The 2005 Report Card

Matthew Toomey

10 January 2006

Now it’s time for my annual report card where I look at the past 12 months in the world of cinema.  And so, here it is…

Best Films:  Million Dollar Baby, Sideways, Good Night & Good Luck

Worst Films:  Fun With Dick & Jane, XXX 2: The Next Level, Boogeyman

Why I Love Foreign Language Films:  Downfall, Turtles Can Fly, Russian Dolls

Why I Love Black Comedies:  Sideways, Look Both Ways, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, Look At Me

Why I Love Documentaries:  The Wild Parrots Of Telegraph Hill, DiG!, Murderball, Enron

Why I Hate Predictable Romantic Comedies:  The Wedding Date, Perfect Catch, A Lot Like Love

Why I Hate Unrealistic Action Movies:  XXX 2: The Next Level, Transporter 2, Elektra, Fantastic Four

Proof That Most Sequels Suck:  XXX 2: The Next Level, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Transporter 2, The Ring 2

Hardest Movie To Make Myself Go & See:  The Spongebob Squarepants Movie

Without A Doubt, The Best Australian Film Of The Year:  Look Both Ways

Without A Doubt, The Worst Australian Film Of The Year:  Josh Jarman

I Don’t Understand It But I Like It:  Birth

I Don’t Understand It And I Didn’t Like It:  Broken Flowers

Biggest Surprise Of The Year:  Batman Begins

Biggest Disappointment Of The Year:  Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

Films So Good I Had To See Twice:  Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Russian Dolls

A Decent Film Ruined By A Silly, Crowd-Pleasing Ending:  War Of The Worlds

Over-hyped Oscar Nominees:  The Aviator, Closer, Ray

Most Surprising Nude Scene:  Alexis Dziena in Broken Flowers

Most Shocking Nude Scene:  Bob Hoskins in Mrs Henderson Presents

Most Critics Hated But I Didn’t Mind:  Stay, Guess Who

Breakout Actress Of The Year:  Rachel McAdams (Wedding Crashers, Red Eye, The Family Stone)

Actress In Need Of A Career Change:  Katie Holmes (Batman Begins, First Daughter, everything with Tom Cruise)

Breakout Actor Of The Year:  Paul Giamatti  (Sideways, Cinderella Man)

Actor In Need Of A Career Change:  Tom Cruise (War Of The Worlds, everything with Katie Holmes)

Longest Movie Title Of The Year:  Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School

Shortest Movie Title Of The Year:  P.S.

Total Films Reviewed In 2005:  210

Films I’m Most Looking Forward To In 2006:  Capote, Match Point

Films I’m Least Looking Forward To In 2006:  Mission: Impossible 3, Basic Instinct 2, The Shaggy Dog