In 2005, the 'Best Picture' award went to "Crash". I recently ate from that dish and liked it more than previously. I have gone back and forth in my mind, considering who should have won that year. I declined interest and willingness to view one of the nominated films of 2005, "Brokeback Mountain", in which I hear the performances were stellar. I just find the film's content dissatisfying in my mind. I have yet to sit down and watch "Good Night, and Good Luck", so my final word for the 2005 'Best Picture' will be partial. The other films nominated in 2005 include "Capote" and "Munich".
"Capote" had a great performance by one of my favorite actors in Philip Seymour Hoffman. However, the story wasn't something I had a need for, and when I saw it, it wasn't something I cared for. It rode solely on the performance of Hoffman, and having just a great performance doesn't merit greatest film of the year.
"Capote"
7.5 / 10
Moving down to the last film nominated and seen by me, is "Munich". The film felt more like an Obama speech. Full of words and supposed meaning, but just didn't mean anything to me. It felt like a mess of shots which could be good, but somehow find ways not to be so good. The film feels produced by the liberals of America. The more exciting part of the film is in its opening, and the film just gets more and more boring from there. The performances were good, but again, just not about anything I could care about in the way it was portrayed. I think if anyone can do this type of film, it could be the creator of "Schindler's List" in Spielberg, but like the more recent works of Spielberg, his current works are tainting his legacy a bit. It is hard to find a solid, clean, one answer to a problem in a vague film with vague problems, and they try too hard to do that. I feel like an animated film starring 2 brick walls arguing via bubble dialog would be more interesting.
"Munich"
6.5 / 10
So, now, we move to the crowned champion in "Crash". The film, with many stars, was performed very well. I don't have a complaint for a single performance in the film, at the same time there are solid or better performances from every other person in the film. The story is a unique one, in just how a single person, or persons can affect others in very unique ways. I don't care tremendously for most of the situations the writer created for some of the drama but it does suffice. On another note, I always knew Matt Dillon was cheating us on everything he has ever been in before this, he has talent inside there somewhere... and I'll give the same nod to Brendan Fraser. The script feels a bit thick, or layered, which is good, but some moments feel a bit too forced, or convenient. Overall I like some of the questions asked in the film, or at least portions of some of the questions, more than that of the other 2 nominated films I have seen.
"Crash"
7.5 / 10
Other mentionable films of 2005 really don't have a tremendous argument for contention over "Crash", but perhaps some of the others, or at least some honor. "Sin City" brought a brand new unique look to the screen with some good things to look at. Star Wars Episode III and King Kong... which I feel fine in both's achievements. But then there is "A History of Violence" and "Walk the Line", which deserve some mentioning in talks of at least my own top 5 of the year.
