Top Ten Favorite Films of 2002

1. Atanarjuaat: The Fast Runner: A film with an all Inuit cast, written and directed by Inuits, and filmed mostly in the snow above the Arctic Circle sounds like it would be somthing more suited to an anthropology class. But Atanarjuaat is a epic tale of love, betrayal, murder, and revenge with an almost Shakespearean quality that made it riveting. I was literally on the edge of my seat (OK, so partly it was because the seats at the Cleveland Cinemateque are so uncomfortable) during a chase sequence as thrilling as anything from Bullitt or The French Connection. Only this chase is on foot. Two crazed murderers with knives and clubs chase a naked man over the ice. This film gave me everything I look for in a moviegoing experience: interesting characters, surprising plot twists, a unique setting beautifully photographed, and, most importantly, a new perspective. A thoughoughly unique and fascinating experience.

2. Spirited Away: One word: Miyazaki! The only thing that kept this film from being # 1 was Atanarjaat. All the elements are here and if I didn't think it was quite as good for me as Princess Mononoke that only show up some deficiency in me as a filmgoer. Miyazaki is a master.
3. Y tu Mama Tambien: One of the most powerful coming of age stories I have seen. With a superb cast, sharp poigniant writing, beautiful cinematography and a very sexy, yet almost painfully realistic and awkward teenage male sexual awakening story that took it to much higher level well out realm of silly American teenage sex movies.
4. Bowling for Columbine: Michael Moore takes on Americans an their obsession with guns. And he makes it hilariously funny. Probably funnier and more angry than Roger and Me and it couldn't have come at a better time.
5. Kytice (Wild Flowers): Highly stylized Czech film that retells six (or was it seven? It's been a while) Czech fairy tales with a beauty and maturity that made it one of the best fantasy films of the year or really of any year.
6. The Good Girl: Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhall are both great in this bittersweet story of love and infidelity. John C. Reilly and Tim Blake Nelson are alternately hilarious and revolting as her stoner husband and his goofy stoner friend with an unexpected dark side.
7. Nine Queens: A Spanish thriller in the David Mamet "who's conning who?" genre of House of Games and The Spanish Prisoner and every bit as good as those two.
8. The Quiet American: Look for Michael Caine at Oscar time. He is brilliant, and by the way so was Graham Greene, who saw it all coming in Vietnam way ahead of the curve.
9. Secretary: A kinky fairy-tale-office-romance-comedy that gets maybe a little to silly near the end, but has great performances by Maggie Gyllenhall and James Spader. They walk a tightrope with this material between camp, farce, and eroticism that keeps the viewer off balance in a slightly painful yet pleasurable way.
10.Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: Saw this one late, but it bumped Far from Heaven to the Honorable Mentions because it was so much more fun to watch while oddly enough working some of the same period territory, and playing with some of the same surface vs. reality tension of the 50's and 60's that made America so great and so fucked up. You end up admiring Far from Heaven, but scene by scene you will enjoy Confession more.


Near Misses and Guilty Pleasures: Far from Heaven, Monsoon Wedding, 13 Conversations about One Thing, Rabbit-Proof Fence, About a Boy, Bubba-Ho-Tep, The Eye.

Top Ten Favorite TV Shows of 2002

I started out working on my Ten favorite Films of 2002, but there are still a few possibles that haven't made it to the area yet. In the meantime I did a Top Ten TV Shows for 2002. One thing may have skewed my list slightly. I have sattelite dish service, but am unable to receive local channels via the dish. However my local reception is lousy, and so I applied to the Networks for waviers, but was only granted them for ABC and FOX. I can also get the WB and UPN via satelite, but that means anything on NBC or CBS I just don't watch. This means I have never seen CSI or The West Wing, and I can't watch Friends or Frasier (is it even still on?). So, it's not that I don't like 'em, I just can't watch 'em. Serves them right, anyway the wavier denying bastards.

I was going to say something about my general bias against serious TV drama (i.e. Doctor, Lawyer, and Police shows), but I think a look at my list will make my bias apparent. In other words it would be pointless for me to make a list of my TV Guilty Pleasures, since from most peoples standpoint they are all guilty pleasures. The only difference is I don't feel guilty about it.

