Posted in: Articles
Exploring our favourite films in the year 2005
In this blog series, George and Matt from the Monitor Audio team explore their favourite movies from the last 20 years.
Our selection of films may not be critically acclaimed or box office hits, but have stood the test of time as our favourite movies.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know your favourite movies from the year 2005 on Facebook and Twitter!
Sin City - George's Top Pick
Dir: Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller | Miramax
Based on his graphic novel, Director Frank Miller presents this violent film noir, set in the unforgiving Sin City.
The Salesman (Josh Hartnett), an assassin, narrates a number of tragic tales, intertwined with one another around Basin City, Washington. As the plot is revealed in reverse order, we find Detective Hartigan (Bruce Willis), a veteran police officer, chasing down child-killer Junior (Nick Stahl), the son of a corrupt senator. As Junior holds eleven-year-old Nancy Callahan hostage, Hartigan has a heart attack, but seemingly kills Junior to save Nancy.
In another story, Muscle-bound vigilante Marv (Mickey Rourke) wakes to find Goldie (Jaime King) dead beside him, and flees after being framed, tearing through the criminal underworld to avenge her death. After eventually finding and slaying Kevin (Elijah Wood), Goldie’s killer, cops threaten the life of Marv’s mother, and he is blackmailed into confessing to Goldie’s murder, sentenced to the electric chair. The final tale finds Shellie (Brittany Murphy) being harassed by her ex Rafferty (Benicio Del Toro) before her new boyfriend Dwight (Clive Owen) intervenes, chasing him to the red-light district of Old Town. There, Rafferty threatens one of the residents, and is subsequently killed. As Dwight discovers that Rafferty is a Basin City detective; he must cover up his death, whilst fighting against an incoming mob invasion.
As we revisit Hartigan, we find that Junior has survived and with the senator threating to frame Hartigan for his son’s crimes, he wilfully goes to prison in order to keep Nancy (Jessica Alba) safe. Eight years later, realising Nancy is in danger, he sets to finish what he started with Junior.
An exhilarating experience with an ensemble cast, also featuring Rosario Dawson, Michael Clarke Duncan and Michael Madsen. With adrenaline fuelled action sequences, the film, rendered in black and white, with splashes of red, provides a visual masterpiece.
The Descent - Matt's Top Pick
Dir: Neil Marshall | Pathé
This smart psychological horror from Director Neil Marshall takes you to the very depths of darkness in a fight for survival.
Six friends, Sarah, Juno, Beth, Sam, Rebecca, and Holly reunite for a spelunking adventure in the Appalachian Mountains, one year after Sarah lost her husband and daughter in a car accident. Still in mourning, Sarah is struggling but hopes that this will help take her mind away from the accident. As they descend into the caves, they soon become trapped after a passage collapses behind them, leaving them with little light. Juno admits that the cave system is unexplored and nobody has been notified of the group’s whereabouts, prior to entering.
After discovering climbing equipment and a painting from a previous occupant, they continue on in hope of finding an exit. After Holly falls, breaking her leg, the group help to move her, before Sarah spots a creature wandering the claustrophobic cave. As they move in the direction they saw it, the group unintentionally splits up. After discovering a den of human remains and animal carcasses, the creatures, labelled as “crawlers”, attack them and as they all move in different directions, they become easy prey. The blind cave dwellers are well suited to the dark environment, killing the friends one at a time, until only Sarah remains. After witnessing her friends get brutally attacked, Sarah initially breaks down, but using her remaining energy, fights to the surface, or does she.
Avoiding CGI, the hideous prosthetics were extremely effective. The first time we see the creature was so well executed, although I kind of expected it, I let out a noise I’ve never heard before, or since. I really did appreciate walking outside the moment the film ended. The final scene watching Sarah descend to the very pits whilst seeping into madness is terrifying.
An incredible all-female cast, a story of betrayal and an unnerving setting provides us with one of the greatest horror stories, which is exhausting, for all the right reasons.
Batman Begins
Dir: Christopher Nolan | Warner Bros.
The first in Director Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, Batman Begins resurrects the masked crusader in a dark retelling of his origins.
