Top 10s of 2002

The year in film

Fri., Jan. 3, 2003

Top 10 lists are a dime a dozen this time of year. Everyone has one. And here we present several more.

However, instead of looking at these lists as our ultimate summary of the 2002 movie-going year, I suggest these lists be regarded as a transitory snapshot -- a captured moment in time. If you ask any of our film reviewers to resubmit his or her list next week, next month, next year, or next decade, it's likely you'll find modifications in each list presented below. Time and distance have not yet been fully factored into the love-hate equation. And when so many films are crammed into release during the last few weeks of the year, critics run from screening to screening with barely any time to come up for air -- much less rumination.

Complicating matters this year is that the 2002 holiday season has been packed with an abundance of riches. Almost all the movies released this holiday season are worthy of recommendation. It's an unusually good batch of films, and we regret not having more time to let them resonate and savor their differences.

Industry prognosticators bemoan the lack of unanimity among the various critics' groups offering year-end pronouncements in recent weeks. They whine about there being no clear front-runners or shoo-ins, no films certain to take home the big Hollywood prizes. But what's bad for the oddsmakers is great news for the consumers of movies. That so many films are in contention for favorites simply means that there are a lot of good movies out there to see. More than can fit in one list -- or four. So glean ideas from the lists presented here, but go out and make your own lists. I'll bet you'll find that 2002 is the year of My Big Fat Movie Geek celebration.

Far From Heaven

'The Austin Chronicle' Top 10 Films of 2002

1. Far From Heaven
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
3. About Schmidt
4. Secretary
5. The Pianist
6. Y Tu Mamá También
7. (tie) The Hours, Igby Goes Down
9. Bloody Sunday

10. (tie) The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat), Love Liza

About Schmidt

Marjorie Baumgarten

1. About Schmidt

From Easy Rider to About Schmidt, Jack Nicholson has blazed the solitary man's search for meaning in modern America.

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

No movie this year made me feel so engulfed, so oblivious to any world but Middle-Earth.

3. The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat)

It's little surprise that this Inuit epic looks like no movie you've seen before; it combines cultural specificity with universal appeal.

4. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

This Bollywood crossover movie is a rousing tale about peasants beating the colonialists at their own game -- plus it has a love story, sports drama, singing, dancing, and intermission.

5. Secretary

The story's sexual politics break the PC barrier, making it the year's most insidious "feel good" movie.

6. The Pianist

It's the movie Roman Polanski was born to make. Hopefully, it will be the Holocaust movie to end all Holocaust movies.

7. Far From Heaven

Exquisitely wrought, but out of time.

8. Adaptation

Hands down, the year's most audacious film -- a movie that wants to be about ideas.

9. Read My Lips

Inventively told love-and-heist story from France whose subtle dimensions keep evolving till the end.

10. Bloody Sunday

A study of a famous Irish peace march turned deadly, told with documentarylike techniques that help elucidate how easily things can go from placards to paratroopers.

Peter Jackson

Steve Davis

1. The Hours

A seamless rendering of an unfilmable novel; Nicole Kidman's remarkable transformation into Virginia Woolf; art as life, life as art.

2. About Schmidt

A superb Jack Nicholson, with a comb-over; the modern-day Babbitt befuddled by the American dream; the best ending of any film in 2002.

3. Far From Heaven

Ed Lachman's sumptuous cinematography; the Sirkian gestalt of Fifties melodramas, without any irony; Julianne Moore's forced suburban smile.

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

A spectacular battle sequence; the unflinching vision of Peter Jackson; the ghostly Gollum, the embodiment of the ring's power.

5. Y Tu Mamá También

The best road movie in years, bar none; the lusty recklessness of youth; a kiss that forever changes a friendship.

6. About a Boy

A poignant comedy about self-realization; Hugh Grant without the stammering; a big step up from the guys who brought us American Pie.

7. Igby Goes Down

A Culkin kid who can act; Holden Caulfield redux; the rich and the privileged don't always have it better.

8. Sunshine State

Shakespearean rants on race, progress, and family; a sunburned Edie Falco in an overlooked performance; John Sayles at his absolute best.

9. Auto Focus

An unerringly objective look at the dark side of fame; set and art direction to die for; Greg Kinnear in a breakthrough role.

10. Adaptation

The agony and the ecstasy of the creative process; a stoned Meryl Streep imitating a dial tone; another postmodern collaboration of Jonze/Kaufman.

The Pianist

Kimberley Jones

1. Far From Heaven

Style and substance from the terrific Todd Haynes. I'm not sure a movie can get more gorgeous than this.

2. The Pianist

Adrien Brody's transformation from fêted concert pianist to Warsaw Ghetto fugitive is devastating; Roman Polanksi's return to form (and his homeland), cause for celebration.

3. Bloody Sunday

Paul Greengrass' handheld vérité masterpiece dramatizes the 1972 Londonderry massacre with such nearness and authenticity, it's all you can do to keep from ducking for cover.

4. Punch-Drunk Love

A chastised Adam Sandler whispers into his lover's ear, "I'm sorry I beat up the bathroom." Crazy-romantic, heartbreak-bleak, and all-around astonishing stuff.

5. The Quiet American

Somebody should pants Harvey Weinstein for sitting on this adaptation of Graham Greene's novel for so long. Well-acted, well-directed, well-intentioned, and well-deserving of an audience.

6. Chicago

Only this: Gotta sing, gotta dance.

7. Lovely & Amazing

Once more, Nicole Holofcener nails how girls walk and talk and wish they were prettier, skinnier, and more perfect.

8. Igby Goes Down

Spiritual son to Benjamin Braddock and Holden Caulfied, Igby Slocumb is a 17-year-old snot -- privileged, punchy, and a real smart-aleck. Mr. Slocumb, are you trying to seduce me?

9. Talk to Her

Almodóvar expands his universe to include men on the verge of a nervous breakdown in this lovely meditation on love incommunicado. Still don't know what to make of that giant model vagina, though.

10. 25th Hour

Sure, it's uneven, but it's also -- dare we say it? -- Spike Lee's most mature, restrained work yet. Visually stunning, with the forward motion and commotion of a rumbly freight train headed straight for a brick wall.

Secretary

Marc Savlov

1. Secretary

The best, sweetest, most romantic, endearing, and choke-on-your-Twizzlers-funny sadomasochistic love story the world has ever seen.

2. Far From Heaven

Art-directed clean out to its sprocket holes, this hyperreal Douglas Sirk homage restores the term "melodrama" to its status as a walloping compliment.

3. Love Liza

The single most wrenching (and at times subversively hilarious) film about loss I've seen in just shy of forever, with a plaintive Jim O'Rourke soundtrack to boot.

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Watch out, David Lean.

5. Y Tu Mamá También

Less a film than a lazy summer dream half-remembered at waking, Alfonso Cuarón's quirky and rhythmic meditation on sex, death, life, and the silken allure of perfect beaches is like a booster shot of eros.

6. Dogtown and Z-Boys

Skate tough or go home (and make sure you film it all on grainy Super-8 while you're at it).

7. Human Nature

Charlie Kaufman demolishes the nature vs. nurture argument while ape-man Rhys Ifans gives Kong a run for his money in the too-horny-for-his-own-good department.

8. Igby Goes Down

Kieran Culkin, family redeemer.

9. Scratch

Deciphering the intricacies of an entire musical subculture in 92 minutes or fewer, courtesy of the great Doug Pray.

10. 24 Hour Party People

Manchester, we hardly knew ye.

The Hours