AFI Top 5 films of 2005

[strandinthewind]

'King Kong,' 'Lost' among AFI honorees

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -- Critics' darling "Brokeback Mountain," the upcoming effects extravaganza "King Kong" and the raucous comedy "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" are among the 10 films that the American Film Institute has judged as the most outstanding motion pictures of the year.

The official selections of AFI Awards 2005 for top films and TV programs were announced Sunday after two days of deliberations by two juries that selected the year's best in film and television.

The AFI will honor the creative ensembles behind each of the honorees January 13 at a luncheon at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles.

"AFI is proud to honor these 20 collaborative teams. As the institute recognizes and celebrates excellence across the century, these honorees will be part of the record that documents America's enduring cultural legacy," AFI director and CEO Jean Picker Firstenberg said.

In addition to "Mountain," "Kong" and "Virgin," the movies chosen are "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "A History of Violence," "Munich," "The Squid and the Whale" and "Syriana."

The 10 TV programs are: "24," "Battlestar Galactica," "Deadwood," "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Lost," "Rescue Me," "Sleeper Cell," "Sometimes in April" and "Veronica Mars."

The film jury was: producer Robert G. Rehme, director Martha Coolidge, critic David Denby, scholar Anna Everett, director Norman Jewison, producer Tom Pollock, director Jay Roach, critic Lisa Schwarzbaum, scholar Vivian Sobchack, author David Thomson, critic Kenneth Turan, scholar Stephen Ujlaki and producer Laura Ziskin.

The TV jury's members were: director Marshall Herskovitz, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences president Dick Askin, writer Lionel Chetwynd, scholar Mary Corey, producer Tony Jonas, producer Jeffrey Kramer, critic Melanie McFarland, scholar Tara McPherson, producer Dorothea Petrie, director Frank Pierson, critic James Poniewozik, writer Del Reisman and critic Matt Roush.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/11/afi.awards.reut/index.html

[strandinthewind]

I liked almost all of them except Syriana, which was a good movie, but that rough 1960's camera work and the plodding nature of it just did not do it for me - though and again, it was a really good movie.

[Richard B]

I saw this yesterday and thought...wow what bull****. What I want to know is how much AFI was paid off?

[dissention]

I saw this yesterday and thought...wow what bull****. What I want to know is how much AFI was paid off?

No ****. "Crash"? Such a bad movie that it's almost offensive. The adoration for "The 40 Year Old Virgin" has managed to escape me, too. "Capote" wasn't a good movie, it was a good showcase for marvelous acting. "The Squid and the Whale" and "Syriana" are both fantastic, though. Too bad "The Dying Gaul" isn't on that list. That's practically criminal.

As for the TV shows, wow, only three of them are good. If ever there was a show that didn't deserve the hype, it's "Lost." And where the fukc is "Arrested Development"?

[Richard B]

No ****. "Crash"? Such a bad movie that it's almost offensive. The adoration for "The 40 Year Old Virgin" has managed to escape me, too. "Capote" wasn't a good movie, it was a good showcase for marvelous acting. "The Squid and the Whale" and "Syriana" are both fantastic, though. Too bad "The Dying Gaul" isn't on that list. That's practically criminal.

As for the TV shows, wow, only three of them are good. If ever there was a show that didn't deserve the hype, it's "Lost." And where the fukc is "Arrested Development"?
My cousin and I walked out of Crash. Garbage. A friend just saw 'Squid and The Whale' and thought it was garbage...but then I do want to see it, especially now after your recommendation. 40 Year Old Virgin is cute, but not earth shattering and certainly nothing extraordinary. Don't get me started on King Dong. Capote did not do it for me...blah, blah, blah. I have yet to see Bareback Mountin' and not very interested in seeing it.

The jury list is also weak. Martha Coolidge?? She used to put out films with heart...but of late...no. I almost worked for her too at one time.

[Jyqm]

I saw this yesterday and thought...wow what bull****. What I want to know is how much AFI was paid off?

Sounds like nice work if you can get it. Maybe I'll invent my own film society and encourage studios to give me money for claiming their movies are the best...

I wonder if I can get Pierce Brosnan to host my network special about the 100 Greatest Movie Hairdos of All Time...

[dissention]

My cousin and I walked out of Crash. Garbage. A friend just saw 'Squid and The Whale' and thought it was garbage...but then I do want to see it, especially now after your recommendation. 40 Year Old Virgin is cute, but not earth shattering and certainly nothing extraordinary. Don't get me started on King Dong. Capote did not do it for me...blah, blah, blah. I have yet to see Bareback Mountin' and not very interested in seeing it.

You should have heard me in the theater when I saw "Crash." I let out the loudest hysterical laugh known to mankind when Don Cheadle said "I think we miss that touch so much that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something." Christ, what a hokey bunch of bull****. Of course the critics lapped it up and average moviegoers considered it profound & revelatory. Blech, that was one cinematic turd.

