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Capone finally unveils his 2003 Lists
Harry here and I've got about a zillion arguments with Capone's list of the best. However, I'll just let it go, as Capone didn't comment on my list... twitch... twitch... here ya go...
Hey Harry. Capone in Chicago here. Well, we're well into 2004, so it much be time for my annually late Best of 2003 list. This was maybe the most difficult year in recent memory to rank. I was tempted to just list the films with no ranking, but wheren't the fun in that? Instead, I've gone in the other direction and broken out my favorite documentaries, reissues, as well as the worst of 2003. But first, the obligatory Top 30 of 2003 with 10 honorable mentions...BEST OF 2003:
1. LOST IN TRANSLATION--The film I feel the greatest affection for in 2003, perhaps in years. Sheer perfection in the writing, acting, directing, existing.
2. 21 GRAMS--The whole film felt like a ticking time bomb; the screwy chronology made this the film I was the most awake and aware of all year. You couldn’t blink for fear of getting lost. I didn’t.
3. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING--The conclusion of the most satisfying movie event in film history. Three films, each successive one better than the one before it. A testament not only to Peter Jackson’s abilities as a storyteller but also a confirmation that not everything that I look forward to in cinema gets screwed up.
4. AMERICAN SPLENDOR--I love it when filmmakers find ways of reinventing the biopic. Harvey Pekar is as much a voice of his generation as Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan only without the musical talent. It’s a shame that Paul Giamatti probably won’t get an Oscar nomination. He deserves far more than most of the men named as front runners.
5. MYSTIC RIVER--You can’t dismiss pure nuts-and-bolts filmmaking without all the flash and gimmicks. This is richly by Clint Eastwood, who continues to make films that reach the deepest corners of our soul. The finest ensemble cast of the year. The acting is tempered, without anyone getting to showy, and the mystery at the center of the film is compelling.
6. MASTER & COMMANDER: THE FAR END OF THE WORLD--Wind-swept and water-logged Russell Crowe pulls another great performance out of his behind for this high-seas thrill ride. The attention to detail is the greatest I’ve seen in a film set aboard a ship.
7. IRREVERSIBLE--Gasper Noe’s earth-shattering, mind-blowing film about the death of the future. In this case, the future of a young, deeply in love couple whose lives are changed forever by a horrendous act of violence. The only thing worse than the film’s brutal rape scene is seeing what happens right after (or right before if you follow the story’s chronologically) when the couple lie in bed together happy and clearly mad about each other, not knowing what’s in store for them. This film confirms that there’s nothing worse than knowing your own fate. This movie upset me a great deal, and that rarely happens any more in films.
8. FINDING NEMO--Entertainment in its purest confectionary state. I could watch this movie a dozen times and never look at the same part of the screen twice.
9. SCHOOL OF ROCK--Wait. A movie filled with little kids that doesn’t suck? Not only that, it excelled. Finally, a showcase for the most talented actor working today: Jack Black. Okay, maybe I’m overstating things a bit, but fans of Black have been waiting a loooong time for his to really break out like this. We just all thought it was going to happen with the Tenacious D movie. I defy people to dislike this film.
10. KILL BILL, VOL. 1--Sometimes wearing your influences on your sleeve can be a good thing, especially when you influences are crazy, blood-squirting kung fu films. Watching KILL BILL put me in a trance that will probably only be matched by VOL. 2, whenever the hell Miramax decides to release it.
Here are 11 through 30 with limited commentary.