After the botched mugging and consequent murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is orphaned, raised by Alfred (Michael Caine) the family butler. Fourteen years later, whilst overseeing operations on his families company, Wayne Enterprises, Bruce plans to murder the man who killed his parents, but is beaten to it by mafia boss Falcone (Tom Wilkinson). Immersing himself in the criminal underworld, Bruce meets Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson), who recruits him into the League of Shadows, a society that uses chaos to punish the corrupt, training him in martial arts. Hell-bent on clearing up the crime in Gotham City, he returns and teams up with Wayne Enterprises employee Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), to help him develop a protective bodysuit, taking on the persona of Batman.
Sergeant Gordon (Gary Oldman) becomes reliant on Batman, but soon they face a bigger threat. Donning a scarecrow mask, crooked psychologist Dr. Crane (Cillian Murphy), together with Ra al Ghul, intend on releasing a drug into Gotham's water supply, causing panic to its occupants. After Ra al Ghul attempts to kill Bruce, he is saved by Alfred and with the help of Gordon; they must stop his old mentor from destroying the city. Upon catching Crane, he despatches of Ra al Ghul, before the drug can reach the central water source. After his promotion, Lieutenant Gordon gives Batman a new lead, a criminal who leaves behind his Joker playing cards.
A superb revamp from Nolan, who sets a lighting fast pace throughout, getting the tone just right. With fantastic casting and a fitting score from Hans Zimmer, Batman Begins is gritty and bold.
With a psychological twist on the caped superhero, this film single-handedly salvaged the franchise, with a more menacing look at Batman and Gotham’s residents.
A History of Violence
Dir: David Cronenberg | New Line Cinema
Director David Cronenberg provides a suspenseful thriller in what seems to be a clear case of mistaken identity.
Set in the fictional town of Millbrook, Indiana, the Stall family, Tom (Viggo Mortensen), his wife Edie (Maria Bello) and their two children all live a quiet life, until its turned upside down when Tom prevents a vicious robbery attempt in his diner.
One evening, whilst closing up the diner, two men hold the staff, including Tom and the remaining customers hostage, before Tom foils the robbery, effortlessly killing both men. After being hailed a hero, much to his dismay, his face appears all over the local news and the media circus soon brings unwanted attention from an Irish Mob in Philadelphia. Gangster Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris) is convinced Tom Stall is actually Joey Cusack, an ex hitman for the mob and after showing up at the café to confront him, he is soon turned away by Tom, Edie and then the local police. After Fogarty later shows up at Stall’s home with two henchmen, demanding he goes back to Philadelphia, Tom reluctantly but efficiently kills the henchmen. After being wounded, his son Jack kills Fogarty, but not before Tom confesses to them all that he is Joey.
In hospital, after being confronted about his past, he admits to the many atrocities in his past, telling Edie that he is trying to escape his criminal life. The seemingly gentle and calm man that she married is in fact a hardened killer. As they return home, the local police question whether the accusations are true and if he is in a witness protection program. After Edie lies for him, Tom receives a phone call from his brother Richie (William Hurt) who demands his return. Knowing his family will be in danger if he doesn’t, he returns to Philadelphia to settle the score with his brother. As Tom hopes to make peace, his brother has other intentions.
Cronenberg produces an intense and tantalising story, with a wonderful performance from Mortensen, which keeps you guessing, with a grim but satisfying end.
Syriana
Dir: Stephen Gaghan | Warner Bros.
This political thriller from Director Stephen Gaghan focuses on the global influence of the oil industry and their ramifications.
After losing control of oil fields in the Persian Gulf kingdom, American lawyer Bennett Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) is in charge of facilitating a dubious merger of oil companies Connex Oil and Killen. Elsewhere Switzerland-based energy analyst Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) attends a private party in Spain, hosted by Prince Nasir, the al-Subaai family’s foreign minister. The al-Subaai family rules the Persian Gulf oil fields, which is of interest to Woodman’s firm. As Woodman and his family are shown around the estate, Woodman’s son is fatally electrocuted upon entering the pool area, due to a fault. Prince Nasir offers Woodman's company oil interests worth $75 million, out of sympathy, which is initially turned down, but later, Woodman becomes his economic advisor.
The CIA is trying to stop illegal arms trafficking in the Middle East, notably a missing anti-aircraft missile, headed by veteran agent Bob Barnes (George Clooney). After finding out the Egyptian’s had acquired the missile, the CIA identifies Prince Nasir as the financier behind the deal, assigning Barnes to assassinate him. Once the CIA’s plans become public news, they portray Barnes as a rogue agent and when Barnes finds out that Prince Nasir was not responsible for the stolen arms, he sets out to the Middle East to warn him of the assassination plan.
