January 1, 2002
Amen (2002) *
Historical drama about Vatican's silence about the Holocaust during World War II. Politically straightforward, but narratively confusing.
The Quiet American (2002) *
Set in Vietnam in the late 1950's, it's a confusing film that tries to say something about American imperialism, but it's not entirely clear what exactly. Like "The Tailor Of Panama", it's a political thesis trying to squeeze inside a fictional film and failing miserably.
December 12, 2001
Top 10 Films of 2001
1. "Y tu mama tambien" (Alfonso Cuaron, Mexico)
2. ''Mulholland Drive'' (David Lynch, USA)
3. "Memento" (Christopher Nolan, USA)
4. "Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" (Peter Jackson, USA)
5. "Gosford Park" (Robert Altman, USA)
6. ''Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain'' (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, France)
9. ''Le Libertin'' (Gabriel Aghion, France)
Other great films:
2. "Sex And Lucia" (Julio Medem, Spain)
1. "Film" (Deco Dawson, Canada)
2. "Sister Lulu" (Philip John, UK)
Other great shorts:
The Accountant
7. "Moulin Rouge" (Baz Luhrmann, USA)
8. ''Monster's Ball'' (Marc Forster, USA)
10. ''Intimacy'' (Patrice Chéreau, UK)
A ma soeur (France)
Angelus (Poland)
L'Anglaise et le Duc (France)
Atanarjuat The Fast Runner (Canada)
Bad Guy (South Korea)
Betty Fisher et autres histoires (France)
Brève Traversée (France)
Clement (France)
Desire (Canada)
Dog Days (Austria)
Das Experiment (Germany)
Expulsion From Paradise (Czech Republic)
La Femme qui boit (Canada)
Fulltime Killer (Hong Kong)
Golden Girl (France)
Iris (UK)
Jalla Jalla (Sweden)
Les Jolies choses (France)
Last Wedding (Canada)
Lost And Delirious (Canada)
Le Pacte des Loups (France)
Le Pornographe (France)
Requiem (Poland)
Roberto Succo (France)
Samsara (India)
Santa Maradona (Italy)
Taurus (Russia)
Thomas est amoureux (Belgium)
Treed Murray (Canada)
Uomo in piu (Italy)
Visitor Q (Japan)
What Time Is It There? (Taiwan)
Top 10 Guilty Pleasures of 2001:
1. "Te Amo Made In Chile" (Sergio M. Castilla, Chile)
Short Top 3:
1. "Film" (Deco Dawson, Canada)
3. "La Riviere" (Michel Houellebecq, France)
The Accountant
La Première fois (Canada)
Stethoscope
Top Music Video:
1. "Weapon Of Choice" (Spike Jonze, Fatboy Slim)
2. "Imitation Of Life" (Garth Jennings, R.E.M.)
3. "Pagan Poetry" (Nick Knight, Bjork)
Other great music videos:
Lady Marmalade
Top Music Video:
1. "Weapon Of Choice" (Spike Jonze, Fatboy Slim)
Other great music videos:
Lady Marmalade
Lapdance
Top Commercial:
"Ghost Town" (E*Trade)
TV Top 3:
1. "24: Season 1" (Fox)
2. "Six Feet Under: Season 1" (HBO)
3. "The Sopranos: Season 3" (HBO)
Further Tales Of The City
Top Commercial:
"Ghost Town" (E*Trade)
TV Top 3:
1. "24: Season 1" (Fox)
Other great TV shows:
Further Tales Of The City
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Wielkie otwarcie (Poland)
Phylactere Cola (Canada)
Cartoon Top 3:
1. "For The Birds" (Ralph Eggleston, Pixar)
2. "Strange Invaders" (Cordell Barker, NFB, Canada)
3. "Giver Up Yer aul Sins" (Cathal Gaffney, Ireland)
Weak films of 2001:
15 février 1839 (Canada)
Ali
L'Ange de goudron (Canada)
Artificial Intelligence A.I.
A Beautiful Mind
Between The Moon And Montevideo (Canada)
Black Hawk Down
Les Boys III (Canada)
Phylactere Cola (Canada)
Cartoon Top 3:
1. "For The Birds" (Ralph Eggleston, Pixar)
15 février 1839 (Canada)
Ali
L'Ange de goudron (Canada)
Artificial Intelligence A.I.