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (UPN) Although dipping slightly in quality since the WB years still the most fun, most addictive, best wisecracking kick-ass chick show on TV.

2. Gilmore Girls (WB) My favorite wisecracking chicks who don’t kick ass.

3. Alias (ABC) Kick ass chick, but less wisecracking more paranoia, angst, and cooler outfits.

4. The Daily Show with John Stewart (Comedy Central) Not much on TV makes me laugh hard as consistently as The Daily Show. Also my primary news source.

5. John Doe (UPN) As a Buffy fan I was excited about Firefly (now soon departing), but ended up hooked on this Fugitive derivative that aired immediately after Firefly. Starting off like the The Bourne Identity meets Beat the Geeks it has developed into an interesting hybrid thriller-cop-sci-fi show that could now go convincingly in any direction with it’s lead. Let’s hope they actually have a plan, and aren’t just making it up and complicating stuff as they go along only to wind-up taking a Twin Peaks/X-Files style nose dive.

6. The Dead Zone (USA) Who would have thought Anthony Michael Hall could walk in Christopher Walken’s shoes. Wisely sticking closely to the original Stephen King source material while carefully expanding the scope, and exploring the character relationships.

7. The Shield (F/X) My newest favorite show. Ultra-violent wisecracking cops abusing their authority and sometimes doing the right thing. I hope Vic Mackey isn’t for real, but I’m glad someone invented him for my amusement. I’m currently catching up via the six day marathon, and am looking forward to the Season Two Premiere Tuesday Jan. 7.

8. Powerpuff Girls / Sponge Bob Square Pants (Cartoon Network/Nickolodeon) Sometimes you just want something silly but not stupid.

9. Hamtaro / Tokyo Pig (Cartoon Network/ABC Family) Sometimes you just want something cute and Japanese.

10. BattleBots (Comedy Central) And sometimes you just want Robots smashing each other. Alas, too long since the last new season.

And what would be the point of TV without reruns. Especially those older shows that are now on every day several times a day so that you can watch until are sick of them.

Reruns currently in Heavy Rotation at Chez Not Crazy…Just Entusiastic

 Daria (on Nogin) "I don't have low self-esteem. I just have low esteem for other people"
 Thunderbirds (on Tech TV) Espeically nice with the information pop-ups provided by Tech TV to point out interesting background stuff and bloopers.
 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seasons One through Six (on seemingly everywhere at all times) I will stop whatever I am doing at any time to watch the "Evil Vampire Willow" episodes one more time.

PERSONALITY POINTERS

Since it is just after New Years and some of you may not have actually broken your resolutions yet or maybe you haven’t made any yet (Try "This year I’ll stop Procrastinating") I thought I would share something I found today in a book called Personality Pointers by Jill Edwards bought this morning at the Easter Seals Rummage Sale. This is one of those pocketbook size hardbacks published by Permabooks (# P73) in the early 50’s. The cover blurb calls it "A practical guide to individual attractiveness and an aid to artistic, musical, and literary culture, written by an experienced practitioner of charm." Think of it as the literary equivalent of those classroom Mental Hygiene films you were subjected to about First Dates, Good Posture, and How to be Popular.

PESONALITY POINTERS
CREED FOR THE VALIANT LIFE

Sevenfold Technique

I believe it is my duty to myself to develop a well-rounded effective personality, using the abilities which I possess within myself.

1. I shall do something today about my health, my figure, my appearance, my voice, and my speech.

2. I shall learn something today because I believe in the state of joyous growth.

3. I shall employ the light touch today and bring joy and laughter to at least one person.

4. I shall use the gracious ways today in my contact with others.

5. I shall develop my senses a little today in the appreciation of beauty.

6. I shall have faith today in the Great Creative Force and realize that I am an important part of a great plan.

7. I shall live valiantly today.

I believe that if I develop a daily rhythm of habits in these seven fields of activity, I sahll achieve a dynamic personality and a new joy in living and I believe that by so doing I shall contribute my share toward the progress of mankind.

Words to live by people.

Valiantly yours -