"—a single film they wish had made our Top Ten list. Think of those five extra films as sort of our "honorable mentions."
10. Serenity
directed by Joss Whedon
George Lucas may have capped off the Star Wars saga with a bang, but Serenity was the year's most intelligent and clever sci-fi film. Joss Whedon's cinematic debut wraps up his prematurely cancelled TV series Firefly with a film that explores spiritual and political themes without beating us over the head with sloganeering and polemics. It's loaded with top-notch action and a suspenseful, well crafted script laced with snappy dialogue and wit. The complex characters share a chemistry that's irresistible. (Our review.)
9. A History of Violence
directed by David Cronenberg
This deconstruction of popular genres—the Western, the gangster flick, the high-school movie—and the moral codes lurking within them is a strange mixture of tragedy and satire. Dark and disturbing—and only for the most cautious and discerning viewers—Cronenberg's film about the American ideal of a "good guy" is one of the most challenging conversation starters of the year. It asks us to consider: If violence is brought against us, what inspired it in the first place? Does violent retaliation set a good example for the rest of the world, and if so, how do we break the cycle of violence? (Our review.)
8. Broken Flowers
directed by Jim Jarmusch
Jim Jarmusch turns in his most commercial film here, but it's every bit as quirky and idiosyncratic as we've come to expect. Bill Murray gives one of his most heartbreaking and revealing performances as an aging womanizer, showing how our various pursuits can leave us empty, broken, and dissatisfied. As the lonely Don Johnston, Murray creates a funny and affecting character, a man who is running out of time to develop a meaningful life. His expensive belongings and shallow affairs have failed to fulfill him, but with the help of his neighbor Winston, he may yet get up off the couch and pursue some meaning, rather than just observing it. (Our review.)
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