On this day in movie history - The Passion of the Christ (2004):

The Passion of the Christ

directed by Mel Gibson,

written by Mel Gibson and Benedict Fitzgerald,

was released in the United States on February 25, 2004.
Based on The Passion in the New Testament of The Holy Bible,

and The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich.
Music by John Debney.

Cast:

Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov, Francesco De Vito, Monica Bellucci, Mattia Sbragia, Toni Bertorelli, Luca Lionello, Hristo Naumov Shopov, Claudia Gerini, Fabio Sartor, Giacinto Ferro, Olek Mincer, Sheila Mokhtari, Sergio Rubini, Roberto Bestazoni, Francesco Cabras, Giovanni Capalbo, Rosalinda Celentano, Emilio De Marchi, Lello Giulivo, Abel Jafry, Jarreth Merz, Rossella Vetrano, Matt Patresi, Roberto Visconti, Luca De Dominicis, Chokri Ben Zagden, Sabrina Impacciatore, Pietro Sarubbi, Ted Rusoff.

On this day in movie history - Highwaymen (2004):

Highwaymen

directed by Robert Harmon,

written by Craig Mitchell and Hans Bauer,

was released in the United States on February 13, 2004.
Music by Mark Isham.

Cast:

Jim Caviezel, Rhona Mitra, Frankie Faison, Colm Feore, Gordon Currie, Andrea Roth, Noam Jenkins, Toby Proctor, James Kee, Guylaine St-Onge, Joe Pingue, Martin Roach, Ron Bell, Paul Rutledge, Kelly Jones, Bryan Renfro, Ralph Chapman, Jason McCormack, Paul Mota, Michael Stevens.

On this day in movie history - Before Sunset (2004):

Before Sunset

directed by Richard Linklater,

written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke,

based on a story by Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan,

was released at the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany on February 10, 2004.

Cast:

Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine Torrès, Rodolphe Pauly, Mariane Plasteig, Diabolo, Denis Evrard, Albert Delpy, Marie Pillet.

On this day in movie history - The Machinist (2004):

The Machinist

directed by Brad Anderson,

written by Scott Kosar,

was released in the United States on January 18, 2004.

Music by Roque Baños.

Cast:

Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Sharian, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Michael Ironside, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Reg E. Cathey, Anna Massey, Matthew Romero, Robert Long, Colin Stinton, Craig Stevenson.

On this day in movie history - Garden State (2004):

Garden State

directed and written by Zach Braff,

was released in the United States on January 16, 2004.

Music by Chad Fischer.

Cast:

Zach Braff, Kenneth Graymez, George C. Wolfe, Austin Lysy, Gary Gilbert, Jill Flint, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard, Alex Burns, Jackie Hoffman, Michael Weston, Christopher Carley, Amy Ferguson, Trisha LaFache, Jim Parsons, Jean Smart, Yvette Mercedes, Jayne Houdyshell, Natalie Portman, Ron Leibman, Ann Dowd.

Recommended reading - Film Noir Reader 4: The Crucial Films and Themes (2004):

Film Noir Reader 4: The Crucial Films and Themes

by Alain Silver and James Ursini.

Published by Limelight.
Published 2004.
Paperback.
ISBN-10: 0879103051
ISBN-13: 978-0879103057

Description:

The earlier Film Noir Readers, which now boast a combined sale of well over 30 000 copies, have all quite deliberately conveyed a sweeping overview of the classic period, demonstrating how broad and inclusive noir movies are. Film Noir Reader 4 moves in a different direction. Its purpose is to identify the key films and motifs of noir and to analyze in depth the prototypical pictures that, while vivid examples of certain cinematic themes, bend and break their molds to find new ways to enthrall and frighten us. Like its predecessors, Film Noir Reader 4 is generously illustrated and features essays by such respected film critics and scholars as Robin Wood, J.P. Telotte, R. Barton Palmer, and Robert Porfirio. All have as their purpose to explain why and how these classic films work; the way screenplay, direction, acting, cinematography, editing and all the other filmmaking crafts blended together to produce work that exemplifies both a particular movement in film history and the innovations that keep the noir style fresh and compelling.

Recommended reading - Film Noir Reader 3: Interviews with Filmmakers of the Classic Noir Period (2004):

Film Noir Reader 3:

Interviews with Filmmakers of the Classic Noir Period

Edited by Alain Silver, Robert Porfirio and James Ursini.

Published by Limelight.

Published 2004.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0879109610

ISBN-13: 978-0879109615

Description:

Departing from the approach of its Film Noir Reader predecessors, this third volume in the series assembles a collection of interviews with film noir directors and a cinematographer, few of whom are alive today. Interviewees include Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard), Otto Preminger (Laura), Joseph Lewis (Gun Crazy and The Big Combo), Curtis Bernhardt (Possessed and A Stolen Life), Edward Dmytryk (Murder, My Sweet and Crossfire), and Fritz Lang (Scarlet Street and The Woman in the Window).

