The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Into the Past: 2004

Welcome to The Wasteland into the Past! Join this journey backwards in time as I take a cinematic look at years past. Each article will focus on a singular year and my Top 5 films from that year. Turn back the clock with me…and let’s get started! 

2004

Shrek 2

Just how great is Shrek 2? If you ever want to see a perfect sequel at work, turn on this Dreamworks Animation classic. The first Shrek is an Academy Award winning effort that changed the game for big studio animation. The way this franchise sends up and subverts fairy tales is clever, hilarious, and entertaining for sure. What Andrew Adamson and company set up in Shrek, they ran with it in Shrek 2. You still have the charming and moving romance between Shrek and Fiona but injects some tension and conflict. There is something universal and relatable when it comes to the main conflict…meeting the in-laws. Anyone who is married will understand that nervousness and anxiety and Shrek 2 might take a more extreme approach, but it still captures that feeling so well. There are plenty of hilarious pop culture references and fairy tale satire that make this a laugh riot from start to finish. One of the funniest sequences in all of film must be the “KNIGHTS” television show which is filled to the brim with excellent references and hilarious gags. There are so many great elements to the film as well with the great score, the inspired needle drops, and action sequences. The story is full of emotion and conflict as well as Shrek struggles to find acceptance from his new father in-law and must contend with the scheming of The Fairy Godmother and her son Prince Charming. Shrek 2 does a great job of adding new characters that stand out as well. The core three of Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey all get their moments here but Puss in Boots is one of the best new additions to a franchise in a long time with Antonio Banderas killing it throughout the film. Jennifer Saunders as The Fairy Godmother is so delightful and she does an amazing job with her cover of “Holding Out for a Hero” (which is a great action sequence with the giant Gingerbread Man, Mongo). This film does all the technical aspects perfectly, has an engaging and moving story with rich themes, has a wonderfully entertaining cast of characters, and a cast of all-time voice performances. Shrek 2 does it all from the start with its wonderful honeymoon montage to “Accidentally in Love”.

Million Dollar Baby

What is Clint Eastwood’s greatest drama outside of the western genre? He has had some great ones, from Mystic River to Gran Torino but one of Eastwood’s films that stands incredibly tall must be Million Dollar Baby. Many mistakenly write this film off as just a female Rocky but that is a disrespectful tearing down of an incredible film. Eastwood portrays Frankie Dunn who is a boxing manager and a manager of a gym for up-and-coming fighters. His trust is fractured when his protégé and pseudo-son figure betrays him for new representation with better connections. Eastwood portrays this character with poignant heartache and anger, but he soon softens to a spunky young woman who wants to be a star. But Dunn’s empathy and connection is betrayed again by fate once tragedy strikes. Eastwood delivers arguably his most emotional impactful performance to date as Dunn that certainly deserved him an Oscar. This spunky young woman is brought to life with such vigor and life by Hilary Swank (one of her defining roles that shows just how great of a performer she truly is). Their chemistry is excellent as their relationship evolves from contentious to father/daughterly by the end. Eastwood’s direction gives the film such a deeply gritty and intense feeling full of somber energy. The film pulls no punches as it shows the unfortunate fates of those who are punished physically by such a sport as boxing. The story is resolved with such a controversial yet dramatically poignant and thought-provoking story. The rest of the cast is filled out well, especially with a strong supporting turn by Morgan Freeman. There are truly contentious figures in the film like Anthony Mackine and Margo Martindale. Familiar faces like Mike Colter, Jay Baruchel, and Michael Pena stand out as well. This is an emotionally arresting and compelling drama that transcends being a sports movie and stands as a harrowing drama with deeply resonant themes and ideas.

Collateral

Who is the coolest filmmaker in history? There are plenty of great directors who have found their specific voice that is full of sleek and sharp filmmaking. One such filmmaker whose peak carried from the early 90s until the early 00s, Michael Mann. One of the coolest, sleekest, and intense films of his filmography must be Collateral. This crime thriller finds two unlikely characters paired together for one fateful night through the wondrous atmosphere of Los Angeles. Mann captures the vibes of this metropolis better than almost any other filmmaker. The sleek cinematography and the gritty atmosphere of Collateral is second to none with Mann delivering plenty of suspense and tension throughout. The compelling central dynamic between cab driver Max (Jamie Foxx), and hitman, Vincent (Tom Cruise). There is a strange connection where Vincent wants to help Max and him with a better life and a better perspective. Foxx and Cruise have great chemistry in the film which makes their dynamic so much more compelling and engaging. Cruise stands out so well in this film with his look, demeanor, and physicality. The grey hair and suit just give him such a specific look that is both intimidating and unassuming. There is still that Cruise charisma, but it is a bit muted underneath a menacing intensity. The way Cruise sells the assassin stance, the way he handles his weapon, and the pure unimpeded drive to take out his targets. Foxx on the other hand is charismatic, charming, and empathetic as we can get behind him and this unfortunate situation. There are plenty of thrilling sequences throughout the film. The club sequence is iconic at this point with Cruise seeking out his target through a club full of people. We witness Max impersonating a killer which is a sight to see. Then the final cat-and-mouse chase between Max and Vincent is thrilling and engaging. There are plenty of great supporting players in the film as well with Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg, Bruce McGill, Irma P. Hall, and Javier Bardem (amongst others). Mann has plenty of great films and Collateral just might be the best.

