2003 Film List - Page 9

Daredevil - WEAK in basically every respect. Easily the worst of the new comic movies (haven't seen Hulk yet). D+

Once Upon A Time In Mexico - I didn't find it hard to follow but there were definitely some strange edits and obviously missing pieces. Depp is hilarious and gets all the good lines, making Banderas almost the secondary player. A few good action scenes but beyond Depp, the movie is very short on characterization. I liked it, but definitely the least of the trilogy. B-

Updated with Robert Rodriguez's Once Upon A Time In Mexico.

~Edwin

Planned criteria is first screening Canada/USA:

The list:
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The 2003 list(alphabetically):

FilmDirectorYearCountryRating(of 10)
11:14Greg Marcks2003USA7
21 GramsAlejandro González Iñárritu2003USA7
28 Days LaterDanny Boyle2002UK6+
A Good Lawyer's WifeIm Sang-soo2003South Korea6
A Nation Without WomenManish Jha2003India6
A Problem With FearGary Burns2003Canada5+
All the Real GirlsDavid Gordon Green2003USA6+
Animatrix---7
At Five in the AfternoonSamira Makhmalbaf2003Iran7
Bad Boys IIMichael Bay2003USA6-
Bright FutureKiyoshi Kurosawa2002Japan6
Bruce AlmightyTom Shadyac2003USA6
Casa de los BabysJohn Sayles2003USA7
Code 46Michael Winterbottom2003UK5
Coffee & CigarettesJim Jarmusch2003USA8
Company, TheRobert Altman2003USA5
Corporation, TheMark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott2003Canada7+
CypherVincenzo Natali2002USA6+
Dallas 362Scott Caan2003USA6
DaredevilMark Steven Johnson2003USA5
Down With LovePeyton Reed2003USA7
ElephantGus Van Sant2003USA7
EvilMikael Håfström2003Sweeden7
Finding NemoAndrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich2003USA9+
FlyermanJeff Stephenson, Jason Tan2003Canada5+
GozuTakashi Miike2003Japan6
Grudge, TheTakashi Shimizu2002Japan8
Haute TensionAlexandre Aja2003France6+
He Loves me, He Loves Me NotLaetitia Colombani2002France6
HeroYimou Zhang2002China7+
HolesAndrew Davis2002USA7
How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your AssMario Van Peebles2003USA7
HulkAng Lee2003USA6
Hunted, TheWilliam Friedkin2003USA6
I Love Your WorkAdam Goldberg2003USA5+
IdentityJames Mangold2003USA6
Intolerable CrueltyCoen Bros2003USA8
Italian Job, TheF. Gary Gray2003USA6
Kill Bill Vol. 1Quentin Tarantino2003USA8
Last Life in the UniversePen-ek Ratanaruang2003Thailand8
Le Temps du loupMichael Haneke2003France6-
Lord of the Rings: Return of the KingPeter Jackson2003USA7+
Lost in TranslationSofia Coppola2003USA8
Matchstick MenRidley Scott2003USA7
Matrix 2: ReloadedAndy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski2003USA6-
Matrix 3: Still ReloadinAndy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski2003USA6-
Mighty WindChristopher Guest2003USA8
My Sassy GirlJae-young Kwak2001South Korea8
Nine SoulsToshiaki Toyoda2003Japan7
NothingVincenzo Natali2003Canada7+
Ong-Bak Muay Thai WarriorPrachya Pinkaew2003Thailand7+
Out of TimeCarl Franklin2003USA6
Owning MahownyRichard Kwietniowski2003Canada5+
Pirates of the CaribbeanGore Verbinski2003USA7
PTUJohnnie To2003China6
Qui a tué Bambi?Gilles Marchand2003France7+
Recruit, TheRoger Donaldson2003USA6
Revolution Will Not Be Televised, TheKim Bartley, Donnacha O'Briain2003Ireland7+
Rhinoserous EyesAaron Woodley2003USA7
S21, La Machine de mort Khmère RougeRithy Pahn2003France3
Save the Green PlanetJang Jun-hwan2003South Korea7
School of Rock, TheRichard Linklater2003USA7+
Shanghai KnightsDavid Dobkin2003USA7
Shape of Things, TheNeil LaBute2003USA5
Station Agent, TheThomas McCarthy2003USA7+
Terminator 3Jonathan Mostow2003USA6
Tesseract, TheOxide Pang2003Thailand7
TriggerStreet.com Project, Theten of em2003USA7
UndeadPeter Spierig, Michael Spierig2002Australia7
WonderlandJames Cox2003USA6
X2Bryan Singer2003USA7+
Yes Men, TheDan Ollman, Sarah Price, Chris Smith2003 USA10
ZatoichiTakeshi Kitano2003Japan7



