Well,
last update, I promised my list of the top ten
movies for 2002. Unfortunately, I haven’t
been able to catch up on everything I wanted to
see. Other movies, I have been avoiding like the
plague.
I
don’t like films that have captured the
public’s imagination. I call these “old
people “movies. Movies that your parents
would go and see, then rave to you about. Two
2002 movies spring to mind: “My Big Fat
Greek Wedding” and “Chicago.”
I hate movies that please everyone. They make
me ill. If a film makes everyone happy, it must
be doing something wrong.
The
other critically acclaimed movie I’ve been
reluctant to see: The Hours. I’m just afraid
I may want to slit my wrists after seeing it.
A film about three suicidal women and one suicidal
man. Sounds like a fun matinee doesn’t it?
I go to the movies to be transported away; not
to get bummed out.
I’ve
been wanting to see The Pianist, but on a Saturday
night, when it comes time to choose, I’d
rather go see something dumb. I admit it. Give
me Old School. I want to see Jackass.Some dumb
movies I enjoyed this year:
Signs
Panic Room
SpyKids2: Island of Lost Dreams
My
Top Ten for 2002...
10.)
Spider-man
Directed by Sam Raimi
So sue me, I’m a Spidey nut. I collect Spidey
and read the comics. I enjoyed the movie. I do
realize of course that this may void the rest
of my top ten for many of you. Sorry.
9.)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Directed by Peter Jackson
Epic filmmaking. The miracle isn’t that
Jackson has made a good film, but made one from
a novel that is considered unfilmable. I’m
not into the sword and sorcery stuff, but this
is just darned entertaining.
8.)
Bowling for Columbine
Directed by Michael Moore
The Left’s only voice in popular media,
Moore does what the Right cannot: entertain AND
inform. Scary, funny and thought provoking.
7.)
Gangs of New York
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Perhaps not Scorsese’s best, but even his
worst is better than 90% of the dreck out there.
Why do critics punish Scorsese because of his
past heights? Lots of great performances in this
one. Daniel Day Lewis is great, as always.
6.)
Punch-Drunk Love
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
A film about the depths of loneliness and the
heights of love. It’s not about the logic
of falling in love, because there is no logic.
It is beyond your control. The fact that it is
funny and scary and mysterious only helps deliver
its message: love is strange. It soars.
5.)
Catch Me If You Can
4.) Minority Report
Directed by Steven Spielberg
A wunderkind reborn. After splitting into the
two Spielbergs during the 90’s, he returns
to the form that made him great. This year, he
brought back the Spielberg of Raiders, Jaws and
Close Encounters. He made two damn fine entertainments
which were both fast moving and emotional. Let’s
hope he keeps it up.
3.)
About a Boy
Directed by Chris and Paul Weitz
Hugh Grant is either really good or painfully
bad in his movies. This is a good one. I can’t
believe this is directed by the writer/directors
of “American Pie.” Add to that a top
notch screenplay adaption by Peter Hedges and
an amazing score/songs by Badly Drawn Boy.
2.)
Adaptation
Directed by Spike Jonze
People who complained about the last third of
this movie are missing the point of the entire
movie. This is a brave screenplay by Charlie Kaufman
about the difficulties of writing and creating.
Only a non-creative person would misinterpret
the meaning of the final act. This is all about
the pain and joy and exhilaration of creativity,
or lack thereof.
1.)
About Schmidt
Directed by Alexander Payne
There’s a phrase that often floats around
my head: “There is routine disappointment
in every day life.” This movie is about
that sentiment. It’s also about trying to
overcome it. It is Nicholson’s best performance
in years, perhaps because he is playing his age.
Funny, sad, genius. As in his previous two films,
Citizen Ruth and Election, Payne makes the mundane
interesting.
So this Sunday is the Oscars. I’m not making
any predictions this year because the good films
are going to be shut out by Chicago. Interpret
that any way you want.
My job is the reason for the lack of updates to
the blog. I have a pretty good job, but the clients
are insane. Probably the most difficult clients
I’ve ever worked for.
The
agency I work for has turned their business around.
Their sales are up, the management and stockholders
are jazzed. But they are creating levels of bureaucracy
only a sadist would invent. Instead of having
six meetings, they have three meetings and three
“pre-meetings.”
Excuse
me?
What
is a pre-meeting? If you meet with a client, it
is a meeting. Naming it something else doesn’t
make that change. I think it is a lame attempt
to make it appear as if there are less levels
of red tape, when in fact, there are more.
This
is probably the only time a client has punished
me for doing a good job. That said, I am shooting
a lot of commercials and racking up the airline
miles.