11. MONSTER
12. IN MY SKIN
13. COLD MOUNTAIN
14. 28 DAYS LATER
15.THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE
16. SEABISCUIT
17. THE MAGDALENE SISTERS
18. THE STATION AGENT
19. OPEN RANGE
20. BAD SANTA
21. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
22. WHALE RIDER
23. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
24. X2: X-MEN UNITED
25. A MIGHTY WIND
26. SWEET SIXTEEN--Ken Loach’s sad and poignant coming of age film.
27. SWIMMING POOL
28. OLD SCHOOL
29. ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO
30. DOG DAYS--from Germany, about the residents of an apartment complex during one sweltering hot summer. The most grotesque film of 2003 that didn’t use any special effects.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order): OWNING MAHOWNY; THIRTEEN; ALEXANDRA’S PROJECT (from Australia about a woman who gets revenge on her insensitive husband; I hope it gets a U.S. release because this thing creeped the hell out of me); LOVE ACTUALLY; THE COOLER; IN AMERICA; JAPANESE STORY (is scheduled to be released in 2004; in a lesser year this would have ranked much higher; the story of an Australian woman--Toni Collette--and a Japanese man who get lost together in the desert); INNER SENSES (from Hong Kong, the lovely final film appearance of Leslie Cheung); CRIMSON GOLD (from Iran); and RAISING VICTOR VARGAS.10 BEST DOCUMENTARIES:
1. CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS
2. SPELLBOUND
3. STONE READER
4. CINERAMA ADVENTURE
5. GIGANTIC
6. TO BE AND TO HAVE
7. WINGED MIGRATION
8. STEVIE
9. CINEMANIA
10. DAUGHTER FROM DANANGFIVE BEST RESTORATIONS/REISSUES:
1. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
2. IKIRU
3. MODERN TIMES
4. HIRED HAND
5. ALIEN: DIRECTOR’S CUT
6. ONE FROM THE HEART
WORST OF 2003:
There were so many bad films to pick from, but the following movies had that little something extra. They were trying harder than the rest and, therefore, had farther to fall. ALEX & EMMA; BEYOND BORDERS; HOUSE OF THE DEAD; JUNGLE BOOK 2; THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN; THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE (second-worst of 2003); MARCI X; MY BOSS’S DAUGHTER; and UPTOWN GIRLS. But the absolute worst film of 2003, the one that seemed to go that extra mile to piss me off and waste me valuable time, was THE CAT IN THE HAT.
Whew! I'm going to take a friggin' nap now. Yours always,
Capone
If you want to touch when I'm asleep, go ahead.
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was interesting but overwrought. That Coppola broad needs to stop trying to be Wes Anderson.
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Nice to see some variety in the Worst Of list. Anyone putting Gigli as the worst of the year didnt go to the movies that much this year and is a lemming.
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but Capone's got a hell of a lot more flicks on here ***that should be on here*** than you did on your list.
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Anyway, great list above...and like others have said, anyone who puts GIGLI on their worst didn't see HOUSE OF THE DEAD and witness the 20-MINUTE Zombie Battle where the same horrible rap-metal song ENDS and STARTS OVER AGAIN so the incomprehensible action can continue!!! And actually, PAYCHECK is much worse than GIGLI as far as B-Aff vehicles go. I wouldn't call UPTOWN GIRLS the worst, but that MOLLY SMILES ballet number with the electric guitars at the end was bad. PATCH ADAMS noodel soup bath-level bad.
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Why oh why hasn't The Rundown been included anywhere on any of these lists? I can't remember the last time I had such all-out fun at a movie than watching that. Sure, I loved LOTR, Lost in Translation, and Americna Splendor like everyone else, but don't knock a movie just 'cause it has The Rock in it
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Hello there everybody. Please visit www.human-dog.com. We have some new stuff up, including the Captain Dale archive. Check it out, we guarantee you will laugh. And don't be afraid to tell your friends and write back to us.
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1) What is your definition of good, and 2) You obviously don't remember how Coppola was ripped to shreds for her (I use this tern loosely) performance in Godfather 3. Lost in Translation was easily one of the top five movies of the year.
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Out of all the 2003 best and worst movie lists on this site (or on any site), I have yet to see either one of the Matrix sequels appear. I guess everybody forgot about 'em. I sure as hell did. After all the trailers and hype and money and leather... isn
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Glad to see Lost in translation at the top. it's the only film i saw last year that really grabbed me. and this quote about ROTK: "Three films, each successive one better than the one before it"...umm, i think it's the other way round. they just got worse with each one in my books. opinions eh.
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lets share some of your genius of the film industry with others. How about we dissect some of your favourite movies in a witty/sarcastic style and see how funny it is. Even if it is "The Godfather", "Boogie Nights" or "Le Mepris", we can still make it seem pretentious and witty! you stupid shit, show some respect you bitch: cos this is what bitches do. Even if you dissect a genius word from word- you may seem cool, when you see it on the screen, quite frankly you think you're a special snowflake amongst the rest of the bitchy critical wannabe whiners- here's news- you don't understand film!!!, oh... i went there, some movies are defunct of criticism, Lost in Translaton is not one of them, but you're just reaching for the most sarcastic and obvious insults you can hand out!
