2002 Film List - Page 7

Scott Weinberg · 02-11-2003, 02:54 AM

Brook - I also really dug The Salton Sea.

Seth - I also really hated Bad Company.

Scott Weinberg · 02-12-2003, 07:38 AM

Latest Additions:

Half Past Dead
Friday After Next

Crap.

The Hours

A movie I didn't expect to dig all that much for some reason. Regardless, I was wrong. Man, is it satisfying to just sit back and watch great actors act. Even those in small parts (Reilly, Collette, Harris) were spot-on perfect, and I can't possibly imagine a better trio of female leads than what's on display here. I had a few minor gripes, but overall an excellent film.

Seth Paxton · 02-12-2003, 08:44 AM

Yeah, based on his effort in the Hours and past close calls I'm surprised that Harris isn't getting more Oscar buzz. Cooper was outstanding but Harris really grabbed me. Not just in his look or the seriousness of the role, but in touch he seemed to be with the themes for his character. I think it's Harris at his very best (which is pretty damn good).

Now to ruin my rep (maybe. if there is anything to ruin even)
S1mOne
8 of 10
I was very surprised with how good this film was considering the reaction it had received. I suppose if it is taken as a straight SF film people would see it as hokey and unbelievable. However, I saw its approach to the SF aspects being VERY similar to how Being John Malkovich approached its own. There are many leaps of faith or gaps because that simply isn't the point of the film. The SF is only a device and in that way the SF can and must be bent to fit the theme. It's a "I get the basic idea" sort of thing. One example of this good artificiality is how Pacino is able to address the public at this oddly placed podium stepping out from nowhere and with no one else's involvement - unreal but quite fitting the film's tone.

It would be different if the film was just trying to be a SF thriller or investigative film. However, I saw the themes in this film to be strongly related to ideas we already saw in Network and The Truman Show (which Niccol wrote/produced). The film constantly has Network's commentary on the absurdity of stardom running, and in fact I would almost call this Network with film instead of TV. We also have some of the visual approaches that Weir/Niccol took with Truman as well as the controlling relationship from that film. In Truman we had some commentary on Christof's persona, the needs from his "creator" position, and in S1mone we find Pacino with very similar needs.

Now S1mone is hurt somewhat by being mostly a one man show whereas Network was really working many angles. And in the end S1mone goes for a slightly more bland resolution (though still with a wink on the subject), and that's what keeps me from seeing it as a 9 or 10 type film. But I really don't see this as some nasty mess or something.

And I also got a ton of laughs out of the film, much like moments in Network or BJM will make you laugh. The absurdity of the moments. Or maybe I'm just like the critics in the film who loved "I am Pig".

PS - I didn't realize that Niccol was the writer/director on Gattica and writer/producer on Truman Show until after seeing the film. So the Truman comparisons came before knowing there was such a real link. That's 3 straight interesting SF scripts by Niccol, something worth noting in modern H'wood.

Seth Paxton · 02-12-2003, 08:48 AM

Also take note that Niccol's next SF script is Paani and has Elizabeth and Four Feathers director Shekhar Kapur signed on. That sounds promising to me.

Seth Paxton · 02-12-2003, 08:02 PM

Antwone Fisher
9 of 10
Well, my top 30 is loaded with outstanding films as 2002 was very good to us on all fronts, big action, SciFi, romance, comedy, and great drama Fisher which fits in at 18 on my list (just above Y Tu Mama, Perdition, Far From Heaven).

Denzel didn't blow me away with his direction, though there were a few moments of beautiful work. However he did a great job of letting the script come out and giving the actors room to breathe (including himself). He and Luke just tear this stuff up, and it's good stuff by Fisher. The film never felt manipulative and Denzel made nice use of an opening image as an opening/ending resolution motif that choked me up. The 2 supporting actresses (Richardson and Bryant) are very good with limited but critical work.

And the story is inspirational, there is no denying that. It was refreshingly real even though it was walking over worn ground. It's like a Springer show of tragedy, yet I don't think Fisher ever asks the audience for sympathy nor does he use it as an excuse. Maybe that's one reason why the film felt so honest.

I certainly could see the case for acting recognition for Luke and Denzel (perhaps better than in Training Day or Hurricane), as well as the script by Fisher. I'm actually quite surprised the Academy didn't nominate it after the WGA did.

One last thing, if you need an actress that can come in an kick ass in even the smallest of supporting roles, enough to make your film truly better, just call up Viola Davis. She picked 3 outstanding films to be involved with in 2002 (Solaris, FFHeaven, AFisher).

John Thomas · 02-13-2003, 02:48 AM

I'm in the same boat, Seth. There's several 'good' movies from last year and I feel bad for throwing around high ratings...but they deserve it. Speaking of which, I've decided to go abandon the letter grades and go back to the 0-10 ratings. I've done it the last few years and I figure consistency is key.

I'm just about there on my 2002 films, with The Pianist, The Hours, Talk To Her, The Quiet American and Frida now in the arthouse theaters. Unfortunately, I'll only be able to catch 2 maybe 3 of these before they leave. More than likely I'll catch the ones that are involved in Oscar noms just to have my bases covered when they roll around. (Of course, that's all but Talk to Her, right?)

Hrm.

Edwin Pereyra · 02-13-2003, 11:34 AM

Updated with the smartly written Igby Goes Down by Burr Steers and the harrowing Rabbit-Proof Fence by Phillip Noyce.

~Edwin

Edwin Pereyra · 02-13-2003, 11:54 AM

RE: Rabbit-Proof Fence

Quote:

Seth wrote:

It is very compelling to watch, despite having very serious narrative flaws. The situation is never fully clear, the motivations for most of the antagonists are not explained well...

Branaugh is good but ultimately wasted.

That first comment is a head-scratcher for me as, with Brook, I found the motivations explained plain and clear in the film.

I would also have to disagree with your comment about Kenneth Branagh. He brought the character to a different level to what might otherwise easily had been just another stock villain.

~Edwin

Lowell_B · 02-13-2003, 01:11 PM

Updated my List with:

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (*** / ****)

An amusing and enjoyable diversion even if it doesn't have much depth.

I also lowered the ratings on some stinkers too.

Lowell

Seth Paxton · 02-13-2003, 03:41 PM

I'll go over to the RPF thread to explain more.

Brook K · 02-14-2003, 01:34 AM

Beijing Bicycle was a mixed bag for me. I think the film's narrative is flawed when it goes away from telling the story of a simple rural lad trying to survive on the mean streets of Beijing and then asks us to follow a middle class punk who's story is much less interesting. But taken as a critique of the Westernization of Chinese life and values the film gains a great deal of power.

I also think there is some merit in the Village Voice review that referred to this as part of the "Miramaxation" of world cinema. A little more grit and realism along the lines of City of God or the better Iranian films would have done Beijing Bicycle some good. The slickness and overly intrusive score work against some of the feeling's it is trying to evoke. For now I think I'll give it a B-, intellectually stimulating, but emotionally unsatisfying.