The year 2000 brought a plethora of excellent films as well as a few major misses. Here is a general rundown of our picks for what was in the year 2000.
THE 10 BEST OF 2000
Quills – Not for the faint-hearted, this erotic tale of passion and insanity is a blatant advocation for freedom of expression. Brilliantly acted by Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Caine and Kate Winslet, this film is a serious Oscar contender not to mention an all-around stunning picture.Almost Famous – Director Cameron Crowe, of “Jerry Maguire” fame, brings this riveting semi-autobiographical piece that takes the viewer on the road with the fictional band, Stillwater. Newcomer Patrick Fugit lights up the screen along with a breakout performance by Kate Hudson and stellar supporting help from Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup and Jason Lee. The Family Man – Nicolas Cage proves his prowess as more than just a “guy’s guy” in this touching family melodrama about what might have been. Don Cheadle and Tea Leoni contribute their acting expertise to round out the film.Center Stage – This real-life look into the trials and tribulations of the dancing world provides the “Flashdance” of our generation. Not widely received or critically lauded, this film provides a guilty pleasure to all who harbor a dream. Dancers-turned-actors Amanda Schull and Ethan Stiefel give a raw edge to their debut performances.Miss Congeniality – Sandra Bullock is “America’s sweetheart,” as proven in this hilarious inside look into the world of beauty pageants. Her comedic timing is right on as both a homely FBI agent and a gorgeous beauty queen. Benjamin Bratt shines in his first lead movie role and Michael Caine succeeds in showing his lighter side. Gladiator – Russell Crowe, the Aussie import, became an American favorite with his award-nominated role as Maximus. Gratuitous violence aside, the film displays an emotional touch not always seen in big-budget action flicks. The summer blockbuster features a stunning performance by Joaquin Phoenix as the tyrannical emperor. Charlie’s Angels – While some may consider it a silly “chick flick,” in actuality the film is about empowering women intellectually and physically without the use of guns. In short, a true action film for the 21st century. Wonder Boys – Arguably one of the best films of the year, the movie personifies the genre of dark comedy. Michael Douglas masters the unrefined nature of his character and Tobey Maguire nails the role of a tortured young writer. Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr. and Katie Holmes round out the fascinating cast. All the Pretty Horses – The behind-the-scenes effects overshadow the rest of the film with its beautifully crafted shots and cinematography. Directed by Billy Bob Thornton, the movie proves captivating throughout despite a few choppy moments. Matt Damon culminates a successful year with this role. Penelope Cruz and former “E.T.” star, Henry Thomas, shine on the sidelines.Keeping the Faith – What do you get when a priest and a rabbi fall for the same girl… trouble. But in this movie, the ingredients make for one hilarious mix. Edward Norton provides double duty both with his debut direction and as a star. Comedian extraordinaire Ben Stiller and the luminous Jenna Elfman complete the trio.
THE 10 WORST OF 2000
Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows – The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the surprise smash of the original flopped big time. Poor over-acting by its novice stars, shabby plot and weak writing made this one of the most terrible films of the year.Cast Away – The much-hyped film starring Tom Hanks may not have tanked at the box office, but most definitely isn’t worth the hype. Tom Hanks’ acting was typical and uninspiring. His 45-plus minute alone time on the island needed much more than the companionship of a volleyball to make it interesting. Hanging Up – What should have been a powerhouse performance of three amazing actresses (Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton and Lisa Kudrow) was instead two long hours of sappy, melodramatic torture. Even using major star power couldn’t save this one.Autumn in New York – Depicting a May-December romance without any obvious chemistry is hard enough. Throw in a terrible script and you’ve got the makings of a bad movie. Bona fide movie stars Richard Gere and Winona Ryder couldn’t save this film from critical backlash and box office hell.Pay It Forward – Touted to be one of the best films of the year, its far-fetched, unrealistic plot turned moviegoers off. Helen Hunt proves it’s possible to stretch yourself too thin by doing too many movies in one year. Duets – About the only good thing with this movie was finding out Gwyneth Paltrow could hold her own next to Huey Lewis. Make that the only good thing. Depressing and scatter-brained, this film should have gone straight to video.The Next Best Thing – Madonna should stick to singing. While her acting wasn’t necessarily appalling, the script didn’t give her much of anything to work with. Rupert Everett did provide a light to the film, but even he couldn’t save it from its genre-jumping and lack of flow.Dr. T & the Women – In the grand tradition of the ensemble comedy, this one fails miserably. There is way too much going on, not enough character development and an ending that leaves you wondering why you just wasted two hours of your life sitting through it. Where the Heart Is – A huge error occurred in the transition from book to script. It should have stayed a book. The angelic Natalie Portman and scene-stealing Ashley Judd tried desperately to save this film from oblivion, to no avail.What Women Want – Another damn Helen Hunt movie. Three strikes and you’re definitely out. Mel Gibson does shine in a comedic role never really seen before, but the over-abundance of storylines and lightning-fast transition from love to hate between the main characters leaves much to be desired.
Compiled by Brooke Adair Abernethy and Stephanie Smith