Windelina gets Opinionated
Feb. 18th, 2003 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
windelinaI still haven't seen the Oscar-nominated heavy hitters: "The Hours", "The Quiet American", "Talk to Her", "Far From Heaven". There's smaller movies I've missed and may eventually find and love and regret that I didn't rave about them earlier.
But for the year past, here are the best films I got to see. And I thank all the movie gods (PT Anderson, Rob Marshall, Peter Jackson, Miyazaki, and many others) for making this such a terrific year for film. So terrific, that the ranking below is mostly arbitrary - I loved all these films.
1. Chicago
Was there any doubt that this would be my Number One? Rob Marshall got it right. He took what many considered to be an "unadaptable" stage musical and put it on the screen. And boy, did he ever put it to the screen. I loved last year's "Moulin Rouge" for its energy and clever use of pop standards (and great performances). But I deplored the editing of the dance numbers. Rob Marshall, himself a choreographer, knows that you actually want to SEE what the dancers are doing! Rene Zellweger makes a sassy Roxie, but my favorite role is Velma and Catherine Zeta-Jones made a Velma that hasn't been seen since the great Chita Rivera created the role. John C. Reilly's "Mr. Cellophane" is a definitive rendition. And the "Cell-Block Tango" could actually be better than Fosse's original staging.
At my first viewing of the film (and let's be clear - this is one of my favorite stage musicals, by my favorite musical team of Kander & Ebb, created by my favorite director/choreographer Bob Fosse) - I was spellbound and ecstatic. And so was everybody else in the theatre. How often do you hear an audience at a movie break into applause after every number?
2. Punch-Drunk Love
The best date movie of the year. A date movie for those of us who don't look like J.Lo or Ben Affleck. A date movie for those of us who aren't happy hookers, or maids in Manhattan. But to enjoy it, you first had to accept the premise that Adam Sandler might be able to act. You had to be willing to go along with PT Anderson's always interesting worldview. You had to be able to enjoy a sub-plot with a callgirl stalker.
What you got in return was possibly the sweetest - and most honest - love story in years. Love isn't always simple and pretty and sweet. It's frightening and intense and confused.
And Phillip Seymour Hoffman makes any movie better. He's like Ingredient X. "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
3. Spirited Away
If only Disney trusted kids enough to give them something of substance in their movies. But alas, the only American animator capable of Miyazaki's genius is Pixar. We didn't get a Pixar movie this year, but we did get something even more rare and beautiful - a Miyazaki film on the big screen.
It's hard to say why I love this film so much. I think it's because Miyazaki captures that dreamlike reality so well. He creates a world that resonates with remembered-childhood - a fairytale world made up of as many nightmares as dreams.
4. Catch Me if You Can
I'm a fan of early Spielberg, so it's no surprise that "Catch Me" far outranks "Minority Report" on this list. With a deft touch, and a lightness worthy of the best softshoe, Spielberg taps his way through this enchanting story, giving us two leading characters to cheer on, even while they are at odds. Leonardo DiCaprio reminded me that he can be fun to watch (and not just a teen heartthrob). And Tom Hanks, having earned numerous Oscars, apparently feels comfortable admitting to his comic talents again. Christopher Walken got another Oscar nom for his role in this film, and it's a performance worthy of it - layered, and without any of the Walken ticks and tricks.
From the amazing title credit sequence to the best score out of John Williams in YEARS, this is a film full of all the exuberant brilliance of "Indiana Jones", "Jaws" and "Close Encounters". It's a film that reminds me why I love to go to the movies.
5. The Two Towers
Of COURSE it's on my list. It suffers from being the middle chapter, of course. I didn't like the overly comic tone of Gimli. I was frustrated by the changes in plot surrounding Faramir (even while I understood the need for them).
But then there's Gollum.
We also have the incredible performance by Bernard Hill (Theoden). The subtle humor given to Gandalf by Sir Ian. The camaraderie between Gimli and Legolas. The growing confidence of Aragorn. The terrific weight and arc of the Battle of Helm's Deep.
