Top 10 movies of 2002: list #1

I’m happy to report that 2002 was a strong year for film. There were plenty of very good… I’m happy to report that 2002 was a strong year for film. There were plenty of very good films – more than usual – and it pains me to have to leave so many of them off this list. Here are the 10, though, that came closest to perfection. It’s an interesting mix.

10. “jackass the movie” – Don’t stop reading. I’m not putting this here to be, well, a jackass. Take a glance at the rest of my picks – they’re serious films, not jokes. The things is, “jackass” made me laugh harder than any other film this year. I respect the view of those who abhor Knoxville and company, but I can’t omit the funniest film of 2002 from my list. I just can’t.

9. “The Hours” – This is the best-acted film of the year. Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore, three of our finest actresses, all contribute some of the best work of their careers. As if they’re not enough, the script – amazingly – maintains the nuance of the Pulitzer-winning novel and director Stephen Daldry keeps hold of its difficult tone.

8. “Far From Heaven” – To echo the sentiments of many, yes, it is as if this film was actually made in the ’50s and lost until now. Todd Haynes nails the old-fashioned melodrama so completely you can’t help but gawk at the thing. It goes beyond an experiment, though – the emotion in the film is genuine, the sadness over the repression of the time is affecting.

7. “Chicago” – Hollywood didn’t think the traditional musical could ever work again. Pittsburgh native Rob Marshall’s “Chicago” does a hell of a lot more than just work, though. It practically jumps off the screen. Legit singing and dancing by a fine cast makes for a spectacular piece of entertainment. It’ll be nice to have our city represented at the Oscars.

6. “Road to Perdition” – Sam Mendes is perhaps our most promising of the class of ’99. He follows “American Beauty” with this way dark – in both look and tone – picture based on a graphic novel. This is the other big acting showcase of the year – its trio of male leads, Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law, goes nicely alongside the women of “The Hours.”

5. “The Pianist” – Around the time of Roman Polanski’s last film, the awful “The Ninth Gate,” I thought we’d lost him. He followed up, though, with what may very well be the best film he’s ever made. “The Pianist” is certainly the best film on the Holocaust I have ever seen. It has humanity, but isn’t clouded by emotion. Following the note-perfect Adrien Brody on his harrowing escape left me physically exhausted.

4. “Y Tu Mama Tambien” – Sexy Mexican fireworks – damn, this is hot. This erotic drama/road movie made my jaw drop more than any other film this year. It sounds cheesy: two teenage guys, boyhood pals, go on an adventure with an older woman, but every moment rings true, even the most shocking ones. Director Alfonso Cuaron is helming the next “Harry Potter” film. I may have to show up for that.

3. “Bowling for Columbine” – The best documentary in years is intelligent, fascinating, unsettling and hilarious – often all at once. It is the film Michael Moore was always meant to make. It even takes him back to what’s left of Flint, Mich., the city that was the subject of his first film, “Roger ‘ Me.” Can’t wait to hear his acceptance speech Sunday night.

2. “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” – I’ll say it again, Peter Jackson is about to pull off one of the greatest cinematic feats of all time. I remember when George Lucas, the fool, said it couldn’t be done. Well, Jackson has delivered six fantastic hours thus far. I’ll hate to see it end, but I can’t help wanting “Return of the King” right now.

1. “Punch-Drunk Love” – Boy genius Paul Thomas Anderson made Adam Sandler’s buffoon act into something poignant. The director said the film would be shorter and lighter than his other works, but it’s really just shorter. Anderson, it seems, couldn’t get rid of his edge if he tried. The film is disturbing at times, euphoric at others. A true original, a new animal, impossible to describe.

And the biggest bummers of the year: America disappointed with its favorites. Mega hit “Spider-Man” was, sadly, unexciting. Apparently everyone was too busy oooing and aaawing at all the money on the screen to notice, though. And super mega surprise hit “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (I wince just typing it) didn’t have half the smarts of most second-rate sitcoms; it’s not that I don’t get it, it’s just that it’s so damned obvious. Sigh.