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Compiled by: Jack Foley
IT'S been quite a good year the movies, with plenty to pick from
in the best film stakes.
Who can forget Bill Murray's memorable Lost
in Translation, or Jim Carrey's masteful Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
It was a year for controversy, too, with Mel Gibson's The
Passion of the Christ dominating early headlines and splitting
opinion, ahead of Michael Moore's war on Bush, Fahrenheit
9/11.
In what proved to be another great year for animation, Shrek
proved another popular draw, as did Pixar's The
Incredibles.
While the blockbusters served up ancient history (Troy),
environmental warnings (The
Day After Tomorrow), and cautionary glimpses of the future
(i, Robot).
And let's not forget Denzel Washington, who delivered two memorable
turns in Man on Fire and The
Manchurian Candidate.
But which, if any, figured in our top ten?
Let's start at the bottom...
10) The Bourne Supremacy (12A)
The superb action sequences provide the heart-pounding highlights
of a film that never skips a beat, delivering audiences a non-stop
adrenaline rush that’s guaranteed to leave them breathless.
Review l Buy
it
9) Spider-Man 2 (PG)
Too often, sequels seem content to churn out simple re-treads
of the original, yet Raimi excels by refusing to take his eye
off the ball, and by actually furthering the story in a way that
completely satisfies the viewer. For Peter’s sake, don’t
miss it!
Review l Buy
it
9) The Cooler (15)
Alec Baldwin creates one of the great anti-heroes of recent screen
memory, clearly revelling in the opportunity to portray someone
as edgy and dangerous as Shelly, whose presence is felt throughout
the movie. It is a genuine return to form for the star, who had
appeared to have lost his way of late.
Review l Buy
it
8) Man On Fire (18)
When Walken's character points out that 'Creasy's art is death,
and he's about to paint his masterpiece', you'll be hard-pressed
not to agree with the sentiment, for Scott and Washington have
masterfully created one of their own. The film is downright essential
viewing.
Review l Buy
it
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6) The Station Agent (15)
The Station Agent deservedly won the Audience Award when it played
at the Sundance Film Festival, in 2003, an award which is thoroughly
deserved. It may operate on a small scale, but it’s achievements
are of the highest calibre. Make sure that it doesn’t get
overlooked from your schedule.
Review l Buy
it
5) The Motorcycle Diaries (15)
The Motorcycle Diaries, directed by Walter Salles, is a life-affirming,
enjoyable and hugely engrossing affair that functions on so many
different levels, without ever feeling the need to become heavy-handed
or preachy.
Review l Buy
it
4) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (15)
As an exploration of the timeless themes of love, loss and human
emotion, this refuses to take the easy options, managing to appeal
to the intellect, while pulling at the heart-strings, without
ever feeling manipulative. Needless to say, it is an unforgettable
experience.
Review l Buy
it
3) Lost in Translation (15)
By the time the inevitable farewell rears its tragic head, there
shouldn’t be a dry eye in the house, for this pulls at the
heart-strings in a far more effective way than anything the mainstream
has delivered in ages. Thoughtful and endlessly inventive, this
would rate among the top ten of any year’s best movies,
and really looks destined to become a timeless classic. Rush to
see it.
Review l Buy
it
2) Bad Santa (15)
Rather like unwrapping a sex toy in front of your parents, or
turning up drunk for the Christmas meal, the film continually
sets about offending most sensibilities - yet does so with aplomb....
It's laugh-out-loud funny, completely original and a cracker from
start to finish.
Review l Buy it
1) The House of Flying Daggers (12A)
The film has something for everyone - passion, complexity, double-cross
after double-cross and characters that are worth investing time
with, not to mention the outstanding choreography. It is as visually
rewarding as it is emotionally enriching and really stands out
as one of the films of the year.
Review l Buy it
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