Here are my final thoughts on 2002, taking a look at the top categories. I can't say that I really saw that much. I'm yet to see Talk To Her, which seems like a criminal act. I also need to see Igby Goes Down, Secretary and Punch Drunk Love. Still, take a look at what I did see.
Original Screenplay
Far Fom Heaven
Frida
Gangs of New York
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
An embarrassingly weak year in this category. Far From Heaven is the easy winner here, and not having seen Talk to Her I can't say whether The Academy made the right decision was made.
Adapted Screenplay
Chicago
The Hours
Minority Report
Road to Perdition
The Two Towers
There were quite a number of good contenders here. The Hours and Chicago both did great things with difficult things to adapt. Minority Report particularly should have seen some love here.
Directing
Tier Two
Todd Field for Far From Heaven
Paul Greengrass for The Bourne Identity
Sam Mendes for Road to Perdition
Roman Polanski for The Pianist
Steven Spielberg for Catch Me If You Can
The Nominees
Stephen Daldry for The Hours
Peter Jackson for The Two Towers
Rob Marshall for Chicago
Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York
Steven Spielberg for Minority Report
So Rob Marshall takes it for his film debut followed by Stephen Daldry with his sophomoric effort.
The Pictures
Here's a look at the 67 films I saw that year in ascending order...
Fs [#67-#58]
Men In Black 2, Stuart Little 2, Scooby Doo, Big Fat Liar, The Ring, XXX, High Crimes, John Q, Antwone Fisher, Like Mike
I have a feeling that I’m a bit too harsh on a couple of these [The Ring, perhaps] but the grades don’t lie. And really I have no desire to see any of these ever again.
D-s [#57-#55]
Maid In Manhattan, Master of Disguise, Murder By Numbers
Each is horrible. They have a slight something preventing them from being complete failures. There’s still horrible, though.
D [#54]
Undercover Brother
What’s there to say?
D+s [#53-#44]
Showtime, Queen of Dammed, Enough, The Tuxedo, Brown Sugar, The Santa Clause 2, All About The Benjamins, Mr Deeds, New Guy, Goldmember
All are not quite good. But some I’m partial to, for easy watching.
C-s [#43-#38]
Swim Fan, Van Wilder, Scorpion King, Signs, One Hour Photo, Lilo & Stitch]
I know Signs is hated. It’s not very good, but I don’t think it’s terrible. Same goes for the others.
C+s [#37-#22]
Drumline, Die Another Day, Chamber of Secrets, Barber Shop, 8 Mile, The Rookie, Panic Room, A Walk to Remember, The Hot Chick, The Banger Sisters, Sweet Home Alabama, Two Weeks Notice, The Good Girl, The Ice Age, Unfaithful, Adaptation
Whew. That’s a lot. As it I didn’t get in to Adaptation at all. I’m thinking that C+ is too much. Eh. The Good Girl juxtaposed goodness with terribleness. Sweet Home Alabama and yes, Two Weeks Notice are surprisingly entertaining but ineffective baubles and Chamber of Secrets remains as my least favourite of the Harry Potter Films.
B-s [#21-#18]
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, The Birthday Girl, The Sweetest Thing, My Big Fat Greek Wedding
The Birthday Girl is a bit of an unorthodox, and sick ride. But I like it for the most part, as I like The Sweetest Thing. It's a pleasure, and not one that I feel guilty about.
Bs [#17-#11]
Analyze That, White Oleander, The Time Machine, About A Boy, Frida, About Schmidt, The Pianist
I don't think I'm being hard on The Pianist. Perhaps you were fans? I don't know. It didn't strike a resounding chord with me. And White Oleander was criminally ignored that year. Pity.
The Top Ten
#10 - Far From Heaven [B+]
An exceptionally smart film. I do want to like it more than I do, but I like it enough, so it's okay. Julianne Moore is luminous here as in The Hours and offers up a beautiful performance. The atmosphere is so strong here, which is uncommon in most period pieces. It's beautiful to look at, and thought provoking.
#9 - Spiderman [B+]
There’s always something good about the first one. I’ve never been an overt fan of the genre, but Spiderman was a well made and enjoyable genre picture. MaGuire, Dunst, Franco and Dafoe. Sure it's a popcorn flick, but it's done with so much integrity. How can I resist?
#8 - The Bourne Identity [B+]
I can’t deny that the sequels were good too, but the first in this trilogy has always been my undivided favourite.I remember seeing this time and time again, and Matt Damon really seemed cool here. That was a first for me.
#7 - Road to Perdition [B+]
#6 - Catch Me If You Can [B+]
This is a light almost comedy film and yet it's able to examine some deeper issues. DiCaprio is able to sell his character in more ways than one and Hanks and Walken are strong supporting players. Spielberg's direction is just so much fun, you can't help but be entertained.
#5 - Gangs of New York [B+]
This was somewhat maligned. I'm partial to Scorsese, but who knows. It's period piece with a different. It's gorey like any other gangster film and it all looks so majestic, you're enthralled, astonished and interested at the same time. And, damn, Daniel Day Lewis is something.
#4 - Minority Report [A-]
It’s arguably my favourite Spielberg film. Tom Cruise, who I am usually not fond of, impresses me loads here and anchors the film with his solid performance. Spielberg
The Top 3
The Hours [A]
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [A]
I’m not really going to rank these three. Although if I were to base it on my top 100 it would be just as it is –Chicago, The Hours, The Two Towers. However, I don’t really care to rank them. Each of these films have their merits and together they make up the trimester of the goodness of 2002. There’s the musical, the drama and the fantasy. Each skilfully directed, with smart screenplays and top notch actors.
What are your thoughts? What do I need to see?
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