I haven’t seen all of them obviously, but The World and Moolaade are waaaaaaaaay ahead of Sideways in every way.
The Aviator was the best film of 2004, and if you count the final cut of Alexander, it deserves recognition as well.
I haven’t watched the final cut of Alexander, but got it out of a Wal-Mart $5 bin. Wanted to like it (and was majorly disappointed) when I saw it theatrically, so I may still hope Stone redeems himself, if/when I ever watch it.
I don’t get the Aviator love around here; I just thought it a decent enough awards season epic biopic. Do most of you feel that it just does that really, really well? Or is it more that that to you?
I like Sideways a lot, but admit that it is more of what sentimental women’s family or friendship dramas would play like if they made more of them for men.
No, I’m think it was pushed heavily by the studio because it reflected a state of being that many middle aged male film executives could relate to, rather like Lost in Translation seemed to be as well. Neither were as brilliant as the industry would like us to believe.
2046, now that was a great movie, and Hotel Rwanda was very underrated.
Hotel Rwanda was very well-received by critics, wasn’t it? Not really underrated.
Good point on Lost in Translation; I guess I’d let the female director obscure the middle-aged rich white guy appeal.
I’m too lazy to look up Best Foreign Film ‘04, but 2046 was great, and I know that wasn’t it. I’ve always felt that a bit of a ghetto category, but it’s not like the Academy (or even most mainstream critics) would pay much attention to most “foreign” films otherwise.
Deckard, yes you’re right, 2004 seems such a long time ago.
Hotel Rwanda did pretty well at the box office (grossing something like $33 million), yes critics did love it, it was meant to send Don Cheadle’s career stratopheric, and it’s number 104 in the IMDB top 250.
Whoops
Team America, Dead Man’s Shoes or The Reckoning were also cool in 2004. Otherwise, i don’t know which movie could be the best:).
Inland Empire
Old Boy
a million times better
best film of the decade.
Every movie listed here so far is better than Sideways.
So the anser is NO!
No, that honor goes to “Before Sunset,” with Collateral coming in almost neck and neck with it.
Man, I was so incredibly excited about Before Sunset. I could not believe they were making it. I loved it, too. Baby, you are gonna miss that plane.
No, I’m think it was pushed heavily by the studio because it reflected a state of being that many middle aged male film executives could relate to
Absolutely. I thought it was lousy – I didn’t find it technically all that interesting, I’ve driven around in the California countryside and thus didn’t find the armchair tourist angle very interesting either, and – as angsty characters go – these very special un-special characters’ angst is especially, conventionally dull.
I think I liked Harold & Kumar more.
Count me in the column for Before Sunset, too.
And I will give props to The Dreamers and Million Dollar Baby as well. This was one of those times The Academy almost got it right by giving the latter its award.
Sideways is good, not great. I remember reading a review back then that compared it to Five Easy Pieces. I think my head almost split.
Jonathan Glazer’s Birth was the best of 2004, in my very humble, insignificant opinion.
I have to agree with Luke, Sideways was the best film of 2004. One of my favorites.
Overrated! Good script and acting. But visually dull.
One of my favorites as well. Loved the film, and thought it was the best of that year.
House of flying daggers
In the year that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind came out, I can’t condone any other film being considered the best of 2004. (It would easily make the top 5 though.)
Ugh. The hype around Sideways made me vomit. It’s a good film with a funny script and good performances all around. But for Christ’s sake, when it first came out, people were acting like it was some sort of genius, perfect film. It isn’t. I own the film on DVD (because I found it brand new for $3). It’s good, but not great. And far from the best film of ’04. Nearly every film mentioned on this thread was better. Personally, count me in for Eternal Sunshine…. That film is a knockout.
No. I’d say either Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Million Dollar Baby. Alexander Payne’s Election from 1999 should have gotten the praise Sideways did.
I think both Sideways and Eternal Sunshine…are fantastic but if I had to pick I’d go for Sideways. I saw it a very crucial moment in my filmgoing life and it remains one of my all time favourites.
It may not be the best film of 2004, but Sideways is smart, funny, and engaging. It’s also really well written and acted. It’s a small gem and I do love it.
However, I think Eternal Sunshine is probably a little more sophisticated and more of a “masterpiece.”
I just don’t understand people’s fascination with Kill Bill, or with Tarantino for that matter. He’s like the JC Penney’s of cinema, copying other people’s ideas and selling them to the masses cheaply.
NO
No.
I thought this was just OK. (5/10)
Not by a long shot.
Nguyen Thai Vi
some good movies that doesn’t mention here:
Mar adentro
Saving face
Shutter
One nite in Mongkok
Antares
Stratosphere girl
9 songs
Mùa len trâu (Buffalo boy, Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh)
Clean
36 Quai des Orfèvres
Swing girls
Kungfu hustle
20 30 40
Night watch
72 Metres
Colour blossoms
Three… extreme
Días de Santiago
Taegukgi
Cha no aji
Kekexili: Mountain patrol
Butterfly
Layer cake
but I’m sure The World (Jia Zhangke) is the best film of the year.