Leaving congregation meetings has given me the opportunity to see all the films that a group of old men, many of which have little or no respect for the world of art, have told me not to see. I saw a lot of films from last year since I got my Bachelor's degree, in the midst of a job search (which has now ended)...Anyway, these were the best films I saw from last year. Opinions welcome.
1.) Hedwig and the Angry Inch - My favorite film of the moment. Have seen it twice in theaters, own the DVD, and the cd... The obsession continues, as well as my HUGE crush on John Cameron Mitchell (a.k.a. Hedwig)
2.) Mulholland Drive - I love the whole mystery of the movie, the role-playing, the dream-like atmosphere. An excellent study of the deceptions and lies of films and the industry itself.
3.) In the Mood for Love - Minimalist love story takes huge chances: No kissing or sex (!) in a film made just last year. Kind of like an Eastern "Brief Encounter"
4.) The Circle - A film from Iran that intertwines the lives of several women in a male-dominated, fundamentalist country. One of the best neo-realist films I have seen. A picture of what happens when a religion controls where you live.
5.) The Deep End - Tilda Swinton gave one of my favorite performances from last year in this film about a woman's firm resolve to protect her gay son from blackmail and other nefarious aspects. It's much better than my short summary could dictate. Much like IN THE BEDROOM although I liked this film a lot more.
6.) The Widow of St. Pierre - Excellent storytelling. I admire movies that place much emphasis on character development. A movie with little action but catches your attention to such an extent for the whole viewing you have to see how everything ends.
7.) Panic - Nobody has heard of this taut thriller with William H. Macy and Neve Campbell even though it's one of the best little films from last year. It's kind of like the Sopranos although it focuses on the father/son relationship in a mob family. Great filmmaking.
8.) A.I. - I'm still turning this film over in my mind, whether it was a good or bad film. I still liked it tremendously on my first viewing and my opinion hasn't changed much since then. Possibly the saddest film I have ever seen. Spielberg's most atypical film.
9.) The Man Who Wasn't There - A film noir on the surface with philosophical undertones. The main character remains a passive observer, without any passion or principle. I often thought how much I could relate to him after I left meetings with very little to believe in.
10.) Memento - Some people will say this film is over praised, too much emphasis on style. I do think the style fits the design of the film as we can see how easily memories and thoughts could be distorted and rendered useless. The audience role-plays as the lead character, and we understand how this movie is confusing on purpose.