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I don't post alot but, seriously these lists are pissing me off. Where is Big Fish, did people just not see this film? This was one of the BEST movies of the year BY FAR and I can't believe nobody else realizes how damn cool and well done it was.
What's up? -
You can nitpick the events/plot of Lost in Translation all you want, I guess...but honestly, what truly solidified the film for me was its sense of honesty, and the way it captured "real life" on film. I felt like I was given a window into these people's (people, not characters) lives and few films really give you that kind of experience anymore. Also, it was interesting to see INNER SENSES on here! Although I feel that film falls apart towards the end, it's still rather creepy (the scene with Leslie have dinner at that restaurant when...WHAM! A great moment), and it deserves special mention just for being Leslie's last film.
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I was dying to get lost. 21 grams represents everything wrong with "independent" movie making today. ARRRGGHHHH!!!! Btw, thanks for the obligatory X2 mention at 24.
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Jan 13, 2004 11:05:09 PM CST
NEW RULE: Anyone who posts a "Best of 2003" list two weeks into
by bill maher
All that bullshit was last year. Who gives a shit what you liked a year ago? I want to know what's in the future. I saw Big Fish. Great movie. The best thing I've seen in over a year. It just came out, therefore it's worth my time to discuss.
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Jan 13, 2004 11:12:21 PM CST
NEW RULE: JD is sorta right.The Matrix has now joined The Macare
by bill maher
To be fair, I never liked the original Matrix or any other movie with Keanu Reeves. He's box office poison as far as I'm concerned. Right up there with Mawky Mawk, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Melanie Grifith and Vin "fanboy fag fantasy" Diesel.
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fair enough for not liking a flick but the reasons you give are all wrong. sure i agree about bill murray on the treadmill but that is the only time the movie plays to slapstick. I think this movie is an amazing achievement because it is driven almost entirely by atmosphere yet captivates from beginning to end. i live in japan and i had two friends visit me last year. we went to see LIT together last december in australia and both of them couldn't believe how perfectly the film captured what they felt and saw on their 10day insanity tour (their words). sure she has crammed in a few years worth of experiences. but all the experiences the characters have in the film absolutely happen. they have happened to me on more times than i can mention. the hospital scene was perfect. i think the film can be appreciated by anyone but to truly appreciate how accurate it is you need to have lived in japan. she sums up everything with such an economical style and renders any other attempts to do so pointless. and without hitting us over the head with it. and the tv show host is real! I have appeared on a tv show in japan where i was kissed by a japanese guy dressed up as a flight attendant and he tried to take me home on air. it was truly whacked. so i'm not sure how you can comment on the cliches if you haven't lived here and if you have then you must be living in some type of hole or in the country side. now if you want to talk about cliches: rising sun!
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Jan 13, 2004 11:40:25 PM CST
Thanks for including ONE FROM THE HEART, except that it hasn't b
by frankdrebin
It's scheduled for January 27th.
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MY 2004 FIVE MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES ARE (opening night please!!!):
- Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind (MARCH 19)
- Hero (APRIL 16 ... even if it is MiramAXE'd)
- Harry Potter 3 (really!) (JUNE 4)
- The Incredibles (NOVEMBER 5)
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (DECEMBER 17)
Not on the list, but interested:
- Ocean's Twelve (December 12)
- The Ladykillers (March 26)
- The Passion of Christ
- Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer
- The Battle of Algiers
- The Polar Express
- Spider-man 2 (July 2)
- Shrek 2 (May 21)
- Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
- Van Helsing (May 7)
- Kill Bill Volume 2 (February 20)
Will probably be shit, but will want to see anyway:
- Catwoman (Halle Berry)
- Batman: Intimidation
- Dogville (March 26)
- Welcome to Mooseport
- King Arthur
- Kingdom of Heaven
- Troy
- Starsky and Hutch
- Ned Kelly (March 26)
- Shaolin Soccer
- The Thunderbirds
- New York Minute
- The Stepford Wives (June 11)
- The Day After Tomorrow
- Bourne Supremacy
- I, Robot
- A Confederacy of Dunces
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with Johnny Depp)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Proof (with Gwenyth Paltrow)
- Tulip Fever
- Hellboy
- Bridget Jones 2
... and for 2005:
- Star Wars Ep III (May 25 2003)
- The Wallace and Grommit Movie (September 30 2005)
- Cars (November 30 2005)
- Harry Potter 4 (Nov/Dec 2005)
- King Kong (December 14)
- Indian Jones 4
- Secret Life of Walter Mitty
- Alexander the Great
- Where the Wild Things Are
... and for 2006:
- X-Men 3 (May 5) -
i hate people that always compare movies that were made from books to the movie. They're so smug in their turtle neck when they go, "ohh the book was sooooo much better." Really? you know what i liked about the movie, no reading.