But this is Gollum's movie. And while the Academy didn't nominate Serkis this year, they may not be able to live with themselves if they don't nominate him for next year's "Return of the King".
6. Changing Lanes
The most mis-marketed movie on this list, and perhaps of this year (with "K-19:The Widowmaker" a close second), it's no wonder most people gave it a miss. What they missed was an insightful, cutting look at modern morals, and the best performance out of Samuel L. Jackson in years. And an actual performance from Ben Affleck. (And an appearance from the woefully underused Toni Collette.) It's a movie that never goes where you think it will, and doesn't sell out the ending.
No really. See it.
7. May
The sad truth is, this won't make a lot of year-end lists because Lions Gate (the distributor) didn't understand what they held in their hands was a gem. Angela Bettis takes the cliched outsider role and finds the truth hidden in all cliches. In this case, a smart, lonely, naive girl who's limited experience (and personal flaws) make her believe that other people are more perfect than she is.
Writer & director Lucky McKee has a true love and appreciation for the horror film and it shows. (Horror isn't about jump shots!) He knows that dolls are inherently creepy. And he's clearly sick of goth-poseurs. There's humor and affection rolling off this film - and how often can you say that about a "horror" film?
Find it and love it. May needs your love.
8. Bowling for Columbine
Perhaps the most thinking movie of this year, it's flawed (like almost all of Moore's work) but still profound. It also shows Moore at his best - he clearly has an agenda, but the film also documents his own realization that what he thought was the answer isn't. It's an important look at American culture - not just the gun culture, but our culture of media and fear-mongering.
9. Adaptation
I admired "Being John Malkovich". It was clever, original, brilliant. But ultimately it was about unlikeable characters. With "Adaptation", we get to like these poor slobs, and that makes for a more affectionate, warmer movie. Nicolas Cage is inspired in his insecurity as Charlie Kaufman, and equally inspired in his earnest mediocrity as Charlie's twin Donald. It's a scathing satire and cynical comment on the movie business, but also a gentle exploration of desire and frustration. For all that it isn't about "The Orchid Thief" at all (although purportedly adapted from it), I somehow feel that it captures the tone of it.
It was the funniest movie I didn't really laugh at this year. And anybody who doesn't get the ending wasn't paying attention.
10. Insomnia
When I think about this film, the first word that springs to mind is "beautiful". It's the visual sense of the movie that stuck with me. That said, let's there be no misunderstanding - Pacino and Williams are fantastic in this movie. Williams is finally learning to act in his old age. And this film, along with "One Hour Photo" and even the deplorable "Death to Smoochy", gives me hope that we'll see more quality movies out of him and less "Patch Adams". Hilary Swank also gives a noteworthy performance, proving that her Oscar wasn't a fluke.
Like "Changing Lanes", it's another morality play. But also like "Changing Lanes", it isn't pedantic or preaching. It explores the reality of how most of us live, and the gray areas we inhabit, and how exactly we can find redemption.
Honorable Mentions:
Undercover Brother
Not so much a parody of the Blaxploitation films as an homage, this film deserves to be remembered from this last year. In sheer laugh factor, it's a winner as well as being a better overall film than Austin Powers could ever hope to make. I would love to see more adventures of Undercover Brother.
Lilo & Stitch
An anomaly out of Disney - an animated feature that isn't sickly sweet. Lilo is a troubled child who's not just misunderstood, she's fast on the way to being a delinquent - and her savior is a genetical-engineered super-troublemaker. Helped out by Mr. Cobra Bubbles and Agent Pleakley (voiced by the unbearably funny Kevin MacDonald), all turns out well. And along the way, we get some of the prettiest hand-drawn animation in years.
The Bourne Identity
The best Bond film of the year. Matt Damon is a terrific action star! Better than Vin Diesel who just LOOKS like he can kick ass, more low-key (and therefore believable) than the ultra-posh ex-Remington Steele. Teamed up with Franke Potente (all the other Bond girls only WISH they were this cool under pressure), this is a winning duo. Please please please more adventures!
