Loading ...The Best of 2000: The Year in Review
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Loading ...By Dale Nauertz
Well here it is, already two months deep into the year 2001 and nary a space odyssey in evidence. The last of the big movies has finally been released in the Madison, Wisconsin area, which is the place where people like Jones and myself go to see anything of substance. The last of the Oscar bait films has been allowed to run rampant in the multiplexes (the last being “Shadow of the Vampire”, a movie that I was waiting to see before compiling this list but, despite having moments of greatness, poses no threat to fine fare like “Chicken Run”) and so it is high time that I pen this little letter of praise to the films that moved me. None of them made me cry, as far as I can remember. So right there we have a year that does not measure up to its predecessor. Sure, it is a rare thing to make me cry. There are only five films at the most that have achieved this honor. But one or two of them did rear their beautiful heads in 1999.
Contrary to popular consensus, however, this year was not the horrorshow of cinema that is reputed to be. This was not a tremendously shitty year in motion pictures. However, it wasn’t exactly a wonderful one either. The last month or so has had a wealth of fine pictures. Tis a pity they could not have been more evenly distributed throughout the course of the year. With one or two exceptions, months like June and September were arid wastelands at the local theater. December (and January of 2001, by the time most theaters got a hold of the films) were a great time to be a connoiseur of cinema, with a good number of films worthy of seeing. One weekend, in particular, ranks among my finest moviegoing experiences. And, thus, one of the most fun times I have had in my life.
Yes, I am aware that I need to get out more.
So now, without further adieu, here it comes……
THE WORST OF 2000
Hey, before I start waxing the cars of the movies I liked, it’s time to get one last shot at the ones I didn’t. The ones that I REALLY didn’t.
1. (The Worst) “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”
The cinematic equivalent of a lump of coal or even a turd in one’s stocking. Egads, this movie sucks in every conceivable way. This was one of those movies that was so bad that I left the theater in a rage. The movie takes a beloved and great Christmas special and a great Dr. Seuss book and drags it through the mud. The fact that I cannot remember a movie having this much cross merchandising should give you a sign of what is wrong here. Things are not right in Whoville. It subverts the purpose of the source material and whores it out for its own crass commercial motives. Sure, crap like “Battlefield Earth” sucks, but it didn’t piss me off quite this much.
2. “Battlefield Earth”
Oh dear. John Travolta in dreadlocks with a snot runner hanging from his nose. Forest Whitaker, taking career slump to all new lows. Rat-eating, pastel planets, godawful dialogue that offends the ear like a wrong musical note. As Marlon Brando might have said: “The horror!” Why is the camera tilting? Why so many wipes? Ugh. New lows in filmmaking ineptitude are hit here. Not every year has its own “Hudson Hawk” which, by the way, was leaps and bounds better than this sorry fiasco.
3. “American Psycho”
Pretentious crap. Nothing but. Christian Bale plays this guy so broad it’s like a cartoon. An alleged comedy that has no idea how to poke fun at American excess other than killing people. This is what passes for clever in this day and age?
Other than these, I can’t think of anything I really, flat-out hated. “The Perfect Storm” was kinda embarrassing and “Scary Movie” was overrated, though it had its moments, and “Road Trip” actually gets better the more I think about it. But these were just average, not abysmal.
WINNER OF THE 2000 “FIGHT CLUB” AWARD
This honor goes to the movie that I hated the most that has grown the most on me since my first viewing of it. “Fight Club” did this last year, as did “Eyes Wide Shut” to some extent. This year it was nothing as revolutionary as these, though it DID involve Tom Cruise.
“Mission: Impossible 2″
If you watch it again, you begin to appreciate it. It does have a solid plot and, at the very least, the action sequences do manage to stir the blood. And they are impossible and absurd, but they are addictively watchable.
Now, onto the good stuff.
