Bruce Geryk wrote: "MOTY was absolutely, without a doubt, Requiem for a Dream. I saw both CTHD and that, and it's not even close."

Geryk's the man! My list for 2000 would go like this:

1. Requiem for a Dream
2. Praise (I know, I know, no one even heard of it)
3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
4. Croupier
5. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
6. Erin Brockovich
7. Time Code
8. High Fidelity
9. Wonder Boys
10. Dancer in the Dark

What about you guys? Anyone want to dismantle my list?

Where's Gone in 60 Seconds? That rocked!

Here's one for you: why did so many critics utterly despise O Brother, Where Art Thou? I haven't seen it, and I know all too well how idosyncratic the Coen brothers can be. Still, it's gotten absolutely _reamed_ by critics, which I found surprising.

I don't have a problem with most of the stuff on your list, but I've seen Erin Brockovich and I just don't understand why this movie merits an inclusion. And the word "Brockovich" does not appear on Ebert's top 10 page at all.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/eb-feature/roger17.html

I know, it's taboo in Tom's world to bring up someone else's opinion. But nutty guy that I am, I like to bring up evidence to support my arguments. I just can't help myself.

Ebert's best of 2000 page references about 3 dozen movies-- but not one word about EB. I would definitely agree. The movie was completely unremarkable. You might as well put the friggin' Grinch on your list if you're gonna put EB in there.

Of course, Ebert put "The Cell" on his best 10 movies list, so I guess everyone has their moments of weakness.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

"What about you guys? Anyone want to dismantle my list?"

I haven't seen any of those movies on your list. I go to things like Digimon, The Really Fucking Awful Movie and The Grinch. I do want to see Shadow of the Vampire, though, and I might go see that Crouching Tiger movie just to see if I can spot the wires while they're flying.

"I haven't seen any of those movies on your list. I go to things like Digimon, The
Really Fucking Awful Movie and The Grinch."

Hey Mark, think our movie-going habbits have just a tad to with having families? ;)

Here's the last three movies I saw in theaters:

1) Toy Story 2
2) Chicken Run
3) Best in Show

Guess which one we managed to get a sitter for.

I haven't seen all the movies on Tom's list either, but I will definitely look for them on DVD.

I did see Erin Brockovich...interesting, but despite being based on a true story, it struck me as very formulaic (Little guys beat the big guys. Lawyers are evil unless they're kindly old gray haired grandpa-like dudes. Corporations are all evil. Single mother rises to the top on guts and determination.). Rocky with tits. Yet, I like the movie a lot because it was true and I think it's important for stories like this one to be told.

High Fidelity was fun, but not having seen all the other movies on the list, I don't know if I'd put it on my top ten yet.

"Hey Mark, think our movie-going habbits have just a tad to with having families? ;)"

Ain't that the truth. The last two "grown-up" movies I have seen in the theater are Phantom Menace and Men In Black. Urk, what a waste of precious child-free time. It's like winning the lottery and buying a used Chevy Citation.

I guess that means the best movie I saw this year was Rugrats in Paris.

"I guess that means the best movie I saw this year was Rugrats in Paris."

Yeah! Movie of the year! It was mildly entertaining and I didn't have to slap myself to keep from nodding off. One movie I took my kids to put me to sleep and my kids ratted me out when I got home and my wife was mad at me. So I not only have to take them, I have to stay awake. Didn't Dante have a Circle of Hell where the tormented were forced to watch awful movies? I think he did.

"Didn't Dante have a Circle of Hell where the
tormented were forced to watch awful movies? I think he did."

I think that's the circle where they just show Beaches over and over again.

"Didn't Dante have a Circle of Hell where the
tormented were forced to watch awful movies? I think he did."

"I think that's the circle where they just show Beaches over and over again. "

Or The English Patient. I wanted to cry for joy when it finally ended.

The last 2 movies I saw were Hannibal and Snatch. Snatch, despite it's disappointingly misunderstood title (I should've guessed, since it was the girl what picked it out, I suppose)was a pretty cool movie, I thought. A lot of fun, and not too serious. I also get to see Brad Pitt pummeled like the side of beef in Rocky. Sweet.

"Yeah! Movie of the year! It was mildly entertaining and I didn't have to slap myself to keep from nodding off."

RiP (as I like to call it) had lots of jokes that the kids didn't have a prayer of getting. For example, Angelica acting like the Godfather during the wedding, and leaving a hobby horse head in someone's crib. I think those jokes are mercy by the filmmakers upon the parents they know are trapped in the theater. Bless them.

