Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

J.K. Rowling's fourth book comes to life as young wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) faces evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry competes in the treacherous Tri-Wizard Tournament. Friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) and teacher Mad Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson) help Harry manage the pressure … but Voldemort lurks, awaiting his chance to destroy Harry and all that he stands for.

My Two Cents: More mature than the previous three installments, and thus darker, but not as much fun.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

RETRO BLOGGING

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) return to Hogwarts for a third adventure-and-magic-filled year in this follow-up to the first two blockbusters. The trio may be growing up, but some things never change: Harry finds his life in danger yet again, this time in the form of escaped convict Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). He turns to sympathetic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) for help -- but will it be enough?

My Two Cents: The best of the Harry Potter movies thus far.

(note: nothing has changed with that review after seeing Goblet of Fire)

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Good Night, and Good Luck

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

George Clooney's Oscar-nominated docudrama pits TV newsman Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) against Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his single-minded crusade to quell the red threat at home. Despite corporate pressure to back off, Murrow and his CBS staff are determined to examine the lies and fear tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his Communist witch-hunts. The impressive cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson and Jeff Daniels.

My Two Cents: Flat, assumptive, one-sided; Inferior to All the Presidents Men in terms of portraying courage and truth in journalism.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: Amateurish looking archival-footage dependant, unintelligible dialogue, painfully pointless, boring, terrible

NetFlix Rank: Hated It

The Squid and the Whale

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Jeff Daniels makes for a haunting Brooklyn professor who's well past his prime,
and Laura Linney is his writer wife on the brink of stardom in Noah Baumbach's
honest look at the disintegration of a marriage. With their lives headed for
distinctly opposite directions, the two can't help but be acrimonious about
their impending separation. Unfortunately, their two children are stuck in the
middle of the emotional warfare.

My Two Cents: It's like a Wes Anderson movie, but with characters that aren't quite so detatched from reality. Some of them, anyway.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: I thought this was great fun, but I kinda disagree with Drew. I think it feels exactly like an Alexander Payne movie...

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta (2006)

From the pages of David Lloyd and Alan Moore's groundbreaking graphic novel springs the enigmatic "V" (Hugo Weaving of The Matrix), a masked freedom fighter who's taken up arms against the totalitarian government in a futuristic Britain. Finding an unlikely ally in a young woman named Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman), V urges the citizenry to fight the oppression of the state. John Hurt and Stephen Rea also co-star.

My Two Cents: Far too outlandish to take as commentary on current events, but V's Orwellian dystopia works great as fiction.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

(note: full review hopefully forthcoming in the next day or two).

Thumbsucker

Thumbsucker (2005)

Teenager Justin Cobb (Lou Taylor Pucci) has an embarrassing secret: He still sucks his thumb. Berated by his father (Vincent D'Onofrio) for the childish habit and unable to confide in anyone, Justin lets his loopy orthodontist (Keanu Reeves) try hypnosis. It works almost too well; before long, Justin needs another crutch to help keep his angst at bay. Vince Vaughn and Tilda Swinton co-star in director Mike Mills's 2005 Sundance entry.

My Two Cents: After a while these boring characters just sounded like adults on a Charlie Brown cartoon... wah wahhhh wahhh wah

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 4/10

GUEST BONUS BLOGGING

Kevin's Two Cents: Funny and sincere. Manages to look at suburban life without a sneer unlike many similar movies. Good stuff.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It

Re-Ranking the AFI 100

Here's my ongoing project. The numbered AFI rank is listed, although I'm putting them in my own order... and will update here (in this post) as I work through the list:

71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
66. NETWORK (1976)
84. FARGO (1996)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
78. ROCKY (1976)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
48. JAWS (1975)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
89. PATTON (1970)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
83. PLATOON (1986)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
43. KING KONG (1933)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)

Still waiting to be seen:
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Junebug

Junebug (2005)

When Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz), a big-city art dealer from Chicago, makes a trip to North Carolina with her new husband, George (Alessandro Nivola), he finally allows her to meet his small-town Southern family -- including his bristly mother, Peg (Celia Weston), reticent father Eugene (Scott Wilson), crabby brother Johnny (Ben McKenzie) and immature sister-in-law Ashley (Amy Adams). Looks like a family with more problems than meet the eye!

My Two Cents: [Director Phil] Morrison follows the basic rule of storytelling, "Keep It Simple Stupid," and produces great results with it.

