Popcultureboy's Top Ten Films of 2004 — Page 3

Sadly, I think Ray and Finding Neverland will take the fourth and fifth spots.

My lineup would read:

1. Kinsey
2. The Aviator
3. Sideways
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
5. Million Dollar Baby

But I'm seeing Hotel Rwanda Thursday (for free!) so I may change my mind. I do not think Kinsey will be nominated for Best Picture, btw, but that's obviously what we both want.

Virginia Madsen won supporting actress tonight. Ugh.

And I wasn't thrilled with Hilary Swank's win either. She has played the tough girl enough times (now the Karate Kid is boxing?). She also completely flew under the radar after Boys Don't Cry and it wasn't because she wasn't getting offers.

The Academy Award for Best Lead Actress is owed to Kate Winslet for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This will be her fourth nomination if she gets it. And oh, she'd surely cry for us if she won. Isn't that part of what Oscars are about for those of us who aren't screen stars? The satisfaction of seeing the winner emotionally satisfied, rather than calm and unsurprised as Jamie Foxx, Virginia Madsen and Alexander Payne will be if they win in their respective categories?

The only category in which I wouldn't mind Finding Neverland winning is Supporting Actor, but even then I'd be partial to Thomas Haden Church and Peter Sarsgaard. Morgan Freeman shouldn't win for playing another variation on the "Mystical Negro." If they're going to give him an Oscar, it should be for a role that's more respectful to him as a talented actor and an African-American. Directors and screenwriters can make him the center of a film if they want, but that's just it... they don't want to do that.

Updated On: 1/10/05 at 10:37 PM

Once again, here's my top 10.

1. The Aviator
2. Kill Bill: Vol. 2
3. Million Dollar Baby
4. Sideways
5. Before Sunset
6. Spider-Man 2
7. The Phantom of the Opera
8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
9. The Life Aquatic
10. Mean Girls

I still believe that Blanchett deserves it. Madsen was great, but Blanchett was... stunning as Hepburn. I'm surprised there's no buzz on her yet.

Swank was great, and gave a faultless performance. However, I agree with you, Munkustrap. Staunton (who should have won), Bening, Thurman, and Moreno were superior. Winslet was good, too.

I'm just waiting for Julianne Moore to get long-deserved Oscar.

I believe that Moore disappears into each role beautifully, almost as if it's a different actress. IMHO, she is one of the best living screen actresses.

As for her not deserving any Oscars... the following performances should have merited her the Golden Dude:

Boogie Nights
Safe
Far From Heaven
Magnolia

Updated On: 1/10/05 at 11:42 PM

And I just had a terrible thought that Kate may be the next Julianne Moore - double nominated at the Oscars and still losing in both categories!

NOOOO KAAAAATE!

Oh, Kate...she really is marvelous.

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I terribly disagree that Julianne played both characters from The Hours and Far From Heaven the same. I think you should rewatch both those films!

And don't forget The End of the Affair. That was a year when people said she gave 5 worthy Oscar performances.

Cate Blanchett IS getting buzz. It's just that Madsen has the edge so far.

The buzz on Best Actress (currently) is that it's a 3 way race between Stauton, Swank, and Bening. I love Kate, too, but I don't think it will happen this year.

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You people are so lucky to have like so many films. I saw about 30 films this year, and can't think of 10 that I liked. I suppose my favorite was "The Village". I love the atmosphere of that film. I also liked "The Aviator" and "Finding Neverland". Also, "The Day After Tomorrow" was mindless fun. But, for the most part, this was my least favorite year at the movies. Even Julie Andrews couldn't save "Princess Diaries 2" for me. I just hated it.

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You're only allowed 10, jrb.

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I'm sure you do! All at the same time, or one after the other?

A more on topic comment would be that I saw Million Dollar Baby and I loved it very much. Unlike my reaction to Bad Eduaction though, I thought to myself "let's see what can beat this". When I saw Bad Education, my thought was "nothing will beat this."

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