Isnt' it about time...

[Darth23]

...for all the Film 'experts' to start chosing the Best Pictures of the Year and the Oscar Front-runners from among all the movies that haven't opened yet?

:p

[JediBoricua]

It has been a weak year, full of blockbuster, but not a single strong candidate for best picture.

I really can't say either. I'm guessing Road to Perdition will get a nom., maybe TTT if the gods favor it, and I don't know, 8mile? (The idea of an eminem movie being nominated makes me sick, a sure sign the apocalyps is upon us). But neither of these movies has a favorite tag, nor do they compare to previous best movie contenders IMO.

[sirdizzy]

hey then i nominate the two towers even without shelob being in it

[Diego Van Derveld]

I can't think of a single movie that should run for a best picture oscar. Road to Perdition is not deserving, IMO.

Minority Report? Probably not.

TTT? I'll bet against it, on sequel factor.

Those aside...I honestly can't think of a movie that's come out and been worthy of that kind of recognition.

[JMK]

Maybe it'll be all boring movies. Like Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. :lol

Does anyone think My Big Fat Greek Wedding will get a nod? It's up over 200 mil now I believe. It's definetly been turning some heads...

[JonathanLB]

I have seen basically every 2002 release, it was not a bad year at all. In fact, probably one of the years of the last decade. Maybe there are not any "Oscar-type" films, but they don't know great movies anymore. They USED to know what great movies were a few decades ago with mostly good selections and some horrible mistakes here and there, now we get crap like Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, and Monster's Ball as nominees along with A Beautiful Mind, which is more like A Boring Movie. The worst case of mistitling since The Neverending Story, IMO. What a rip off that was. I rent the thing expecting a neverending story and two hours later the sucker stops playing. I want my money back.

As for this year's front runners, count on a best picture nomination for Far From Heaven. It wasn't worthy, sure wasn't any better than Austin Powers 3 in entertainment value, but it was the type of movie they love and with its 50+ four-star reviews, obviously it'll be a front-runner for a lot of awards, probably costume design, set design, all of the awards that should be going to movies set thousands of years ago or sci-fi/fantasy films because they ALWAYS have the best costume design and sets (see: LOTR, all Star Wars films, plus a million other examples), but nope, period pieces from 30 years ago with easy-to-find props and sets are what win the awards. I can tell you from going to prop houses it's not too hard to find stuff from the '50s -- actually it's extremely easy. Making the type of elaborate sets you see in a Star Wars movie with all of these really weird props is incredibly hard and takes imagination and talent, but it's not what the Oscars are good at awarding. They are clueless beyond hope.

Y Tu Mama Tambien and Monsoon Wedding, both terrible movies, are going to be nominated for Best Foreign Picture. I'm not sure what else will be nominated with them. I don't think Frida counts, I'm under the impression it's an American made film, even though it is about a Mexican painter and yada yada yada.

Kissing Jessica Stein will get a nomination here or there, maybe screenplay for instance, maybe a token actress nod but I'd put that at 5 to 1 of it even getting a nomination. I have a feeling it'll somehow get a nod or two overall though. It wasn't good either, but it was acclaimed. I guess if you are into that type of movie, cool, I wasn't too excited with it. Neither bad nor good, well made mostly, not interesting though.

I'm going to be curious to see what they nominate, but I will basically guarantee that Road to Perdition gets a cinematography nomination. It will likely get a best director nomination, maybe even without a best picture nomination, which is rare, but we'll see. Hanks will be nominated. Williams will be nominated possibly, either for Insomnia or One Hour Photo, unless they forgot about both films, which is possible too.

AOTC will get 3 token nominations, two sound and one visual effects, and it probably won't win any of them even though it had the greatest visual effects ever seen in any film in 105 years of cinema. But that doesn't matter to the Academy and it never has. Didn't matter in 1999, sure won't matter now.

I have very little enthusiasm with the Academy getting much of anything even close to right. I will consider "right" nominating 3-star or better movies and giving the technical awards to films that are truly deserving, which won't happen.

Actually it'll probably be like Spy Kids 2, Harry Potter 2, and Lord of the Rings for effects, no Star Wars. Of course the effects in Spy Kids 2 are among the worst I have seen in years and Harry Potter 2's effects were quite good, but not excellent, it still wouldn't highly surprise me.

Igby Goes Down is going to pick up a few nominations, don't ask me to say which ones, probably in acting though.

I'd say Bowling For Columbine is nominated for and wins best documentary film, but I've not seen enough other documentaries this year to know that really. I just have a feeling (I'll get to seeing the movie soon, my friends loved it, I'm going to get to it in a week or so).

I would be surprised to see Spielberg nominated for Minority Report, but again I'm predicting that if that happens, the film itself will not receive a Best Picture nomination.

