Let me be honest here: A month ago, I wasn't even sure I was going to have a Top-10 list of movies for 2002. Now, just four weeks later, it's suddenly become a struggle to trim my list of favorite 2002 films down to just 10. And it's harder still to keep my runners-up list to just another 10.
Given my love for the science-fiction and fantasy genres, having my No. 1 movie be a fantasy can't possibly come as a surprise. The specific choice, however, may be — "Spirited Away," the latest and most entrancing animated feature by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.
On the other hand, no amount of prodding could ever make me want to see "The Master of Disguise" again.
Overall, 2002 was a pretty mediocre cinematic year. But there were highlights, especially among movies that haven't played locally yet, but will open early next year; you've got a few things to look forward to.
Here are my picks for the best and worst of 2002:
THE BEST
1. SPIRITED AWAY: I recently had the pleasure of watching this one again on DVD, which only reinforces my feelings about the movie, an alternately odd, funny and sweet fantasy, which had better win the Best Animated Feature Oscar next February. Or else.
2. SPIDER-MAN: A geekboy's dream come true, with the best superhero-origin sequence ever put on film.
3. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS: "Part Two" of Peter Jackson's three-part J.R.R. Tolkein adaptation is one of the best films in many years (and would be No. 1 here, if only "Spirited Away" and "Spider-Man" hadn't come out this year, too).
4. I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART: This profile of Midwest alt-country rocker Wilco may be the best, most scathing musical documentary ever made.
5. THE HOURS: Impossible to shake, with fabulous performances by its three female leads (Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman).
6. ABOUT A BOY: Hugh Grant's impressive comeback film has an ending that is perhaps even better than the best-selling book that provided the source material.
7. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: It may be too long but it's also lightest, most fun Steven Spielberg movie in many a moon.
8. PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE: Really peculiar, but the contrasting sweetness and darkness really work. And (gulp!) Adam Sandler is terrific.
9./10. (tie) ADAPTATION and CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND: Two dark comedies from the mind of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. The former is quirkier and sweeter, while the latter is darker and more challenging. Both are enthralling.
THE REST OF THE BEST (alphabetically): "Antwone Fisher," "Bowling for Columbine," "Death to Smoochy," "Insomnia," "Monsoon Wedding," "Rabbit-Proof Fence," "Road to Perdition," "The Rookie," "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," "Super Troopers."
THE WORST
1. THE MASTER OF DISGUISE: This painfully unfunny, supposed family comedy was, hands-down, the worst movie I saw all year. (And I used to be a huge Dana Carvey fan.)
2. ADAM SANDLER'S EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS: What makes this tasteless, crude animated comedy-musical worse is that it was marketed to families.
3. PLUTO NASH: The biggest bomb in Hollywood history (based on the cost-to-profit ratio). And it deserved to be.
4. KUNG POW: ENTER THE FIST: Five minutes of this spoof of kung-fu movies is torture. And then it goes on for nearly 80 more minutes.
5. THE TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE: Chemistry-free, suspense-free, charm-free remake of the 1963 classic "Charade." Director Jonathan Demme should be ashamed.
6. XXX: A James Bond-style movie for the attention-deficit generation weaned on video games. If only it had tried to be a comedy.
7. THE TUXEDO: Jackie Chan's worst made-in-the-U.S. film. Maybe his worst ever.
8. SORORITY BOYS: Contrary to popular misconception, dressing men as women is not automatically funny.
9. SIM0NE: Considering the year she had, the fact that Winona Ryder looks embarrassed by her cameo here really says something.
10. STAR TREK: NEMESIS: The worst of the many "Treks," a "greatest-hits" medley of "Trek" moments that has no heart, no brains and no thrills.
THE WORST OF THE REST (alphabetically): "Dragonfly," "feardotcom," "Formula 51," "Ghost Ship," "The Hot Chick," "Juwanna Mann," "Rollerball," "Serving Sara," "Slackers," "Stealing Harvard."
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com