Ode to a year in film

Cheers, dear readers! The year's now done

And the box-office fight? Still not quite won

Despite "King Kong," who ravaged loudly

And "Aeon Flux" — well, not so proudly.

But let's look back, at a year well viewed

Of penguins brave, and cowboys nude.

A year that brought us "Crash" and "Prime"

And Potter's "Yes" (yes, all in rhyme!).

"Batman" began, as well he ought,

And dancing kids got all "Mad Hot."

Brad-and-Ang, the Smiths, looked smashing.

While "Longest Yard" deserved its thrashing.

The Sith revenged, the geishas preened,

The lofts in "Rent" were — who knew? — cleaned.

"Kingdom of Heaven" our patience taxed

While in "Virgin" — yikes! — a chest got waxed.

And Daniel Craig (he's Bond, 'tis true)

Had his "Layer Cake" and ate it, too.

Other Brit flicks showed their worth —

What — "Pride-and-Pred," sans Colin Firth?

Fiennes brought his (noseless) visage famed

To the role of V — no, Must-Not-Be-Named.

('Round Hogwarts, note, young wizards' fate:

To save the world, but not get a date.)

Cruise saved us, too, in Spielberg's "War"

While Foxx, in "Stealth," was shown the door.

Reese and Joaquin had pipes divine

As Carter and Cash in "Walk the Line."

"Capote" showed off Hoffman's range

But Depp as Wonka was downright strange.

Foster in "Flightplan" ran aground

And Evelyn Glennie "Touch(ed) the Sound."

Diaz and Collette walked "In Her Shoes"

Jim Carrey mugged — but that's not news.

Pimps found rhythm in "Hustle & Flow"

And don't mention — please! — "Deuce Bigalow."

Some films could well have used a trim

Like "Wedding Crashers," "Brothers Grimm ... "

But some, thank heaven, felt just right.

(I think of Clooney's fond "Good Night.")

For all that thrilled, for all held dear

Look back with smiles on the movie year.

And as we brace for '06's call,

Happy New Year, one and all!

— Moira Macdonald

(with apologies to Roger Angell)