This year, totally excluding AOTC which I feel was #1 in all categories so I'll just leave it off, I felt The Count of Monte Cristo had the best screenplay, followed closely by Road to Perdition, Insomnia, perhaps Minority Report, and Changing Lanes was up there too. I think The Count of Monte Cristo and Simone were the two best films of the year, probably along with TTT when it comes out, and I'd nominate Simone for best actor with Pacino, probably give Williams a Best Actor nomination for Insomnia, but I'm not sure because I liked One Hour Photo just as much almost. Insomnia, The Count of Monte Cristo, probably TTT, and Road to Perdition get my cinematography nominations. Actress would go to Jennifer Love Hewitt in The Tuxedo, oh wait no that is for WORST actress, my bad. I'm not sure about the actress category, wow that one is always tough. I'd seriously consider nominating Jennifer Westfeldt from Kissing Jessica Stein, even though I felt the movie was average. I can't think of another film where the female lead was that important and did a great job. I wasn't a fan of the lead actress in The Ring, it was one of the film's only slight flaws.

I cannot think of much that qualifies as stupid enough and inane enough to get Oscars this year, wow, that's too bad. So many great films they would never in a million years nominate for anything meaningful, but not enough lousy movies to nominate this year perhaps. Bummer. Whatever the case, the selection of nominees must be better than last year, which just briefly looking through more than 70 years of history seems to be one of the worst 5 years in history for Oscar nominations. Too bad because 2001 was a good year for movies, if nothing spectacular.

[Marcus Telcontar]

No, it's not Oscar class.

There have been some really good movies come out this year... but nothing that screams OSCAR. Minority report was really good I'd agreee.. but not quite what the acadamy would vote for. Gangs of New York maybe, Chicago got some Oscar buzz. But of course you dont know until they come out. TTT will have to be stunning to be nominated again. But... it might if the weakness of the Oscar field continues.

Jackson SHOULD already have a best Director statue, that was a total crime he did not get it last year. Memento should have been nominated and won best picture. So, what does that mean?

If Jackson is nominated again, he should take the statue, but I doubt he will. I thought ROTK was his best shot for Oscar. Somewhere along the line he must get it, cause LOTR is such a feat for a director. My feel is that LOTR will get nominated for technical, maybe an actor or two. But will not win. Gangs of New York or Chicago it sounds like will sweep in, if they are any good.

Edit : After reading Jon's post, I have to agree Williams is going to be nominated for at least one film this year. One Hour Photo will be it I think and from what I've heard, he could very well take the award

[Jedi Master Carr]

I forgot about Chicago I am sure it will get a lot of nods, Catch me if you can has a good chance too there. Moonlight Mile will probably get a lot of the acting nods, I hear Hoffman is brilliant in it. The Emperor's Club with Kevin Kline will probably get one. And I bet MBFGW gets one, I just have a feeling about it. I would like to see what are Oscar expert (CMJ) says about this year's prospects.

[Quadinaros]

Well, my favorite movies of the year so far will not get best picture noms... AOTC, Minority Report, and Signs.

Greek Wedding will almost certainly be nominated. Other than that, impossible to see, the best picture category is.

I doubt AOTC will get any nominations at all. That's fine with me. We don't need no 'token' nominations.

As for the acting categories, I'm clueless at this point.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

MBFGW = one of the best movies of the year! And it was rated PG, which blows me away. Can people now realize that they don't have to put boobies and cussing into a movie to make it good?!

:D *exits thread as she knows nothing about the Oscars*

[Diego Van Derveld]

Well we've still got a few months...maybe an actual contender will emerge.

[CMJ]

Man I just read this thread. :) Actually the first Group to hand out there awards The National Board of Review handed them out yesterday. The NBR is a sketchy indicator at Oscar but the WINNER of the NBR usually is nominated.


NBR Awards

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2002
1. The Hours-Best Film
2. Chicago
3. Gangs of New York
4. The Quiet American
5. Adaptation
6. Rabbit-Proof Fence
7. The Pianist
8. Far From Heaven
9. Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
10. Frida

TOP FIVE FOREIGN FILMS OF 2002
1. Talk to Her - Best Foreign Film
2. Y Tu Mama Tambien
3. 8 Women
4. City of God
5. El Crimen del padre Amaro

Best Actor: Campbell Scott, Roger Dodger
Best Actress: Julianne Moore, Far From Heaven
Best Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper, Adaptation
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates, About Schmidt
Best Acting by an Ensemble: Nicholas Nickleby
Breakthrough Performance Actor: Derek Luke, Antwone Fisher
Breakthrough Performance Actress: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Secretary
Best Director: Phillip Noyce, The Quiet American and Rabbit- Proof Fence
Best Directorial Debut: Rob Marshall, Chicago
Screenwriter of the Year: Charlie Kaufman, Adaptation, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Human Nature
Best Documentary: Bowling for Columbine
Best Animated Feature: Miyazakis Spirited Away
Best Film Made for Cable TV: The Laramie Project
Special Award for Visionary Cinematic Achievement: George Lucas
Career Achievement: Christopher Plummer
Special Filmmaking Achievement: George Clooney, Director, Producer, and Star of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Career Achievement Film Music Composition: Elmer Bernstein
Career Achievement Cinematography: Conrad Hall
Humanitarian Award: Sheila Nevins
William K. Everson Award for Film History: Annette Insdorf for her book Indelible Shadows: Films and the Holocaust
Special Recognition of Films that Reflect the Freedom of Expression:
Ararat, Bloody Sunday, The Grey Zone, Rabbit-Proof Fence

Special Mention for Excellence in Filmmaking
The National Board of Review, in keeping with its long tradition of recognizing excellence in filmmaking is proud to salute the following films, crafted by visionary artists which demonstrate the creativity and determination which have always been vital to the film industry:
Frailty
The Good Girl
The Guys
Heaven
Igby Goes Down
Max
Personal Velocity
Real Women Have Curves
Roger Dodger
Sunshine State
Tadpole
Tully

[JMK]

Standing in the Shadows of Motown is going to be right up there in the best documentary category.

