Well, there was doubt that <B>TWO</B> people would quote me out of context. It was a joke ... a freakin' joke. :D

das

And here I thought I would be the only one voting for Wonder Boys...

It's kind of difficult for me to award Requiem as best film of the year when it blatantly, virtually frame for frame, ripped off an anime (Perfect Blue) for one of its principle scenes (ie. the bathtub).

That being said, my pick is easily Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Cheers,

-matt

PS: Snake, I'm another believer that Gladiator was one of the best of 2000. If you're going to roll your eyes, at least provide some analysis as to why you're doing so.

Another vote for Requiem

If you're talking about the Jennifer Connely screaming scene, that lasted all of what, 10 seconds? Crouching Tiger borrowed much, more more from other movies, but I wouldn't even call that a rip-off.

Easy. George Washington. Dancer in the Dark is a close second.

Yes, that would be the scene. Normally I wouldn't have that much of a problem with a Director "borrowing" an idea or two from other films - but this wasn't just lifting, this was frame-by-frame ripping Perfect Blue off - that is a major no-no.

What exactly did Crouching Tiger "borrow" from other films? Can you list some specific examples?

-matt

Can't agree anymore. What a great little film.

He just loves to fight with everyone about films. Let everyone have their own opinion is my feeling.

raithen, if you watch Iron Monkey, you will see that CTHD lifted several specific shots (most notably the rooftop scenes). Also, the Jade Fox (I think that's her name) and her demeanor bears a striking resembelance (sp?) to the "witch" in IM. But that's not to say that CTHD isn't a great film that made old ideas and concepts seem fresh and new again.

As for the RfaD thing, I can't really say until I've seen Perfect Blue for myself, but even if Aronofsky did "steal" 10 seconds from another movie, that in no way diminishes the acheivment as a whole.

I have Iron Monkey, and the rooftop scene and Jade Fox bear only superficial resemblances. Of course, this is debatable (barely), but my point here is that CTHD did not "lift" directly, shot-for-shot, from any film (not that I'm aware of anyway) - Requiem blatantly did so.

There is no doubt that Aronofsky stole that scene from Perfect Blue - and it's quite disconcerting that he did so without even bothering to at least change camera angles. Instead, he ripped it without a thought. It's no secret he's a fan of PD, he's mentioned it in interviews that he'd like to do a live feature film of it (I can't quote the source, my apologies!) - so some might say this was his way of providing an "homage" - but I find that debatable considering he has not mentioned this intention in any interview regarding Requiem (to my knowledge).

Personally, I think that directly plaigerizing another film, even if for only 10 seconds, does diminish the achievement of a film. Darren Aronofsky could have changed that scene in any number of ways and achieved the same resonance - but he didn't, and that does not sit well with me. It makes me wonder how much else he may have "lifted"...

Anyway, others certainly may not feel as strongly as I do on the matter - and all the power to them. In the end, it is a fantastic film - but the plaigerism factor knocks this film down a peg or two, IMHO.

Cheers,

-matt

Well here's the movies that I rated 9+ out of 10. Actually, looking at this, I kind of feel that either a) last year was way better for movies than I remember it or b) I need to put a little more thought into my ratings. Also, I go by the official Oscar eligibility in my year designations, so Thirteen Days got in, too:


10
Traffic
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

9.5
Dancer in the Dark
State & Main
Unbreakable

9
American Psycho
High Fidelity
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Thirteen Days
You Can Count on Me

With more thought, I'd probably drop High Fidelity and You Can Count on Me to 8.5 or 8. Maybe State & Main, too, though I love that movie!

Barry

First total in:

Not surprisingly, Requiem For a Dream is running away with it with 9.25 votes.

Here's a link to the new thread for 1999... I figure this one will be more interesting as I can't perceive any clear cut winner.

Yet another vote for Requiem for a Dream, proving once again what an unoriginal git I am.

And hey, I thought the Perfect Blue homage was spiffy. :)

Requiem for a Dream

Grimfarrow, just out of curiosity, when did you drop
George Washington out of your top 10? I haven't seen it for a year, but it still holds up in my mind fairly well.

I dropped it after I saw "The Wind Will Carry Us" and "Suzhou River". George Washington has always been at the bottom of my Top Ten anyways.

Almost Famous, although I haven't seen Requiem for a Dream yet.

Almost Famous by quite a margin.

Gladiator

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Runners up - Traffic, O' Brother and Wonder Boys.

Requim was much better than Gladiator, I'll give it that, but it wasn't a great film by any stretch IMHO.

Requiem For A Dream.

Traffic is a close second though.

I've changed my Top Ten:

1) Requiem for a Dream
2) Ratcatcher
3) Beau Travail <- new entry
4) Suzhou River
5) The Wind Will Carry Us
6) Girl on the Bridge
7) State and Main
8) You Can Count On Me
9) The Color of Paradise
10) Dancer in the Dark

Any fan of Terrence Malick and/or George Washington should try to see Beau Travail ASAP.

Almost Famous

Frequency