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How can you have a top ten documentary list and omit the Andy Goldsworthy doc? My guess is that Capone didn't see it...
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Not a single surprise to be found. Nowhere near as moving or as funny or as original or as dark as it had the potential to be. You can't blame a film on advertising, but for fuck's sake! YOU SAW EVERYTHING IN THE FUCKING TRAILER! And what the fuck is with everyone in the family thinking Albert Finney is charming and that his stories are cool? The dude told the same damn stories over and over (if you know any old people you know this is ingratiating), made shit up because he hated reality (that would have been more an interesting point in the movie had they bothered to explore it), and upstaged his son at every turn (gee thanks pops!). Hell, I fucking sympathized with Billy Crudup in that movie. His dad sucked! And why wasn't Billy Crudup playing the Ewan McGregor character? He is so fucking cool and hilarious as shit in Jesus' Son. Tim Burton has certainly done better than this cheese fest. Big disappointment for me. Took the easy way out way too many times in the script and had the lamest of lame endings that was beyond predictable.
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Way to quote Jim Gaffigan without giving him credit. Think nobody else has a TV but you or something?
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Here's a big news flash for Lucas.... People were NOT wanting The Matrix when they went to see Episode 1, they just wanted STAR WARS! THAT is what he failed to deliver. He can say things like the quote above to make himself feel better if he wants, but the Matrix is NOT the reason Episode 1 was recieved poorly. It's because it SUCKED. Same thing goes for the Matrix sequels.. I don't think people wanted to see LOTR, they just expected the sequels to contain at least some element of the greatness found in the first film. The sequels simply didn't deliver.
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you seem to be a bit confused. one minute you don't want everyday routine in a flick and the next you are slamming it for having too many whacky things! the movie starts out by totally alienating them thru the environment, yet ever so slowly the two characters come to appreciate the things that japanese culture does have to offer. and that is how it is here for most people when they get here. how can real situations possibly be rascist. they happened. and you should actually read what i wrote instead of jumping to conclusions. I never said all japanese love karaoke or that all Japanese tv shows are whacky. and in the film, good old bill and scarly really enjoy their karaoke stint. its actually the scene where the two of them share their most intimate moment. murray was pretty amazing to be able to pull it off the way he did. and dude, she wasn't having a go at japan. it was a very personal movie about her time here and her experiences. my two friends who visited me last year couldn't believe how well it accurately portrayed their trip. Japan can and does alienate one very easily if allowed. that theme is explored in the flick. and because of the huge language (written and spoken) barrier it's hard to understand anything or the motivation for the way things are done? mabye a little insight into the name of the flick. there was a lot of good stuff in there as well about japan. the scene in kyoto was pretty special and one of true beauty. better than i have ever seen kyoto done before in film outside of japan. and I have made a tv show about the place, so i know it pretty well. and i'm guessing here but you don't seem to have been to japan and don't seem to know japanese culture. you know, i was ready to waste this film before i saw it. i thought it was going to be a tired cliche ridden romp thru japan. again if that is what you want then go watch tom selleck in mr. baseball. i will even get on the angry pills with you on that one!!!
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Jan 14, 2004 2:03:22 AM CST
Can somebody please explain o me what's so fucking great about L
by smurfette
I don't get it.
