by Jeremy Blodgett
Staff movie reviewer
The past year was a spectacular one at the movies. There was rarely a weekend when a decent movie couldn’t be seen, anywhere in the country. That said, it was also a spectacular year for critics with their conflated opinions, for comic book heroes leaping to the silver screen, for epics celebrating cinematic spectacle, and for the indie film set who found plenty of movies to adore simply because no one else can understand them.
What was incredible about this year was the variety. There were, of course, the summer blockbusters and lame star vehicles—films with a specific audience of dollars in mind—but there was also a mainstream influx of independent film (led by My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and cinematic spectacles that, even when they didn’t work (think The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers), were a reminder of all things great about the cinema, which is, after all, about sitting in a dark room with your friends, eating popcorn, and cheering at the action on-screen.
Looking back on the year, I hesitate to construct the list that follows. There were so many good movies and too many of those I haven’t had the chance to see (Far From Heaven, Punch Drunk Love, About Schmidt, The Pianist, Rabbit Proof Fence are all on my list). But such is the plight of the poor college film critic. The list that follows, therefore, is not a “Best of” list, in the familiar ranked critical format, but rather a list of my highest recommended movies out of all new films I saw during the past year. In no particular order:
Chicago
The kind of spectacle that the movies are all about, with nary a sword, lightsaber, explosion, or magic wand! Chicago grabs the audience and never lets go. The songs, Richard Gere, the sets—all brilliant. A couple of scenes were a bit annoying, and the movie moved almost too fast, but it still ranks among the best movie musicals I’ve seen.
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
A film about a group of people seemingly removed from each other whose lives interconnect in strange and interesting ways (sound familiar?). But the reason this film works, apart from some of the best acting of the year and a careful attention to detail, is that the film grows organically into the complex structure rather than being gimmicky.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
There’s something about being an altar boy and going to Catholic school. There’s something about comic book heroes. And there’s something about discovering girls that changes everything. Fresh treatment, emotional depth and sincerity, and great use of animation make this an incredibly enthralling coming of age drama.
About A Boy
Another coming of age story, of sorts. This film proves once again that Nick Hornby stories (see High Fidelity) make excellent film material. The pieces in About A Boy fit together perfectly. It has the right amount of humor and drama without being cloying or obnoxious. And with Hugh Grant prodded into his proper place—that is, neither obnoxious nor cloying—he’s thoroughly enjoyable.
Gangs of New York
The power of Daniel Day-Lewis is undeniable, but I was equally impressed with director Martin Scorcese for underplaying Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio. The visual style, storytelling, and symbolism carried the rest of the film. It was not Scorcese’s most polished or powerful work, but his ambition, cinematic knowledge, and belief in the power of an image over snappy dialogue or star power make this the best foreign film made by an American since Stanley Kubrick.
The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat)
If I did have to pick a best film of the year, this would probably be it. Made in the Inuit language, the story is an epic journey, the myth of Atanarjuat, that weaves the religion, customs, survival, and humanity of the Inuit people with deceptively simple, surreal storytelling completely void of pretention. Weighing in at nearly three hours, the film takes the time to completely engage the world of the story. Nothing is lacking.
Igby Goes Down
I resist calling this a coming of age tale, because Igby is already grown up, and he’s intriguing and brilliant and beautiful, just like the rest of this film.
Y Tu Mamá También
A wild ride with a visceral, intimate, classic style. Full of erotic tension and exploration, the real value of this film is the examination of friendship and of our ability to know and understand other people. Director Alfonso Cuarón walks a fine line between artsy, intellegent, and gratuitous; for the most part, irresistable.
CQ
This movie seems to have been completely forgotten, but I stand by it. CQ is, above all perhaps, stylish, but always in logical and appropriate ways. At times it slips into pretentiousness, although that’s probably par for a film that is, essentially, an examination of pretentiousness.
Adaptation
The inclusion of Adaptation in this list is questionable. The ending of the film was a huge let down for me, and I’m not saying this because I didn’t understand it but because I wanted it to push the concept further. Once the film sunk in a bit, I was willing to recognize that it is original and daring enough to make this list. It’s experimental, and where it succeeds it succeeds brilliantly.
Pam Iverson
Mother of Bradley Iverson-Long ‘05
1. Far From Heaven
2. Talk to Her
3. Adaptation
4. The Hours
5. Y Tu Mamá También
6. The Fast Runner (Antanarjuat)
7. Bowling for Columbine
8. About Schmidt
9. Monsoon Wedding
10. About a Boy
Kirsten Tretbar ’89
Documentary Filmmaker
1. Frida
2. Bowling for Columbine
3. Y Tu Mamá También
4. Far From Heaven
5. CQ
6. Dogtown and Z-Boys
7. Adaptation
8. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
9. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
10. The Ring
Bradley Iverson-Long ’05
Reviews Editor
1. Far from Heaven
2. Punch-Drunk Love
3. Y Tu Mamá También
4. Spirited Away
5. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
6. Adaptation
7. Secretary
8. Road to Perdition
9. The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
10. Signs
Katie Mears ’03
S&B Editor-in-Chief
1) Monsoon Wedding
2) Bowling For Columbine
3) Kissing Jessica Stein
4) Tadpole
5) About A Boy
6) Igby Goes Down
7) The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers
8) Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
9) My Big Fat Greek Wedding
10) Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Want to see a movie?
• Monsoon Wedding, Spirited Away, and Y Tu Mamá También are all available in the Listening Room.
• Bowling for Columbine, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Punch-Drunk Love will come to Harris this semester.
• About a Boy, CQ, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, Dogtown and Z-Boys, Kissing Jessica Stein, Tadpole, Signs, and Thirteen Conversations About One Thing should be available for rent in town.
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