"One movie I took my kids to put me to sleep and my kids ratted me out when I got home and my wife was mad at me."

My wife know three parents (two moms and a dad) that fell asleep during the Pokemon movie. Did that one get you too?

"Or The English Patient. I wanted to cry for joy when it finally ended."

In college, a friend of mine renamed Out of Africa to Out of Patience. Perhaps we can combine the two to get Out of English Patience?

"My wife know three parents (two moms and a dad) that fell asleep during the Pokemon movie. Did that one get you too?"

I think that was the one. The first Pokemon movie my wife went to. She was so appalled that she stuck me with the second movie and I nodded off. It was insufferable.

"One movie I took my kids to put me to sleep and my kids ratted me out when I got home and my wife was mad at me. So I not only have to take them, I have to stay awake."

Yikes. Only movie I ever fell asleep in was the press screening for Wing Commander. Whee.

-Thierry

"Only movie I ever fell asleep in was the press screening for Wing Commander. Whee."

I'm surprised the audience laughing didn't keep you awake.

I've got two 3 year-olds so I suppose this is what I have to look forward to: a decade of kids movies.

*shudder*

It *is* hard to get a night off for a movie. And God forbid we pick a lame one on our one night out. I'll admit I had my reservations when my wife suggested "O Brother, Where Art Thou." Despite the title, I enjoyed myself immensely.

Tim said: "I'll admit I had my reservations when my wife suggested "O Brother, Where Art Thou.""

You did better than I did. When my wife and I finally got a break from the baby, she wanted to see the Wedding Planner.

Well I know a movie that will not be on next years lists.Saw a movie this weekend. I think we have a new contender for the "worst movie ever" title. I don't think I have to tell you what the movie is but incase you didn't see it (and luckily most haven't) here is a hint. It begins with "monkey" and ends "bone".

"here is a hint. It begins with "monkey" and ends "bone"."

"Coconut Monkey Gets Boned"?

Yeah baby! I'll see that one twice!

"It begins with "monkey" and ends "bone"."

Yeah, I saw that with some friends this weekend. All I can say is I never thought I'd be so grateful to see Chris Kattan from Saturday Night Live.

-Tom

I've seen precious few on your list, Tom, but I'd say Erin Brokovitch is a good pick, unlike most of the other people around here. I saw it last weekend, and really enjoyed it. But, everyone's entitled to their own opinions...even if they're wrong.

Monkey Bone blows? I didn't know Tim Burton would make a movie that bad. Come to think of it, the ads don't exactly tell you anything about the movie itself, so that could be a bad sign.

"I didn't know Tim Burton would make a movie that bad."

Two words, kazz: "Hollow" and "Sleepy", and not necessarily in that order. While you're at it, don't forget "Mars Attacks".

However, Mr. Burton had nothing to do with Monkey Bone. It was made by Henry Selick, the fellow who did such a great job breathing life into Tim Burton's Nightmare before Christmas concept.

-Tom

"I've seen Erin Brockovich and I just don't understand why this movie merits an inclusion."

Regarding wumpus' earlier post, there are several factors that make Erin Brockovich one of last year's best movies. Near the top of the list is Julia Roberts' performance. She plays a brash, loud-mouthed, gaudy character, but she makes her likeable. Despite the character's obvious failings, Roberts brings the role a sense of weary dignity. The script also is much more finely nuanced than the sort of TV treatments you find of this oft-seen archetype, the "single mother". The character may be too oblivious to know how to dress properly, but she still has some sort of wisdom to find meaning in a greater struggle, even if it infringes on her role as a mother.

This tension, BTW, is much more central to the movie than any simple story about little people fighting big corporations. The corporation is a largely unseen entity, played for laughs in one or two scenes, much like the other lawyers helping Brockovich with the case. She fights corporations, the lawyers who try to help her, her own boss, and even struggles with the people she's trying to help. The script wisely avoids polemics about evil corporations and instead tells a story about one flawed character fighting the odds.

BTW, check out the deleted scenes on the DVD to see how skillfully Soderbergh avoided some potentially awful TV-movie pitfalls: particularly a post-suicide attempt bedside monologue, a manipulative children-playing-in-toxic-waste sequence, and a mucky subplot in which Brockovich gets meningitis.

-Tom

Bernie said: "When my wife and I finally got a break from the baby, she wanted to see the Wedding Planner.