A Beautiful Mind
Between The Moon And Montevideo (Canada)
Black Hawk Down
Les Boys III (Canada)
Century Hotel (Canada)
Chaos (France)
Le Ciel sur la tête (Canada)
Crème glacée, chocolat et autres consolations (Canada)
The Deep End
Eisenstein (Canada)
Hannibal
In The Bedroom
Italian For Beginners (Denmark)
Une Jeune fille à la fenêtre (Canada)
Legally Blonde
Marine Life (Canada)
Millennium Actress (Japan)
Ocean's Eleven
Chaos (France)
Le Ciel sur la tête (Canada)
Crème glacée, chocolat et autres consolations (Canada)
The Deep End
Eisenstein (Canada)
Hannibal
In The Bedroom
Italian For Beginners (Denmark)
Une Jeune fille à la fenêtre (Canada)
Legally Blonde
Marine Life (Canada)
Millennium Actress (Japan)
Ocean's Eleven
Our Lady Of The Assassins (Columbia)
Pearl Harbor
The Piano Teacher (Austria)
Quo Vadis (Poland)
The Royal Tennenbaums
Pearl Harbor
The Piano Teacher (Austria)
Quo Vadis (Poland)
The Royal Tennenbaums
Sexy Beast (UK)
Shipping News
The Son's Room (Italy)
Sous le sable (France)
Sur mes lèvres (France)
Tanguy (France)
Trois princesses pour Roland (Canada)
Unfinished Song (Iran)
Vanilla Sky
Shipping News
The Son's Room (Italy)
Sous le sable (France)
Sur mes lèvres (France)
Tanguy (France)
Trois princesses pour Roland (Canada)
Unfinished Song (Iran)
Vanilla Sky
Varian's War (Canada)
Weak shorts:
Camping With Camus (New Zealand)
Cul-de-sac (Canada)
Ismaël (Canada)
Killing Time (Canada)
Meska sprawa (Poland)
Una Mujer con panuelo (Spain)
Soother (Canada)
Weak TV shows:
Weak shorts:
Camping With Camus (New Zealand)
Cul-de-sac (Canada)
Ismaël (Canada)
Killing Time (Canada)
Meska sprawa (Poland)
Una Mujer con panuelo (Spain)
Soother (Canada)
Weak TV shows:
November 11, 2001
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001) *****
Y tu mama tambien (2001) *****
Alfonso Cuaron's masterpiece, a daring and exciting political allegory about corruption in contemporary Mexico, loaded with sex and nudity, as well as deep tenderness and compassion for humanity. The twin opening scenes are stunning. They set the tone for the rest of the film, which becomes increasingly politicized as it progresses, using a narration to inform us of disturbing social realities that the main protagonists blissfully ignore. And that's because they are too busy trying to get into the pants of a middle-aged, but stunningly beautiful Maribel Verdu. Here the film offers a brilliant twist. What at first appears as a fulfilment of the young men's conscious sexual fantasies, ultimately focuses on the sexual fantasies of Verdu, as well as the young men's unconscious (and deeply hidden) desires. To put it bluntly, she takes advantage of them, rather than vice versa. And as result, their friendship is over.
Mulholland Drive (2001) *****
Hypnotic, surrealistic and enchanting film about the Hollywood dream and the Los Angeles reality.
October 10, 2001
Mezzo Forte (2001) ****
One of the best hentai animé films to come from Japan in recent years, ''Mezzo Forte'' (2001) is a terrifically entertaining action comedy directed by Yasuomi Umetsu (who also directed an equally impressive, but much somber ''Kite''). The good thing about this movie is that it doesn't take itself very seriously, and yet delivers the goods as far as exciting action scenes, sharp dialogues and explicit sex are concerned. The violence is completely over-the-top and incredibly bloody, but with a light and very ironic tone that makes it closer in spirit to Quentin Tarantino than to Martin Scorsese. The often self-deprecating humour is refreshing and original. And the quality of the animation really sets it apart from others of its kind. As one reviewer wrote quite enthusiastically, "a little dangerous, a little naughty, and more than a little fun, Mezzo Forte is, well, freakin' awesome."
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