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The Top of the Cream of the CropJan 19 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line After a mostly frustrating summer, 2000 delivered a batch of worthwhile films to easily fill up a top ten of the year list. As often happens, at the very end of the year dozens of better than average films are released into theatres in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles (and a bit more slowly in other big cities) to qualify for Oscar consideration. There was a large drought of worthwhile films with only a couple of exceptions from about July through October. The summer blockbusters were for the most parts major disappointments. Gone in 60 Seconds (which I avoided) fooled much fewer than expected, while Mission Impossible 2 allowed Cruise to turn Townsend and Woo into near hacks. There were also things like Coyote Ugly and Blair Witch 2 and Little Nicky to utterly disappoint the 20 something crowd. There were few films which seemed to really excite and satisfy film-goers this summer. So several people started calling 2000 the worst film year perhaps of the decade. Well they spoke too quickly. There may not have been a satisfying summer blockbuster or studio surprise that got everyone talking, but this year finished up with several worthwhile don't miss films. Honorable Mentions: Chocolat * , State & Main * ; High Fidelity *; Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai * ; Sunshine * Chicken Run ; and Fantasia 2000. I've heard wonderful things about these films I've yet to see : Yi Yi, George Washington, The Claim, House of Mirth and Judy Berlin. Here's my top 10 of films released to Theaters in 2000. 10: The Tao of Steve * There's many reasons why I titled my review of this film The Little Film That Could back in August-- It's a charming, winning and very funny film with a star-making performance from Donal Logue. The film doesn't go too far to get attention, and it never gets cloying or overly-sentimental. There's no last reel incurable disease which turns the tale into a tragedy either. There are people who want their films to be roller-coaster rides, or give them some emotional tugs and make them cry. This film is too smart to do that, and I appreciated that. What's perhaps amazing is the fact the film-makers have made a film so simple and seemingly done so, so effortlessly, you really do wonder why films like this aren't being made on a regular basis. The reason is, it's nearly impossible for everything to come together so seamlessly to create a film like this. 9: The Color of Paradise * This gem from Iran, was a fairly simple story about a blind boy and the father who isn't sure what to do with him. Director Majidi has created a ninety minute work which is rich with visual and emotional textures that will stay with you long after the film is over. Much of the film, because of its subject matter has a sadness to it. But like Mohammed the film sees beauty and richness everywhere and reminds us there is much we take for granted–like the beauty and compassion a young blind boy easily ‘sees' and accepts. 8. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon * Far from the watered-down artsy martial arts film I was expecting, this nearly epic film boasts wonderfully charismatic performances from Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun Fat and Zhang Ziyi The martial arts scenes of characters leaping in the air, running across roof-tops, dancing over water, fighting from tree top to tree top are not silly... but mesmerizing and beautiful. They are fantasy ballets celebrating the beauty of form and movement utilizing some of the best choreography you'll ever see. Add a touching romance, splendid soundtrack and near perfect direction from Ang Lee and you have a winning film. 7. Traffic * Steven Soderbergh delivers a film so stylish, well acted, and well made you forget you've seen almost every bit of it before. Rarely have you seen it done this well however. It's messages are delivered without resorting to the phony Reefer Madness for the millennium manipulations Requiem for A Dream tried to get away with. It's a film that wants to do more than over-whelm it's audiences with forced trickery. There are moments in this film where a shot is so perfectly constructed your in awe of Soderbergh's instincts. He truly can construct even the most perfunctory and mundane of scenes in a way that elevates them to art. Look at how wonderful he will frame a main character as he walks down a hall. How he chooses to have a helicopter literally land on top of a camera. How he shows us a non-travelogue wide shot of Mexico City. How he captures the desperation and chaos of a drug bust operation. 6. Wonder Boys * Though this is a flawed film it completely won me over because of some perfectly realized moments, wonderful acting, and a stand-out Robert Downey Jr. performance. Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire are the main characters, a burnt out middle aged writer/teacher and the student who reminds him what writing, teaching and enjoying life are all about. Unfortunately few saw it in the theaters. 5. Quills * It should come as no surprise that Quills is one of the best films of the year. It's adapted by Doug Wright from his Obie Award winning play and directed by Phillip Kaufman. It stars some of the best actors working in films today: Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Caine. You'll find yourself surprised at several things with the film. It's a little more brutal and gory than you'd probably expect it to be and it's tinged with black humor and literate and witty dialogue throughout. 4. O Brother Where Art Thou ? * The Coen Brothers warmest film has got a stunning look and is influenced by such a wide variety of literary and cinematic material that it feels like it is much richer and deeper than it actually is. The blue grass/roots music soundtrack adds a rich texture as well. I was thoroughly entertained by the film from start to finish , laughed out loud several times and had a lot of fun. I don't feel guilty at all for having such a good time and highly recommend you try and do the same thing. George Clooney seems to be channeling the charisma of Clark Gable in his utterly charming and entertaining performance. AND THE TOP THREE OF THE YEAR? 3. Dr. T and the Women You heard it wasn't good? You thought it was going to be a different kind of film than it's marketing campaign led you to believe? You think I'm nuts for praising it so highly? There are several witty, satirical, clever and funny observations being made about a great many things in the film, but there are also some keenly made ones that speak directly to the heart and soul of the human psyche. It's here the film becomes much more than the humorous exercise it's pretending to be most of the time. It is here that subsequent viewings will reveal there is a lot more going on in the film than you might have originally believed. Robert Altman has delivered not a little truffle of a film here, but a richly, layered masterpiece to be savored and enjoyed over and over again. 2. You Can Count on Me * There aren't many films which deal with the simple life moments this film deals with in such an honest, warm, caring and authentic manner. Often little life moments pop up in films in order to manipulate us or to serve some agenda the film-maker is passionate about sharing with us. I never felt as if writer/director Kennth Lonergan was being falsely manipulative. That's rare. Laura Linney gives one of the finest performances you will ever see, and there's a superb performance from Mark Ruffalo as well. Visually the film may be so-so, but the script and acting are masterful. AND THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR? 1. Dancer in the Dark * For much of Lars Von Trier's film, I was having a flashback to nearly every bleak and depressing Danish and Swedish film I've ever seen. This is bleak, this is depressing, and I know it's going to get worse before (or should say if,) it gets any better. It's in English, and Bjork's elfin face is a fascinating one to watch, usually without make-up and in too close, close-ups in Dreyer (Passion of Joan of Arc *) fashion. I had a lot of problems with various parts of the film and I wanted to slap Von Trier for some missed opportunities but ultimately by it's conclusion the film triumphed over all of its flaws. The film had quietly been playing with me to deliver a knock-out blow straight to my emotions. It did. And though I've little desire to see the film again, it's a powerful effective daring piece of film-making that I respect and admire. * denotes films I reviewed for Epinions.. I hope you'll check out my full reviews for these films when you have some time. Chris Jarmick, Author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder Available February 2001.  |
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