When my wife and I come to that place where I just know I'm not going to be happy with the flick we're going to see, we start negotiating. Hell, I could have got that new CD-R if she would have dared to suggest Wedding Planner. ;) No, not really a new part. But we do negotiate vigorusly these days and it's not uncommon for one of us to suggest splitting up and seeing different shows. It's the one really good thing about all the multiplex cinemas these days!

"She plays a brash, loud-mouthed, gaudy character, but she makes her likeable. "

I can see your point, but I don't know that everyone watching necessarily found her likeable. Also, I found it fairly obvious that PG&E was being made out to be evil, which is OK, because in this case, it's true!

There is something about the movie I didn't like at first, but now wonder whether or not I should consider brilliant. The victims of the toxic fallout seem awfully happy about getting 5 mil. I'm sure that figure would make most of us smile, but the tradeoff in damage to her body...was it worth it? Putting our woes into a dollar figure seems to cheapen us, and yet, isn't this statement an accurate observation about our litigious society? Watching it with this mindset gives the ending a more poignant tone. However, I watched the film only once and cannot recall if the happy ending scene is absolute or two sided.

"BTW, check out the deleted scenes on the DVD to see how skillfully Soderbergh avoided some potentially awful TV-movie pitfalls"

Interesting. Thanks for the tip. Those cuts they made sound very judicious. Fascinating how a few key sequences can affect a film. This is one of the great things about DVD... There are similar removed scenes on the Shanghai Noon DVD. They cut a lot of expensive scenes to help accelerate the story - even with that, one of the reviews I read commented on how long it took for the heroes of the film to get connected. There are also many clips on the DVD that explain the sloppy narration.

"Regarding wumpus' earlier post, there are several factors that make Erin Brockovich one of last year's best movies."

Fair enough. Even though I didn't think Brockovich was anything special, I'm more willing to accept it as best picture than I am CTHD, with its comic book pathos and fi' dollah wire work.

DVD does rock. I just found out via similar DVD extras that Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan were *both* in 1973's Enter the Dragon. Can you believe that? Sammo was pudgy even back then. And even in 1973, the brother always gets killed first (ref, The Edge). A fine cultural tradition.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

---

Quote:

I found it fairly obvious that PG&E was being made out to be evil, which is OK, because in this case, it's true!

---

Hey Bruce! Thanks for that tidbit...suddenly the movie switches from non-fiction to fiction...changes things doesn't it? :)

Of course, the whole CA power issue is a mess...and I know that when I was working for one of their energy trading divisions last year, their management didn't overly impress me.

"Or maybe it isn't. As I understand it, there isn't any evidence that chromium (or specifically chromium 6+, the ionized form of elemental chromium that you'd find in water) is harmful, even with extended exposure."

I'm not at all surprised. The actual Erin Brockovich strikes me as an absolute loon. From what I've read and seen, she's all mouth and very little common sense.

That's another thing that's so good about the movie; you don't have to swallow an agenda to appreciate it. Reading between the lines of the movie, I suspect the actual suit was one of those legal feeding frenzies built on questionable scientific evidence.

(BTW, for a far better treatment of lawyers, lawsuits, and real people, see The Sweet Hereafter.)

-Tom

Hey Bernie,

I found an interesting article in Salon which seems to confirm the chromium thing, but more interestingly, has a lot of further details about what actually happened.

http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2000/04/14/sharp/

---

Quote:

BTW, for a far better treatment of lawyers, lawsuits, and real people, see The Sweet Hereafter

---

"What about you guys? Anyone want to dismantle my list?"

I'm not sure I even saw ten movies last year. Was that Roman Polanski film with Johnny Depp released in 2000? I saw that. East, West was a very good film. Jeez, I dunno. 90% of the films out there are so bad (to me, anyway) that I either don't see them or forget them right after I do. I guess I also saw Chicken Run.

The one film that absolutely needs to be on any Top 10 of 2000 list is Titus. Just stupendous. A close #2 to "Requiem..." if you ask me.

Oh, I saw Traffic this past weekend. What a pile.

"Two words, kazz: "Hollow" and "Sleepy", and not necessarily in that order. While you're at it, don't forget
"Mars Attacks"."

(Blank look) What's your point?

