Nominees: Spirited Away, The Others, The Devil's Backbone, Ghost World, Amélie, Read My Lips, Moulin Rouge! Remembrance of Things to Come, Fragile as the World
Oscars pick: A Beautiful Mind
Nominees: Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge!
In the late 90s a group of American filmmakers with a distinct, idiosyncratic voice burst on the scene -- among them, Paul Thomas Anderson, Alexander Payne, writer Charlie Kaufman, and Wes Anderson. In 2001 Wes directed what I consider his perfect movie. Tenenbaums is about a family of child protégés who are unable to translate these talents into successes as adults, but who find a measure of grace after reuniting during their fathers (believed) terminal illness. The film is one that improves with each viewing, probably because it is so detailed and richly textured: Every piece collaborates to create the tenor of the film, nothing is out of tune with the other: The colorful ensemble cast, the distinct music, the smart dialog, and ironic humor, the camerawork that emphasizes a singular style -- all of these elements coalesce in scenes that burn into my consciousness (Richie's suicide attempt, his and Margot's declaration of love in a tent, Henry and Etheline's kiss coming after a pratfall and confession, the look on Margot's face as she gets off a bus).
What sets this film apart from the whimsical Amélie (which I liked and nominated) and other quirky movies, is that I never feel like Wes is being cute to show off, or because he's trying to prove he's a hip, eccentric guy. He created this world and it's an odd place, but it's honest, it's true to itself – it doesn't mock its characters (e.g. Napoleon Dynamite) -- at its core, it has depth and purity. And as an examination of the family dynamic, it’s every bit as perceptive as Welles's Ambersons.
This was a close race and I could have easily chosen Spirited Away, which tells of a 10-year old girl, caught in a magical world where she needs to find a way to help her parents who were turned into pigs. Hayao Miyazaki's imaginative animated classic draws from Japanese folklore, which is enchanting, scary, and unpredictable. It won the Oscar for best animated feature and is considered by many to be the director/writer's crowning achievement (though I lean a little more towards Princess Mononoke -- they are pretty near equal. What La Dolce Vita and 8 ½ are to Fellini, Spirited & Mononoke are to Miyazaki)
Oscar-wise: While not a bad movie, I never connected with A Beautiful Mind, its characters and story didn't spark much interest or empathy in me. And though it's a dangerous thing to say within earshot of fanboys, LOTR I find ponderous, loaded with pomposity (and whiny emo Frodo gets on my last nerve). The Academy's other nominees are solid, Moulin Rouge is a gorgeous splash of color with inventive choreography (though some of the over the top humor irritated, see the wince-inducing "Like a Virgin" sequence) and Altman's Gosford Park is a well told and acted tale.
Acting Awards:
David Lynch's Mulholland Drive is a full out assault on the Hollywood system, and while I felt it lost focus in its final act, what came before was amazing. And it took an amazing actress to make it work. Naomi Watts as Betty starts off the wide-eyed innocent, almost cartoon-like in her sunny optimism. Slowly but surely that innocence is worn away to nothing as Hollyweird eats away at her soul if you will. Betty is ground in the gears of the dream machine, and Watts is extraordinary in her transformation.
Honorable Mentions:
Gene Hackman, The Royal Tenenbaums * Billy Bob Thornton, The Man Who Wasn't There * Ryan Gosling, The Believer * Gael Garcia Bernal & Diego Luna, Y Tu Mama Tambien * Cillian Murphy, On the Edge * Michel Bouquet, How I Killed My Father * Jiang Wen, Devils on the Doorstep
Honorable Mentions:
Sissy Spacek, In the Bedroom * Anjelica Huston & Gwyneth Paltrow, The Royal Tennenbaums * Nicole Kidman, The Others * Emmanuelle Devos, Read My Lips * Maribel Verdu, Y Tu Mama Tambien * Judi Dench & Kate Winslet, Iris * Aoi Miyazaki, Harmful Insect
Nominee: Brian Cox, L.I.E
Other movies I enjoyed this year include Donnie Darko, My First Mister, Charlotte Gray, Monsters Inc, Baran, Center of the World, Take Care of my Cat, Monsoon Wedding, and The Man Who Wasn’t There, to name a few
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