Best 5 Movies of 2002
I said last time I did this list that 2001 wasn't a great year for movies. Little
did I know what awaited me in 2002. I could say that 2002 was an awful year
for movies (in general it was), but it produced two of the most amazing films
I'd ever hope to see in this lifetime. This leaves me in a bit of a quandary
to fill out spots #3-#5, especially since they don't belong anywhere near the
same tier as the top two. But I'll figure it out anyway...
#1
13 Conversations About One Thing ~ where exactly on my top ten movies of
all time this film will land is still unclear, but it certainly jarred my easy-to-remember-&-recite
top ten list the moment I walked out of the theater. This movie does what
"Magnolia" (#10 all-time going into 2002) tries to do about a thousand
times better, & you'll note that I thought "Magnolia" did it pretty
well. The character development is flawless, the plotlines are captivating,
the mood of the movie is chillingly wonderful, & there is simply not enough
good that I can say about this movie. Except that it beat out the #2 pick
of the year, which deserved to win this year, but this movie was just too good.
#2
Bowling for Columbine ~ I told Brandzel that this movie was like watching
myself rant for two hours & then realizing that someone else had done it.
The best political movie since "Gandhi" (#2 all-time) & probably
the best documentary in history. An absolute must-see for every American
citizen. The above film is a must-see for every human, but this shows our
messed-up society exactly how & why it's the way it (sadly) is. Wow.
#3
Moonlight Mile ~ following the above two movies is a tough burden, &
this film doesn't deserve comparison to them. Nevertheless, it captures
#3 honors by being very very real. Almost as real as a documentary. It
has some of the same feel of July, July (#1 book I read this year) in
its swirling reality & honest but wholly flawed characters. & it's
darned moving.
#4
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ~ no, I haven't read the books.
I could read ten books a year, or I could read one & a half Harry Potter
books a year... yes, I'm that slow a reader. But I really enjoy the movies.
The 3 kids are the kind of kids that myself & everyone I've liked were
in school. They fight the same enemies we fought. The big difference
is they have magic & somewhat more dangerous adventures. There's actually
some depth here too, an updated Narnia like everyone says. Good times.
#5
Barbershop ~ a movie that tells a familiar type of story in a very original
way. It's real like pick #3 & updated like pick #4, well-acted like
all these picks, & has a wide range of characters to believe in or not to
one's own taste. It also has more straight-up comedy than I tend to like
in movies, but it pulls it off cleverly.