Recommended reading - Film Noir Reader 2 (2004):

Film Noir Reader 2

Edited by Alain Silver and James Ursini

Published by Limelight

Published 2004.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0879102802

ISBN-13: 978-0879102807

Description:

Generously includes film stills and essays on crime films, The Postman Always Rings Twice, “Hitchcock's Noir Landscape” “Samuel Fuller's Tabloid Cinema” “Son of Noir” “Noir Science” “Girl Power: Female Centered Neo-Noir” and “Abstract Expressionism and Film Noir.”

On this day in movie history - Million Dollar Baby (2004):

Million Dollar Baby

directed by Clint Eastwood,

written by Paul Haggis,

based on the book Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. Toole,

was released in the United States on December 15, 2004.
Narrated by Morgan Freeman.
Music by Clint Eastwood.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter, Lucia Rijker, Brían F. O'Byrne, Anthony Mackie, Margo Martindale, Riki Lindhome, Michael Peña, Benito Martinez, Bruce MacVittie, David Powledge, Joe D'Angerio, Marcus Chait, Tom McCleister, Erica Grant, Naveen, Morgan Eastwood, Jamison Yang, Dean Familton, Louis Moret, Jon D. Schorle II, Marty Sammon, Steven M. Porter, Ray Corona, Ming Lo, Miguel Pérez, Jim Cantafio, Ted Grossman, Ned Eisenberg, Marco Rodríguez, Roy Nugent, Don Familton, Mark Thomason, Brian T. Finney, Spice Williams-Crosby, Kim Strauss, Rob Maron, Kirsten Berman, Susan Krebs, Sunshine Chantal Parkman, Kim Dannenberg, Eddie Bates, Minerva Adams, Jimmy Alioto, Nina Avetisova, Michael Bentt, Tamara Bossett, Bruce Gerard Brown Jr., John Eric Brown, Jude Ciccolella, Marc De'Antone, Daniele Doobenen, Kimberly Estrada, Christopher Gilbertson, Rosine 'Ace' Hatem, Adolfo Jimenez, Guillermo Jorge, Michael Keyes, Mimi Lesseos, Sean LoGrasso, Paul McMichael, Robert McMurrer, Arnold Montey, Sean O'Kane, Ricky Pak, Mar Party, Cynthia Prouder, Vladimir Rajcic, Bridgett Riley, Ernie Rivera, Grant Roberts, Michael Saglimbeni, Bobby Silva, Nikky Smedley, Rick Solis, Mikee Stafford, McKay Stewart, Jaerin Washington, Jason Williams, Boni Yanagisawa.

On this day in music history - Heart Presents a Lovemongers' Christmas, by Heart (2004):

Heart Presents a Lovemongers’ Christmas

Album by Heart,

released November 16, 2004.

Track list:

Here Is Christmas; Christmas Waits; Mary; How Beautiful; William and Rose; Let’s Stay In; Balulalow; Ave Maria; The Last Noel; It’s Christmas Time; Oh Holy Night; Bring a Torch.

On this day in music history - The Silent Force, by Within Temptation (2004):

The Silent Force

Album by Within Temptation,

released November 15, 2004.

Track list:

Intro; See Who I Am; Jillian (I'd Give My Heart); Stand My Ground; Pale; Forsaken; Angels; Memories; Aquarius; It's the Fear (Demo Version); Somewhere; A Dangerous Mind; The Swan Song; Destroyed (Demo Version).

On this day in music history - Hidden Sky, by Jami Sieber (2004):

Hidden Sky

Album by Jami Sieber,

Released October 5, 2004.

Track list:

Maenam; Out of the Mist; Homage; Sukhothai Rain; Red Moon; Common Music; In the Silence; Prayer 1; Hidden Sky; Mandlovu Mind; Arms of the Mother; Prayer 2; Hidden Sky.

On this day in music history - Handel Arias, by Renée Fleming and Harry Bicket (2004):

Handel Arias

Album by Renée Fleming and Harry Bicket,

released September 14, 2004.

Track list:

Oh sleep, why dost thou leave me?; Endless pleasure...; Scoglio d’immota fronte; Quando spieghi i tuoi tormenti; “Ombra mai fù”; “To fleeting pleasures make your court”; “Lascia ch’io pianga”; Dunque, I laci d’un volto, Ah! Crudel; Let The Bright Seraphim; “V’adoro, pupille”; Da tempeste il legno infranto; Ritorna, oh caro e dolce mio Tesoro; Sommo rettor del cielo, d’una torbida sorgente; Pensieri; Bel Piacere; Calm thou...Convey me to some peaceful shore.

On this day in movie history - Dead Birds (2004):

Dead Birds

directed by Alex Turner,

written by Simon Barrett,

was released at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on September 13, 2004.
Music by Peter C. Lopez.

Cast:

Henry Thomas, Patrick Fugit, Nicki Aycox, Michael Shannon, Muse Watson, Mark Boone Junior, Isaiah Washington, Harris Mann, Melanie Abramoff, Donna Biscoe, Brian Bremer, Russell Durham Comegys, David Dwyer, Michael Faella, Steve Green, Douglas M. Griffin, Drew Hall, Evan Hipps, Sydney Jones, Terry Jones, Danny Kamin, Mikal Kartvedt, Ted Manson, Ken McGhee, Michael Purnell, Sam Rhymes, Bret Roberts, Terrie Thompson, Sam Breslin Wright, Allan B. Holt, Robbie (the dog).