USCCB - (Film and Broadcasting) - Ten Best List for the Year 2002

Ten Best List for the Year 2002

The past year saw an abundance of Hollywood films that were "safe" franchise films, prequels or sequels. Studios wanted to cash in on their name recognition, which almost always translates to a lack of originality (a thrilling exception was the second part of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy). Of the top 10 grossers for the year, not a one was in the R-rated category, indicating how films that are more family oriented do the best at the box office in the long run. Hollywood, please take note.

Happily, there were a healthy number of fine films released during 2002, and here in alphabetical order, is the Office for Film & Broadcasting's list for the best movies of the past year.

About Schmidt -- About Schmidt is a poignant tale of a newly retired and newly widowed 66-year-old (Jack Nicholson) who tries to reconnect with his daughter (Hope Davis) while hoping to abort her upcoming wedding. Nicholson shines in director Alexander Payne's bittersweet comedy about a man coming to terms with his unexceptional life and finding peace in tolerance, forgiveness and generosity of spirit. A-III - adults. (R)
Antwone Fisher -- Antwone Fisher is the inspirational true-life story of a troubled naval recruit (Derek Luke) who with the help of a Navy psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) learns to cope with the emotional devastation wreaked by childhood rejection and physical abuse. Washington's directorial debut is a moving account of strength and survival, as well as a testament to the nobility of spirit inherent in every person. A-III - adults. (PG-13)
The Emperor's Club -- The Emperor's Club - is a thoughtful tale set at a mid-1970s boys' academy where an idealistic classics teacher (Kevin Kline) compromises his standards while trying to mold the character of a troubled student (Emile Hirsch). Director Michael Hoffman's ethics-centered drama sensitively explores the crucial importance of personal and professional integrity and its lifelong consequences. A-II - adults and adolescents. (PG-13)
Evelyn -- Evelyn is a heartfelt and fact-based tale about the 1950's legal fight an impoverished Irish father (Pierce Brosnan) wages after his wife runs off and his three young children are placed in different Catholic orphanages against his will. Director Bruce Beresford captures the human story behind the legal battle as well as the faith the characters have in God that justice will prevail against staggering odds. A-III - adults. (PG)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers -- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the visually spectacular second installment of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy trilogy about the struggle between the forces of good and evil, set in the mythical realm of Middle-earth. Director Peter Jackson seamlessly blends breathtaking locations with cutting-edge effects to tell the timeless tale of humble hobbit and unlikely hero Frodo (Elijah Wood) and his companions as they continue their perilous quest to destroy the One Ring, an amulet of unspeakable, seductive power. A-III -- adults. (PG-13)
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My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- My Big Fat Greek Wedding is an amusing comedy about a young woman (Nia Vardalos) whose Greek parents (Michael Constantine and Laine Kazan) flip out when she falls for and plans to marry a non-Greek man (John Corbett). Director Joel Zwick's good-natured film, based on Vardalos' one-woman show, gently pokes fun at absurd familial situations, yet reveals the rewards in accepting and loving one's family, warts and all. A-II - adults and adolescents. (PG)
Nicholas Nickleby -- Nicholas Nickleby is a genial adaptation of the 1839 Charles Dickens classic in which penniless Nicholas (Charlie Hunnam) sets out to reunite with and provide for his mother, sister and crippled friend (Jamie Bell) despite the machinations of his malevolent uncle (Christopher Plummer). A masterful Plummer steals the show in writer-director Douglas McGrath's nicely compressed tale of a young man's hard-won triumph over adversity. A-II - adults and adolescents. (PG)
Road to Perdition -- Road to Perdition is a gripping drama set in Depression-era Chicago in which a hit man (Tom Hanks) working for the leader of the Irish mob (Paul Newman) embarks on a journey to protect his 12-year-old son and avenge the death of the rest of his family. Examining complicated father-son relationships, director Sam Mendes' evocative moral tale presents a calculated visual tapestry of intrigue and multilayered characters which smoothly weaves in themes of betrayal, redemption, filial love and family responsibility. A-III - adults. (R)
The Rookie -- The Rookie is an uplifting charmer based on the true story of 35-year-old Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid), a small-town Texas baseball coach and high school chemistry teacher who gets a second chance at the big leagues and becomes the oldest rookie baseball player in 40 years. Director John Lee Hancock's film pulls on the heartstrings, nudging the audience to think about forgotten dreams while pleasing and inspiring without discernible violence, sex or crude language. A-I - general patronage. (G)
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron -- Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron is a rousing animated tale set on the 1880's American frontier, where a cruel cavalry colonel (voice of James Cromwell) tries to tame a wild mustang (voice of Matt Damon) that escapes the fort with a captured Lakota Indian (voice of Daniel Studi). Beautifully animated by directors Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook, the themes of respect for life, nature and the preciousness of freedom emerge through painterly visuals and stirring music with a minimum of spoken dialogue. A-I - general patronage. (G)