"The Squid and the Whale" was great, or at least I thought so. I plan on staying as far away from "Munich" as possible when it comes out. Spielberg hurts my everything.

The jury list is also weak. Martha Coolidge?? She used to put out films with heart...but of late...no. I almost worked for her too at one time.

What was her last good movie? "Lost In Yonkers"? That was almost 15 years ago!

[trackaghost]

'King Kong,' 'Lost' among AFI honorees

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -- Critics' darling "Brokeback Mountain," the upcoming effects extravaganza "King Kong" and the raucous comedy "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" are among the 10 films that the American Film Institute has judged as the most outstanding motion pictures of the year.

The official selections of AFI Awards 2005 for top films and TV programs were announced Sunday after two days of deliberations by two juries that selected the year's best in film and television.

The AFI will honor the creative ensembles behind each of the honorees January 13 at a luncheon at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles.

"AFI is proud to honor these 20 collaborative teams. As the institute recognizes and celebrates excellence across the century, these honorees will be part of the record that documents America's enduring cultural legacy," AFI director and CEO Jean Picker Firstenberg said.

In addition to "Mountain," "Kong" and "Virgin," the movies chosen are "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "A History of Violence," "Munich," "The Squid and the Whale" and "Syriana."



But where's Cheaper By The Dozen 2?

[trackaghost]

You should have heard me in the theater when I saw "Crash." I let out the loudest hysterical laugh known to mankind when Don Cheadle said "I think we miss that touch so much that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something." Christ, what a hokey bunch of bull****. Of course the critics lapped it up and average moviegoers considered it profound & revelatory. Blech, that was one cinematic turd.



Yes but before I saw it I didn't realise racism is wrong. Now I know better.
Evil white people.

[cliffdweller]

"The Squid and the Whale" and "Syriana" are both fantastic, though.

Good to know that "The Squid and The Whale" is worth seeing. I haven't read a bad review of it. Laura Linney is ace in my book :thumbsup:.

[cliffdweller]

Yes but before I saw it I didn't realise racism is wrong. Now I know better.
Evil white people.

Yeah, that movie was chock full of heavy-handed pathos. And for all the realism they tried to convey, they sure weren't able to get a handle on how people actually talk to one another. The scene between Matt Dillon and the African-American hospital administrator (or whoever the hell she played) was the most unrealistic scene I've ever seen in the movies.

[DavidMn]

I really wanna see Syriana. Hopefully I can get to it this week.

[Rickypt]

"Crash"? Such a bad movie that it's almost offensive.

You got that right!

I think the top movies of 2005 are "Dying Gaul", "Squid and the Whale", and "Capote".

[strandinthewind]

'Brokeback' builds Oscar buzz with N.Y. award

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Gay cowboy love story "Brokeback Mountain" won three of the top four awards from the New York Film Critics Circle Monday, building momentum as the critics' favorite for Hollywood's top honors, the Oscars.

Earlier the National Board of Review, a New York group of 150 film professionals, academics and students, announced its annual awards, naming George Clooney's McCarthy-era drama "Good Night, and Good Luck" as best film of 2005.

The awards presented by the New York Film Critics Circle are among a string of second-tier awards leading up to the March 5 Academy Awards. The slew of awards announced in December traditionally helps narrow the field for the Oscars.

Director Ang Lee's film "Brokeback Mountain" is shaping up as the critics' favorite, despite concerns that its depiction of a love affair between two men may have trouble winning over audiences in more conservative parts of the country.

The New York Film Critics Circle gave the film its awards for best film, best director and best actor, for Heath Ledger.

"Brokeback Mountain" already won best film from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Saturday, and it earned eight nominations for the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday.

The National Board of Review's prize for directing went to Lee for "Brokeback Mountain." Lee's resume boasts a varied string of hits from the Jane Austen adaptation "Sense and Sensibility" in 1995 to martial arts epic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000.

"A lot of people among critics are responding to it because it is so daring," said Gene Seymour, chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle.

"It has all the sweep of what we have come to know as a major Hollywood romance, but it carries within it such a grand departure," he said.

The New York Film Critics named Reese Witherspoon best actress for her role in the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line."

Their awards for best supporting actor and best supporting actress went to William Hurt and Maria Bello for their roles in "A History of Violence."

Critically acclaimed "Capote," directed by Bennett Miller, won an award for best first film, while Werner Herzog will be honored for two non-fiction films "Grizzly Man" and "White Diamond," the group said.

Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai's "2046" was named best foreign language film and Japanese film-maker Hayao Miyazaki's "Howl's Moving Castle" won best animated film.