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I thought Lost In Translation was okay, very competent at depicting something it wanted to depict, but as soon as I finished watching it, there was nothing to think about or to feel. It was kind of by-the-numbers. I mean, you could set practically the identical story in any kind of stereotypical "alien" culture. For example, you could have set it in a trailer park with people who like to watch Jerry Springer. You could have set it in L.A. with people who do Yoga and talk to their spiritual advisors and astrologers. Of course, by now, it is trite to observe that not everyone likes Jerry Springer's show or that not everyone consults spiritual gurus. And so it should also be considered trite with the most stereotypical elements of the popular culture of Japan. I mean, it's probably true that Japanese tourists like camera equipment more than, say, U.S. tourists, on average, but that doesn't mean it would be interesting to point it out. The operative phrase is "so what?" If all you've got is some idea that each of two people are alone in a crowd--then that's really not much. To make a movie that *I* like, you would also need to make I, the viewer, care about the characters or the situation. I think Scarlett Johansen (spelling?) has some star quality and acting ability, so looking at her was pleasant, but there was not anything interesting about her or Bill Murray's character or their situation. So, to the guy who recognized Japan in the movie, I also say "so what?" You could make a movie in which young people stayed up late, drank beer, went to parties, crammed for exams and I would recognize the college life, but unless there was something interesting, I'd say, "that's nice" and then move on without another thought.
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Jan 14, 2004 2:29:40 AM CST
Japanese story should be wiped clean from history and all the pe
by theginger twit
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Get over it.
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Jan 14, 2004 2:43:18 AM CST
NEW RULE: The Phantom Menace ruled! Anyone who says otherwise is
by bill maher
So some 300-pound virgins couldn't get back their lost childhoods. The losers spent their youth scarfing down entire boxes of Twinkies and jerking off to computer porn. Why would they want to go back to that? Fuck 'em! The Phantom Menace was a lot of fun and people who don't know how to have a good time can pucker up and kiss my dead dog's ass. =-=-=-=-=- Big Fish was also fun. I'm glad Tim Burton has given up on that Batman/ Edward Needledick bullshit. Thanks to the dude above for telling about movies in the future, not what he liked last year.
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Jan 14, 2004 2:50:48 AM CST
Phantom Menace had great stuff like the pod race, and the light
by theginger twit
Here's who the real assholes are - those fags who claim that Star wars is dead, based on the success of LOTR. But like all those dipshits who believed Matrix would own us all - long before the matrix requels were even released.... here's a newsflash for you - Star Wars is not dead! there is still one more fucking episode to go - and it is going to absolutely kick your arse!! (Or it might suck, i don't really know)
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1) I'm quite aware of the difference between acting and writing and directing, thank you. My point was that she's hardly beyond reproach from the critical community. and 2) you ask for a film that offers "something original, shows me a world I have not seen before(real or imagined), contains believable characters who are intellectually honest, and doesn't insult the audience's intelligence with bad racist humor like the Japanese whore yelling at Murray." I saw one that offers all of that, it's called Lost in Translation. BTW Why are you so venomous about Coppola not "earning her stripes", is someone a little jealous?
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Jan 14, 2004 4:37:07 AM CST
drunken writing is funny!- especially to pretentious easily anta
by britshit
its one of my favourite hobbies- look at the hilarity, do you talk that way to your mother!......er, i dunno, some silent art film rules!
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Jan 14, 2004 5:41:04 AM CST
by the way, my earlier post (which was shoved into the middle of
by eraser_x
Instead, I was just agreeing with much of what Lost Highway said, seeing as how people were jumping all over him just because he expressed his opinion. One further point about Lost In Translation. I think it is not something that will age well. In the future, as more Americans travel more to different countries, the average viewer will just watch it and say, "oh, so sometimes people travel to different parts of the world and feel alienated." I think Lost In Translation is "mood study" that is lacking a story. I mean, that's okay; I'm sure some people like that sort of thing. I bet a lot of French people like that sort of thing, judging by how static some French movies are. However, I like a little more story and a little more character development. It's funny, in the film noir movies and in many other movies, there is mood, and story, and characterization. In many cases, the story is not much, and the characterization is not much, but together, and together with the mood, the package is very good. With Lost in Translation, I think the story and characterization is so minimal, that the package suffers. Put another way, I think even a little bit more story, even if that little bit is itself not very much, might have helped a lot to the overall package.