As the film comes to a close, Barnes approaches the Princes convoy, which includes his family and Woodman, but is too late, when a drone strikes, killing all but Woodman.
An extremely sobering watch, when you consider just how accurate the subject matter is. Syriana is a truly complex film, which demands your full attention, as you understand every act along with their devastating implications.
Kung Fu Hustle
Dir: Stephen Chow | Columbia Pictures
This action comedy from Director and lead Stephen Chow combines incredible and comical martial arts for an action-packed epic.
When woeful duo Sing (Stephen Chow) and Bone (Feng Xiaogang) pretend to be members of the formidable Axe Gang, in order to scam dwellers in the decrepit Pig Sty Alley, the real Axe Gang pay the duo a visit.
In 1940s Shanghai, Sing, along with dopey friend Bone, are petty crooks, desperate to join the Axe Gang. After a minor Axe Gang member overhears them, along with some enforcers, they chase the pair down to their slum, but are quickly defeated by the unlikeliest of sources, tenants Coolie, Tailor and Donut, who are in fact three legendary retired kung fu masters. After the leader of the gang, Brother Sum, learns of the defeat, he captures Sing and Bone, but after they cleverly escape, Sum gives them a chance to work for the gang. After failed attempts to impress Sum, Sing resigns himself to being a failure, until he discovers he has powers.
Sum hires two assassins, named The Harpists, to kill the kung fu masters, but as other members of Pig Sty Alley also reveal themselves to be masters, they defeat the assassins. Finally legendary assassin Beast is released from an asylum by Sum to fight and kill them all, but not before Sing has a change of heart and is soon embroiled in a colossal fight, before Beast eventually bows down.
Kung Fu Hustle is visually outstanding and produces some of the most ridiculous fight scenes I’ve ever seen, with incredible sequences throughout. It’s a real roller-coaster ride, packed with infectious humour and although the physics border on the absurd, its wonderful entertainment.
Crash
Dir: Paul Haggis | Lionsgate Films
Controversial subject matter as racial and social tensions collide, in this drama from Director Paul Haggis, we follow several connected stories from those with vastly separate lives.
Set in the aftermath of 9/11, in Los Angeles, we see Police Detectives Waters (Don Cheadle) and his partner Ria (Jennifer Esposito), who are also romantically involved, slowly become estranged over his sensitive views on race. As Graham and Ria reach the scene of a murder, tension quickly turns into anguish. Rick (Brendan Fraser) is an L.A. district attorney whose wife, Jean (Sandra Bullock), makes no secret of being a xenophobe, after they are carjacked by street criminals Anthony (Ludacris) and Peter (Larenz Tate). Whilst getting their house locks changed, Jean falsely suspects Daniel, the locksmith (Michael Peña), to be a gangster, due to his descent and general appearance.
Softly spoken movie director Cameron (Terrence Howard) and his wife Christine (Thandie Newton) are pulled over by bigoted Sergeant Ryan (Matt Dillon) and his partner Officer Hansen (Ryan Phillippe). After Ryan molests Christine in front of her husband, Hansen, disgusted with his partner’s actions, lets them go and decides to police alone. As Cameron struggles to cope, carjackers Anthony and Peter pounce, but Cameron fights back, fighting them men off, before a further confrontation with Officer Hansen. After a traffic accident, a woman is fighting for her life, but not before Sergeant Ryan shows up to save her, before unwittingly realising it’s Christine.
Later Officer Hansen pulls over to pick up a hitchhiking Peter, but after a misunderstanding, he shoots and kills Peter, leaving him in nearby bushes. As Detective Waters searches the scene of the crime, it turns out Peter is his missing brother.
Alongside a sombre score by Mark Isham, as the unsettling stories interweave, we witness race, class and gender play a part in these characters everyday life, including the prejudice that comes with it.
Flightplan
Dir: Robert Schwentke | Buena Vista Pictures
This psychological thriller from Director Robert Schwentke provides a claustrophobic setting, as a woman struggles with her own demons, whilst trying to convince everyone, including herself, that her daughter has been kidnapped on a treacherous flight.
