It Was The Best Of Times... The Best Movies of 2002
Mar 18 '03 (Updated Jul 03 '03)
The Bottom Line Even I, not normally opposed to 'The Bottom Line', don't know what this might mean.
Well, it’s about that time. The Best of 2002. I have to admit that there are still a few movies I hold out hope for, but I don’t hold out any hope for seeing them in the near future. Thus, the list is not etched in stone, and will be updated (if only to set it in stone) once I see all the possibiles.
***This list has been updated to allow for inclusion of 'The Secretary'. For the sake of making things easy on myself, I'm just adding it as 11.***
***This list has again been updated to allow for inclusion of 'Punch-Drunk Love'. I'm adding as 12, am officially naming it 'One of the top 5'.
The movies I haven’t seen that I hold out serious hope for liking, but not really for being likely to make this list are: ‘Talk to Her’, ‘The Pianist’, and ‘Solaris’.
So there’s that. Don’t tell me about how great they are. I’m already admitting to not having seen them.
If you know me at all, you know I hate making these lists. And so, here is the obligatory warning that I don’t see any real meaning in listing the ten best movies of the year (or any other such list), because I just don’t think movies can be seriously compared across genres. Please, don’t tell me that movie number 8 is way better than movie number 3 (or whatever). Being that ordering them doesn’t make that much sense to me, they are really more in order of my bare reaction to them, rather than my belief in any objective ‘goodness’ they have. It’s just a silly list for pity’s sake.
Before I jump right into the numbers, I think I should mention that I think it was a damn fine year. I saw a lot of movies I really enjoyed, and though there was a lot of garbage, even the merely average movies were slightly more watchable than in recent years.
12. Punch-Drunk Love
A wild and whimsical ride, and honor to the craft. Adam Sandler and P.T. Anderson shine in a movie very close to a masterpiece.
11. The Secretary
Likely the most bizarre movie I'd ever put in a top ten list. A character study of two people who are very definitely characters. Maggie Gyllenhaal, in the best performance by an actress of the year, plays a cutter turned secretary. James Spader is her boss, and eventual partner in S & M adventure. One of two winning stories by hyperbole on this list.
10. The Bourne Identity
Wonderfully directed, surprisingly sound acting, and while changed greatly, I think still true to the spirit of the book. A movie that greatly exceeded my expectations, and one of several examples this year that show that moviemakers are rediscovering the ability to balance dialogue. Mostly a very intelligent film, and one that Doug Liman should display on resume proudly.
9. Enigma
**Guest review**
I don’t actually like Michael Apted, and don’t care what he’s done before. I don’t like his direction, and with few exceptions I don’t like his movies. I choose, however, to ignore his connection with this movie, especially since the movie ignores it so. Tom Stoppard’s screenplay runs the show here. It may not be perfect, but it’s horrendously intelligent, and doesn’t apologize for the fact. The characters are given to us in great form, and the movie is Stoppard at the top of his game. Stoppard at the top of his game which is nevertheless NOT in the top ten of the year would simply make no sense to me whatsoever.
8. Pumpkin
It may be in my top ten, but I’ll tell you right now... you aren’t going to like it. Well, maybe you will, but it’s not the way to bet. It’s a daringly brilliant film, or absolute garbage, and you either get it or you don’t. Christina Ricci is excellent, but it won’t help you like the movie. It’s so funny you won’t laugh once. This is one of the movies that are apparently made specifically for me, and all I can do is hope they keep popping up.
7. The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Kieran Culkin in his second best performance of the year, but I think the slightly better movie. A coming of age story we can appreciate (after been long bombarded with the genre), and one that, perhaps more importantly, actually seems to understand those who are aging, as opposed to those who have aged. If we’re honest, I think we’ll agree that the genre (which is obviously presented to us by the ‘those who haves’), whatever the shtick of the particular movie, is largely one of reminiscing on coming of age, and not actually coming of age. Not so here. Angst, passion, fear, and the sheer impossibility of life are wonderfully displayed, and they are wrapped in an entertaining, humorous package.
6. CQ
The list of movies with more style than this one is a very short list indeed. Few also are the movies that display a more wonderfully self-assured lack of confidence. ‘CQ’ is an homage, a dedication, and a powerfully personal testament all rolled into one, and incredibly entertaining to boot. Making a movie that excels visually and structurally right out of the gates is a major feat. Doing so with the added pressure (though of course also with the obvious advantages) of a last name like ‘Coppola’ is something that gets you included (for a more interesting reason) in the annals of film. It’s a solid, intelligent statement within a solid, intelligent film.
5. The Brotherhood of the Wolf
A movie that, for what it is, is just about as perfect as I can imagine it being. A tribute to the idea that movies intended purely for entertainment do not, by definition, have to suck. As I said in my review, this is what Summer Blockbuster might mean if not for the fact that ‘it sucks’ is actually built into that term. Beautiful direction, fun and actually interesting action, twists, spills and thrills, and all of it built into a movie that realizes there can be action and entertainment without calling the audience stupid.
4. Far From Heaven
**Guest review**
This is a tricky movie, and I haven’t even managed to work out a review worth of thoughts yet myself. I’m not sure how this movie plays out to those who haven’t seen any of Douglas Sirk’s work, and I am in the perhaps curious position of having seen much of his work, but not the movie that is probably most important, ‘All That Heaven Allows’. Be that as it may, from where I sat this was a masterpiece in its own way. There is incredible attention to detail, not only in crafting the film itself (there are some scenes where you just know the leaves were placed on the ground one at a time), but also in attempting to become a film Sirk might have made himself.
3. About A Boy
Another spin on coming of age. Nick Hornby’s work put on film in the most glorious, and appreciative of ways. Hugh Grant redeems himself from anything that might have come before. A master stroke of balancing comedy and drama, high and low, message and messagelessness, real and surreal. It gives one hope for the future, especially since it was actually fairly popular, though not for the upcoming reworking of ‘Fever Pitch’.
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
At this point in the game, what point is there in saying anything here? It’s loved. It’s hated. Whatever. I loved it.
Dun. Dun. Dunnnnnnnnnn.
1. Equilibrium
Being as I just wrote this review, and specifically so that it would be available for this list, I’m somewhat out of words. Please see the review.
And there you have it. But wait! There are many Honorable Mentions.
In absolutely no order whatsoever, and included with no real rhyme or reason, other than I felt like it, here’s the list of Honorables.
Spirited Away
8 Mile
Igby Goes Down
One Hour Photo
Frailty
Spider-Man
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Rookie
The Count of Monte Cristo
Roger Dodger
Sunshine State
Italian for Beginners
That’s it.
Cheers!
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Member: Marc Eastman
Location: Bangor,ME
Reviews written: 329
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About Me:
Evangeline Sylvan Betty Eastman. AKA "Cricket" 9/12/06
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