NetFlix rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Lady in the Lake

Lady in the Lake (1947)

The camera shows Phillip Marlowe's (Robert Montgomery) view from the first-person in this adaptation of Raymond Chandler's book. The detective is hired to find a publisher's wife, who is supposed to have run off to Mexico. But the case soon becomes much more complicated as people are murdered.

My Two Cents: Gimmicky private eye flick that tries way to hard to be cool, with a leading man that really isn't.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

(note: film is not available via NetFlix)

Happenstance

Happenstance (2000)

It's six degrees of separation with a twist in Happenstance, French director Laurent Firode's first film, starring Amélie's Audrey Tautou. When Irene (Tautou), a hopelessly romantic sales clerk, exchanges glances with a young restaurateur on the Metro, it's love at first sight. But fate keeps them from meeting, and we follow these two through the rest of their day as they continually intersect people who continually intersect each other.

My Two Cents: A typical "intersecting lives" film that plays itself out in an atypical manner.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

The Weather Man

The Weather Man (2005)

Chicago weatherman Dave Spitz (Nicolas Cage) gets one step closer to fame and fortune when he's invited to try out for a spot on a popular national morning show. All he has to do is pull himself together, but that proves increasingly difficult as his marriage spirals out of control and his father (Michael Caine) gets sicker. Dave soon learns that while he may be able to predict tomorrow's weather, he can't stop life from raining on his parade.

My Two Cents: Not sure I buy the elaborate metaphor that it force-feeds, but Cage's performance anchors a surprisingly good movie.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: There is a lot of good here, but even more vague mediocrity... perhaps the message just didn't connect with me.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It

The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice (2004)

William Shakespeare's incendiary drama about passion and justice amid an anti-Semitic atmosphere hits the screen again in this lush production starring Al Pacino. Lacking money to woo an heiress (Lynn Collins), smitten Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes) turns to his merchant friend, Antonio (Jeremy Irons), whose cash is tied up. But he secures a loan from Shylock (Pacino) on condition that if Antonio defaults, he'll pay with a pound of flesh -- literally.

My Two Cents: Classic deserves better than this lethargic offering; Solid acting (minus Pacino in Heat/Any Given Sunday mode).

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB: 7/10

The War Within

The War Within (2005)

After he's mistakenly arrested on suspicion of terrorism, Hassan (Ayad Akhtar), a Pakistani student, is so angry and offended that he joins the ranks of a New York-based terrorist cell that's planning an attack. But keeping his new life secret from his former best friend, Sayeed -- who's living the American Dream in New Jersey -- proves difficult, especially after Hassan falls in love with Sayeed's sister (Nandana Sen).

My Two Cents: Balanced and well-acted film that lends a face to a macrocosm that we see only snippets of on the news.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride (2005)

Set in 19th-century Europe, Tim Burton's animated tale centers on Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young man who, just as he's about to wed Victoria (Emily Watson), is sucked into the underworld by the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham-Carter), who desires Victor for herself. Victor is fascinated by the Land of the Dead, but nothing can stop him from trying to return to his true love. Albert Finney and Christopher Lee also lend their voices.

My Two Cents: Another Burton/Elfman collaboration that manages to blend humor with the morose and make it work

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

New Guy

New Guy (2004)

Gregg (Kelly Miller) is having a most unusual first day at the office. For starters, his cubicle is covered with Post-It notes, left by his predecessor who, Gregg discerns, did not depart on friendly terms. And the new guy's largely idle co-workers haven't exactly rolled out the welcome mat, either. Amid other bizarre events, Gregg slowly realizes that this corporation demands something far more ominous than a little overtime from its employees.

My Two Cents: I'm not sure what the point of this was... *yawn*

NetFlix Rank: Hated It
IMDB Rank: 1/10

My Oscar Predictions

The rundown on the six categories everyone cares about. Note: this is much tougher than last year. I'll try to see most of the contenders in 06. Scouts Honor.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Nominees: Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote," Terrence Howard in "Hustle & Flow," Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain," Joaquin Phoenix in "Walk the Line," David Strathairn in "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Will Win: Ledger. That movie's gonna clean up, I think.

Should Win: Hoffman. Sure it's the only one I saw, but he was outstanding.