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Great list. I too am glad to see "Lost in Translation" at the top of the list. I am another who was mesmerized by this movie. In fact, it's the only movie I saw multiple times this year. And to risk being stoned here, I did not find ROTK to be anywhere near the brilliance of the first two films. Unlike Lost in Translation, which I can quote like a mad person, there was very little about ROTK that stuck with me after viewing it. Don't get me wrong, it was a lovely achievement in cinema, but not the end-all, be-all that everyone is making it out to be.
As for BIG FISH...well, that's just an underappreciated gem. It's not perfect, but it's one of the rare movies that you will leave and have a smile on your face. It should definitely be on everyone's Top 10 and Must See lists. -
MWHELAN67: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly was reissued in a restored version with extra footage in larger cities this summer just prior to it being shown on AMC. RETROSTYLE: One From The Heart has alredy been released in some places. In Chicago on Jan 2. and probably in NY prior to that. That aside, this was a pretty good list however Irreversible is the worst film of the year (just above House of the Dead) and deserves to be nowhere near a top 10 list. Following those, Dumb and Dumberer, Bad Boys II, Boat Trip and The Medallion (worst and most annoying performance of the year by co-star Lee Evans). Best film is a tie between ROTK and Brazil's 'City of God' with Lost In Translation, Triplets of Bellville and Seabiscuit rounding out the top five. Just my opinion not that anyone should care
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I've seen both Lost In Translation and 21 Grams... Neither is better than Return of the King. Not by a long shot. They are entirely different films, so they are hard to compare to each other. It's easy to forgive Capone for his confusion. Translation is not perfect in every way. It's a charming film. It's a good film. But there are holes in the scripts; things brought up and then dropped or neglected. And there are plenty of flaws in the directing. The style is there. It's a pretty film. And I like Coppola's decision-making on most scenes. But I thought there were some moments she neglected. There were technical oopsadasies too. How many cameos did the boom mike make in the film? The film also ran out of steam a little there toward the end. I almost felt like I watched to separate films when coming out of the theatre. The first half of the movie was funny as hell, the second half of the movie was thoughtfully serious. The tone does a major shift prior to at least the last half hour. You don't notice it that much at the time, but it's there. Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying the film's not good. I'd definitely rank it in the top five of films of the year. But I certainly wouldn't rank it at the very top. Return of the King had some of these very same problems that Translation had, but mostly the size and scope of the film caused them. Very few of King's problems should be directly credited to Jackson. People tend to forget that Rings is an adaptation of a novel. Jackson went beyond the call of duty to remain as faithful to the novels as he could. And this isn't a criticism of the books either. Certain things on page work in film, certain things don't. Jackson had to walk a tightrope to decide what would work and what wouldn't. Lord of the Rings is an emmense work of literature. There was a lot to sift through. Think of what has been the biggest complaint of the film...the so called multiple endings. All of this is nearly word for word in the novel, it's just been abridged a bit. Those pieces of the story need to be in the movie. But if you haven't read the book, you probably won't get it. My suggestion to the critics, read the books or let it go (stop trying to over-analyse). Anyways, getting away from my point. The point here is that what Sofia Coppola accomplished with Lost in Translation was nice. It's a brilliant little film. But it is in no way comparible to what Peter Jackson accomplished with Return of the King. Return of the King was 7 years coming. It's an accomplishment of a lifetime. Lost in Translation is a very nice, very well done, tiny step in the career of a blossoming young director. The same can be said for 21 Grams. Except, technically, it's a better made film than LIT, but story/script/dialog-wise, it's way inferior. There's really nothing new or groundbreaking there. This same film comes out once a year. It's good, but it's not as good as Mystic River, which is the other Penn vehicle for the year. I say it cracks the top ten, but it's not close to the top five. It's better than Seabiscuit though, which is woefully overrated.
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Capturing the Friedmans and Spellbound are better than most fiction movies, and better than many on your list. American Splendor is basically a quai-documentary, and it's my number one this year. Spellbound is my Number four after American Splendor, Lost in Translation and ROTK. And how can anyone not put the Hulk as the worst movie of the year? Seriously, shit like 1000 Corpses and Gigli aren't offensive, they just suck. I knew they'd suck, and sure enough they did. No letdowns there. But Ang Lee should have known better, Marvel should have known better, and that damn movie should have been better. Other than those little nitpicks, though, I find our respective lists to be in scary agreement, Capone.
