For the most part, 2003 was exactly the same as every other year at the movies. The better part of 12 months brought nothing special, in particular. Every once in a while, there was a nugget of hope or a hidden surprise. These were found primarily in comedies such as Elf, School of Rock and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Still, the season didn't heat up until the holidays arrived. Even then, flaws were everywhere. I can think of a number of movies that could have been truly amazing if it wasn't for one minor flaw, such as the ending. (I'm thinking of Mystic River, specifically.) Here is my list of the four best films of the year, and the other notable releases, bad and good:
The Best Films of the Year
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Say goodnight to Star Wars and its ilk. This is sure to be the reigning movie trilogy of any time period. It will outlast all other movies, and can take its place in the annals of film history as one of the truly memorable epics. Each of the LOTR movies were great, but the third film is the best. Everything worked: acting, directing, special effects, editing, cinematography, writing and more. Gollum is quite simply the best computer-generated creature to interact with humans thus far. He could kick Jar Jar Binks' ass any day of the week. Sean Astin will no longer best be known as the kid from The Goonies or Rudy. He will now be known as perhaps the best friend anyone could ever have. This guy goes to the ends of the earth for Frodo and back again. Worried about the length? It flies by. Think there are too many endings? What, Peter Jackson doesn't deserve to not want to let go of this part of his life? Give the man some credit. He has made a great, great film.
2. In America - This is the first film by Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In The Name of the Father) I've seen, and it was worth it. Alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking, then funny and moving, and finally poignant and silly, In America is a wondrous look at New York City from the eyes of a precocious-beyond-her-years Irish immigrant girl who tries to help her family adjust to a new life and cope with an old tragedy. The acting is perfect, as is the screenplay. And if those little girls (sisters in real life as well) don't get Academy Award nominations, it'll be a crime.
3. The Cooler - I guess it shouldn't surprise anyone that William H. Macy and Alec Baldwin have once again given brilliant performances in an equally brilliant movie. It's hard not to feel some sympathy for the title character, the biggest loser in Las Vegas. This is a consistently entertaining, surprising movie that is worth your time. Oh, and it gives Alec Baldwin a few more years to make crappy movies; With this performance (he should get an Oscar), he's once again fine in my book.
4. Big Fish - Finally, Tim Burton has hit the bulls-eye. This touching and whimsical father-son dramedy is great. Ewan McGregor delivers yet another excellent performance as a rakish, charming Southern gentlemen who has tons of wild stories that just might be true. Burton is just right for the movie, which is not only boasting visual imagery but great performances from a cast as varied as you can get.
The Rest of the Best
Cold Mountain - Anthony Minghella did it again with this epic film about love and war. If Minghella knew how to tone down the beauty of Nicole Kidman, who was never touched by even a speck of dirt, and how to make clear-cut battle scenes while also keeping Renee Zellweger quiet, this would be a perfect film.
Finding Nemo - Beautiful to look at, funny and sad. Its only flaw is that a few scenes do fall flat. (Must the school of fish be this rude to poor Marlin?) Other than that, it's great and Ellen DeGeneres makes a great comeback.
The Last Samurai - I don't know this movie got such a bad rap. It's entertaining, action-packed and thoughtful, too. It has only one flaw: I shouldn't be giggling when Tom Cruise puts on his samurai armor. He's just too silly to look at while wearing that outfit. The effect is dampened for the final 30 minutes because he's always wearing the armor.
Love Actually - This sprawling romantic comedy is funny and sweet, with lots of different people and heroes to root for. If only writer-director Richard Curtis cut a couple of stories out of this lengthy tale, because they drag down the better stories. And also, Rowan Atkinson isn't in nearly enough of the film as he should be.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World - As a fan of seafaring adventures, this movie won me over quite easily. Its only flaw is that Russell Crowe seems too standoffish for a captain. Paul Bettany shines as his overly mature best friend and physician.
A Mighty Wind - It's no surprise that Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy have once again succeeded with their mockumentary about folk musicians. The only problem here is that it's a bit too sweet. Mocking people doesn't always mean feeling for them, too.
The Missing - Again, a movie that got the bad rap for no good reason. Ron Howard deserves points for making a predictable Western and doing his damnedest to make it interesting. He tries his best to bend the formula, so the film's plot contains unexpected twists.
Mystic River - This is the one that got away. How close could this movie have been to being the best of the year? If it wasn't for the last five minutes, which turn into a silly soap opera, this would be the best film of the year. Tim Robbins, in particular, performs well.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Johnny Depp steals the whole summer movie season with his wacky and wild performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, a shrewd fellow who has been in the sun too long. If this movie took a little focus off the silly romance and was 10 or 15 minutes shorter, it'd be a bit better.
School of Rock - As Depp steals summer, Jack Black steals fall. Black has always been a great performer to watch, but his role as Dewey Finn, a rocker-turned-teacher, is his best yet. Could we imagine anyone but Jack Black as Dewey Finn? Unfortunately, the role is a bit too formulaic for him. Black runs away with a fine performance in a predictable movie.
Seabiscuit - A goofy name was given to a horse and a movie, yes, but this film turned out well for all involved. What's most surprising is that all of the seemingly unbelievable plot events actually happened. Two minor flaws hurt Seabiscuit: There is no epilogue (I wanted to know more about every character), and just when the film builds up to the big climactic race, it cuts away to a black-and-white photo and narration. Just show. Don't tell.
Winged Migration - For a documentary about birds, this film is amazing to watch. The technology and effects are amazing, and the skies have never looked better, but it's just a bit too long to work completely.
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mentions, in no particular order, go to Bad Santa, Elf, Identity, Intolerable Cruelty, Matchstick Men, Once Upon a Time In Mexico, Phone Booth, The Rundown and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
I did not see the following films, which are most likely going to be award winners in some circles: 21 Grams, American Splendor, Capturing The Friedmans, Elephant, House of Sand and Fog, Monster, Thirteen and Whale Rider.
The Two Worst Films of the Year
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle - Blecch. Seriously, this movie is terrible. Don't watch it. Never. It's not worth your time or money. Everyone involved should be ashamed.
Gigli - I have told everyone I know that if they ever see this movie, I will kill them. That's how bad this was. I still have nightmares.
Josh Spiegel is an entertainment reporter for the Web Devil. Reach him at joshua.spiegel@asu.edu.