My Top Films so far this year(not ordered yet):
The Yes Men 10/10
Finding Nemo 9+/10
Coffee & Cigarettes 8/10
The Grudge 8/10
Intolerable Cruelty 8/10
Kill Bill: Volume 1 8/10
Last Life in the Universe 8/10
Lost in Translation 8/10
Mighty Wind 8/10
My Sassy Girl 8/10

Not eligible under first screening criteria, for one reason or another, but saw 'em this year:
Bend it Like Beckham 6+/10
Better Luck Tomorrow 7+/10
Blue Car 5/10
City of God 7+/10
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie 7/10
Gerry 5/10
Good Thief, The 6/10
Irreversible 4/10
Laurel Canyon 6/10
Man on the Train 6/10
May 7+/10
Millennium Actress 6+/10
Phone Booth 6/10
Raising Victor Vargas 6+/10
Russian Ark 5/10
Spellbound 8/10
Whale Rider 7/10
Winged Migration 7/10
XX/XY 5+/10

Previous Year's Lists:
2000 List
2001 list
2002 list

Previous Years Top 10 Lists:
2000 Top 10(same as the 2000 list)
2001 Top 10
2002 Top 10

Saw at the Toronto Film Fest this year(44 total films, listed in order of preference):
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The Toronto Film Fest:
Film	Director	Year	Country	Rating(of 10)
The Yes Men	Dan Ollman, Sarah Price, Chris Smith	2003	USA	10
Last Life in the Universe	Pen-ek Ratanaruang	2003	Thailand	8
Coffee & Cigarettes	Jim Jarmusch	2003	USA	8
The Grudge	Takashi Shimizu	2002	Japan	8
Alien(a revised cut)	Sir Ridley Scott	1979	USA	8
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised	Kim Bartley, Donnacha O'Briain	2003	Ireland	7+
Ong-Bak Muay Thai Warrior	Prachya Pinkaew	2003	Thailand	7+
The School of Rock	Richard Linklater	2003	USA	7+
Nothing	Vincenzo Natali	2003	Canada	7+
Qui a tué Bambi?	Gilles Marchand	2003	France	7+
The Corporation	Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott	2003	Canada	7+
Rhinoserous Eyes	Aaron Woodley	2003	USA	7
At Five in the Afternoon	Samira Makhmalbaf	2003	Iran	7
11:14	Greg Marcks	2003	USA	7
Zatoichi	Takeshi Kitano	2003	Japan	7
21 Grams	Alejandro González Iñárritu	2003	USA	7
Nine Souls	Toshiaki Toyoda	2003	Japan	7
Casa de los Babys	John Sayles	2003	USA	7
Undead	Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig	2002	Australia	7
Matchstick Men	Ridley Scott	2003	USA	7
How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass	Mario Van Peebles	2003	USA	7
Save the Green Planet	Jang Jun-hwan	2003	South Korea	7
The Tesseract	Oxide Pang	2003	Thailand	7
Evil	Mikael Håfström	2003	Sweeden	7
Elephant	Gus Van Sant	2003	USA	7
The TriggerStreet.com Project	ten of em	2003	USA	7
Haute Tension	Alexandre Aja	2003	France	6+
Cypher	Vincenzo Natali	2002	USA	6+
A Good Lawyer's Wife	Im Sang-soo	2003	South Korea	6
A Nation Without Women	Manish Jha	2003	India	6
Dallas 362	Scott Caan	2003	USA	6
Gozu	Takashi Miike	2003	Japan	6
PTU	Johnnie To	2003	China	6
Bright Future	Kiyoshi Kurosawa	2002	Japan	6
Out of Time	Carl Franklin	2003	USA	6
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz	Ted Kotcheff	1974	Canada	6
Wonderland	James Cox	2003	USA	6
Le Temps du loup	Michael Haneke	2003	France	6-
Flyerman	Jeff Stephenson, Jason Tan	2003	Canada	5+
A Problem With Fear	Gary Burns	2003	Canada	5+
I Love Your Work	Adam Goldberg	2003	USA	5+
Code 46	Michael Winterbottom	2003	UK	5
The Company	Robert Altman	2003	USA	5
S21, La Machine de mort Khmère Rouge	Rithy Pahn	2003	France	3

