Why I liked the movies that I liked.

[markjwilder]

Movie lists are by their very definition wrong for every person other than the one who compiled it. I'm not sure if any two people who are into movies would ever come up with the same top 20. To be honest, my top films for a certain year change over time as I find certain movies speak to me more in subsequent viewings than others. There's something to be said for re-watching value. But at any rate, here is my list of my favorites movies of 2001, with a brief explanation of why I liked 'em.

20. The Endurance - A documentary about the Antarctic voyage of Captain Shackleton in the 1910's. The voyage ran into major problems, and the crew faced incredible odds. Used lots of photographs from the original voyage, but the story is what made this one. People who don't like it will complain that it's inherantly boring because it's a documentary, but they're wrong.
    
19. Blackhawk Down - The more I think about this one, the lower my opinion. A good story (and a true story), but filled with the same stereotypes as all other recent war movies: the person in charge making bad decisions against the arguments of their subordinates, the inept soldier, the reluctant hero, the ultra-brave rebel soldier, Tom Sizemore playing the Tom Sizemore character... I thought it was too graphic as well. Can't the horrors of war be portrayed without seeing people's intestines? (FWIW, the only war movie that I've really really thought was fabulous in recent years was The Thin Red Line.) People who don't like it will complain that it's stereotypical in it's characters and overly-graphic, but they're wrong (or are they?).
    
18. Bridget Jones' Diary - Very funny and sweet and charming. I didn't think I'd like this one much, but I found it absolutely wonderful. Almost the only good thing to come out of the first half of 2001. People who don't like it will complain that it's too girly or too Hollywood, but they're wrong.
    
17. Monsters, Inc. - Pixar does it again. Manages to be sweet and funny and creative and just wonderful. Sure, it's not high art, but it was a wonderful children's film that was fun for adults, too. People who don't like it will complain that it's a cutesy kiddie-flick with no entertainment value for adults, but they're wrong.
    
16. Startup.com - Another documentary, this one about the adventures of a start-up internet company. The filmmakers managed to be in the right place at the right time, as what could have been a very boring rise to the top story turns out to be full of twists and turns. A better story than most narrative films. People who don't like it will complain that it's uninteresting, but they're wrong.
    
15. Made - A mob movie that is funny and intelligent. Both Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn deliver great performances. I don't know what to tell you about why i liked it, but I just thought it was funny and I loved Vince Vaughn's wanna-be mafioso character. People who don't like it will complain that it's slow and stupid, but they're wrong (and slow and stupid).
    
14. Gosford Park - Robert Altman's movie billed as a mystery but really not a mystery at all. It's all about the people and the performances. Filled with about 30 fabulous performances. People who don't like it will complain that it's too hard to follow, but they need to watch it again. Oh, and they're wrong.
    
13. The Tailor of Panama - The best spy flick I have seen in ages. There's no ultimate good and ultimate evil like in the Bond flicks, but instead everyone is a little evil. Fabulous performances that'll make you wonder why Peirce Brosnan is wasting his time with Bond. People who don't like it will complain that it's cynical and that Brosnan was a bad casting choice (because of the fame he got from the Bond flicks), but they're wrong.
    
12. The Princess and the Warrior - A German film from the writer/director of Run Lola Run, and starring Lola herself. But this movie is no Run Lola Run. It's still stylish, but this is a great story with great acting. People who don't like it will complain that it's in German, but they're retarded.
    
11. In The Bedroom - Yeah, yeah, yeah, another story about people. Where are all the superhero flicks? Screw them. Give me an interesting story about people anyday. A shocking conclusion ends the first act and the film keeps you guessing as you enjoy the tremendous performances by Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson. People who don't like it will complain that it's boring because it's about people, but they're wrong.
    
10. A Beautiful Mind - A story that leads you one way and then throws you about. It's too bad that Russel Crowe won an Oscar for Gladiator, because his performances in this movie and The Insider were sooooo much better than that crap-fest Gladiator. People who don't like it will complain that it stars that whore Jennifer Connelly, but they're just bitter. (just kidding!)
    
9. Wet Hot American Summer - Okay, people have already told me that I was wrong with this one, but what do they know? Their idea of humor is probably something stupid like beating giant snakes with double-headed dildos or some such nonsense. This is a spoof movie done the way they should be, subtle. The humor is very odd, but that's to be expected if you're familiar with the cast/crew's work on The State (easily the greatest show MTV has ever aired). I'd guess that more people will hate this movie than will like it, but this ain't most people's list, is it? People who don't like it will complain that it's stupid and fucked-up, but they're wrong (well, it is kinda fucked-up)
   
8. Memento - This is the geek film of the year, following 1999's The Matrix and last year's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Or, at least, it was the geek movie of the year until The Fellowship of the Ring came out and outgeeked it. I thought the idea was fresh and I was absolutely enthralled both times that I saw it in the theater. People who don't like it will complain that it's hard to follow, but they're wrong.
   
7. Moulin Rouge - Another controversial choice. Easily the love-it-or-hate-it movies of the year. Certainly this movie puts style WAY over substance, but I thought the story and performaces were still great. Visually one of the best films of the year. People who don't like it will complain that it's too flashy or that musicals in general (and especially those that use contemporary music in a non-contemporary setting) are stupid, but they're wrong.
   
6. Tape - What? A movie starring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman in someone's top ten? This movie is downright fabulous. The movie takes place in a run-down hotel room and all in "real-time". There are only three people in the movie and they all turn in spectacular performances. People who don't like it will complain that they've never heard of it, but they'll just have to work a little harder to see it.
   
5. Ghost World - A difficult-to-describe movie. About teenagers who aren't ready to start thier "real" lives, i guess. Very low-key, but with memorable performances all around. If there is a god, Steve Buscemi will get an Oscar nomination for this film. People who don't like it will complain that it's obtuse, but they're wrong.
   
4. Amélie - With all the stuff I heard about this before I saw it, I thought I was setting myself up for a disappointment, but I was pleasantly surprised. Charming, funny, off-the-wall, and just a great movie. Not at all the pretentious, high-art, hard-to-follow movie that people associate with French film. People who don't like it will complain that it's too foreign, or indeed too cutesy, but they're wrong.
   
3. Hedwig and The Angry Inch - I didn't think this would be the kind of movie I would go for after reading a few things about it and seeing the trailer, but boy was I wrong. An incredible and moving story and some great rock music. Not a musical in the "singing-for-no-reason" sense, instead all the songs are in the context of a performance. A great film, and writer/actor/director John Cameron Mitchell deserves an Oscar nomination for his incredible performance. People who don't like it will complain that it's too gay, but they're wrong.
   
2. Monster's Ball - Started out kind of melodramatic with a lot of really emotional events that seemed like too much, but ended up being a great story about how unusual events can change peoples minds and lives. People who don't like it will complain that it's boring, but they're wrong.
   
1. The Royal Tenenbaums - a movie that has everything. it's funny, its sad, it's beautiful, and it's ridiculous all at once. Wes Anderson made a lot of fans with Rushmore, but I think this one is even better. Great performances all around, but especially from Gene Hackman and the Wilson brother Luke and Owen. If anyone finds anything to complain about, they're wrong. Oh, and stupid.

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[edwardina.livejournal.com]

Just popping in with my requisite "I love you, Joey!!!"

Bye now.