[sirdizzy]

what the hell of your top 10 pics of 2002 i have heard of 1

[Jedi Master Carr]

Chicago, Gangs of New York and Frida are all familar to me, I'd see not Two Towers. I am curious was FOTR nominated by them last year?

[Diego Van Derveld]

Gangs of New York looks like crap to me, but this is a preliminary appraisal, so who knows.

[CMJ]

Carr, last year the NBR did have FOTR on their list(not sure of the placement though). This is definitely an interesting mixture of films. More groups will be weighing in soon.

A side note..."Moulin Rouge" won the NBR last year. As I said films that WIN the NBR are usually NOMINATED but their record on taking the staute is usually not so good.

[Figrin D'an]

I expect Gangs of New York will likely be a Best Picture nominee... as long as it is marginally well done, it'll get the nod, simply because it seems like the kind of picture that the Academy will drool over... personally, I don't know what I think about it... I'll probably see it, but I'm skeptical.

[Diego Van Derveld]

I think its just Daniel Dey Lewis in a dorky stovepipe hat that gets my gourd, as well as the Salvador Dali moustache, with extra curl power.

[JMK]

Day-Lewis is such a dullard in interviews. He was on Charlie Rose last night with Martin Scorcese and Rose was hard pressed to get any kind of answer from him at all. [/rant]

[sirdizzy]

gangs does look horrible

i do want to see a leo movie as catch me if ya can looks good plus its a spielberg movie

[Diego Van Derveld]

Yes! That is the first DiCaprio movie I have actually been excited about. I was pleasantly suprised in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, but thats before anybody knew who he was...and I thought he was actually retarded. Then I didn't even know he was in the Quick and the Dead, and he gave a masterful performance there (my favorite character of the movie, even).

Wow, if he can actually stop making crap, he might become a respectable actor.

[CMJ]

I actually think DiCaprio is a great actor. He usually always gives terrific performances.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Catch me if you can does look good, Gangs of NY looks awful to me and I doubt it will do well at the box office.

[sirdizzy]

the thing that gets me the most about catch me if you can is that its one of those true stories that ya go no freaking way when ya hear it which means it already has a cool story for the movie

then ya throw in speilberg and tom hanks how can ya fail even with leo

[Diego Van Derveld]

and Sinatra :)

[JonathanLB]

I think Leo is a good actor mostly, but I still think he's a fruit. The guy is gay as they come, no matter what he says, he just looks like a fruitcake. Nothing wrong with that, but it's just the way he is, lol.

As for Gangs of New York, parts of that look REALLY dorky, my god. I mean, I'm anxious to see it because Scorsese is awesome, but wtf? Those stupid hats, nobody wore anything that dorky I've ever seen in any history book and they all look like they are wearing high heels by the way they walk. It just looks retarded. I hope the movie is better than that preview... I'm hopeful, but not optimistic.

Catch Me If You Can is going to rock, I've been looking forward to it for months now since I first hard of it.

You notice how the National Board of Review intentionally picked only films that nobody normal (I am not normal; I'm a film critic) has ever heard of. Nobody I know would be able to say they've heard of even 5 of those movies, lol. They didn't try to pick the best films of the year, they just tried to pick films that were arthouse and dinky. It's very pathetic, it's JUST as bad as only picking blockbusters to your top ten list. There is no difference. It's discrimination against an entire, very large group of films. Fact is, though, more great movies come out of Hollywood than will ever or have ever come from independent filmmakers.

You look through the history of film and you will find 25 great studio movies, at least, for every 1 great independent film. I'd argue more like 50 or 100 to 1 personally. You think any of those AFI Top 100 films were indie movies? Umm, not really. They were either major blockbusters or critically acclaimed studio films. Pulp Fiction and Fargo are about as close as you come to independent movies on that list. Citizen Kane, Gone With the Wind, Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Casablanca, Jaws, Annie Hall, I could go on... they are all major studio films. So these critical REVISIONISTS trying to act like there is something wrong with major studio fare are retards. They clearly don't understand film whatsoever and shouldn't be allowed to make any important decisions, or certainly nobody should be reporting what these fools have to say.

Frailty sucked hard, it was terrible, but more than that, it wasn't a 2002 film!!!! Are they really that STUPID? It is a 2001 release, check the IMDB, read about it, the movie didn't come out this year first. It hit mainstream theaters this year and was already released last year. It's not even eligable... fools.

The Good Girl was trash too, I can't believe they'd mention that film. Yeah, Aniston did well, that's about it. I like the kid too, he rocks, but the film itself was horrible.