THE BEST OF 2000
1. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
A beautiful, soul-stirring marriage of plot, action sequences, and lyrical beauty. It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve seen this year. A truly daring and whole-heartedly romantic film that dares you to dream. It dares you to forget the world you know and welcome one of old. One that, in fact, never existed at all. It is a tonic for the world-weary, uncynical soul. Even a cynical soul will find themselves wrapped in this intoxicating poem if they allow themselves to be. Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh- I commend you all. And thank you, Ang Lee, for committing your boyhood dreams to celluloid. It was truly worth it.
2. “Quills”
The most important message movie of the year, and the one that works the best. This film has the best script of the year. The dialogue is the best I have heard in a long while, and the actors all give one hundred percent. The costumes, the passion, the sterling direction and the nice ironic flourishes. All of them make this a vital movie and so much more than an average costume drama. And it has a playful, deliciously dark sense of comedy as well. a real treat and a magnificent find. You owe it to yourself to run to the theater for this one. A more important film you will not find at the current time. Or at much of any time. Bold, brilliant stuff.
3. “Cast Away”
Like “Scent of a Woman” this is one of those movies that depends completely on the strength of its leading man. It’s basically a one-man show. Great, then, that the one man in question is Tom Hanks: my favorite actor of the generation. He is riveting here. Alone on an island and nothing short of fascinating. Though the movie itself is also a marvel. Bold in its choice to forego music and voiceover narration and let the images speak for themselves. How often does that happen these days? Not very. When he gets back to land and you see the effect of his time on those around him, well, it’s even relevant. Tom astounds me yet again. And Zemeckis proves that he is still worthy of my praise.
4. “Almost Famous”
Beautifully written. A true labor of love. And the love passes onto the audience. I saw this movie more often at the theater than any other. Why? Because I love William Miller. I love Penny Lane. I want to be on tour with Stillwater. I want to be with these people. I want to be on that bus singing “Tiny Dancer” with everyone. I don’t want my heart broken. But this movie contains one of the most beautiful, truthful scenes of heartbreak that I have ever seen. And the acting is fabulous. Patrick Fugit: I look forward to seeing you in anything else. Billy Crudup, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee..hell, everyone. And Cameron Crowe, buddy, thanks you from the bottom of my heart.
5. “Chicken Run”
God, this movie is still great. I still love it. I still care way too much about the fates of those clay-animated chickens. This is one of those rare animated films that seems to have a soul. Don’t tell me that these chickens aren’t real. For an hour and a half, I believe in them and everything they do.
6. “Nurse Betty”
Rene Zellweger, you have stolen my heart. If you want to return it, email me and I will give you my address. Rene is the reason this movie is as high as it is. She is enchanting, incandescent in this movie. I dare you not to fall in love with her. And the rest of the movie is awesome as well. Everything works. Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock have marvelous chemistry as yin/yang hit men pursuing a plucky dreamer to her fictional lost love. A quirky, darling, dark masterpiece.
7. “High Fidelity”
Truer than you might think. Sharply written, wryly observed, and honest. Crawls inside men’s minds and gives you a surprisingly accurate description of what’s inside. John Cusack is his usual magnificent self, Stephen Frears is a great director, and Jack Black is an unruly force of nature. Dynamite stuff. Sure to be on anyone’s Top Five Romantic Comedies of All Time. And the only romantic comedy I have ever seen with a truly male slant.
8. “Requiem For a Dream”
Anyone who sees this movie and does drugs is nothing less than a fucking idiot. This is bold, daring and immensely creepy stuff. Gripping, raw and nearly sick. It pulls no punches and disturbs even the most undisturbable of moviegoers. Not exactly a treat, and no one’s idea of a fun time at the movies, but it still demands to be seen. Recommend it to a friend on drugs.
9. “Traffic”
A drug epic focusing on every facet of the drug trade. Fascinating and exhilarating. Not quite as raw as “Requiem” but also more subtle and with a wider scope. You get to know the dealers, the smugglers, the cops, the kingpins, the witnesses, the government officials and the addicts and you get to know them up close and sometimes a little too personally. Look it up on the Internet Movie Database. See the names of everyone involved? Each and every one of them did a fabulous job and is worthy of praise. And in charge of all of them, bringing all their talents together for one common goal, is Steven Soderbergh. A true man and a wonder of a director.