Aviation designer and engineer Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster) is taking her recently deceased husbands body back to the U.S. from Berlin, along with Julia, her 6-year-old daughter. As they settle on the flight, Kyle takes a short nap, but when she awakes, Julia, along with her belongings, are nowhere to be found. As she starts to become frantic, the flight attendant’s intervene and soon Captain Rich (Sean Bean) is called, but after a sweeping search, there is no sign of Julia. The manifest declares that Kyle was alone and believing her to be unbalanced and confused, due to the stress of her husband’s death, the Captain along with flight attendant Stephanie suspects that she has imagined it.
Once Captain Rich has a notification from a hospital in Berlin that Julia died along with Kyle’s husband, he orders Carson (Peter Sarsgaard), a marshal to guard and handcuff her. After visiting the bathroom, Kyle manages to escape through a hatch and understanding the layout of the aircraft that she herself designed, she carries out her own comprehensive search, disrupting the electronics on-board. Believing Julia to be hiding inside her husband’s casket, she opens it, but there is no sign of her. After Carson and Stephanie are later revealed to be behind a plot to frame Kyle and claim a $50 million ransom, she must convince Captain Rich of their intentions, whilst continuing her exhausting search of the aircraft.
An energetic and commanding performance from Jodie Foster, as her characters paranoia and vulnerability are clear for all to see.
Despite its flaws, it’s a compact and compelling film, with great craftsmanship from Schwentke, offering suspense until the very end.
Munich
Dir: Steven Spielberg | DreamWorks Pictures
The dramatic story from Director Steven Spielberg, based on true events, recounts the aftermath of the 1972 Munich massacre.
After the Palestinian terrorist group Black September kills eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Avner Kaufman (Eric Bana) is tasked with tracking down the culprits. Kaufman, a Mossad Intelligence agent, is assigned to assassinate the eleven Palestinians, who posed as athletes, allegedly involved in the massacre. To ensure the Israeli government aren’t held responsible, he resigns from Mossad. Avner leads his own covert team, consisting of four Jewish volunteers, driver Steve, explosives expert Robert, former soldier Carl and document forger Hans. As Operation Wrath of God begins, they receive intelligence from French informant, Louis, on the whereabouts of those involved.
The team travel across the globe, but as they track and kill each member of the Black September group, Avner and his team begin to question their own ethics and principles. The thought of accidentally killing innocent people, whilst also thinking about their own lives back home weigh heavy on each of them, but its ultimately put down to collateral damage. As they arrive in London to assassinate Black Septembers chief of operations Ali Hassan Salameh, the man who orchestrated the attack, CIA agents stop them. After Carl and Hans are themselves assassinated by a Dutch contract killer, Avner and Steve get revenge before a further attempt on Salameh fails.
Upon his return to New York, he is hailed a hero, but broken; Avner develops PTSD, later leaving the Israeli agency behind, dismayed at their political ties and unconvinced that the targets were indeed involved in the Munich massacre.
Bana is electrifying and thought provoking in the lead. A real political statement from Spielberg, dealing with some heavy subject matter in this emotionally charged thriller. The cost of revenge is a true moral dilemma, making you question whether violence was really the answer.
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
Dir: Shane Black | Warner Bros.
In his directorial debut, action thriller writer Shane Black brings us a dark comedy/neo-noir crime film full of twists and slick style.
After fleeing a botched burglary, Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into a film audition, whilst evading police. He unintentionally impresses the casting director, hiring him for the role of a private investigator. To give him real-world experience, he’s teamed up with Perry (Val Kilmer), a real private investigator. At a party they meet retired actor Harlan Dexter, who recently resolved a feud over his wife’s inheritance, with his daughter Veronica.
During their first stakeout, they witness two thugs dumping a car containing a female corpse in a lake. Childhood sweetheart Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) contacts Harry, telling him that her sister Jenna committed suicide and asks him to investigate her death. Harry discovers the corpse from the lake and is identified as Veronica Dexter.
Up to the conclusion, the film takes many twists and turns associated with the classic crime noir genre, with room for dark humour laced throughout. It was the film that really saw the comeback of Downey Jr. after his troubles in the late 90s and featured great performances from the rest of the cast.
Honorable Mentions:
Brokeback Mountain
Dir: Ang Lee | Focus Features
The Business
Dir: Nick Love | Pathé
Memoirs of a Geisha
Dir: Rob Marshall | Sony Pictures Releasing
Capote
Dir: Bennett Miller | Sony Pictures Classics
Wedding Crashers
Dir: David Dobkin | New Line Cinema
Check out more of our favourites