[JonathanLB]

...and for the record, to be fair, The Pianist, The Quiet American, these films do look good, and I will see them, but they have not opened here yet. I just find it a bit pathetic that an entire organization cannot think back even 3 months to remember what came out before, uhh, like November. Every film they nominated is recent or not open.

In fact, the main reason I've only seen 2 of those 10 films is because only 4 of them have opened in Portland. SIX of them are not even open yet in any city except LA or maybe NY, but here in Portland, we're still waiting for 6 of those.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I hate Fraility too, that was one of the worst movies I saw from this year, it was horrible, the whole ending was just completely stupid.

[Master Yoghurt]

Since I monitor the box office fairly closely, I recognise the names of at least 5 of those movies. Guess I am not normal then, hehe :D

But yeah, those seem to be some obscure choices. And what is up with this favoritism towards recently opened movies?

The Academy Awards got some of the same irritating symtoms, but also has other annoyances: Popularity contest syndrom, sympathy nods, compensation for past rip offs, 'political correct' votes and other irrelevant criteria which tends to erode the credibility and integrity of the Academy. I wont even mention the multi million dollar marketing campaigns and lobbying which corrupts the contest in the worst possible way. Of course despite all that, and knowing myself; in an allmost morbid curiosity, I cannot resist pointing my remote control at my TV set and watch the parody of an award ceremony this year, as every other year.. :rolleyes

[JonathanLB]

Thank you, Carr, someone who agrees with me.

"I hate Fraility too, that was one of the worst movies I saw from this year, it was horrible, the whole ending was just completely stupid.

Yes, right on. The ending was just sick, lol. Ugg that movie blew.

[Sejah Haversh]

Oh, man, I had forgotten The Count of Monte Cristo falls into this year's category. That was a brilliantly done movie,a nd the costuming and sets were phenomenal.

So what if the ending was askew from the book, I still loved it, and still do. Dumas rocks...

[CMJ]

"Frailty" might be listed on IMDB as a 2001 release but it wasn't evev released HERE until 2002. If it only was released it festivals in 2001(possible it's happened before) it would count as a 2002 issue, and thus be eligible.

I'm guessing that's what happened.

[CMJ]

Now I'm gonna add Peter Travers(Rolling Stone)' list. Why? Well, he's the only other guy so far out with one. ;)

Peter Travers Top Ten, as follows

The 10 Best Movies of 2002
The movies that mattered this year are meant to rile you up

The Year in Movies
1. Gangs of New York
A landmark film from Martin Scorsese, who turns a tale of immigrant gangs in the 1860s into a hot-blooded epic for the ages. Ignore the love fluff with Cameron Diaz; Leonardo DiCaprio and a stupendous Daniel Day-Lewis bring history to raw life. No one dares more than Scorsese. Watch him fly.

2. Far From Heaven
The twin peak, along with "gangs," of the movie year is another period film -- suburbia in the 1950s. The gifted writer-director Todd Haynes uses a disintegrating marriage (superb acting from Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid as her closeted gay husband) to speak potently about the way we live now.

3. Adaptation
The most original and outrageous comedy of 2002. Twin writers (both Nicolas Cage) try to adapt a book about orchids (no sex, drugs or violence) into a Hollywood movie. Director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman are true originals: They make hilarious satire out of the end of civilization.

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Part two of Peter Jackson's film trilogy of J.R.R.Tolkien's books tops the original in thrilling spectacle. Tolkien gets fudged a bit, but the story's themes remain powerful and resonant. Jackson delivers the goods in battle scenes that will take your breath away.

5. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Two teen horn-dogs (Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal) hit the road with an older woman and learn to see beyond their hard-ons. It's an erotic ride that Mexico's Alfonso Cuaron elevates with unexpected feeling.

6. Chicago
A splashy, sexy knockout of a musical about the corrupt heart of showbiz and, by extension, the world. A razzle-dazzle triumph for director Rob Marshall. Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones are hot, hot, hot!

7. Talk to Her
It sounds bizarre: how do two men love two women -- a dancer and a bullfighter -- who are in comas? Spain's Pedro Almod-var tells you how in a one-of-a-kind film that brims over with magic and mystery.

8. Road to Perdition
Some people didn't buy Tom Hanks as a hitman and found director Sam Mendes' follow-up to American Beauty too arty. I found the film and Paul Newman, as the hit-man's surrogate father, indelibly moving.

9. About Schmidt
Jack Nicholson's turn as a Nebraska retiree is a career high, but don't discount the expansive human comedy that director-co-writer Alexander Payne has given him to play.

10. 8 Mile
With all the fuss about Eminem's striking screen debut as a rapper much like himself, you might've missed the authenticity director Curtis Hanson built into the film. Look again.
Runners-up: Besides two from Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American and Rabbit-Proof Fence) and a trio of documentaries (Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Dogtown and Z-Boys, Bowling for Columbine), there's Christopher Nolan's Insomnia, Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love, Paul Schrader's Auto Focus, Stephen Daldry's The Hours, Joe Carnahan's Narc, David Fincher's Panic Room and Paul Greengrass' Bloody Sunday.

[JonathanLB]

I am not alone in saying that Auto Focus wasn't much of a movie.