Updated with:

Tears of the Sun (***/*****) - Partially models itself on Three Kings, only without the compelling characters, good writing, political commentary, or visual style.

Malibu's Most Wanted (***/*****) - Very stupid, but there are a few laughs to be had. Better than I expected.

Updated with one of this year's best films, Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman's American Splendor.

~Edwin

I didn't have a chance to update my list eariler, but I saw American Splendor last night as well. For me its the best film I have seen this year, granted a lot hasn't been released here in terms of the critically acclaimed films, but it was fan-bloody-tastic.

Added Run Ronnie Run! (3 stars out of 5) and Underworld (3.5 out of 5).

Finally saw Irreversible - I would say it is neither an outstanding film, nor a terrible, offensive one. I think it would have been a better film if it was told linearly. I agree with Seth that the "reversing" comes off as little more than a gimmic. I liked the later scenes where we get to know the characters and see them interact in friendly/loving ways and having this emotional attachment and interest would have served the earlier scenes better in giving more gravity to the rape and the film's beginning/story's ending rather than the route Noe took of trying of first confusing the viewer and then trying to create a "shock". C+

Added American Splendor B+ with comments in the Splendor thread.

Good enough now for a spot on my top 10, but I hope that the year still holds some better films. Not that I didn't think Splendor is very good, I do, but I didn't love it or get "film of the year" vibe.

Raising Victor Vargas a film that effectively captures small moments of awkwardness and joy between young people discovering love. Also contains a healthy amount of humor. B

Updated with Catherine Hardwicke's superb directorial film debut: Thirteen.

~Edwin

Next Up: Capturing The Friedmans

Updated with Lost in Translation (****). On another movie note, I also met Susan Orlean, who signed my Adaption DVD, among other items.

DJ

Updated:
Shanghai Knights - Example #1,783 of a sequel that is a pale shadow of the original. I don't believe I've ever seen Owen Wilson less funny but I blame that on the putrid script. C-

Ten - Abbas Kiarostami's latest experiment in minimalism is the Iranian equivalent of Taxicab Confessions and at times, just as interesting.B

(Ten opened at Cannes in 2002 and played at various festivals including NYC, but I haven't found a listing for an LA theaterical run and IMDB only lists a March 2003 NYC opening as the only non-festival release so I'm going ahead and counting it in 2003 since most people seem to be using the Academy release rules for their lists)

Next up: Underworld, Cabin Fever

.

Updated with 13 films. The best of them being Thirteen .

Also....if your a multi region/PAL watching kind of person...Dogville is out on dvd in Russia. Its full frame(Scope in theatres) with english 5.1. Ill report in when my dvd arrives.

Updated with Peter Segal's Anger Management: A big miss.

"I feel pretty..."

~Edwin ô¿ô

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Underworld - Me like movie with vamps and werewolves blowing each other away. B

Updated with Lost In La Mancha - the heartbreaking documentary about Terry Gilliam's attempt to film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

~Edwin

Yikes... Was there really a two-week period when I didn't go to the movies, except for maybe the Weekly Wednesday Ass-Kicking? Seems unlike me, but I can't remember seeing anything.

