12 - The Michigan Daily -- FRIDAY Focus *I al Glory restored? 2001 in review Fay Andy Taylor-Fabe - Daily Film Editor n some ways, the year in film was like many others. Big budget epics . came in droves, with some making shameless attempts to capitalize on nostalgia (Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor") and some capturing our imaginations and set- ting new stan- dards for Jack - son's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"). Animated films further embraced computer animation and brought the genre to a new level with films like the sardonic "Shrek," the good hearted "Monsters, Inc." and the visually stunning but other- wise dismal "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within." A standard complement of dramas, comedies and sci-fi films flooded the market, but a few stood out above the mediocre and made us remember why we continue to shell out those eight dollars on a regular basis. With 2000 being condemned as one of the worst years in film history, filmmakers in 2001 were under even more pressure than usual to get their acts together and come up with some truly original and innovative pro- jects. As usual, most of the big winners of the year came as late as possible, hoping to cash in on both the box office boom of the holiday season and the Oscar buzz that kicks into high gear around this time of year. Films with spring or summer releases, like Christopher Nolan's bold and complex "Memento," or Baz Lurhmann's frenetic "Moulin Rouge," have had to work hard to keep themselves fresh in the easily distracted mind of the public. But this year, there have not been many films that have had to bear that burden, as the summer was filled with lackluster movies like Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes" and Steven Spielberg's surprisingly disap- pointing "A.I." dominating the box office. However, the summer did see some action juggernauts, such as "The Mummy Returns" and "Rush Hour 2," each passing the $200 million mark. Hollywood also saw record-breaking success at the box office in the fall and winter, with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" enthralling children and adults around the world and shattering records, grossing over $300 million to date. The other major epic of the sea- son, the screen version of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellow- ship of the Ring," appealed to a narrower audience,' but still brought in over $200 million. With the Oscar nominations still a few weeks away, predictions have already been made about the likely candidates for best picture, with dramas like "A Beautiful Mind" alid "In the Bedroom" leading the way. More offbeat films like the Coen Brothers' beautifully photographed and masterfully acted "The Man Who Wasn't There," Jonathan Glazer's dark and quirky heist drama "Sexy Beast" ana David Lynch's dream-like "Mulholland Drive' probably won't be included in this category because of the lack of mass appeal. While some of the Oscar hopefuls have been met with rave reviews and positive feedback, oth- Ben Kingsley ers have been condemned as Don in as sentimental fluff. Frank "Sexy Beast" Darabont's "The Majestic" bombed at the box office and was labeled a cheap and shameless grab at the Oscars, ending Jim Carrey's chances of getting Best Actor this year. (Somehow "Chocolat" managed to slip through the cracks on that one.) While not all of the films of 2001 reflect a change in standards and the public's hunger for something more than the lowest common denominator of entertainment ("Amer- ican Pie 2" made almost $150 million), 2001 has left most people anxious to see what lies ahead instead of over the faded glory of film and longing for the old days. Orlando Bloom as Legolas in "Fellowship" Courtesy of Newline I 4yvI e .1e t -e t I. Jenn ;u eltes 1. ThE LORD OF THE RINGS. THE FEuowsmIP OF THE RINGS Somehow the director of "Dead Alive" was given the dubious honor of directing the $270 million franchise. Peter Jackson is a movie god. 2. MUEHOLEAND DRIVE The most anti-Hollywood film in recent memory, laced with surreal images and a haunting score by Angelo Badalementi. 3. THE ROX'AL T.ENFENBAUMS Wes Anderson has established himself as the premier comedic director in Hollywood. The entire supporting cast deserves an Oscar. 4. TuE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE The Coen Brothers in top form. James Gandolfini proves he can do more than run a waste management company 5, A MEfE Audrey Tautou is lovable in every sense of the word. The best date movie of the past year. Ask out that cute Greek girl from your Psychology class you've had your eye on. 6. OCEAN'S 11 George Clooney and company entertain while Hollywood wonderboy Steven Soder- bergh provides visual bliss. 7. M EMENTO The narrative structure alone makes it worthy of the list. Joe Pantoliano and Guy Pearce give stunning performances. 8. TArPE Minimalist cinema at its finest. 