Okay, they may not have been in danger of winning Oscars, but I found Mars Attacks to be a fun movie, and Sleepy Hollow, while admittedly living up to the "Sleepy" part of the title, was a gorgeous movie, and had some very nice performances. I also wonder if, maybe 20 years ago, before we got used to "more gore in store" moviemaking, that this movie might not have been better-received.

But, then again, I enjoyed "Near Dark." I never said it was GOOD taste that I had, you know...

"But, then again, I enjoyed "Near Dark." I never said it was GOOD taste that I had, you know... "

Near Dark was genius. Damnit, when are they gonna make a DVD for it?

"Near Dark was genius. Damnit, when are they gonna make a DVD for it? "

I call it the "Lance Henrickson Syndrome." I really like this guy, and like a lot of what he's done. But, with the exception of Aliens, what has he been in that's done really well? I grant you he's like Tim Thomerson (another guy who's charismatic in an anti-hero kinda way), sort of a king of the B-film, but he's had some good roles in good projects.

"I found an interesting article in Salon "

Thanks again...I expected Hollywood to mangle the truth, but they may have done it more than I thought.

Henriksen is cool I loved Millenium (b4 they canned it). . . and as well any tv show that has Art Bell in it gets me to watch!

Anway, I think the guy who did Erin Brockovich (forgot Dir's name . . .Im REAL bad with names). . . did a pretty good movie in the Limey. . . also PG&E in Erin Brockovich had the Kafkaesque big business bureaucratic feel to it. and te dir also did a movie called Kafka!

his only movie i was dissapointed with was Traffic. . . otherwise he makes some good movies

btw what is Praise again? i forgot what that movie was . ..

etc

I realize I'm gonna get in a heap of trouble for this but...

1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2. You Can Count On Me
3. Croupier
4. Dancer in the Dark
5. Traffic
6. O Brother Where Art Thou
7. Erin Brokovich
8. Chicken Run
9. Shanghai Noon
10.Gladiator

"The one film that absolutely needs to be on any Top 10 of 2000 list is Titus. Just stupendous. A close #2 to "Requiem..." if you ask me."

I totally agree with Bruce (even having not seen "Requiem" because a friend of mine I'll call "Tom" told me not to bother because I wouldn't understand it). What a fantastic film is Titus, and a wonderful DVD. It blew me away. Only problem is that it came out in 1999. If I could include it and another film I loved from 1999 that I didn't see until this year--Ghost Dog--I could avoid the embarrassment of having Gladiator on my list. Sigh.

In honor of the above, though, I include the following...

Ten Best Films I Saw For the First time on DVD This Year (not 2000 releases):

1. TITUS
2. Ghost Dog
3. American Movie
4. The Minus Man
5. The Seven Samurai
6. Insomnia
7. Run Lola Run
8. All Quiet on the Western Front
9. Woman of the Year
10.Eye of the Beholder

Let the dismantling continue.

Amanpour

Where the hell are CLASSICS like
Sweet November and other amazing movies like Notting Hill??? Anyone who likes Eye of the Beholder should be shot. So there

"By wendy amanpour on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 07:57 pm:"

Hey, who let a *girl* in here?

-Tom

8. Chicken Run
9. Shanghai Noon
10.Gladiator

Amanpour,

We were doing a list of Top Ten Movies of 2000, not Ten Most Disappointing. The above three movies belong on the list of Ten Most Disappointing Movies of 2000. Now go back and do it over.

Also, can I change my list? I forgot to put You Can Count on Me in there.

As for Kafka's question about Praise, it's an Australian movie that finally made it to a limited release in the US last year. Very limited release. Apparently, it was so limited, that I'm the only one who ever saw it:

http://www.dailyradar.com/reviews/movie_review_215.html

-Tom

"Hey, who let a *girl* in here?

-Tom"

She was just looking for the "builder" games, and stopped a minute to post, I reckon...

Shame for Gladiator? What did I miss? I really liked that movie. The beginning battle scene alone was just spectacular. I will grant that Russell Crowe acts like he's sleepwalking, but I don't know how out of place for his character that is.

"I totally agree with Bruce (even having not seen "Requiem" because a friend of mine I'll call "Tom" told me not to bother because I wouldn't understand it)."

A friend named Tom who told you you wouldn't understand it? (Suspiciously searches for funny-looking "frag finger" antics)

XtienMurawski isn't some kind of "Trevor" anagram, is it?

"What a fantastic film is Titus, and a wonderful DVD. It blew me away. Only problem is that it came out in 1999."

