Steve's Top 13 Favorite Films of 2002
Jan 12 '03 (Updated Jan 11 '04)
The Bottom Line Great films deserve to be seen.
Well, this last year for me was a good year for seeing movies because I actually had time to see some! And nonetheless, even though I haven’t written full reviews at Epinions for a lot of these titles, here are my top 13 favorite films of 2002.
13. Crocodile Hunter - Collision Course: Undercover Brother and Austin Powers in Goldmember may have treaded into fairly familiar but comedically enjoyable territory, and Catch Me If You Can may have deftly captured a realism that was unbelievably tangible and enjoyable as it played out on screen, but for me, Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course really did come out of nowhere, succeeding in both its simplicity and in its originality of plot. Based on the real life nature loving and exploring team of Steve and Terri Irwin, I couldn’t believe the ingenuity of the film-makers and the hillarious concept they created with this film. Playing out exactly like the tv-show, the film takes its characters on an adventure that ends up being wildly believable and a lot of fun at the same time. The only problem with the film overall is that the ending itself is a bit of a let down after all the build-up that does occur, but the charisma of Steve Irwin is infectiously enjoyable, making Crocodile Hunter worth watching again and again. Grade: B Plus
12. We Were Soldiers: Aside from the heavy-handed American patriotic undertones of the home front as presented in this film, We Were Soldiers does succeed in painting a very interesting look into the intricate and ultimately ferocious process of war and battle. The film is based on real-life events and is set during the early stages of US military involvement in Vietnam. Mel Gibson gives an absolutely strong and resonant performance of US military strategist and commander Hal Moore, whose instincts give him a unique insight into the heart and mind of his enemies on the battlefield. As directed by Randall Wallace, there is a real vibrancy in the visceral images of the battles that play out on screen, making We Were Soldiers one of the best war films to come along in a long time. Grade: B Plus
11. 8-Mile: In a kind of anti-poetry-slam of hip hop darkness atmosphere, Eminem manages to turn in a surprisingly restrained and textured performance as a youth who is the victim of circumstance - caught in the annals of poverty and just struggling to break free. And although the movie does parallel Eminem's own life and the music he himself writes, it never delivers the kind of lividly strong social commentary or satire that one might expect, instead opting for a more restrained and mainstream accessible approach. As such, it avoids becoming another Natural Born Killers, with director Curtis Hanson and producer Brian Grazer managing to make a film that really does expose the true purpose of words, art and poetic creativity: as a medium of survival. Grade: A -
10. Bowling for Columbine: Sometimes I think the best strategy the American Democratic Party could have taken during the fall national elections would have been to provide free screenings of this film to as many eligible voters as possible in the weeks before election day. Not to say that the Democrats have all the answers to America's problems, rather to suggest that perhaps not every American always gets both sides of a story. And that's why filmmaker documentarists like Michael Moore are just so important for our North American culture. With an ease of wit and sly intelligent sarcasm, Moore brilliantly presents an issue that has no easy answer: that of guns as associated with violence in America. It's an important film to watch, and one that should be discussed and thought about - one of the year's best. Grade: A -
9. One Hour Photo: This year marked a dark turn for Robin Williams, who, in a trilogy of terror, turned in some very dark performances in Death to Smoochy, Insomnia and One Hour Photo. All three films are a treat to watch, but One Hour Photo manages to go a step ahead of the other two, presenting us with a stunning character portrait that's all too reminiscent of Norman Bates in Psycho, but doesn't veer as far into the violence that lays so dangerously below stark surfaces. With One Hour Photo, Writer and Director Mark Romanek has created an oddly appealing story that delves into the themes of what motivates people in light of personal isolation as related to loneliness and loss, and it brilliantly transcends those themes by acknowledging that they all someday lead into some form of redemption. Grade: A -
8. Punch Drunk Love: Paul Thomas Anderson is a wild animal. Adaptation came close to being on this list in this spot, but ultimately fails to hold together as strongly as Punch Drunk so easily does. In the end, Punch Drunk Love is wildly different, strange, touching and unlike anything you've probably ever seen before, but it is worth seeing because of its bright, bold strokes of pure storytelling genius. Grade: A -