My film professor here, Jon Lewis, publisher of 5 books and editor of one of America's most important critical magazines, The Cinema Journal, also felt that it was not an appealing or that well done film and it was rather disappointing. I gave it 2.5, but I gather he wouldn't even have given it that. Probably 2 stars from him. It's just not a good movie.

We already talked about the porno Mexican flick, best porn of the year, but unfortunately that isn't a category that the Academy recognizes -- yet! Maybe soon, thanks to the horrible Mexican films we've gotten so far (thank you, Amores Perros, for the worst movie experience of my life!). Mexican "cinema," if such a thing really exists, is worse than high school American films. They have a long ways to come from what I've seen. What trash. Here is hoping they make some progress, I'm pulling for them, I'm not here to tear anyone down, just I think their films so far are horrible but it is only uphill from here, lol.

I read about Talk to Her -- sounds awful. The story premise is so unpromising that I just cannot see there being much of a movie out of that. I'll see it when I can, if it ever opens around here, or on DVD, but... one of the best movies of the year? That, I doubt.

The Count of Monte Cristo is absolutely one of the best films this year. Brilliantly made in every respect and the screenplay was one of my favorites of the last 5 years. Such witty, memorable quotes.

8 Mile? haha, well at least he chose something commercial, but that film wasn't very good. It was good, a solid B, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't anything special. There were about 25 better films this year.

Nice that he mentioned Panic Room, that would make my top 20 I think. Not top 10. Among the absolute greatest cinematography ever seen in a movie, though. I personally don't think I have ever seen better. If Hitchcock had the tools, I have no doubt he'd have taken advantage of them as Fincher has in Fight Club and Panic Room specifically. Of course, I think Hitchcock's cinematography is wonderful and some of the best ever, but you simply could not do then what you can now, moving a virtual camera through a keyhole, between a coffee cup handle, down 3 flights of stairs in such short time, it's stunning. I wish Panic Room was a more meaningful film, though. Instead it's just a very well done movie, nothing more, nothing less.

This Gangs of New York must be better than what it looks like huh? I'm hoping, I mean I don't go into any film that is supposed to be good dreading it. Heck I even thought Y Tu Mama Tambien was going to be something good after its great reviews, even though I've been tricked by moronic critics 20 times I still fall for the "Great movie!!!" quotes they have plastered onto the DVD covers or in the ads. lol.

Again, another critic going apes**t over Far From Heaven, a good but very ordinary movie that wasn't even close to as fun as Blade II, XXX, The Transporter, or any number of "popcorn" films that are "not ambitious" and "not meaningful." Haha, whatever. Movies = entertainment, when it comes down to it. Either it entertains through laughs, thrills, or making you think profoundly -- but Far From Heaven did none of those at all. It was not funny, it was not thought-provoking, and it wasn't thrilling at all. It was a well made film with great sets, great acting, great wardrobe work, a solid if unremarkable plot, and some marginally interesting characters that combines for a rather plodding 1h50 minutes at the movies that is nonetheless worthwhile overall as it is a high quality film. Just not a special one.

[Sene Unty]

I have always liked Leo's acting ability. I think he has great versitility as an actor.....something I believe is hard to come by!

[ReaperFett]

Im going to precict a shock. Vinnie Jones for a possible nomination. He DID win an award for his last film, and there's always one or two from films we didnt know of generally.

[Dutchy]

Originally posted by JonathanLB
We already talked about the porno Mexican flick, best porn of the year, but unfortunately that isn't a category that the Academy recognizes -- yet! Maybe soon, thanks to the horrible Mexican films we've gotten so far (thank you, Amores Perros, for the worst movie experience of my life!). Mexican "cinema," if such a thing really exists, is worse than high school American films. They have a long ways to come from what I've seen. What trash. Here is hoping they make some progress, I'm pulling for them, I'm not here to tear anyone down, just I think their films so far are horrible but it is only uphill from here, lol.

Mexican movies RULE. Raw and realistic. They portray REAL life. Much better than your average plastic Hollywood flick.

Oh, I thought Amores Perros is the best movie of this century, so far.

[ReaperFett]

High School America didnt give me El Mariachi :)

[CMJ]

The AFI top 10 in alphabetical order...off the website.



ABOUT A BOY

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult

DIRECTOR Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz

PRODUCER Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Tim Bevan, Brad Epstein, Eric Fellner

SCREENWRITER Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz

COMPOSER Badly Drawn Boy

CINEMATOGRAPHER Remi Adefarasin

EDITOR Nick Moore

PRODUCTION DESIGN Jim Clay

RATIONALE: ABOUT A BOY is a pure comic pleasure. This mature look at immaturity is witty, smart and heartwarming without being sentimental. In a world where laughs are precious, yet film comedy is undervalued, ABOUT A BOY is a tonic for what ails us. Hugh Grant proves once again that his charm is boundless.



ABOUT SCHMIDT

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Len Cariou, Howard Hessman, Kathy Bates

DIRECTOR Alexander Payne

PRODUCER Harry Gittes & Michael Besman

SCREENWRITER Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

COMPOSER Rolfe Kent

CINEMATOGRAPHER James Glennon

EDITOR Kevin Tent

PRODUCTION DESIGN Jane Ann Stewart

RATIONALE: ABOUT SCHMIDT puts a new face on film satire, embodied in a towering performance by Jack Nicholson. The movie presents America’s heartland with a richness of detail that brings a unique light to this funny, sad and always captivating tale.