Really? I guess stuff shows up really late, here. It was at the Main Art Theatre for one weekend only - during E3 last year. So I missed it and had to see it on DVD in the fall. Now Tom tells me that You Can Count On Me came out in 2000. I thought it was released this year. Oh well. I didn't like it that much, anyway.

"By wendy amanpour on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 07:57 pm:"

Hey, who let a *girl* in here?"

Wendy's a man. He's from Belgium and he told me once why he's named Wendy, but I can't remember the reason. He's an old online friend of mine from the ancient CServe days.

I, too, once thought he was a she.

uhm i saw mainstream movies mostly so . . . my y2k list is not finsihed i guess. . .

1. Crouching Tiger stuff
2. Galdiator
3. . ..

uhm to be honest i haven't seen any other movies i could mention in top 10. . .maybe Castaway. . . but i didnt think it was THAT great. . .im drawing a blank these days. . . just that CTHD and Gladiator come to mind right away.

aye, i dont know anymore.

btw i know a man named Tracy. .. so you never know!

etc

"He's from Belgium and he told me once why he's named Wendy, but I can't remember the reason"

Wow, it just blows me away that there even is a reason. I've always been a little annoyed that my name is so common and has no interesting story attached.

We named our daughter Kennedy becasue my wife and I met at JFK. However, I have no story for my son, Aaron, so unless I make something up (which I just may) I don't think I can ever tell me Kennedy the story about her name for fear Aaron will get jealous.

Wasn't there a Johnny Cash song about naming a boy Sue so that the child would grow up tough?

"Wasn't there a Johnny Cash song about naming a boy Sue so that the child would grow up tough?"

Yeah, the modern version is to name your child Brock Landers or Chest Rockwell.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

'btw i know a man named Tracy. .. so you never know! '

Yep, there are plenty of those bidirectional names like Rene, Chris, and...I feel a really bad SNL skit coming on.

"Wendy's a man. He's from Belgium and he told me once why he's named Wendy, but I can't remember the reason. He's an old online friend of mine from the ancient CServe days.

I, too, once thought he was a she."

Boy, this is sure gonna make my upcoming wedding weird. I guess that's why Wendy keeps insisting that the theme of the affair is The Crying Game. I thought she was just referring to my attitude w/r/t all the planning.

I don't know what is more disturbing, that she is actually a man, or that she keeps acting ignorant of computer stuff when she has clearly been online for years. I feel like I just landed in an episode of "Ally McBeal" or something.

Amanpour, who thinks of "crouching tiger" as a compound noun

"XtienMurawski isn't some kind of "Trevor" anagram, is it?"

Nope. But Wanker Suit Mix is. Also, I Wank Mixtures.

Aroma Pun (or for lovers of Sacrifice, Mana Pour)

"Boy, this is sure gonna make my upcoming wedding weird. I guess that's why Wendy keeps insisting that the theme of the affair is The Crying Game. I thought she was just referring to my attitude w/r/t all the planning."

Oops! Did I get my Wendys mixed up? Man, this isn't my day. Sorry about that.

"Oops! Did I get my Wendys mixed up? Man, this isn't my day. Sorry about that."

Man, Mark, first you confuse your Bobs, and now your Wendys? It has been a rough day. Ya know, seeing as you are the administator of this message board, I'd expect better...

Actually, I had the Bobs straight. It was the rest of the day that was bad.

I made up a name in the news section by typing "Roberts" instead of "Peterson" and I also wrote that Eidos lost money when they made a slim profit. And then I got the Wendys mixed up. And, the rumor about Ion Storm in Dallas may not be true also, for all I know, though I got it from a pretty reliable source.

I also had another odd incident at the grocery store. I was in an aisle when two guys came up, each with their own cart. They didn't know each other, but they each had one of those warehouse size packages of toilet paper. I was an innocent bystander. They both noticed that the other had toilet paper. One had generic cheap stuff and the other had name brand toilet paper.

The guy with the cheap stuff said, "You have six more rolls in yours, but I calculated it and I have 6900 feet of paper and you only have 6000 feet."

The other guy replied, "I have a wife and five daughters and they complain if I buy the cheap stuff. Me, I don't care. I could use a corn cob, but they have to have something dainty and soft."

Then we all laughed.

"Then we all laughed."

That is funny stuff. Who knew the grocery store could be a source of so much entertainment?

"XtienMurawski isn't some kind of 'Trevor' anagram, is it?"

