Charles Mitchell’s Favorite Films of 2002 (All films rated out of five stars)

1) Y Tu Mama Tambien *****

The best film to come out of Mexco since Like Water for Chocolate, and the best coming of age tale to hit the silver screen since Beautiful Thing. Y Tu Mama Tambien seeks to explore the tumultuous friendship between two teenage boys while pondering the question: do homoerotic feelings often lie beneath the sometimes competitive nature of male friends? Having that question stir within two adolescents boys road trip with a female companion through the Mexican countryside is like a journey into the heart of darkness of burgeoning sexuality. The movie acknowledges the political, and social upheaval of Mexico, without ever allowing them to overpower the film. Like the journey itself, the relationships in the motion picture begin smoothly, then turn off on to some dead ends before eventually reaching their final destination, where sweat on bronze skin smoulders against the backdrop of an ocean vista.

2) City of God *****

Based on a true story. This intricately and meticulously woven tale of poor youth growing up in a crime-ridden favela in Rio de Janeiro blurs the lines between scripted dialogue and documentary. The film is both raw and emotional. And we never judge any of these kids who know no other way of escaping or surviving the violence, than becoming a part of it themselves.

3) Spirited Away *****

This Alice in Wonderland fable crafted in Japanese anime is the story of a young girl’s adventure to rescue her parents and herself, from a world where ghosts remain as greedy and selfish as those in the mortal world. The animation is extraordinary and apparently took acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki four years to hand paint. Who knew an animated tale could actually be well acted. Astonishing!

4) The Pianist ****^1/2

2002’s equivalent to Life is Beautiful. Director Roman Polanski methodically illustrates how Jews in Poland didn’t stand up to the Nazis before World War II, because Jewish rights were stolen at such a slow pace that one wouldn’t believe that things could possibly get any worse. Adrien Brody’s physical body slowly deteriorates throughout the film, and is a metaphor for his will to survive. Brody’s performance is quiet, yet speaks volumes, and is well deserving of his 2003 Oscar for best actor.

5) The Believer ****^1/2

Originally screened in 2001 at the Sundance Film Festival this highly controversial motion picture captured the Grand Jury Prize. The Believer is a fascinating take on man versus himself. The protagonist, Danny is a neo-Nazi skinhead who beats up anyone who dons a yarmulke and sounds the rallying cry for the eradication of Jews. However, there is only one problem -- he is Jewish himself. Danny friends and family treat him like a mixed-up teen going through growing pains and his skinhead associates see him as a mentor. Nineteen year-old Ryan Gosling gives an affecting and tormented performance, that makes you believe his anger toward Judaism, and his love of it, all at the same time.

6) Far from Heaven ****^1/2

You will never look at June Cleaver the same again. This film re-examines the notion that the 50’s were a time of innocence. After all, low crime and family values existed side by side with racism and segregation, and even darker secrets. Julianne Moore owns this movie as she does in The Hours. She conveys well, the plight of a woman who tries to keep up appearances of the perfect family while she and her husband both struggle for those they cannot have. Heaven is actually not that far away, just an arms reach, but unfortunately those arms belong to someone society says is forbidden.

7) Spider ****^1/2

The only picture in 2002 with the word spider in the title that was worth seeing. Ralph Fiennes effectively depicts a deranged man trapped and tormented by his childhood, where his mother (played brilliantly by Miranda Richardson) was killed by his father, or so it seems. His mind spins cobwebs like the threads of yarn he weaves throughout the house as a child. Director David Cronenberg, as nutty as ever, inundates this feature with metaphorical webs. The part where the broken glass forms a spider web is dazzling. Slow paced but a film that creeps up on you – almost like a spider.

8) Talk to Her ****

Along with Adaptation, Talk to Her holds the title of “critics darling” of the year. The movie is rather slow moving, and less quirky than what we have come to expect from a Pedro Almodovar effort. Two men bond and form an enduring friendship when the women they love both end up in comas. There are two plot twists near end that seem contrived, but perhaps Almodovar is still being quirky after all. 2003 Best Original Screenplay Academy Award.

9) Bowling for Columbine ****

Michael Moore continues his bashing of the “white man” (see the book Stupid White Men). This time around he tries to find out why the good-ole USA seems to have such a high murder rate related to guns. Along the way he makes Canada look like a great place to live, and makes Charlton Heston look like he’s ready to part the Red Sea by holding up a rifle. 2003 Best Documentary Academy Award.

10) Ararat ****

Ararat is a film within a film that examines the Armenian genocide through the making of a motion picture on the subject. Characters and dialogue juxtapose and transition seamlessly with the real life movie, and the pseudo movie. There are six degrees of separation in the relationships among characters, in typical Atom Egoyan (the director) style, and are slowly unveiled through the eyes of one character, Raffi (David Alpay). Ultimately what they learn about the genocide affects the decisions they make in the here and now.

11) Adaptation ****

Director Spike Jonze is still best known for his brilliant music videos (Fatboy Slim, Bjork, Beastie Boys) but apparently he has no problem making the transition into motion picture. Adaptation is a wacky, wild and unexpected trip into the mind of a screenwriter, an author, a botanist, and their eventual descent into debauchery.

12) Trembling Before God ****

A poignant documentary that shows how gay Hasidic and Orthodox Jews must go to great lengths to hide their homosexuality while they practice their faith.

13) Nowhere in Africa ****

A Jewish-German couple settles in Kenya in 1938 and struggles to live in a new world while their friends and relatives back home are being exterminated by the Nazis. 2003 Best Foreign-Language Film Academy Award.

14) Punch-Drunk Love ****

Adam Sandler plays a salesman who is too young for a mid-life crisis, and too old for youthful self-loathing. He’s like the socially inept kid from high school who hid his rage and got beat up instead, but hasn’t blossomed into a gorgeous model that comes back to take revenge by appearing on a daytime talk show. Instead he’s still socially inept, and still searching for love, or perhaps simply company, in all the wrong places, until he meets the right girl played by the brilliant Emily Watson.

15) The Hours ****

Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep all give wonderful performances as women coming to terms with troubled relationships and their existential angst.

16) Igby Goes Down ****

Kieran Culkin plays a rebellious rich kid who goes through one private school after another, and then runs away to New York City, where he tries to compete for the girl of his dreams with his Ivy Leaguer brother.

17) Monsoon Wedding ***^1/2

When Columbia University film student Sabrina Dhawan introduced herself to acclaimed director Mira Nair, their eventual collaboration would lead to the feel-good-sleeper-hit-of-the-year, and a fine tribute to Bollywood films that touches on themes like child molestation and adultery without losing its uplifting narrative.

18) Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) ***^1/2

Canada’s first full-length feature film made with only Inuit actors is long and at times confusing, but still a visual wonder with a plot that effortlessly mingles a modern love affair with traditional aboriginal mysticism.

19) Catch Me If You Can ***^1/2

Leonardo DiCaprio portrays a real life con artist who dropped out of high school and impersonated a doctor, airline pilot and lawyer, all before age 21.

20) Lord of the Rings II: The Two Towers ***^1/2

A very well crafted story that stays true to the book and gives us astonishing special effects, which unlike other current films, don’t seem as fake as a Saturday morning cartoon.

Honorable mention

Chicago ***^1/2

Bob Fosse’s choreography and vision are missed, but what is left is still a dazzling feast for the ears and eyes. 2003 Best Picture Academy Award.

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