ADAPTATION

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper,

DIRECTOR Spike Jonze

PRODUCER Jonathan Demme, Vincent Landay, Edward Saxon

SCREENWRITER Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman

COMPOSER Carter Burwell

CINEMATOGRAPHER Lance Accord

EDITOR Eric Zumbrunnen

PRODUCTION DESIGN KK Barrett

VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Gray Marshall

RATIONALE: ADAPTATION is a film that makes the word "original" seem ordinary. Both entertaining and intelligent, the film mercilessly destroys an audience’s expectations and demands that it keep up…keep laughing…or be cut out of the final draft.



ANTWONE FISHER

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Derek Luke, Denzel Washington, Joy Bryant, Salli Richardson, Viola Davis

DIRECTOR Denzel Washington

PRODUCER Todd Black, Randa Haines, Denzel Washington

SCREENWRITER Antwone Fisher

COMPOSER Mychael Danna

CINEMATOGRAPHER Philippe Rousselot

EDITOR Conrad Buff

PRODUCTION DESIGN Nelson Coates

RATIONALE: ANTWONE FISHER provides a clarion call for all films that strive to bring unspoken topics into the national conversation. For a modern world drowning in cynicism, this is an honest and sincere film that helps us understand that sometimes we have to go home again before we can go forward. Derek Luke’s performance in the title role heralds the arrival of a fresh, new talent.



CHICAGO

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly

DIRECTOR Rob Marshall

PRODUCER Martin Richards

SCREENWRITER Bill Condon

COMPOSER Danny Elfman

CINEMATOGRAPHER Dion Beebe

EDITOR Martin Walsh

PRODUCTION DESIGN John Myhre

RATIONALE: CHICAGO gives contemporary audiences the "old razzle dazzle" with an explosion of talent and energy that dares them not to applaud after each musical number. The film pioneers new ground in this uniquely American art form and reminds us once again of the brilliance of Bob Fosse.



FRIDA

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Valerio Golina, Mia Maestro, Roger Rees

DIRECTOR Julie Taymor

PRODUCER Sarah Green, Salma Hayek, Jay Polstein

SCREENWRITER Clancy Sigal, Diane Lake, Gregory Nava & Anna Thomas

COMPOSER Elliot Goldenthal

CINEMATOGRAPHER Rodrigo Prieto

EDITOR Francoise Bonnot

PRODUCTION DESIGN Felipe Fernandez

VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Amoeba Proteus

RATIONALE: FRIDA is a movie about art that is a work of art in itself. The film’s unique visual language takes us into an artist’s head and reminds us that art is best enjoyed when it moves, breathes and is painted on a giant canvas, as only the movies can provide.




GANGS OF NEW YORK

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson, Henry Thomas

DIRECTOR Martin Scorsese

PRODUCER Alberto Grimaldo

SCREENWRITER Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan

COMPOSER Howard Shore

CINEMATOGRAPHER Michael Ballhaus

EDITOR Thelma Schoonmaker

PRODUCTION DESIGN Dante Ferretti

VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Michael Owens

RATIONALE: GANGS OF NEW YORK is bravura filmmaking by an American master. Martin Scorsese’s epic tale moves with cinematic elegance from New York City’s Five Points to Ground Zero, and the story it tells will be a revelation to today’s audiences. Daniel Day-Lewis’ mesmerizing performance as Bill the Butcher creates one of the great screen villains of all time.



THE HOURS

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore , Nicole Kidman,

Allison Janney, Ed Harris, Claire Danes, Jeff Daniels,

Stephen Dillane, John C. Reilly, Miranda Richardson, Toni Collette

DIRECTOR Stephen Daldry

PRODUCER Scott Rudin and Robert Fox

SCREENWRITER David Hare

COMPOSER Philip Glass

CINEMATOGRAPHER Seamus McGarvey

EDITOR Peter Boyle

PRODUCTION DESIGN Maria Djurkovic

RATIONALE: THE HOURS provides further proof that film is the language of the 21st Century. A strong adaptation of a difficult literary project, THE HOURS blossoms on-screen in a brilliant, ever-unfolding exploration of madness. Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore create an acting ensemble across time…and for the ages.




THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Sean Bean, Andy Serkis

DIRECTOR Peter Jackson

PRODUCER Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh

SCREENWRITER Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair, Fran Walsh

COMPOSER Howard Shore

CINEMATOGRAPHER Andrew Lesnie

EDITOR Michael Horton

PRODUCTION DESIGN Grant Major

VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook, Alex Funke

RATIONALE: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS is an epic screen experience that will inspire awe in generations of movie lovers for years to come. Though presented on a massive scale, the film’s attention to detail and its emotional depth are the heart of its extraordinary achievement. Whether marching in the shadow of 10,000 warriors or showing two people talking, Peter Jackson’s personal vision for the trilogy fully realizes J. R. R. Tolkien’s boundless literary imagination.



