Film 2004 Recommendations

For those who haven't already been gifted with this list, a reference copy.

These are the movies I saw in 2004 that I want all my friends to see so we can talk about them. Or I'd like to force my friends to watch with me so they can admire my good taste.

After the title I have listed the Rotten Tomatoes Freshness Rating [0-100%] and the *Ke*n*s* star ratings [***** Must See; **** Recommended; *** Good; ** Lame; * Bad; :0 Awful]


Film 2004 Recommendations

1. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring [96%] *****

Ken: Visually brilliant. Thematically rich. Full of narrative surprise. Extra Korean.

2. Triplets of Belleville [96%] *****

Ken: Extra French. Don't need subtitles... tells story visually. And brilliantly. Great music. Pure fun and amazement.

3. Yi Yi [96%] *****

Ken: Extra Taiwanese. Great people stories told with charm and delicate irony. But the little kid just kicks ass.

4. Touching the Void [93%] *****

Ken: Great adventure film. Beautiful, amazing, deadly scenery. Men with Gloriously Bad Ideas Live to Tell About It. Kinda English.

5. The Incredibles [99%] **** Entertainment

Ken: Perfect movie. Totally satisying. Not deep or profound. But it has so much charm it throws it away in crates. All American, ina good way.

6. Zus & Zo [44%] ****

Ken: Extra Dutch. Extra Modern Life. Very fine, very sweet, romantic comedy with lots of sour and spicy sauce.

7. Medea [80%] **** Exploration

Ken: Probably my favorite of all, but epic and grim. Not for everyone. I love Greek Tragedy, and Scandanavian gloom. Extra Danish, but made from Greek ingredients. Directed by Lars von Trier from an unpublished screenplay by Carl Theodor Dreyer [The Passion of Joan of Arc, silent, 1928] from Euripides' play.

8. Hero [94%] **** Entertainment

Ken: Hong Kong epic martial hero trappings married beautifully to a charmingly complex narrative of conflicting narrators, with grand themes. Not profound. But gloriously visualized, charmingly exotic fantasy. Yup. You guessed it. Extra Chinese.

9. Vera Drake [89%] **** Exploration

Ken: Mike Leigh is the director. Leisurely, patient slice of life illuminated by a profound theme and touching earnestness of character. Not fun, but grand.

10. Sideways [96%] **** Entertainment
Two men go on an excursion and end up inducing mid-life crises in this comedy-drama. Pinot Noir lover Miles (Paul Giamatti) convinces friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) to enjoy his last days of bachelorhood with a wine country road trip. Miles tries to teach Jack about wine, but Jack just wants a final fling. The pair get involved with two women (Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen) and inevitably come face to face with their past and their present.

Ken: A real nice comedy featuring two not-very-lovable buddies. Purely entertaining and satisfying. Some romance. Okay. Pretty Californian.

11. Nowhere in Africa [84%] ***

Ken: Shortly before World War II, a Jewish couple and their young daughter emigrate to Kenya from Germany to escape the Nazis. Well, THIS one is German and African. Interesting visit to another time and another world. A domestic drama with a difference -- history and high themes.

12. Control Room [96%] *****

Ken: Okay. I don't know if it was MADE by Arabs, but it is an excellent and persuasive perspective on the complex stuff going on over there. Very interesting people with very thoughtful ideas and compelling principles. Glad to know something about Al Jazeera besides what our Government tells us.