Friends Of The ‘Spray - Best Movie Of 2005

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Earlier in the day, we steadfast heckerspray writers took turns to pick our best movies of 2005. And a fine bunch of movies they were too.

But what about the the people we’ve written about in 2005? What do they think? Not Paris Hilton or Tom Cruise (who cares what they think, right?) but the people we actually like. People like Ladyfuzz, Jennifer Gentle, The Like, Devin Davis, Mother And The Addicts, Oppenheimer and Doveman. What are their best movies of the year? Read on…

Liz, Ladyfuzz
I’m not sure if it’s the best movie I’ve seen
but since I can’t remember I will say The Hitchhikers Guide To The
Galaxy (DVDs). I’m the biggest Douglas Adams fan, his collection of books used
to lie beside my bed like the bible, me trying to read it real slow so
it would last longer. I met him a few times and test played his
computer game. So anything that conveys that person’s amazing spirit
and intellect just makes me feel real excited. I don’t know how happy
he would have been with film but its the only one this year I went to
see twice.

Jennifer Gentle:
Alessio: Million Dollar Baby (DVDs). I loved Mystic River more,
but this is very good too. If you don’t cry with this movie you really
have a heart of stone!
Marco: I don’t go often to cinemas… this year I mainly
spent my time watching old movies on the telly. It was my Mario Bava
year! One of the greatest Italian directors ever and a true genius,
sadly so underrated especially here in Italy.

Marco, Sillyboy Entertainment
My girlfriend and I just had a baby so we didn’t have any chance to go the movies this year…

Z Berg, The Like
Harry Potter, even though I haven’t seen it yet… I just know.

Devin Davis
This is tough because I rarely go see movies in the
theatre (too expensive!) but see TONS of movies after their DVD release
(sometimes I think it’s all I do) so it’s tough to remember if they
came out this year or last year etc. I could answer this I think by
saying what my ‘favourite’ movie of the year was, as opposed to the
‘best’ movie… which would be Revenge of the Sith (DVDs). Say what you will
about the movie’s shortcomings (dialogue, acting, scenes with
questionable effects) - I sure did after I saw it the first time. But
after seeing it a few more times I have managed to really get to enjoy
it for what it is… an entertaining last instalment of the beloved
Star Wars universe - and a very entertaining one it is at that.  The
last hour or so is as close to the magic of the original trilogy as you
can get in my book. Ewan MacGregor is great in this film. Could it have
been better? Sure… It’s not the ‘best’ movie of the year, but for
someone who has wanted to see if for 20 years… it’s sure fun to watch.

Sam Smith, Mother And The Addicts
My visits to the cinema
never stretch beyond the odd foray to the Glasgow film theatre. Howl’s
Moving Castle (DVDs) by Hayo Miyazaki. I’m a bit of a sucker for well done
animated (relatively) schmaltz free romance. After having spent the
weekend drunkenly arguing with a special lady and getting myself in a
state of morbid desperation this gave me the kick in the guts that
allowed me to end the weekend mentally unravelling. Good film making
often hurts.

Oppenheimer:
Shaun: I saw The Big Sleep (DVDs) for the first time last
night - unbelievable - I know that it was made 60 or so years ago but
that’s my movie of the year.
Rocky: I saw Closer (DVDs) back in February, I liked it a lot. I also saw
Hide & Seek on the same day, it is one of the worst movies I have
ever seen. The usher at the cinema introduced the movie, and gave away
the plot. Then every time anything happened a woman sitting behind us
would say "It’s Charlie" We know it’s Charlie, she told us, now shut up!

Thomas Bartlett, Doveman
The 1970 film The Conformist, by
Bernardo Bertolucci (a director I’ve always thought of as an unjustly
feted mediocrity) was given a small theatrical re-release this year,
and while it may be a cop-out to go with it, it was by so far the most
powerful film experience, most powerful art experience period, of my
year that it would be foolish to declare anything else my "best
movie of the year." Months later it still feels like the greatest film
I’ve ever seen, more beautiful, more devastating, more emotionally
subtle and probingly, daringly insightful. Runner up: Constantine.

Your turn. Best movie of 2005. Comments below. GO!