From: Adam Kempenaar
To: Sam Hallgren, Eric Baker
Subject: A great year?
According to every critic I've read so far, 2002 was a very good year for movies. Considering that I have a solid list of 11 movies ranked among the elite of the year, followed by 10 more that just missed the cut, I'm inclinded to agree. Even the bad movies, or at least films I was ultimately critical of, were better than in years past -- films such as 'The Good Girl,' and 'Igby Goes Down, which I will discuss in more detail later. Of course, trying to rank movies in order of greatness is an arbitary and excruciating waste of time, but I find that often it does help me pinpoint exactly what I did or didn't like about a movie. My system, as mentioned in previous CS Movie Clubs, is fairly simple. I ask myself which film I am most anxious to see again/own on DVD, assuming all discs are created equal.
Now for the disclaimer. There are a handful of films I have yet to see that adorn a number of critics' ten-best lists and very well could end up sneaking onto mine at a later date. Recent films include: 'The Pianist', 'About Schmidt', 'Talk To Her.' Older films I wish I had seen: 'Bloody Sunday,' 'Auto Focus,' 'Red Dragon,' 'Full Frontal.' And for all of you Tolkien geeks out there: 'The Two Towers.' I want to see it, I really do. I just didn't expect it to make my top ten list, so it wasn't a priority. I'm ashamed to be comprising a list that doesn't at least consider the first three films I mentioned; I have no remorse about missing 'The Two Towers.' Sorry.
10. Far From Heaven(Todd Haynes) - Some complained that Haynes' lavish recreation of a Douglas Sirk '50s melodrama was like looking at a museum exhibit. But Haynes thwarts this criticism by making the social commentary as relevant now as it was then -- carefully exploring issues of race, gender, and sexual identity. Julianne Moore delivers arguably her best performance as the model housewife and mother whose seemingly perfect world is turned upside down. Her Cathy Whitaker is never a caricature, the woman who is concerned with social status above all else, while Dennis Quaid also turns in a career-defining performance as Cathy's closeted husband. I feared Quaid would seem too virile and macho for the role, but these traits just serve to make his downfall all the more tragic. Both deserve Oscar nominations, as does Edward Lachmann for cinematography and Peter Rogness for art direction.
9. Gangs of New York (Martin Scorsese) - Besides all of the usual Scorsese charms, including plenty of graphic violence, 'Gangs' is a must-see for Daniel Day-Lewis' performance as Bill the Butcher. Yes, he's slightly cartoonish with his exaggerated posture and accent, but he's absolutely terrifying as the 'godfather' of New York's Five Points. And like all good villains, he's multi-dimensional -- a character who is capable of feeling love, respect and friendship like everyone else, while also being able to rip out a man's heart without blinking. Even at 168 minutes the film could have used another half-hour -- I never quite believed Vallon's (Leonardo DiCaprio) quick ascension as the leader of the Irish immigrants -- and the voice-over should have been excised completely, but Scorsese's attention to detail and operatic style is irresistible.
8. 8 Mile (Curtis Hanson) - 'L.A. Confidential,' 'Wonder Boys,' and now this. Who knew the director of 'The Hand That Rocks The Cradle' could be so good? Hanson never lets '8 Mile's inspirational story of a talented young rapper trying to survive in a rough section of Detroit get preachy, and Eminem proves he's got legitimate acting chops to go along with his rhymimg skillzzzz. The "battle" scenes between the hip-hop wannabes are electric. It's a movie that's concerned just as much with personal responsibility and integrity as it is music.
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