Anyway... Updated with 7 films from the Boston Film Festival and 4 from elsewhere (guess which are which!):

Millennium Actress - ½ - I suppose DreamWorks could have marketed their excellent first anime acquisition (and release via their "Go Fish" label) less, but I'm not sure how
Les Triplettes de Belleville - ½ - Very nifty French animated feature, done almost entirely without dialogue. Designs may be a little outré for a mainstream audience, though
My Life Without Me - ¼ - Sarah Polley and Mark Ruffalo are excellent in this Almovodar-produced story of a dying young woman's modest goals for the end of her life
Demonlover - ¼ - An intriguing corporate espionage tale set in the world of internet porn which also has quite a bit to say about media and reaction to women in authority
Big Girls Don't Cry - ¼ - Well-made German teen drama; I'll be interested to see how Thirteen compares
American Wedding - - Has the sentimental core that the second mostly lacked, and thus makes the jokes crude but not crass
Collusion - - A caper/con movie that is sometimes maddeningly stingy with information, but despite that has characters which elevate it above a mere exercise in form
The Missing Gun! - - Decent enough Chinese thriller about a policeman who faces three years in jail for losing his sidearm and his frantic hunt to find it
Once Upon A Time In Mexico - ¾ - What the heck happened to Rodriguez? Two slick, but disappointing, part 3s in the space of a few months. Johnny Depp's a hoot, but otherwise not much of a follow-up to Desperado
Anything But Love - ¾ - An enjoyably eccentric romantic comedy
The Kiss - ¾ - A first-rate supporting cast surrounds a lead who just can't carry the movie
What Alice Found - ½ - Decent enough road movie with a far too pat ending

.

Updated with the remarkable Capturing The Friedmans from director Andrew Jarecki.

~Edwin ô¿ô


Next Up: The Magdalene Sisters and Lost In Translation

.

Confidence - A good con movie is a pleasure to watch, and Confidence is a good con movie thanks to a snappy script and director James Foley's energetic style and fast pace. The nice collection of supporting actors is put to good use and make up for any shortcomings Ed Burns may have as the lead. (but couldn't they have given Robert Forster more screen time?) The movie falters as it nears its conclusion and the ending is a bit cheap and obvious which takes the film down a notch, but Confidence is a satisfying way to spend 98 minutes. B

Up Next: Stevie, Cabin Fever

Updated with:

National Security - Simply put: Awful. I rented this one because I always enjoy Steve Zahn. The poor guy had absolutely nothing to do, I don't think he was given one funny line in the entire movie. I truly feel sorry for him here. The director thought it would be far more amusing to focus on Martin Lawrence and his insanely racist antics.

I must agree with Peter Travers here "It's too bad Martin already made What's the Worst That Could Happen? The title really fits this one." out of

Updated with the sublime Lost In Translation. Bill Murray really should get serious Oscar consideration for his performance in this, but that's only part of what makes it a terrific movie.

Now, to get ready for the Boston Underground Film Festival.

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Lost In Translation While there are some really nice character/acting moments whenever Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansen are together on screen in quiet conversational moments, I found the "action" within the story to lack energy and didn't find much to laugh at. And much of the Japanese stereotype humor is in poor taste. The soundtrack also didn't do anything for me which didn't help matters. I did like Murray's little speech about having children. B-

Also caught a Midnight show of Cabin Fever which I liked. Eli Roth is effective in creating a 70's type feel and plays things mostly straight, making about as serious a horror film as you can make when your set up is old stand by: college kids staying at a cabin in the woods. Not as fun as Freddy v Jason and of course not approaching the best horror of the 70's and 80's but a good horror film; which doesn't happen often. B+

Stevie - Added to my short list of best films of the year. A tragic story that becomes even more because of the director's role within it. Thus it is not only a tale of a child who's parents failed him and a family in crisis, but a "making-of" the film all at the same time. I'm still assimilating this so I'll post in the alternavtive thread later. A