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You almost made an intelligent critique, but you failed to mention any specifics. What were some of the plotholes and neglections made by Coppella? Just curious for a more complete opinion. Concerning the boom mike, that's a projection problem. If the camera is framed correctly in the theater, the boom mike cannot be seen. Ebert did an article about this a few months ago. As for ROTK being the best film of the year, I have to disagree. When people ask me for my opinion, I tell them that I'm reserving judgement until after I've seen the Extended Edition DVD next year. I felt the film, as it is now, is rushed and feels kind of cramped in parts, just like the first 2 movies were. But like the first two movies, I expect that the Extended Edition will solve those problems. The movie i saw in the theater was not a final product, as far as I'm concerned, and didn't even break my top 5.
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You are missing the point about what people love about Lost in Translation. Yes, a part of the story is about not "getting" Japan, but the absolute heart of the movie is about Murray and Johansson. It's about how two very different people who are very unhappy meet in a place they don't understand and find happiness with each other. It's about wanting something out of someone and both of you knowing it can't really happen. It's about that moment when Murray whispers in her ear and we don't know what he says, but that's OK. It feels like an intimate moment between two people and it would almost ruin it to know what he said. I thought it was a beautiful movie about these two people and I'm glad Coppolla made it. Now I really hope the Academy sees fit to give Murray the Oscar he deserves.
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..on the list of best documentaries? I can't imagine there being 10 documentaries during the last year that are better. Hell, Bus 174 is in my top 3 overall, nevermind being a doc..... The list as a whole is solid though, as about 75% of the films named are in my top 40.....
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Although these are all great documentaries, how is it possible that Capone could leave off one of the most important documentaries in the past 20 years, Errol Morris' The Fog of War? What Morris is able to do and have Macnarama confess about his involvement in WWII and Vietnam is simply astounding. The insight and conclusions that Morris is able to elicit from his subject show just how brilliant and revelatory the medium can be. For Capone to leave it off his list of documentaries is simply unconscionable.
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Jan 14, 2004 1:55:38 PM CST
LOST IN TRANSLATION and MYSTIC RIVER are equally overrated...
by unchienandalou
...and they will be forgotten in due time..
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Jan 14, 2004 4:06:44 PM CST
KILL BILL is an amazingly trendy top 10 pick for critics
by unchienandalou
I keep getting the impression that critics are eager to put KILL BILL on their top 10 list so they can show everyone how edgy and hip they are.
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Big Fish - underappreciated gem? I don't know, it sure is getting a fair amount of acclaim and recognization, just maybe not here at AICN. The real underrated gem, I feel, is SHATTERED GLASS. No one really talks about this film but I thought it was fantastic, with a more than memorable and "Oscar caliber" (if that term still carries any weight) supporting performance from Peter Sarsgaard. Also, I think Elephant deserves more notice but that's a little bit of a more controversial and touchy film so, oh well.
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forget about the best of last years lists... I FINALLY GET WHAT AMERICAN PSYCHO IS ABOUT!! WOOHOO!! YAY ME!!..... ehem.... sorry *BAMF*
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I see what you're saying, Lou, about two people recognizing each other within a crowd. That part was nice. But still, I didn't really *care* about those two characters; the characters were like cardboard. I mean, I felt that *any* two male and female actors could have been cast, and *any* non-Peoria-Illinois city could have been used, and it wouldn't have made a shred of difference to the movie. Actually, I think that's actually what Coppola was trying to accomplish and succeeded in accomplishing. I think she was trying to distill the essence of the idea of two alienated people finding each other. However, when something is too distilled, then I don't care about it. It becomes like reading the Cliffs notes. For example, the old teenager movie "My Bodyguard" had the same idea of two losers finding each other, but it simply made me care about the characters more by virtue of the characters' quirks and unique circumstances.
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I have one more thought for the guy who liked the movie because he recognized his own Japan experiences in the movie. It sounds like you've said only that you like the movie because it triggered nostalgia. I'm not too big on nostalgia as an end in itself. Nostalgia, without story and without characterization, is simply saying "this movie is interesting because it reminds me of me, and, damn!, am I interested in me or what!" That's one thing that bugs me about Yuppies and baby-boomers and so many Americans or Brits abroad in non-Caucasian countries; they think they are so interesting when they are actually more boring than cardboard. To them, I say: just live life already and stop thinking about yourself!
