so maybe there are some good things left in the world.

i’d had a conversation recently with some friends of mine how it seemed to me that one of two things must have happened to me recently. one, i have become jaded and cynical toward the movie industry and could no longer enjoy anything in the world of film; or two, the quality of films lately truly have taken a dive and as someone with standards there is just nothing out there for me right now. this duality occurred to me after realizing that i hadn’t left a movie theatre or finished a movie in my home theatre in what must have been months, feeling wowed or moved or awed afterward, and feeling like what i had just watched was a remarkable thing. the last times that happened in a serious way were over a year ago, when i saw waking life, which blew me away completely, and — say what you will, but there’s no accounting for taste — again when i saw amelie, which i loved. i know the second is less of a masterpiece but i hadn’t seen a romantic comedy that i liked that much in ages and i was seriously due.

today though…mmm, it was good. i missed that feeling. it’s been so long! i’ve seen some pretty solidly good films lately, and i’m sure i’ll go out and buy adaptation even. but this afternoon i went with some friends to see narc, and that was exactly what i so sorely needed. good god did that movie take hold of me. best gritty cop movie i’ve ever seen, and let me highlight that gritty for you. you might think while you’re watching it, “oh, this is such a formula cop genre movie,” but you know what? i thought that too at points and it didn’t matter at all. i was glued to this movie and i’m all anxious thinking about it. oooh, it’s a good one. i hope it’s playing at a theatre near you.

and on that note of relief, seeing that there is still such a thing as a good movie, i’m gonna try to pick a favorite 5 movies of 2002, as best as i can remember by looking through ticket stubs and combing my memory. it’s pretty likely i might forget a few good ones, but what can you do. i guess i’m not obsessive enough yet. again, we’ll give each a sentence or two of praise. keep in mind though, i’m sure there are lots of movies i missed that might have been on here if i had seen them. so it goes.

#5–star wars: attack of the clones; george lucas

put simply, i know it wasn’t good and a lot of people hated it, but it gets honorary placement because i just love light sabers. screw you guys.

#4–adaptation; spike jonze

at first i wasn’t even sure i liked it that much, but it worked its way in more because it was so original than because it was so great. i did laugh a lot though, and there’s a lot of great multi-leveled humor in there you have to appreciate, because the script is pretty fantastic.

#3–bowling for columbine; michael moore

i laughed hysterically at this movie, which is sort of surprising i guess for a gun violence documentary. i know michael moore’s politics aren’t always as complete as they could be but the movie accomplished what i assume he wanted it to, which is make me laugh and make me think, both of which i did a lot of during and following my trip to see this flick.

#2–rules of attraction; roger avary

dark humor has a special place in my heart, as does brett easton ellis, as do love stories gone awry, so this really did it for me. it was hilarious and depressing and cool and i loved it.

#1–about a boy; chris and paul weitz

the book was probably the one i liked most of the things i had read the year prior, and the film managed not to let me down a bit. hugh grant came through when i didn’t think he could, the kid’s part was played wonderfully, and the all around feel of the book was captured better than i could have hoped. it managed to be cynically funny and heartbreakingly sad within moments of eachother, which is what i adored about the book, so if you’re looking for something to buy me for my birthday this week, i’ll give you a little hint: boy, i loved this movie.

[now hearing this: modest mouse – this is a long drive for someone with nothing to think about.]