The Incredibles

What is the greatest superhero film not based on a comic book? This just might be a lot easier of a question to answer than you might think. In a world where Pixar created The Incredibles…that is the answer. Pixar has made countless classics, and The Incredibles just might be their greatest effort. The film has such an incredible atmosphere and vibe which gives Brad Bird’s excellent directorial effort such a unique visual stamp. The retro-futurism of the film is quite impressive with the classic look architecture of decades ago but some sleek and exciting technology that makes the film come to life. The music from Michael Giacchino has plenty of personality with a great jazz essence and feel of classic spy film scores. All this combined together gives Bird’s film such a distinct and engrossing feel. The animation is still early 00s but still looks impressive compared to the rest of the films being made at the time. The film is filled with plenty of compelling thematic elements as it navigates the complexities of heroes and their place in society. The banning of masked vigilantes is ripped from the pages of Watchmen and incorporated into this story so seamlessly and effectively. Then you have the whole family dynamic and the tensions between the parents, two former heroes and their pent-up desires to be back out there doing good. There are plenty of engaging elements in the family dynamics department that make the film so much more relatable. The conflict at the heart of the film finds a brand-new supervillain with a compelling plan and a brilliant twist on the perspective of super individuals. This is a thrilling film with impressively rendered and staged action that you don’t normally get from animated films. The voice cast is quite impressive from top to bottom. Craig T. Nelson has great presence and vulnerability in his portrayal as Mr. Incredible. Holly Hunter is charming, strong, and loving as Elasti-Girl. Her chemistry with Nelson is impactful and engaging. Samuel L. Jackson delivers some of the best lines in the whole film, bringing Fro-Zone to life. Bird delivers an iconic performance with costume designer Edna Mode. The voice and character work by Bird is just so inspired. Jason Lee makes for a fantastic Pixar villain with his sarcastic and sharp-witted Syndrome. The Incredibles is an excellent film that has yet to age a bit in the past 20 years.

The Aviator

Who is Howard Hughes? This man has quite the legacy which all the various endeavors he found himself involved in. Filmmaking. Lingerie. Aircraft. Hughes could do it all…in between his debilitating obsessive compulsive order. This man was an enigma and had quite the miraculous life. There are few filmmakers who could do such a life justice in bringing it to life. Martin Scoresese would obviously be on that short list. His knack for film and cultural history made him the ideal candidate to bring The Aviator to life. Scorsese’s understanding of different filmmaking techniques, the changing nature of cinematography in old Hollywood, and the cultural landscape at that time. What is most impressive about The Aviator is the added layers of filmmaking prowess that Scorsese incorporates beyond the storytelling. As the years go by in the film, the way the film is shot evolves as well. There are different cinematography techniques as well as different types of film stock that give the different eras their own distinct look. This is not necessary to tell the story of Howard Hughes, but it is something that Scorsese delivers that gives it his creative stamp. This decision gives the film some added identity that works in its favor. The story of Hughes is a sprawling one that goes across decades, and we witness Hughes at his creative peaks and his unfortunate low points including fiery plane crashes, heartaches with women, and his unnerving OCD episodes. Scorsese builds up such great tension in those moments and helps the audience feel some of the horrors that Hughes is experiencing. Those are some of the most harrowing and unnerving scenes in Scorsese’s filmography. The central performance in such a biopic is so essential to the effectiveness of the story. Leonardo DiCaprio was not quite at the point where he was one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. DiCaprio’s performance as Hughes certainly was one of the first big moments that legitimized DiCaprio’s career. The way he channeled the specific charm, awkwardness, and anxieties of Hughes is quite impressive and opened so many people’s eyes to DiCaprio’s talents. But DiCaprio is not alone. Cate Blanchett is a revelation as Kathrine Hepburn and her dynamic with DiCaprio is electric. There are so many impressively talented performers in this film as well from Ian Holm to Kate Beckinsale to John C. Reilly to Alec Baldwin to Alan Alda to Jude Law. There are plenty of familiar faces who help bring this early era of Hollywood to life. Scorsese never gets enough credit for capturing Hughes’ legacy and for delivering one of the best biopics you will find out there in the form of The Aviator.