10. “Unbreakable”
Unfairly dismissed by both critics and audiences, this is a thinking person’s comic book. Great characters, nice twists and hairpin turns, and a darker film than you might think. The sort of popcorn movie that actually sticks to the ribs.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
“Charlie’s Angels” (Fun)
“Space Cowboys” (Fun from a master)
“The Replacements” (probably the only time you’ll see this movie so close to the top ten, but I loved it)
“You Can Count On Me” (Well done)
“Erin Brockovich” (Julia rules! So does Soderbergh!)
“The Patriot” (Exquisite to look at, well acted and worth your time)
“O Brother Where Art Thou” (Rambunctious, delightful)
MOST OVERRATED
“Gladiator” - Yes, it is good. But “Best Picture” at the Golden Globes? Not quite. Though Russell and Joaquin both rule.
“Shadow of the Vampire” - How this ended up on so many top ten lists is beyond me.
BEST SONG
“Fever Dog”- “Almost Famous”
BEST COSTUMES
“Quills” (except for Geoffrey Rush in a couple of scenes)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Patriot”/”Unbreakable”
BEST SCORE
“Gladiator” - Hans Zimmer does something spectacular here.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
“Hollow Man” - The only thing about this movie that’s worth mentioning.
BEST ACTOR
Tom Hanks (”Cast Away”)- a spellbinding performance that I think I have raved about for long enough.
Geoffrey Rush (”Quills”)- fiendishly brilliant
Russell Crowe (”Gladiator”)- Yes, Hollywood, he has finally arrived. Now try not to piss him off.
Mike White (”Chuck and Buck”)- most unnerving male performance of the year.
Mel Gibson (”The Patriot”/”What Women Want”/”Chicken Run”)-charming, angry, devastated and devastating. And he can do them all in the course of a single scene!
BEST ACTRESS
Ellen Burstyn (”Requiem For a Dream”)- Most devastating female performance of the year. She wastes away before your very eyes. If, that is, you can dare to look.
Renee Zellweger (”Nurse Betty”)- the most enchanting female performance in a good, long time.
Julia Roberts (”Erin Brockovich”)- the most unflinching heroine in years. You don’t want to cross this woman, but you are glad she’s on your side. What’s more: she’s actually human. Julia never reduces her to sainthood.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Joaquin Phoenix (”Quills”)- Wow. That’s all I can say.
Morgan Freeman (”Nurse Betty”)- Take notes, folks: THIS is class.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Zhang Ziyi (”Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”)- A truly stunning debut. She acts AND she can kick your ass. Even if you don’t know what she’s saying, you know she is a talent to watch out for.
Erika Christensen (”Traffic”)- Watching her descent into drugs is like watching the cutest girl in school turn into a pitiful monster.
BEST SCREENPLAY
Doug Wright (”Quills”)- Sheer brilliance.
Cameron Crowe (”Almost Famous”)- Overwhelming and wonderful at once. Frank Capra, you have been bested.
BEST DIRECTOR
Steven Soderbergh (”Traffic”/”Erin Brockovich”)-This guy is really taking charge. Either of these movies are enough to get him a nomination. Put them both together and he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Philip Kaufman (”Quills”)
Ang Lee (”Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”)
M. Night Shyamalan (”Unbreakable”)- for proving that he can do better than “The Sixth Sense”, and that he’s no one-hit wonder.
Well, there you have it. I’m probably leaving something out. After all, I picked “American Beauty” as best film this time last year, but now I would likely give that honor to “The Straight Story” (much more moving, and infinitely beautiful). But this is the way I see it as of now. And I don’t think anything will arise to challenge any of these. If so, well, I won’t be complaining. No, 2000 wasn’t the year of Greatness that 1999 was, but if you look at the films here, I am sure you will find that it wasn’t as bad as it looked either.