THE QUIET AMERICAN

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRINCIPAL CAST Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen, Rade Sherbedgia, Tzi Ma

DIRECTOR Phillip Noyce

PRODUCER Staffan Ahrenberg, William Horberg

SCREENWRITER Christopher Hampton and Robert Schenkkan

COMPOSER Craig Armstrong

CINEMATOGRAPHER Christopher Doyle

EDITOR John Scott

PRODUCTION DESIGN Roger Ford

VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Murray Pope

RATIONALE: THE QUIET AMERICAN gives us an inside look at America’s early involvement in Vietnam at a time when audiences are evaluating how the world perceives the United States’ role in global politics. The film brilliantly captures 1950s Saigon as well as the subtleties of Graham Greene’s novel. Michael Caine continues to prove that he is the most consistently reliable actor in American film.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[JonathanLB]

I must say I have great respect for the AFI -- probably much higher than the Academy Awards.

"RATIONALE: ABOUT A BOY is a pure comic pleasure. This mature look at immaturity is witty, smart and heartwarming without being sentimental. In a world where laughs are precious, yet film comedy is undervalued, ABOUT A BOY is a tonic for what ails us. Hugh Grant proves once again that his charm is boundless."

Amen, they couldn't be more right than that. It was a comic delight, perhaps the best comedy I saw in 2002, so I'm happy to see their inclusion of that film. It would not make my personal top 10 of the year, but I don't think I rated any comedy as 4 stars -- About A Boy was as close as any of them came.

Nice to see Two Towers on there, which we all know deserves its place without even having seen it. One more day and I'll be seeing it, yay! :)

Chicago looks very good, Gangs of New York has potential and I love the director, even though the trailers look iffy, I'll take these guys' words for it. The only selection I think is just poor is Frida, which has now made a few lists when it is a totally undeserving candidate. I don't really believe that even reflects the critical view of that film. Many, many critics felt as I did and gave it just 2.5 star ratings or at best 3 stars. It wasn't racking up the 4 star ratings.

I of course reserve commentary on the other films I have not seen yet, except to say I am very much looking forward to watching these movies that have won over most of the critics. The Quiet American, Adapation, About Schmidt, I cannot wait to see them...

To me, The Hours looks questionable, looks like a type of film I may find "good" but not my type of movie, we'll see. I hope it is great.

Antwone Fischer really looks like it has potential and I love Denzel Washington. I'm pleased to see that it seems as though he has succeeded at his first directorial effort.

I am a bit shocked the AFI group that voted on these films was only comprised of 13 members, from what I read. They seemingly made a good list, but I just imagined there being more voters.

I know for the AFI Top 100, there were 1,500 voters overall.

I think the AFI Top 100 list really should have been renamed, and if it were renamed, I would say that it is as perfect as anyone could make. It should be considered the 100 MOST IMPORTANT / INFLUENTIAL films of all time. Not the 100 greatest. My top 100 greatest list would be far different, but if I made a list of the top 100 most influential films, or if any film historian did, then it would be almost just like the AFI Top 100 because those films are all truly important and deserving of being on the list, even if some of them are not my definition of 4 star films, I can still agree that they belong on any list of history's most important films. The order is disputable, but I don't care about the order, just about the list.

The AFI is a really good institute and has provided me with certainly a great way to go about watching the most important films.

[CMJ]

New York Film Critics Awards....

BEST DIRECTOR - Todd Haynes, Far From Heaven

BEST PICTURE
"Far From Heaven"

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Gangs of New York"

BEST ACTRESS
Diane Lane, "Unfaithful"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Dennis Quaid, "Far From Heaven"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Clarkson, "Far From Heaven"

Best Screenplay
Adaptation - Charlie and Donald Kaufman

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
Edward Lachman, "Far From Heaven"

FOREIGN FILM
Y Tu Mama Tambien

NON-FICTION FILM
Standing in the Shadows of Motown

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Spirited Away

BEST FIRST FILM
Roger Dodger

SPECIAL AWARD
The restoration of "Metropolis", by Kino International



AND the Boston Film Critics....

Boston Film Critics Announced - Thanks to Markku
BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS 2002 AWARDS

BEST FILM: "The Pianist"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: "Y Tu Mama Tambien"

BEST DIRECTOR: Roman Polanski, "The Pianist"

BEST DOCUMENTARY: "The Kid Stays in the Picture"

BEST ACTOR: Adrien Brody, "The Pianist"

BEST ACTRESS: Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Secretary"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Alan Arkin, "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Toni Collette, "About a Boy" and "The Hours"

BEST SCREENPLAY: Charlie and Donald Kaufman, "Adaptation"

BEST NEW FILMMAKER: Peter Care, "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Edward Lachman, "Far from Heaven"

[Darth23]

That list proves my point.

20 films and only like 50 people in the whole world have seen any of them.

[Jedi Master Carr]

LOL Darth.