9. Gnosi W RoLuD A superb adaptation of the brutally honest comic book, abound with wonderfully non- cliched characters. I. MULHOLLAND DRIVE David Lynch is one of the chosen few who could make a film that almost makes sense visually, completely breaks down thematically yet remains the single most satisfying film of the year. 2. SEXY BEAST Ben Kingsley's anti-Ghandi is a vile, neo- Shakespearian villain both bitingly funny and scary, enveloping but not overshadowing Ray Winestone's retired gangster. 3. TiE LORD OF TiE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF Tim RINGS Epic, beautiful, and all those things that everyone else is saying. 4. Tim RovAi. TENENJAUMS A smart comedy? In America? Someone call the cops. , I. SmiREK This is a heartwarming and hilarious film for all ages. Stunning graphics and an excellent script make "Shrek" irresistible. 2. M MN-*ir O The implications of a man with no short-term memory are endless, and Christopher Nolan explores this complication with genius. 3. MOUIN ROUGE Baz Luhrmann's creative cuts and musical selections are truly impressive, and they give a glimpse into just how innovatively a story can be told. 4. MONS-ERS, INC. Sully and Mike come to the rescue in this cute story about Monster City, where all the monsters depend on frightened children's screams in order to acquire the necessary power to run the city. 5. A BEAUTIFUT. MIND Russell Crowe is definitely up for an Oscar here. This may be the most stunning portrayal of a schizophrenic that has ever been available. Andy Taylor-Fah A. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF TnE RING Peter Jackson did Tolkien's epic proud. This fantasy masterpiece ranks with "Star Wars." The only problem is having to wait a year for "The Two Towers" and two years for "Return of the King." 2. TuE ROYAl T:NENJRAUvS Although this film is chock full of outstanding and hilarious performances, Gene Hackman stands out and gives one of his best perfor- mances in years. In a just world, he'd be given a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 3. TilE MAN Wuo WASN'T THIERE Not the Coen Brothers' best, but a visually stun- ning film with top-notch acting from Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gan- dolfini and Tony Shalhoub. 4. MaUIOuAND DR vE Lynch's latest wild ride through imagination and the dark side of Hollywood features the long-awaited return of Billy Ray Cyrus, or something. 5. MEMENTO What could have been just a gimmick became an enthralling and unforgettable mystery. Remember Sammy Jankis. 6. SEXV BEAST Ben Kingsley shows us what "over the top" is supposed to be with the psychotic Don, who somehow simultaneously projects the ferocity of a tiger and the quiet deadliness of a cobra. This film takes the relatively tired heist genre and gives it a swift kick in the ass. 7. AMiLLIE This fairy tale style story is one of the only recent movies with a happy ending that doesn't set off the gag reflex. Jeunet manages to adapt his unique style that he used in "City of Lost Children and "Delicatessen." IM' aIkj I. WAK~ING LwFE This breakthrough in visual technology is even more impressive in the way its philosophical monologues evoke an inexhaustible appreciation for life and its unanswerable questions. 2. IN Tm BEDROON1 You will find no better performances this year than those of Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek. 3. MULIOIJAND DRIVE Lynch's return to the realm of the weird is an almost unsolvable puzzle that warps your mind in spectacularly created dream-like episodes. 4. TnE RoYAL TENENIIAuMS Wes Anderson brings a new kind of drama, and in doing so paves an even more exciting cin- ematic future for himself and all of us. 5. Au Michael Mann gives Will Smith barely any room to breathe or falter in what turns out to be his best performance of his young career. 5. MEMENTO It lives and breathes, chang- ing every time you think you've nailed it down. Christopher Nolan's first feature is better than the latest entries from many a seasoned director. al 6. TiE M AN fxPi WHO WASN'T M I'd go see a Mary- Sully and Mike of "Monsters, Inc." Kate and Ashley 6. THE LORD OF THE RINGS .OF T HE RING J. R. R. 6. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLowslmP OF TlHE RING Finally, a film that lives up to all the "next Star Wars" hype thrust upon it. 7. M ENtiI O For some reason, critics lose their long-term memory when making a year's best list, but this springtime release was too good to be forgotten. 8. TIi' MAN WHO WASN'T TiwRE Roger Deakins' stunning black and white cin- ematography makes this another Coen Brothers film to be remembered. 9. A.1.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Whether you liked it or not, "A.I." generated plenty of discussion. 0 Olsen movie if it was directed by the Coen Bros. 7. IN TiEL BEDROOM It ruined my night and I'm still thinking about it. Tom Wilkinson is the best actor of the year. This is a character study with a painful plot and the most violent image onscreen in years. 8. IHu O ErmRS The pastier of Nicole Kidman's fine perfor- Tolkien's mystical, chilling and beautiful epic is sure to stun audiences worldwide. 7 . A~mCA INTELLUGENcE Haley Joel Osment was excellent. Spielberg perhaps paints a picture of the world that no one wishes to confront. 8. IN THE BEDROOM The emotional turmoil endured by a cou- 10. JAY & SILENT RiicrPmi ctealc