As a self-proclaimed “film buff,” when I got my e-mail edition of The Lantern and saw the link, I was looking forward to reading the list of the “10 Best Films of the Year” by Jordan Gentile in Tuesday’s edition of The Lantern. However, when I began reading, I was confused, then finally disappointed.
I acknowledge I felt the same way as Jordan throughout the year — that 2002 was lackluster at best, but there was the occasional gem. The inclusion of “Changing Lanes” in Jordan’s examples of summer gems made me reread the paragraph to find where I had missed the satire leading up to that point.
Though I am a dedicated Samuel L. Jackson fan, I would say the film only merits mediocre status. But then Jackson’s stated theory on film-making is that it is a job like any other. He isn’t out to make art, just a living.
“Lanes” No. 3 spot for the year makes me doubt any worth of the remaining list. “Solaris” at No. 4 confirms my doubts and tells me the rest must be equally bad — or at least only in the “tolerable” category hinted at by Jordan — and the year must have been worse than I thought.
One recommendation I would make for movie-goers who wish to avoid cookie-cutter films is “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” (Don’t worry, guys, it’s not a ‘chick flick.’) While it is rentable (no special effects requiring THX), the crowd in a theater adds to the film.
It is one of the only movies I saw this year where the crowd laughed together throughout the film. It isn’t “poignant” or something you’ll “watch, ponder, then watch again,” but it was fun and you will watch, laugh, then watch again.
Dan SchneiderClass of 2000