The Ring
It deserves a mention because it is quite simply the movie that most stuck with me this year. That little girl crawled out of the television and right into my subconcious. It's ultimately a B-Movie, but it's also smart, taut and genuinely creepy.
**********************
We've done the good, now let's skip the bad to go to the geniunely UGLY. In descending, exponential order of stinkiness:
5. Reign of Fire
It ought to have been at least cool. I mean, dragons are cool. But the gaping reality-breaks, sucking plot holes and laughable dialog (not to mention the just plain silly performance by Matthew Maconaughy) turned this little B movie into an F. "I lead, you follow" - only if it's out the door.
4. Scooby-Doo
Scooby-poop. Enough said.
3. Attack of the Clones
For as terrific as Ewan MacGregor is in this film - and he's amazing - you mostly admire him for managing to act when nobody around him is. All the scenes with Ewan get an A for effort, and a B in execution. The rest (the offensive "I'm gonna fall in love with this psycho stalker!" love story) - ew. This is clearly George Lucas reimagining his teen years, and this time his pathetic pick-up lines worked.
2. Ecks vs. Sever
We had to turn on the subtitles to watch this movie. Honest. Everybody mumbled their way through it. Some were trying to drown their pain in drink. Some were too embarrassed to enunciate the "dialog" they were given. I'm still trying to figure out why this wasn't direct-to-video (or even better, direct-to-incinerator). Maybe they thought a fight between Ray Park and Lucy Lui was enough to save it - but only if they actually let us SEE the fight.
Shoulda been called "Ick vs. Sewage".
1. Enough
Downright offensive - all the more so because of the veil of "true life" it pulls around itself. Here's a movie that's just believable enough that battered women will end up thinking you should NOT go to the cops and that beating your husband to death is the only answer.
Did I menion it had J.Lo in it?
Enough was too much.
But for the year past, here are the best films I got to see. And I thank all the movie gods (PT Anderson, Rob Marshall, Peter Jackson, Miyazaki, and many others) for making this such a terrific year for film. So terrific, that the ranking below is mostly arbitrary - I loved all these films.
1. Chicago
Was there any doubt that this would be my Number One? Rob Marshall got it right. He took what many considered to be an "unadaptable" stage musical and put it on the screen. And boy, did he ever put it to the screen. I loved last year's "Moulin Rouge" for its energy and clever use of pop standards (and great performances). But I deplored the editing of the dance numbers. Rob Marshall, himself a choreographer, knows that you actually want to SEE what the dancers are doing! Rene Zellweger makes a sassy Roxie, but my favorite role is Velma and Catherine Zeta-Jones made a Velma that hasn't been seen since the great Chita Rivera created the role. John C. Reilly's "Mr. Cellophane" is a definitive rendition. And the "Cell-Block Tango" could actually be better than Fosse's original staging.
At my first viewing of the film (and let's be clear - this is one of my favorite stage musicals, by my favorite musical team of Kander & Ebb, created by my favorite director/choreographer Bob Fosse) - I was spellbound and ecstatic. And so was everybody else in the theatre. How often do you hear an audience at a movie break into applause after every number?
2. Punch-Drunk Love
The best date movie of the year. A date movie for those of us who don't look like J.Lo or Ben Affleck. A date movie for those of us who aren't happy hookers, or maids in Manhattan. But to enjoy it, you first had to accept the premise that Adam Sandler might be able to act. You had to be willing to go along with PT Anderson's always interesting worldview. You had to be able to enjoy a sub-plot with a callgirl stalker.
What you got in return was possibly the sweetest - and most honest - love story in years. Love isn't always simple and pretty and sweet. It's frightening and intense and confused.
