It goes without saying that 2002 was a pretty good year for movies, in general. Sure, there were movies like the detestable Rollerball and Mr. Deeds, but Hollywood managed to have an insanely profitable and high-quality year. From the wild success of independent films like My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Y Tu Mamá También to big blockbusters like Spider-Man and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002 was one wild ride.
The Best Films of 2002
1) Punch-Drunk Love: Who would have thought that Adam Sandler would be in the best film of the year? This fourth feature from writer-director P.T. Anderson is absorbing, compelling, hilarious, poignant; everything I look for in a movie. It helps that Sandler, who does a magnificent job as a put-upon weakling, is supported by versatile actors like Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman (whose few scenes are pure gold), and Luis Guzman. Truly, this is a film for the ages.
2) About Schmidt: This is certainly a defining moment for Jack Nicholson, who has never been better than he is in this movie. But it's also a seamlessly-made character study about a retired actuary who discovers that he's a failure. He's an ordinary man through and through, and nothing he does can change that. Once he loses his job and wife, Warren Schmidt realizes there's little else to live for; the only saving grace are the letters he writes to a poor young boy in Africa. Nicholson's final scene is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. What more could we ask for from Jack?
3) Adaptation: You have to hand it to Charlie Kaufman. He spells out exactly what will happen in the final 30 minutes of Adaptation--a brilliant, totally original film from the writer and director of Being John Malkovich. Yet, it still surprises the hell out of everybody. But when the screenwriter puts himself and a fictional twin into the adaptation of an un-adaptable book, what else can you expect? Nicolas Cage gives an absolutely amazing double performance as Charlie and Donald Kaufman; Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper, as Susan Orlean and John Laroche, author and subject, are fantastic. Adaptation is probably the most inventive film since...well, since Being John Malkovich.
4) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: I believe it's safe to say that George Lucas has met his match in writer-director Peter Jackson. Jackson, in the middle of this sprawling trilogy, puts the audience right into the action and doesn't stop. The final hour--the action sequence in Helm's Deep--is awesome to look at. Jackson spared no expense to entertain the world with his imaginative efforts. The film also has a wonderfully disgusting (if that's possible) performance by Andy Serkis, who plays the CGI creature Gollum. The scenes where Gollum argues with his evil second personality are worth the price of admission by themselves.
5) Far From Heaven: Everything you've read about this 50s melodrama is spot-on. Julianne Moore, as a housewife whose picturesque life is crashing down around her, is superb in what may be her best role yet. Dennis Quaid is pitch-perfect as a family man who is confused about his feelings towards men and can't help but act on them. Dennis Haysbert is also noteworthy as the African-American gardener who attracts Moore's character. A great film all around.
6) Minority Report: Even though Steven Spielberg did a great job with the much lighter Catch Me If You Can this year, his sci-fi opus Minority Report was clearly the better of the two films. Tom Cruise, who is underrated in this tough role, plays a dedicated cop in a future where people can be arrested for a crime they haven't committed yet. Minority Report is filled with brilliant action sequences, colorful characters, great performances and a tight script, all of which contribute to its cold brilliance.
7) Antwone Fisher: Apparently, the only thing better than Denzel Washington acting is Denzel Washington directing. His powerful debut is the biography of a young man in the Navy with anger problems, which stem from years of abuse from his foster family, and the psychiatrist who helps him overcome his obstacles. As usual, Washington is in fine form as the psychiatrist. Derek Luke, in his film debut, is marvelous as the pained title character. Also of note is an especially heartbreaking scene when Antwone meets his mother for the first time. Viola Davis (who also appeared in Far From Heaven) only says a few words as his mother, but her eyes speak volumes.
8) About a Boy: It took Hugh Grant quite a long time to realize that his talents lied in poking fun at his larger-than-life persona, not building on it. This edgy yet charming adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel is by the directors of American Pie and is both moving and funny. Nicholas Hoult, in his film debut, does a fine job as a very unique boy who is beginning to learn more about the world than he wanted to, but Grant steals the show as the immature older man who is dragged into the real world, filled with relationships and families, kicking and screaming. It's a real treat.
9) Road to Perdition: You can compare this to The Godfather if you want, but the second film from director Sam Mendes is something original, despite being a drama about mobsters and their troubles. Tom Hanks is dour but splendid as a Mob hitman who is forced to take his son across Illinois to dodge a vengeful mafioso. Paul Newman is stunning, as usual, as the father figure to Hanks, who is forced to kill the younger man. Also quite good is Jude Law as a scummy killer-photographer. Road to Perdition is sad, pensive and brilliantly made.
10) Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: Although this doesn't open in the Tempe area until January 24th, I had the luck of seeing it earlier in the month. The trend of actors turning to the directing chair continues with George Clooney, taking his cue from Steven Soderbergh and the Coen Brothers, doing double duty as helmer and co-star. This biography of Chuck Barris, creator of The Gong Show, is darkly funny and also sad. Sam Rockwell, in his first big starring role, is amazing as Barris; his indifference to the double life he leads as a TV producer and killer is edgily funny. Overall, with help from Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, and Clooney, Confessions is a great film.
Most Overrated Movie and Performance of the Year:
8 Mile and Eminem's acting in the movie. Not only is 8 Mile mediocre at best, but Marshall Mathers manages to be atrocious at playing himself. What's more shocking is that critics across the country praised him. This is a disappointing movie for all involved.
Most Underrated Movie of the Year:
Changing Lanes and Insomnia (tie). Both of these films, one about two men having a bad day and the other about a cop dealing with a killer in Alaska, respectively, were lost in the Oscar shuffle because they were released in the early months of the year. Still, both boast great performances all around; Amanda Peet (in Lanes) and Robin Williams (in Insomnia) are the two standouts.
Most Underrated Performance of the Year:
Dennis Haysbert, Far From Heaven. Though everyone is talking about Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid's acting, Haysbert is just as worthy of praise. His moving performance of a black man, who is forced to accept that he will never be anything other than a wrongly-persecuted human, is a standout.
Best Dialogue of the Year:
"Here's to being the only one."- Dennis Haysbert, Far From Heaven, and "Knock, knock...(Who's there?)...go fuck yourself."- Tom Hanks, Catch Me If You Can
Worst Film of the Year
The honor (or dishonor) goes to Rollerball. If you're thinking of seeing this remake, don't. Just don't. For the love of God, don't go anywhere near this movie. It is, simply put, a piece of crap.
Josh Spiegel is a journalism/mass communication freshman. Reach him at joshua.spiegel@asu.edu.
