25 In 25: My Favorite Films of the First Quarter Century

2004

This was one of the most interesting years when trying to find what I truly loved, then and now.

Because Kill Bill was supposed to be one film, Quentin Tarantino had Volume Two locked and loaded for a 2004 release, just one year after Volume One. And you would think, after I spoke so highly of Volume One, the second part would've easily taken the honors here. But, alas, it has not.

Spiderman 2 was a phenomenal sequel that is still considered one of the best comic book films ever made. But the Incredibles released this year as well, and also tries to steal that claim yearly!

Anchorman, a comedy starring Will Ferrell, completely took over my life during its release... so much so, one of my band's albums had quotes from the film as the working titles for all the songs.

But the film I loved most upon release will shock some of you. It's also one of the films that would shape me as a hospitality worker... and that film is Sideways.

A few years ago, The Holdovers came out, directed by Alexander Payne. In my review of that film, I had the following statement that epitomizes why I loved Sideways: "In some way, I feel like Alexander Payne makes movies just for me. The 70's aesthetic, the character studies, the real worldness... It's all I want to see when I go to the cinema.  And Payne REALLY knows how to get the very best out of Paul Giamatti."

His films are quiet, but they have so much to say. They delve into people who have real issues that we can all relate to. They make us laugh. They make us cry. They make us think. What more could anyone ask of cinema?

Sideways exudes those qualities in spades. And Giamatti is at his eccentric best in this one... Joined by an always phenomenal Thomas Haden Church and Sanda Oh.

When I said a few days ago that time and maturity can significantly alter one's perspective on a film, this is one of the films I had in mind. And not only does my opinion of the material change as I understand it more, but my opinion of the actors also changes. Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, both about to embark on different aspects of their career, lead my modern favorite of 2004... Collateral.

Michael Mann can shoot LA. He makes you feel the city. He transports the viewer to the heart of the city. And regardless of how he portrays the traffic of LA and how characters get from point A to point B, he nails what it's like to be in LA. This film especially showcases that aspect of his filmmaking. LA is a full-on character in Collateral.

When it comes to the lead actors, Cruise is in artist mode... moments before he becomes jumping-on-the-couch lunatic/franchise action star. His portrayal of Vincent is cold and calculating, but also convincing. He moves like a hitman would... unnoticed until he wants you to notice him. Simply a stellar performance.

And opposite Cruise is Jamie Foxx. Moments away from Ray changing the trajectory of his acting career playing Max, the cab driver hired by Vincent as driver/accomplice. Max tries so hard to reach the morality of Vincent.... or at least tries to understand why he has no morals... and Foxx plays that desperation so well. Desperate without seeming scared, but from his eyes, we can tell Foxx's Max is scared for his life.

And then there's the jazz club scene. One of the best scenes in modern film with tension you can almost see!!