National Board of Review awards
The National Board of Review, which has sometimes raised eyebrows for its esoteric picks, appeared not to have gone too far out on a limb this year. It picked Philip Seymour Hoffman as best actor for "Capote" and "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman as best actress for "Transamerica."

The National Board of Review also listed its 10 best films of the year in a selection that included many of those named by the Critics Choice Awards Sunday.

The list, which was not ranked in order, included independents such as "Brokeback Mountain," "Crash" and "Capote" as well as "A History of Violence," the political thriller "Syriana" and big studio productions "Walk the Line" and "Memoirs of a Geisha." Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen made the list for "Munich" and "Match Point," respectively.

"Paradise Now," about Palestinian suicide bombers, was named best foreign-language film and "March of the Penguins" was given best documentary by the National Board of Review.

The National Board of Review's picks have traditionally been closely watched because it has been the first to announce its awards, but its announcement was delayed this year amid controversy over its voting procedures.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/12/leisure.film.reut/index.html
_____________________________________________________________

Interesting in that many of the AFI choices are mentioned.

[Moony]

Yes but before I saw it I didn't realise racism is wrong. Now I know better.
Evil white people.
Bring out the stick!!!

[DavidMn]

I'm not surprised about the Oscar buzz surrounding Brokeback Mountain. I haev yet to see it, but from everything I've read, it's fantastic. I wonder which categories it might be nominated in?

[Rickypt]

I'm not surprised about the Oscar buzz surrounding Brokeback Mountain. I haev yet to see it, but from everything I've read, it's fantastic. I wonder which categories it might be nominated in?

I'm sure it will be in a bunch of them, including Best Picture

I'd nominate it for:

Best Director
Best Actor (Ledger)
Best Supporting Actress (Williams)
Art Direction
Cinematography
Original Score
Original Song (if the Willie Nelson song is original)

[DavidMn]

I'm sure it will be in a bunch of them, including Best Picture

I'd nominate it for:

Best Director
Best Actor (Ledger)
Best Supporting Actress (Williams)
Art Direction
Cinematography
Original Score
Original Song (if the Willie Nelson song is original)I wonder if that prick Fred Phelps would show up at the oscars with his merry bunch of followers to protest the academy celebrating a movie like that?:lol:

[Jyqm]

I'm not surprised about the Oscar buzz surrounding Brokeback Mountain. I haev yet to see it, but from everything I've read, it's fantastic. I wonder which categories it might be nominated in?

I also haven't seen it, obviously, but it will almost surely be nominated for Best Picture, as well as Best Director: Ang Lee is a big name and his directing is supposed to be very good in this film. I think there's also been a lot of buzz about Heath Ledger, and he's considered a likely nominee for Best Actor. And Larry McMurtry's script has also been very highly praised in the reviews I've read, so a Best Adapted Screenplay nominated is a lock.

[DavidMn]

I also haven't seen it, obviously, but it will almost surely be nominated for Best Picture, as well as Best Director: Ang Lee is a big name and his directing is supposed to be very good in this film. I think there's also been a lot of buzz about Heath Ledger, and he's considered a likely nominee for Best Actor. And Larry McMurtry's script has also been very highly praised in the reviews I've read, so a Best Adapted Screenplay nominated is a lock.Interesting. This movie sounds like it might win a ****load of awards. Greta to hear that.:nod:

[Jyqm]

Original Song (if the Willie Nelson song is original)

I believe it is.

[Rickypt]

I wonder if that prick Fred Phelps would show up at the oscars with his merry bunch of followers to protest the academy celebrating a movie like that?:lol:

I'm sure Fred and his inbreds will be there--I hope so, then the whole country will be able to see how crazy and hateful they are.

Right-wing Christians seem to be rather silent about this movie. Maybe they're too busy fighting the "War on Christmas"?:shrug:

[Serrart]

I'm not surprised about the Oscar buzz surrounding Brokeback Mountain. I haev yet to see it, but from everything I've read, it's fantastic. I wonder which categories it might be nominated in?

I think it will be nominated for:
Best Movie
Best Director
Best Actor - Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress - Michelle Williams
Best Supporting Actor - Jake Gyllenhaal
Best adapted Screenplay
Cinematography
Original Score
Best Song

Romy

[Jyqm]

Right-wing Christians seem to be rather silent about this movie. Maybe they're too busy fighting the "War on Christmas"?:shrug:

Do you find that whole thing to be as hilarious as I do? Is there anybody in the whole country besides Bill O'Reilly and John Gibson who actually believes that there is a "War on Christmas?"

Who'd have thought we'd live to see the day when right-wing Christian nuts were demanding that Christmas be commercialized?

[Rickypt]

Do you find that whole thing to be as hilarious as I do?

Absolutely, but I'd rather they focus on that silliness than try to get intelligent design in schools or strategize on the '06 elections.

They're dumber than dirt, but there's a whole bunch of them out there.