And Phillip Seymour Hoffman makes any movie better. He's like Ingredient X. "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
3. Spirited Away
If only Disney trusted kids enough to give them something of substance in their movies. But alas, the only American animator capable of Miyazaki's genius is Pixar. We didn't get a Pixar movie this year, but we did get something even more rare and beautiful - a Miyazaki film on the big screen.
It's hard to say why I love this film so much. I think it's because Miyazaki captures that dreamlike reality so well. He creates a world that resonates with remembered-childhood - a fairytale world made up of as many nightmares as dreams.
4. Catch Me if You Can
I'm a fan of early Spielberg, so it's no surprise that "Catch Me" far outranks "Minority Report" on this list. With a deft touch, and a lightness worthy of the best softshoe, Spielberg taps his way through this enchanting story, giving us two leading characters to cheer on, even while they are at odds. Leonardo DiCaprio reminded me that he can be fun to watch (and not just a teen heartthrob). And Tom Hanks, having earned numerous Oscars, apparently feels comfortable admitting to his comic talents again. Christopher Walken got another Oscar nom for his role in this film, and it's a performance worthy of it - layered, and without any of the Walken ticks and tricks.
From the amazing title credit sequence to the best score out of John Williams in YEARS, this is a film full of all the exuberant brilliance of "Indiana Jones", "Jaws" and "Close Encounters". It's a film that reminds me why I love to go to the movies.
5. The Two Towers
Of COURSE it's on my list. It suffers from being the middle chapter, of course. I didn't like the overly comic tone of Gimli. I was frustrated by the changes in plot surrounding Faramir (even while I understood the need for them).
But then there's Gollum.
We also have the incredible performance by Bernard Hill (Theoden). The subtle humor given to Gandalf by Sir Ian. The camaraderie between Gimli and Legolas. The growing confidence of Aragorn. The terrific weight and arc of the Battle of Helm's Deep.
But this is Gollum's movie. And while the Academy didn't nominate Serkis this year, they may not be able to live with themselves if they don't nominate him for next year's "Return of the King".
6. Changing Lanes
The most mis-marketed movie on this list, and perhaps of this year (with "K-19:The Widowmaker" a close second), it's no wonder most people gave it a miss. What they missed was an insightful, cutting look at modern morals, and the best performance out of Samuel L. Jackson in years. And an actual performance from Ben Affleck. (And an appearance from the woefully underused Toni Collette.) It's a movie that never goes where you think it will, and doesn't sell out the ending.
No really. See it.
7. May
The sad truth is, this won't make a lot of year-end lists because Lions Gate (the distributor) didn't understand what they held in their hands was a gem. Angela Bettis takes the cliched outsider role and finds the truth hidden in all cliches. In this case, a smart, lonely, naive girl who's limited experience (and personal flaws) make her believe that other people are more perfect than she is.
Writer & director Lucky McKee has a true love and appreciation for the horror film and it shows. (Horror isn't about jump shots!) He knows that dolls are inherently creepy. And he's clearly sick of goth-poseurs. There's humor and affection rolling off this film - and how often can you say that about a "horror" film?
Find it and love it. May needs your love.
8. Bowling for Columbine
Perhaps the most thinking movie of this year, it's flawed (like almost all of Moore's work) but still profound. It also shows Moore at his best - he clearly has an agenda, but the film also documents his own realization that what he thought was the answer isn't. It's an important look at American culture - not just the gun culture, but our culture of media and fear-mongering.
9. Adaptation
I admired "Being John Malkovich". It was clever, original, brilliant. But ultimately it was about unlikeable characters. With "Adaptation", we get to like these poor slobs, and that makes for a more affectionate, warmer movie. Nicolas Cage is inspired in his insecurity as Charlie Kaufman, and equally inspired in his earnest mediocrity as Charlie's twin Donald. It's a scathing satire and cynical comment on the movie business, but also a gentle exploration of desire and frustration. For all that it isn't about "The Orchid Thief" at all (although purportedly adapted from it), I somehow feel that it captures the tone of it.
It was the funniest movie I didn't really laugh at this year. And anybody who doesn't get the ending wasn't paying attention.