Notable Snub: Andy Serkis, "King Kong." I'm only 25% joking.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Nominees: George Clooney in "Syriana," Matt Dillon in "Crash," Paul Giamatti in "Cinderella Man," Jake Gyllenhaal in "Brokeback Mountain," William Hurt in "A History of Violence" (New Line)

Will Win: Giametti. He was better in this performance than in "Sideways", and also has the "make-up" momentum going for him.

Should Win: Giametti.

Notable Snub: Ben Kingsley, "Oliver Twist."

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Nominees: Judi Dench in "Mrs. Henderson Presents," Felicity Huffman in "Transamerica," Keira Knightley in "Pride & Prejudice," Charlize Theron in "North Country," Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line"

Will Win: Witherspoon. Just a hunch.

Should Win: I have no frame of reference, but I hear Knightley was great.

Notable Snub: No opinion.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Nominees: Amy Adams in "Junebug," Catherine Keener in "Capote," Frances McDormand in "North Country," Rachel Weisz in "The Constant Gardener," Michelle Williams in "Brokeback Mountain"

Will Win: No idea. Williams?

Should Win: Weisz, but only because she was better than Keener, the only one of the other nominees I saw.

Notable Snub: Kirsten Dunst, "Elizabethtown." No, not really, but I did like her annoyingly cute character. Actually, how about Georgie Henley, "Narnia"? And I'm pretty serious. She was as good as Keener was.

Achievement in directing

Nominees: "Brokeback Mountain," Ang Lee; "Capote," Bennett Miller; "Crash," Paul Haggis; "Good Night, and Good Luck," George Clooney; "Munich," Steven Spielberg

Will Win: Lee. Is there any doubt?

Should win: For all I know it could be Lee. It isn't Spielberg.

Notable Snub: George Lucas. Yes, I'm joking.

Best motion picture of the year

Nominees: "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Munich"
Will Win: "Brokeback Mountain"

Should Win: "Capote" was the best of the three I saw.

Notable Snub: "Cinderella Man." It's not as egregious as some of the snubs from 04, but the only thing "Munich" had on it was the director's name.

My Final 2005 Movie List

I still have not yet seen many of the movies from 2005 that you'll hear about Sunday evening during the Oscar telecast. For that I aplogize. They are all in my NetFlix queue, so feel free to check back in the coming weeks and months for my thoughts on them, but for the purpose of discussing the Oscars my opinions will be incomplete.

But no matter... here is a comprehensive ranking of all the films I have seen from 2005.

The Great
1. Cinderella Man
2. Capote
3. The Constant Gardener
4. Elizabethtown
5. King Kong

The Good
6. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
7. Broken Flowers
8. Crash
9. Batman Begins
10. Munich
11. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
12. Oliver Twist
13. Happy Endings
14. Domino
15. Wedding Crashers

The Ehhh
16. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
17. Hustle & Flow
18. Kingdom of Heaven
19. Four Brothers
20. The Interpreter
21. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
22. Lord of War
23. The Upside of Anger
24. The Island
25. Hitch
26. The Forty Year-Old Virgin
27. Waiting
28. American Pie Presents: Band Camp
29. Bad News Bears
30. Red Eye

The Bad
31. Sin City
32. War of the Worlds
33. Elektra
34. The Longest Yard
35. Fantastic Four
36. The Dukes of Hazzard
37. The Exorcism of Emily Rose

The Ugly
38. Stealth

Capote

Capote (2005)

Flamboyant yet mysterious, writer Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who penned the elegant Breakfast at Tiffany's, was the toast of New York society. But he was also able to channel the grit and grime of what may be one of the most notorious murder cases in Kansas history with his novel In Cold Blood. In researching the crime, Capote found himself in a dance with the devil: the ringleader behind the killings (Clifton Collins Jr.). Special features include two commentary tracks, a documentary and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

My Two Cents: Stirring sort-of biopic of a manipulative, miserable human being; dreary and outstanding.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB: 9/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: "Pointless, Irrelevant, Unnecessary"... Void of purpose or meaning, there's no reason I should care...and I don't.

NetFlix Rank: Hated It

Munich

Munich (2005)

In this thriller based on actual events, Palestinian terrorists hold hostage and ultimately kill a group of Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. In the tragic aftermath of the infamous murders, a Mossad agent (Eric Bana) tracks down the assassins. Ciarán Hinds and Geoffrey Rush co-star in this film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Tony Kushner (award-winning playwright of "Angels in America").

My Two Cents: Overlooking its PC apologies, a bland film that makes me think Spielberg is just going through the motions these days.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10