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... bottom line with any movie is, if the characters don't hit it for you, you're not gonna like it. I guess they did hit for me, but that's the beauty of movies. I can't argue with your assessment, because if you didn't like the characters, that's it. Unfortunately, too many times people think whether or not a movie is good is an inarguable point, but it's not. either way, i couldn't help but love the movie, myself.
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It might be predictable, you seem to be quite biased against her and anyone with any kind of material wealth, this site is supposed to be about decent realistic reason's for liking or hating a movie not petty, small-minded biases against the film makers and the characters.
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Movie reactions are definitely very personal, as you say. In fact, if I watch Lost In Translation again in 10 years, I might find that I love it. It wouldn't surprise me.
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is everyone but me insane? am i on crazy pills? sofia coppola needs to stop making films. i understand why people enjoy the film. bill murray and scarlett johansson were both fantastic. i agree about it being murray's tour de force, etc... coppola didn't write a script. it was piss poor at best, bare bones, and lifeless. if it wasn't for the life that murray gave it through pure improvisation, it would have lain there like a dead stripper. murray has said many times that the sign of a bad director is a lack of preparedness in scriptwriting, coppola gave him nothing. aside from that, i've never seen a film shot in japan make the city of tokyo look so dull and ugly. the actors made this film, and coppola is a hack. am i glad mary corleone died? well...
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Okay. Lost Highway. I know you think its cool to hate something that lots of people love, and that it makes you really special, but there are a whole gang of you out there and you're called Trolls. For further reference, see any talkback for the following films: any Star Wars film, any Lord of the Rings film, any Matrix film. I'm actually quite proud, i guess, that one of my favorite films of the year inspired such misguided wrath and over the top rantings. Now, just to let you know that my labeling you a Troll has nothing to do with your dislike of LIT, I will give props to my man, eraser x, who seems to understand that opinions vary and though he didn't like it (and was even able to offer some discernable reasons why), that doesn't mean he can't respect other people's right to enjoy the movie. I know you've got a right to your opinion, dude, but as long as you talk from a soapbox instead of withing the bounds of the debate forum these talkbacks are, your opinion has a penchant for anal sex. Apricot Scissors!
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" a want to see real characters, not self absorbed rich assholes on vacation. Oh, poor them, they have everything in the world and are still miserable." You said it, not me. My opinion was influenced only by myself. I could give a damn what anyone else thinks of the movie.
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I'm just glad SOMEBODY finally mentioned Whalerider.
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I'm with Lost Highway on this one. I lived in Japan for almost five years and I hated this movie. It was incredibly offensive.
Not sure if something might be racist? Ask yourself - Is the movie being respectful of another culture, or did the director try to find the easiest stereotypes to laugh at and compile them into a movie for comedy's sake?
And don't try to tell me that the tourist guidebook-standard shot of Kyoto made up for it. -
look, how can episode 1 be judged as a failure? you tell me how a film could b judged a failure when it is the THIRD biggest film of ALL-TIME. you can pretend that this FACT doesn't exsist and continue ur little badgering of the new films, whilst the rest of the worlds public vote with their wallets and feet, and park there asses on those seats without thinking twice. Here's a tip, never, EVER judge a movie by A) it's trailer, B) before you enter the cinema and C) by wat other knob-gobblers say on the internet, u guys couldn't make a film that grossed 900+ million world-wide (like episode 1) if ur lives depended on it, and till u do, stick a cork in ur mouth cos wat ur dribbling is meant 2 escape from ur ass.
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Sophia Coppola's last name I'm sure helps her when she makes decent movies, but when she did a lousy acting job, I think her name really added to her suffering! I remember that reviewers were vicious in criticizing her Godfather 3 performance. I think the viciousness was due to her name. For example, if that kid actor who played Anakin in Phantom Menace had been George Lucas's son, then I bet the press would not have treated the kid's lousy acting with kid gloves. (No pun intended.) Instead, if that kid had been George Lucas's son, I think reviewers would have really slammed the kid hard, even though the kid was just a kid.
Anyhow, sorry to post so much on this Talkback. :-)
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