7. Gangs of New York: I've always loved New York City and its vast and colorful history. I've watched New York: A Documentary Film, by documentary filmmaker Ric Burns, a sweeping 10 hour plus portrayal of New York a number of times, and Scorsesse's Gangs recaptures the strange ferocity and violence of that time perfectly. Like the great American literary works of Cather and Faulkner, Gangs of New York captures the fear and the utterly horrific feeling of the immigrant experience as seen in young America like no other film before it. And although Leonardo DiCaprio's role is significant, the real acting kudos has to go to Daniel Day Lewis who portrays what could have easily been a stereotypical villain with a depth that really hints at the film's main theme of identity. Grade: A -
6. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Peter Jackson has scored again, bringing audiences with a very enjoyable film that is filled with depth and many interesting themes such as the aspects of trust and friendship. And unlike The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers doesn't have to waste time with exposition, rather it can deftly jump straight into the action and the main thrust of the story - the continuation of the fight between good and evil. And the movie's production values are excellent, allowing many original and fascinating FX sequences to play out in a way that is understandable and makes sense. Grade: A
5. Chicago: This has to be one of the best musicals to come along in a long time. For me, it ranks right up there with Singing in the Rain, West Side Story and Cabaret as one of the best movie musicals ever made. Based on the 1970s Broadway musical of the same name, Chicago provides an interesting commentary into the mix between media, sensation, glamour and murder. Director Rob Marshall creates a stunning, vibrant and powerfully resonant film that feeds off of a pure sexual energy of music, dance and jazz - serving as a monument of sorts to the basic underpinnings of the women's movement that began to grow in the early part of the 20th Century. And the acting, singing and dancing by Rene Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere is top notch and very enjoyable. It all adds up for an unbelievable experience that will undoubtedly leave audiences wanting to be dazzled even more. And that's a good thing. Grade: A
4. Talk to Her: A strangely profound and captivating piece that winds its way through feelings about life, love and loneliness between people and the world around them. Director Pedro Almodovar is quickly becoming one of my favorite Spanish directors, having previously directed the brilliantly simple and stunning films All About My Mother and Live Flesh. What makes these films so amazing is thier ability to reach down deep into the hearts and minds of their audiences. Grade: A Plus
3. Rabbit-Proof Fence: The brilliance of Rabbit-Proof Fence lies in its stark and sparse visualization of an amazingly true story that reveals in a lot of misunderstandings that are ultimately mixed with a good dose of determination, heart, courage and hope. Set in 1930s Australia, Rabbit-Proof Fence explores the true story of of a group of aboriginal Australian children who were taken from their families and placed in state run schools. Eventually, three girls escape and Rabbit Proof Fence explores their journey. Director Phillip Noyce does a wonderful job bringing this harrowing story to the screen, and the true amazement of this film significantly lies with the three young actresses who star in this film. For its true story and it's raw emotion, Rabbit-Proof Fence is a film worth checking out. Grade: A Plus
2. About Schmidt: In what has to be Jack Nicholson's most powerful acting job yet, About Schmidt portrays life after retirement for average ordinary American, Warren Schmidt. The real poignancy of this movie comes however from its ability to be both hilariously funny and touchingly dramatic at the same time as well. Kathy Bates also turns in one of her most colorful performances in awhile, and overall the film is a wonderful insight into how we see the world, making About Schmidt one of the year's best movies. Grade: A Plus
1. E.T. (20th Anniversary Edition): Ok, I know this film was technically, really made in 1982, but Spielberg did an absolutely wonderful job in reworking certain scenes of this film, adding a lot of depth and movement to our loveable alien. Unlike the reworking and addition of FX to Lucas's Star Wars, the FX here work fine and aren't overdone. And in the end, the fact that the FX were redone doesn't really matter all that much, because the true heart of this story comes through every time no matter what: the feelings surrounding loss in a family struck by divorce, the importance of friendship and working together to find solutions in the face of impossible odds. Even though the movie is 20 years old, it still has the power to spark the imagination and bring its audience through a roller coaster of emotion - from fear to laughter to tears. For its sheer simplicity in storytelling, E.T. is a truly timeless film, now and forever. Grade: A Plus
(c) January 12, 2003, Steven H. Lee
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Member: Steven Lee
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Reviews written: 173
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