10. Insomnia
When I think about this film, the first word that springs to mind is "beautiful". It's the visual sense of the movie that stuck with me. That said, let's there be no misunderstanding - Pacino and Williams are fantastic in this movie. Williams is finally learning to act in his old age. And this film, along with "One Hour Photo" and even the deplorable "Death to Smoochy", gives me hope that we'll see more quality movies out of him and less "Patch Adams". Hilary Swank also gives a noteworthy performance, proving that her Oscar wasn't a fluke.
Like "Changing Lanes", it's another morality play. But also like "Changing Lanes", it isn't pedantic or preaching. It explores the reality of how most of us live, and the gray areas we inhabit, and how exactly we can find redemption.
Honorable Mentions:
Undercover Brother
Not so much a parody of the Blaxploitation films as an homage, this film deserves to be remembered from this last year. In sheer laugh factor, it's a winner as well as being a better overall film than Austin Powers could ever hope to make. I would love to see more adventures of Undercover Brother.
Lilo & Stitch
An anomaly out of Disney - an animated feature that isn't sickly sweet. Lilo is a troubled child who's not just misunderstood, she's fast on the way to being a delinquent - and her savior is a genetical-engineered super-troublemaker. Helped out by Mr. Cobra Bubbles and Agent Pleakley (voiced by the unbearably funny Kevin MacDonald), all turns out well. And along the way, we get some of the prettiest hand-drawn animation in years.
The Bourne Identity
The best Bond film of the year. Matt Damon is a terrific action star! Better than Vin Diesel who just LOOKS like he can kick ass, more low-key (and therefore believable) than the ultra-posh ex-Remington Steele. Teamed up with Franke Potente (all the other Bond girls only WISH they were this cool under pressure), this is a winning duo. Please please please more adventures!
The Ring
It deserves a mention because it is quite simply the movie that most stuck with me this year. That little girl crawled out of the television and right into my subconcious. It's ultimately a B-Movie, but it's also smart, taut and genuinely creepy.
We've done the good, now let's skip the bad to go to the geniunely UGLY. In descending, exponential order of stinkiness:
5. Reign of Fire
It ought to have been at least cool. I mean, dragons are cool. But the gaping reality-breaks, sucking plot holes and laughable dialog (not to mention the just plain silly performance by Matthew Maconaughy) turned this little B movie into an F. "I lead, you follow" - only if it's out the door.
4. Scooby-Doo
Scooby-poop. Enough said.
3. Attack of the Clones
For as terrific as Ewan MacGregor is in this film - and he's amazing - you mostly admire him for managing to act when nobody around him is. All the scenes with Ewan get an A for effort, and a B in execution. The rest (the offensive "I'm gonna fall in love with this psycho stalker!" love story) - ew. This is clearly George Lucas reimagining his teen years, and this time his pathetic pick-up lines worked.
2. Ecks vs. Sever
We had to turn on the subtitles to watch this movie. Honest. Everybody mumbled their way through it. Some were trying to drown their pain in drink. Some were too embarrassed to enunciate the "dialog" they were given. I'm still trying to figure out why this wasn't direct-to-video (or even better, direct-to-incinerator). Maybe they thought a fight between Ray Park and Lucy Lui was enough to save it - but only if they actually let us SEE the fight.
Shoulda been called "Ick vs. Sewage".
1. Enough
Downright offensive - all the more so because of the veil of "true life" it pulls around itself. Here's a movie that's just believable enough that battered women will end up thinking you should NOT go to the cops and that beating your husband to death is the only answer.
Did I menion it had J.Lo in it?
Enough was too much.
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no subject
Date: 2003-02-18 12:18 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2003-02-18 12:41 pm (UTC)"The Ring" is a better movie.
Confusing, because I also use "B-Movie" as a definition for a style and for a feel of a movie as well. "Lake Placid" has more star-types (although B-list stars), but is definitely a B-Movie in it's style and feel.