All right, I'm finally ready to enter the fray. My Top Ten:[list=1][*]
Traffic - Steven Soderbergh has been on a roll, and this film is his strongest yet, and probably the best film of the year. An engrossing examination of one the country's biggest problems, with no easy answers given.
Traffic also features the best ensemble cast of the year - there are no weak links here.[*]
Almost Famous - Being the same age as Cameron Crowe (and at least as geeky without the talent), this film resonated with me very strongly. It's a coming-of-age tale that ultimately believes in the basic goodness of people (even rock stars & groupies) - and what's wrong with that anyway??[*]
Gladiator - One of this year's "love it or hate it" movies, and I loved it. More than the simple revenge tale that some have painted it as, the film's hero Maximus embodies courage, honor, and self-sacrifice - character traits strangely undervalued by our society. I can't imagine anyone other than Russell Crowe in this part.[*]
You Can Count On Me - I find myself a little amazed to see this film at number 4 on my list, because I saw it somewhat reluctantly. But what a charming and perceptive film this is!! Laura Linney is amazing in this, and if there is any justice she will be taking home a golden guy next month instead of Julia Roberts.[*]
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Let's face it - most movies these days we've seen before. Therefore what a joy it is to watch Ang Lee create something new (at least for American audiences)! This is the one film on this list that I am most wanting to see again on the big screen, and it may indeed move up.[*]
O Brother, Where Art Thou? - This joyous romp through a Depression-era Mississippi in a slightly wierder alternate universe eventually adds up to much ado about nothing. But the journey is so inventive and so much fun that it doesn't matter. The Coens are at the top of their craft here. This is the best-looking film of the year, and boasts the best soundtrack as well.[*]
High Fidelity - A sly, funny look at modern guyhood. It shows us how stupid we can sometimes be without ever stooping to male-bashing. Every male here at HTF making these lists has at least a little bit of these guys in him!!
Another great turn by John Cusack, and Jack Black was robbed of a Supporting nom.[*]
Pollack - Ed Harris lives up to the hype with his performance as the tortured painter, and he's my pick for Oscar gold. That I expected from this film. What I didn't expect was how entertaining the film was, especially in its depiction of the physical act of painting and the world of modern art & art criticism in the middle of the 20th century. I love it when a film can help me gain appreciation for something I had little knowledge of before, and
Pollack accomplishes that beautifully.[*]
Sunshine - This criminally underpromoted film traces three generations of a Hungarian Jewish family through the turmoil of the past century. The film is anchored by Ralph Fiennes' expert triple performance. It's a gorgeous film too - I'm glad I caught it on the big screen.[*]
Cast Away - Flawed, yet thought-provoking. Tom Hanks deservedly got his fifth Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a man who loses everything - but finds himself. Helen Hunt also does fine work in the last act of the film as a woman who must make a choice that will break two hearts.[/list=a]
Just Missed It Award:
Return To Me - The late addition of
Pollack has bumped it off my Top Ten, but I still want to highlight this film here because I doubt it will show up on too many other lists. And that's a shame, for
Return To Me is the best pure romantic comedy in many a moon. Bonnie Hunt makes a promising directoral debut, and David Duchovny & Minnie Driver are perfect as a couple who really fall in love (not just in lust as is too often the case in movies these days). Rent this one for Valentine's Day - better yet, buy the DVD, for you're sure to want to see this again many times.
Honorable Mentions (in no particular order) -
The Big Kahuna,
The Cell,
Remember The Titans,
My Dog Skip,
Wonder Boys,
Chicken Run,
The Virgin Suicides,
Unbreakable,
Snatch,
All The Pretty Horses,
Thirteen Days,
The Legend Of Bagger Vance,
Best In Show,
U-571,
State & Main,
Nurse Betty,
The Way Of The Gun,
The Gift,
The Tao Of Steve,
Space Cowboys,
Finding Forrester,
Chocolat.
Biggest Disappointments (highly touted films which just didn't work for me) -
Quills,
Shadow Of The Vampire,
The Contender.
Most Overrated Film -
Erin Brockovich. Not a bad film at all, and Julia Roberts & Albert Finney do great work. However, it's just not Oscar/Top Ten quality.
Best Reissue -
A Hard Day's Night
Worst Reissue -
The Exorcist - The Version You've Never Seen (only for the tacked-on ending - the rest was awesome)
For the record, I have seen (so far) 57 films that were released in calendar year 2000.
Films of note which I still hope to see on the big screen in the next few weeks -
The Claim.
Films of note which I missed and will have to wait for the DVD to see -
Billy Elliot,
Dancer In The Dark,
Requiem For A Dream,
The Girl On The Bridge,
Chuck & Buck,
Jesus' Son,
Joe Gould's Secret,
George Washington,
Croupier,
The House Of Mirth,
Yi-Yi.
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Too many DVDs, too little time...
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