I dunno, but is it this guy?

http://www.commidiots.com/386.jpg

From the "commidiots" page, here:

http://www.commidiots.com/commcasting.html

It's some kind of theater group in where else, California.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

Ya know, Mark, I think that's the first story about toilet paper I've ever read that was actually entertaining...Corn cobs? Ouch.

Hopefully today will be a little better than yesterday was...

This is the weirdest message board about the top ten films of any given year that I have ever read.

Amanpour

P.S. Wumpus, you weirdo. No, that's not me. I told you before on another board that the reason I love Rushmore so much is because I'm very Jewish and awkward looking. The guy you pictured is clearly only awkward looking. Sheesh.

Incidentally Mark, you do know that "Eric Roberts" isn't someone you made up, right?

Amanpour

"Incidentally Mark, you do know that "Eric Roberts" isn't someone you made up, right?"

You mean Julia Roberts brother? You're not thinking of Erin Roberts at Digital Anvil, are you?

I had Roberts on the brain when I wrote that news piece, even though I don't remember even thinking for once that either of the Roberts brother were part of that interview.

"Incidentally Mark, you do know that "Eric Roberts" isn't someone you made up, right?"

Eric Roberts stars in.. Brother, Sweet Brother! Ben Stiller is a genius I tell you. It's too bad Cable Guy got such weird reviews.

"By XM on Friday, March 2, 2001 - 02:19 am:"

Now hear this! We've gone from saving kilojoules of typing energy with the contraction "XtienMurawski", to saving gigajoules of typing energy with the new contraction "XM".

I thank you, and most importantly, my fat ass thanks you. If you are lucky, Kawasaki might name a new motocross bike after you-- something like the XM-3000, perhaps.

I am to assume that this new miracle energy-saving device has no relation to the link I posted? Of course.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

Let's get back on-topic. Here's my top 10 movie list for 2000:

1. Counter-Strike
2. Counter-Strike
3. Counter-Strike
4. Counter-Strike
5. Counter-Strike
6. Counter-Strike
7. Counter-Strike
8. Counter-Strike
9. Counter-Strike
10. Counter-Strike

Counter-Strike not a movie you say? Pshaw!

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

I've read through what must have been a zillion critics' articles and average-Joe-on-message-board lists for "Best of 2000". Is it me or do most people like to throw in some less popular movies just to make a statement, but in fact those movies wouldn't really be one of their top ten?

Maybe most of those people don't feel they have an opportunity to make a "Top 10 Surprises" or "Top 10 Disappointments" list, so they jam everything into their Best and Worst lists. Okay, maybe I'm just overthinking this, since the idea of "Best Movie" is stupid anyway...

"Ghost Dog", "Nurse Betty", and "Malena" would be among my top 10 for 2000... or maybe I'm just mentioning them to prove how "cool" I think am.:)

Does anyone know what the hell wumpus is talking about? I thought Tom put some kind of restriction on "him" some time ago that stated he was only allowed to post to certain boards (like the "Blinded by Love of Counter Strike" board).

Han, "Ghost Dog" came out in 1999.

As for your point of what critics and "most people" throw in, I'm sure it is true of some that they throw in some obscurity just to impress. Who wants to admit that "Gladiator" or "Meet the Parents" would make their top 10 films of the year?

Perhaps the idea of "Best Movie" is stupid, but it is fun to toy with nonetheless, just as it is fun for some of us to indulge in the Academy Awards even if picking a "Best" of anything related to art is silly.

Amanpour

"As for your point of what critics and "most people" throw in, I'm sure it is true of some that they throw in some obscurity just to impress. Who wants to admit that "Gladiator" or "Meet the Parents" would make their top 10 films of the year? "

I doubt the average American has seen many more than 10 movies in the year 2000. That makes picking a "10 best movies list" the domain of the unemployed, the annoying, and the professional movie critic. Honestly, I doubt I saw even 20 new releases this year. That makes picking a top 10 list kind of pointless, since I lack the context of someone like Ebert, who sat through nearly every movie released last year.

Heck, I love movies, but there just aren't that many new releases I'm interested in. Plus, I have a huge back catalog of older movies that other people have recommended to me in various forms (critics, friends, reviews, etc).

I'm a HELL of a lot more qualified to talk about 10 best PC games, since I've played every title of note released in 2000.

FYI, I recommended Majesty to a number of people and they all, every single one of them, disliked it. gg Q23!