[Dutchy]

Originally posted by JonathanLB
I think the AFI Top 100 list really should have been renamed, and if it were renamed, I would say that it is as perfect as anyone could make. It should be considered the 100 MOST IMPORTANT / INFLUENTIAL films of all time. Not the 100 greatest. My top 100 greatest list would be far different, but if I made a list of the top 100 most influential films, or if any film historian did, then it would be almost just like the AFI Top 100 because those films are all truly important and deserving of being on the list, even if some of them are not my definition of 4 star films, I can still agree that they belong on any list of history's most important films. The order is disputable, but I don't care about the order, just about the list.

Then why are you giving them 4 or 3.5 stars anyway? Or so it seemed when I checked some AFI-movies reviews on your site.

[Dutchy]

I see Y Tu Mama Tambien and The Pianist on those critics awards lists. Excellent choices.

[Oriadin]

Originally posted by Marcus Q'Dunn
No, it's not Oscar class.

There have been some really good movies come out this year... but nothing that screams OSCAR.

Mark, you sumed up this years films for me right there. With the exception of perhaps Signs (Which I thought was excellent) I cant really think of many films where you think, that should be up for oscars. There have been a lot of good films released this year but none that seem to really stick in your mind. Im sure Gangs of New York and Chicago will be in and around there somewhere. Personally I felt AOTC was the best film of the year so far but Im a real Star Wars fan so my opinion is somewhat biased. I can really see ROTK with a real shout of getting best film this year.

Acting catogories are hard this yeah. Tom Hanks was good but not great. Mel Gibson, good but not great. Tom Cruise, good but not great. To be honest, the best acting performance ive seen this year is probably from both Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson for changing lanes. Nick Cage was very good in Windtalkers.

Supporting actor would have to be Matthew Lillard without doubt for me. To pull off shaggys voice as well as he did was superb and just made me laugh whenever he spoke.

Actresses, this is tough, very tough. I cant think of a single performance that has really stuck out in my mind. Natalie Portman? (Ducks from incomming abuse) Only kidding! :lol Jennifer Anniston was quite good in the good girl but I cant really think of anyone else worth a mention. That means I cant think of supporting actress either.

All in all, this year has been so so for awards. Usually there are titles up there you would say this should definitely get this and that should definitely win such and such. This year there is nothing like that. I cant see any film running away with the awards this year unless something pulls something special out of the bag.

[JonathanLB]

"NON-FICTION FILM
Standing in the Shadows of Motown"

I'm seeing this tonight, looks good.

I'm seeing Spirited Away on Thursday I think, I really want to see it. I need to see Roger Dodger still and I'm working on a few others, like Bowling For Columbine.

Dutchy, 3.5 stars wouldn't make my top 500 best films ultimately. I mean, when I am done with reviewing all of these movies, when I have like 2,500 reviews on the site in 3-4 years, then no 3.5 star films will be even close to my top few hundred.

As it is, 4 stars doesn't mean a movie is one of the 100 best I've seen, no way. 4 stars just means a film is great. There are probably at least 750-1,000 great movies in film history. The AFI 400 list of nominees to that top 100 list would all be considered "great movies" by that organization at least, and that's only 400 nominees, not all of the great films. I would imagine there must be probably 800 four-star movies at least and that's pretty conservative.

I have given almost every film on the AFI Top 100 list 3.5 stars or 4 stars, mostly 4, but even so, that doesn't mean they would make my personal top 100 list. I still think many are absolutely great movies and they would be right up there in my top 250, but if you think about it, top 100 is really not very many films. More than 100 years of cinema, at least 75 years of sound and feature films (features started in 1914, sound in 1927 w/ The Jazz Singer), so if there were only just 3 great movies each year, you'd have more than 200 great movies. I have given 10 four-star ratings in 2002, much less than Ebert, but I'm not done yet because I'm seeing TTT tonight, a definite four-star film, and then plenty of other candidates like Catch Me If You Can, Chicago, Gangs of New York, Adapation, About Schmidt, The Quiet American, Bowling for Columbine, Spirited Away, etc.

I could possibly give 15 four-star ratings this year, all great movies, but not all worthy of being considered among the greatest of all time, of course.

"That list proves my point.

20 films and only like 50 people in the whole world have seen any of them."

LOL, that is what I keep saying!!! Grrr.... it's frustrating.

From what I hear, LOTR: TTT is absolutely one of the greatest films of the year and possibly THE greatest pure fantasy film of all time. I mean, the reviews have been INCREDIBLE, so I think it deserves a Best Picture nomination just as FOTR got one. TTT is supposedly better by most accounts. 7.5 hours until I start to find out.

The Pianist, oh yes, I left that off my list above -- this film looks really good too! Altman is kind of weird, but he can obviously make great movies, that has been established. I think The Pianist looks like it has real potential. Y Tu Mama Tambien, though, sucks donkeys balls and deserves all of the year's Razzie awards. At JLB Movies, it'll be taking home all of my worst awards. I can't wait. :)

[JediBoricua]

Sorry this is up, I was reading smoe old stuff and accidentally started playing with the quick edit option...oops i'm sorry.

[ReaperFett]

Tsk! Play with your toys outside the thread! ;)

[Anbira Hicchoru]

Originally posted by JediBoricua
Sorry this is up, I was reading smoe old stuff and accidentally started playing with the quick edit option...oops i'm sorry.

<img src=http://www.panic.hopto.org/swf/charley/strangelove.jpg>