Top Ten Films Of 2002!

Here is another "top ten" list as we go back in time to celebrate some of the best films of previous years. I intended to make several of these list and now we are coming to the beginning of the decade. It was surprisingly not a bad year for cinema in 2002. I had so many four star films that it was actually difficult to only select ten. And there was an unusual amount of very good American films released in 2002. Here are my top ten favorites:

1. CHICAGO (Dir. Rob Marshall; U.S.) - I'm often accused of always putting sad, depressing movies on top of my list ("21 Grams", "The Passion of the Christ", and "United 93") but here is a good old fashion piece of Hollywood escapism. It does exactly what the movies are suppose to do, make us excited about them. Were there more heartfelt, emotion films released this year? You bet! But none were as much fun to watch as this, the eventual Oscar winner for "Best Picture".

2. 13 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING (Dir. Jill Sprecher; U.S.) - Here is a film about our eternal search for happiness. This movie probably touched me on a more personal level than "Chicago". This is a great film which went under the radar. So few people took a chance and saw this film, a shame!

3. GANGS OF NEW YORK (Dir. Martin Scorsese; U.S.) - The first Scorsese film I can think of in recent memory which took a beating from some of the critics. Cited by many as "Oscar bait", part of Scorsese's attempt to (at the time) finally win a Oscar. But, I thought the critics were showing what type of pretentious Liberal jerks they are. Here was one of Scorsese's most visually striking films. It had amazing production design and great performances through-out the cast. I think Scorsese should have won his Oscar for this film.

4. THE PIANIST (Dir. Roman Polanski; France/Germany) - Perhaps the most haunting film I have seen on WW2 and the holocaust. It is, for me, more powerful than "Schindler's List". This is the film Polanski was born to make. If Scorsese wasn't going to win an Oscar that year I'm glad he lost to Polanski.

5. WE WERE SOLDIERS (Dir. Randall Wallace; U.S.) - Another film dealing with war, this one is about one of the first major battles in the Vietnam War. It starred Mel Gibson, and surprisingly had very intense, gritty battle scenes.

6. BLESS YOU, PRISON (Binecuvantata fii, inchisoare, Dir. Nicolae Margineanu; Romania) - Every director has one story they are born to make. One film which sums up everything they have been trying to accomplish their entire career, so it is with this film from one of Romania's greatest directors, Nicolae Margineanu. Based on a true story here is a film which shows us the hardship of life under communism.

7. HAPPY TIMES (Dir. Zhang Yimou; China) - The great Yimou is known for his more dramatic films but the master director takes a shot at comedy in this film which recalls Chaplin's "City Lights". It doesn't quite reach those heights it is however yet another example of Zhang Yimou's talents.

8. POSSESSION (Dir. Neil LaBute; U.S.) - Neil LaBute's more gentle film starring Gwyneth Paltrow is a sweet romantic movie which somehow managed to sweep me under its charms. Another rarely seen film which I think if people gave a chance they may enjoy.

9. INSOMNIA (Dir. Christopher Nolan; U.S.) - Nolan's follow-up to "Memento" is one of the few times we can say the remake is better than the original. Based on a Scandinavian film Nolan along with his cast, including Al Pacino and Robin Williams have created an intense, expertly directed, paced and written thriller.

10. ABOUT SCHMIDT (Dir. Alexander Payne; U.S.) - Jack Nicholson gives one of his best performances in Alexander Payne's American update of Ingmar Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" as an elderly father (Nicholson) travels to stop his daughter from following in his footsteps.