<< Front page Arts February 13, 2004

Top 10 Films of 2003: All the best of last year

The Top 10 List is the year-end gift that film critics give. After sitting through dozens of movies, they get to compile a list of the ten that they think are best, and then tell you that if you haven’t seen them you’re an infidel. But seriously, 2003 was a year short on quality films. While finding the standouts was easy, deciding rank among them was no simple task. Now, on to pirates, zombie, and mutants!

10. Shattered Glass/28 Days Later

Two incredibly different films vie for the last space on the list and frankly they both deserve to be here. Shattered Glass actually turns Anakin Skywalker’s whining into a memorable performance as Stephen Glass, the young New Republic journalist who got away with making-up over 20 news stories simply because the stories were deemed entertaining. It’s a fascinating look at journalism, especially if you’re a journalist. As for 28 Days Later, many walked in expecting a jolly romp in a Sandra Bullock rehab comedy and came out seeing one of the scariest films in the past few years. While the film loses its shock value on repeat viewings, the incredible direction and questions of civility, when civilization no longer exists, stick when viewing the empty streets of London on screen.

9. Peter Pan
Audiences went into this film thinking it would be either moderately enjoyable or it would violate their corneas. Instead, they came out seeing one of the best films of the year and certainly the best adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s novel (and there have been about 5,013). Incredibly faithful to the source material, director P.J. Hogan really took his time developing his characters and the theme of maturity, both sexual and mental, then reconciling that maturity with the role of imagination. With Jason Issac’s fantastic performance as Captain Hook and the special effects thrown in it’s obvious why it’s on the list.

8. Pirates of the Caribbean

A film based on a Disney ride? This film could have been a shipwreck. But instead of two hours of ghosts sitting next to people, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer created the most ambitious and wonderful pirate film in years. But let’s look to the film’s shining star: Johnny Depp. One of the most versatile actors working today, Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow will be a character long remembered.

7. Kill Bill: Volume One

Love him or hate him, Quentin Tarantino is a director who enjoys showing off his knowledge of films. While some may consider his first film in six years to be a splatterfest of old Hong Kong cinema and gore, a closer look reveals that while Tarantino may draw from many sources, he handles his allusions with a deft hand. The simple tale of revenge may not be the stuff of deep analysis, but with Uma Thurman’s powerful portrayal of “The Bride,” nice use of anime, buckets of blood and the quick shifts from laughter to shock to suspense, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 seemed to have it all, for only half a film.

6. X2

After a decent first film, Bryan Singer showed a sequel can be done right. Everyone had a favorite scene, whether it was Wolverine’s berserker rampage in the mansion, Magneto’s escape or the breathless BAMFing in the intro. Every scene was just about perfect. Singer got a better handle on his characters, the budget got bigger, neat comic references were made, and Halle Berry lost the awful wig and accent. Spider-Man 2 has its work cut out for it this summer as X2 currently reigns as the best action film out there.

5. School of Rock

Sometimes an actor and a project mesh so perfectly that it makes you wonder why this kind of collaboration hasn’t happened earlier. Hopelessly miscast in films like Saving Silverman and Shallow Hal, Jack Black finally found his star-making role as failed rocker Dewey Finn teaching his knowledge of rock to a fifth-grade class. Not only is Black hilarious and exuberant, the film manages to be sweet, but not to the point of tooth decay. Unless you hate Black or had a bad day with botox, this film should have had you smiling throughout.

4. American Splendor

Every year there’s a film that gets inexplicabily overlooked by almost every awards organization. In 2003, that film is the wonderful and indefinable American Splendor. Written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, this part docudrama, part animated film part comedy is incredibly well-crafted and manages to succeed at every turn. From the acting, especially lead actor Paul Giamatti as Harvey Pekar, to the imaginative direction, and the great jazz soundtrack, Splendor is the best comic book movie period. It came out on DVD last week and it needs to be on your shelf.

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
It had to be here. There is nothing that can be said that hasn’t already been said by just about every other critic out there. Powerful performances by all. Incredibly emotional. Breathless set pieces. This is clearly one of the best film trilogies of all time. Oscar. Oscar. Oscar. The final chapter in this remarkable trilogy deserves better words, but it’s films like these that tend to leave the viewer speechless.

2. Finding Nemo

Pixar is the studio that can do no wrong and there’s a very simple reason for that: they put story above everything else. Celebrity voice acting, special effects wizardry, merchandise all of it takes a back seat to the story and Finding Nemo’s is probably their best yet. Director Andrew Stanton managed to turn a simple story of a father in search of his son into a hilarious, beautiful, touching, underwater epic. And yet the heart of the story never fades from sight. And even though kids may laugh at the forgetful Dory’s antics, more mature members of the audience will get teary-eyed at her plea to stay with Marlin. You can always expect a family film from Pixar to be for all members of the family.

1. Big Fish

In his element, no one can touch Tim Burton’s talent and his ability to capture the power of imagination. The reason that Big Fish tops this list is that it’s fresh and familiar upon every viewing. While the actors and setting create a sense of comfort and intrigue, the themes and artistry have something new to reveal every time. One viewing can be a love story. Another can be a father-son story. At its heart, Big Fish is about the power and necessity of storytelling to capture the imagination. Big Fish is film at its best and it’s the best film of 2003.


 
 
   

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