Posted
11:42pm, Monday, March 17, 2003
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.