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

"Ghost Dog" came out in 1999? Huh. I always thought it was early spring of 2000, but what do I know?:)

[ramble]
I finally saw "Chocolat" over the weekend, so I've now finally seen all five Oscar Best Picture nominees as well as the one I thought was most slighted "Almost Famous".

Anyway, I'm starting to believe Harry Knowles' (Ain't It Cool News) crackhead theory that Chocolat has a conceivable chance to sneak in the back door and win it. Miramax campaigning, the Soderbergh movies cancelling out, the two (semi)action movies cancelling out, blah blah. That's the gist of the theory.

Though I personally wouldn't put Chocolat, Erin Brockovich, or Gladiator in my favorite 5 of last year, I think it stands more a chance now than before the nominations were announced. Among, the three that are still playing in theaters, it's getting the least drop off per week in gross. That means like, me, it was probably the last of the five to be seen by many people. It'll be freshest in many voters' minds. Gladiator, the supposed favorite to win, is now in everyone's DVD collection and being watched at home, not in a big theater where I think it plays better. At home, I just see more faults with each viewing.

To me, Chocolat is better than Gladiator like Shakespeare in Love was better than Saving Private Ryan. That being said, I hope Crouching Tiger wins. [/ramble]

"Anyway, I'm starting to believe Harry Knowles' (Ain't It Cool News)..."

I hereby call for a moratorium on the mentioning of Harry Knowles on this website. Seeing him in one of the worst films ever was bad enough; I don't want to be subjected to him here.

The very idea that Chocolat could win the Academy Award makes me about as nauseated as seeing him on the big screen did.

Amanpour

In case anyone's wondering, Mr. Amanpour is talking about Monkey Bone, which has two of the most shocking cameos in recent memory. And by "shocking", I guess I really mean "nauseating".

Stephen King and Harry Knowles both appear in Monkey Bone. In my opinion, Mr. King's film work peaked when he was swallowed by space moss in Creepshow. Mr. Knowles film work hasn't peaked yet, unless you consider touring the set of The Grinch peaking.

-Tom

XtienMurawski,
You forgot to add the words "crackhead theory" when you quoted me. Point taken though, I'll never mention said person again. I just didn't want to take credit for coming up with that theory.

And I wouldn't worry about Chocolat actually winning, because no matter how the other four movies split the votes, Chocolat still has to amass over 20% of the vote to win. There's no chance in hell that's going to happen. Unless I'm mistaken, the Oscars is a straight (pick one) vote and not a ranking or approval voting method, which would make better sense to me. I think approval voting would easily clinch Soderbergh for Best Director.

>>I think approval voting would easily clinch Soderbergh for Best Director.

With the director I'm guessing voters will fragment, with older ones voting for the classic style of Erin Brokovitch and younger ones going for Traffic.

Which means Ang Lee takes the Oscar...

Hey, we should all post our predictions, then see who gets the most right.

"Hey, we should all post our predictions, then see who gets the most right."

I'm awful at those, so my only prediction is that I'll be wrong.

Hey, I think Amanpour has some sort of ongoing prediction game. Why don't you bring it online, Amanpour?

-Tom

Gladiator will win best picture because the Oscars love "historical period piece" pics. . . sorta like that Braveheart feeling stuff.

i want CTHD to win.

btw, what is requiem for a dream really about?

i didn't really like "pie". . .

etc

"i didn't really like "pie". . . "

What does "American Pie" have to do with any of this?

"Requiem For A Dream" is another wacky teen sex comedy, like the one you mentioned above, but it's shot like a student film so everyone went ga-ga over it. It's kind of like "Porky's" as seen through the eyes of someone who was a heroin addict, but is now a methadone addict.

Also the sound is really really great, so you should only see it in a really good theatre, like one of the ones in Chatsworth.

"Unless I'm mistaken, the Oscars is a straight (pick one) vote and not a ranking or approval voting method, which would make better sense to me."

Usually this is true, but this year the Academy is trying something different and will be allowing the U.S. Supreme Court to pick Best Picture. Various lower circuit courts will get to pick the winners in other categories.

Amanpour

No i meant "Pie" the xymbol movie. . . the guy who did Requiem supposedly did Pie. .. sorta like amovie version of Prince's Ankh symbol about a guy who is a math genius into solving the stock market. . . it was a kafkaesque ripoff movie. uhm. . . nevermind. Ill rent Requiem, but aren't drugs bad?

Drugs are bad mmmkay?

etc

Pi