What's in a Movie Year - 2000

Taking a look at the year 2000, picking my 10 favorite movies from that year in random order.
 

High Fidelity
This film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s bestseller of the same name is not set in London but in Chicago. There Rob runs a record store, which is only visit by the true purists. The wandering thirty-something has an almost sickly record collection and consistently categorizes according to a top five, whether it’s music or women. When girlfriend Laura trades him in for another, Rob finds out there’s more to it than collecting vinyl. It’s a fun comedy, with one of my favorite movie characters ever played by John Cusack and some great supporting roles by Jack Black and Tim Robbins.
 

Requiem for a Dream
Widowed and unorthodox mother Sara Goldfarb is firmly convinced that she wull be invited to one of her favorite TV shows. She swallows amphetamines to lose weight, so she can wear het red dress when the big day comes. Son Harry, like his friends, is also on drugs. It’s a smart big-cuty story by Darren Aronofsky and it uses hypnotic imagery and music. A fantastic movie, with some disturbing scenes that makes it hard to watch. But a definite must-see.
 

Unbreakable
David Dunne is a security guard who realizes after an accident that he is never sick and never got hurt. He’s unbreakable. He meets the owner of a comic book store, who is the complete opposite: he has an extremely fragile body. Visually “Unbreakable” is very intriguing and the story is really strong. One of M. Night Shyamalan’s best film to date.
 

Snatch
A crime comedy in which the story of Franky Four Fingers is interwoven with storylines around Bullet Teeth Toney and the boxing Irish gypsy Mickey. Franky steals the diamonds where the American Avi and the Russian criminal Boris the Blade are looking for. Director Guy Ritchie is a fun film, in the style of his earlier succession “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”. It’s dazzling, funny and edgy. I especially love Brad Pitt as the boxer, with a crazy Irish accent.
 

O Brother, Where art Thou?
A magnificently played and photographed adaptation of Homer’s epic Odyssey, starring George Clooney as Everett Ulysses. At the end of the thirties he escapes from a chain gang with loser Delmar and hot head Pete. According to a blind prophet they will find a fortune, but not the fortune they are looking for. Chained together they head for the adventure and meet a cyclops, sirens and a devilish lawman. The film also has a beautiful soundtrack. One of the most underappreciated films by the Coen Brothers I believe.
 

Gladiator
Roman general Maximus defeats a northern barbarian army, but is then betrayed by Emperor Commodus. He is sold as a slave and then has to work as a gladiator. Although historically not accurate, “Gladiator” is a beautiful film with a great performance by Russel Crowe.
 

Cast Away
FedEx manager Chuck Noland ends up on an uninhabited island after a plane crash and spends years in solitude. Due to loneliness Chuck starts talking to a Volleyball, which he calls Wilson. Probably two thirds of this film contains constant music, which is highly unusual for a big Hollywood movie. Since it’s mainly Tom Hanks on screen, and only he can make us cry over a volleyball.
 

American Psycho
Director Mary Harron decided to adapt the controversial book “American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis. The book has excessive violence and although the film is also very violent, it stayed relatively mild compared to the novel. The film is about the white-collar serial killer Patrick Bateman, as a symbol of the cynical, greedy eighties. But the horrific violence is not explicitly shown. Christian Bale is fantastic in his role, one of his best performances.
 

Billy Elliot
A young boy in a deprived British neighborhood can’t box, be he can dance. It’s a form of expression not accepted here for men. The boy is forbidden to dance, but he perseveres anyway. Billy eventually succeeds and has a better relationship with the people around him. “Billy Elliot” shows a well-known formula, but fortunately a sympathetic one.  
 

Final Destination
Alex feels disaster is in the air, on the eve of a flight and school trip to Paris. Everywhere he looks, Alex sees and feels signs of something bad happening on the flight. When panicking on the actual plane, he and some of his classmates are taken of the flight. And soon after the plane takes off, it explodes. It sets the tone of a film that shows a lot can go wrong in life. Since they have cheated death, death is coming for them one by one. It’s started a series, but this is still the best. And it has some gruesome and original deaths in it.

 

Best Tom Hanks Movies

It is no secret that I love Tom Hanks. He has been my favorite actor for as long as I can remember. He is always a reason to watch a movie, and even when not all of his movies are perfect, Hanks always delivers. I decided to create a list of his best movies. This list is based, not only on overall ratings, but also on my personal connection with the movie. And making this list was damn hard, so I made a top 25. Here it is!

25. The Great Buck Howard

Not the most known or liked Tom Hanks film, he doesn’t lead this film. His son Colin Hanks does, alongside John Malkovich and Emily Blunt. But I found this a movie worth mentioning because it’s so overlooked and it’s very entertaining.

24. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Tom Hanks plays television icon Fred Rogers, who was probably the nicest celebrity ever. He is being interviewed by journalist Lloyd Vogel. If any movie were a hug, this is it.  

23. Bridge of Spies

During the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of a spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot. This is one of the very few newer Tom Hanks movies where it’s not just him stealing the show. He is accompanied by the very capable Mark Rylance.

22. Saving Mr. Banks

Even in more recent films, Tom Hanks still proofs he is one of the best things Hollywood has to offer. Hanks played real-life iconic figure Walt Disney for “Saving Mr. Banks”, where we follow him in the creation of the film “Mary Poppins”. Pure likeability this movie has.

21. Sleepless in Seattle

Tom Hanks plays Sam, a widower. His son is looking for a new woman for his dad and makes an emotional call on the radio. Hundreds of women respond. One of them is Annie, played by Meg Ryan. It’s one of the most romantic movies, where the lead characters literally only share one scene together.

20. The Da Vinci Code

In this mystery thriller Tom Hanks plays professor Langdon, who is suspected of the murder of the museum curator of the Louvre. Langdon soon understand that this man has left clues that only he can understand. It’s an exciting search for the truth and the real killer. Oh, and we ignore the hair here.

19. Toy Story 2

The second installment of the “Toy Story” franchise has the gang looking for Tom Hanks’  Woody, who was stolen by a toy collector. We are introduced to Jesse and her backstory kind of made me cry. And this is only one of the films on this list.

18. Turner & Hooch

Tom Hanks had a different kind of co-star in “Turner & Hooch”. Hanks plays a cop, who has to take care of a big, sloppy dog called Hooch who is the only witness to his owner’s murder. The chemistry between man and dog is relatable and this film played an important role in establishing Hanks’ brand identity.

17. The Money Pit

Anna and Walter bought a beautiful house, but when they move in they find out there is lot that needs to be done there. This film has a lot of physical comedy, for both Tom Hanks and Shelly Long. And I have always loved this comedy.

16. Philadelphia

Andrew Beckett is a successful lawyer, who is fired shortly after his promotion. Is it because he messed up a case, as his bosses claim to be, or was he fired because they found out he’s gay and has AIDS? Andrew hires an attorney to contest his dismissal. The story grabs you and the performance by both Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington are unforgettable.

15. You’ve Got Mail

Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly have the most wonderful conversations online, but in real life they can’t stand each other since they run rivaling bookstores. Strangely enough I always preferred “You’ve Got Mail” over “Sleepless in Seattle”. It’s one of the few romantic comedies I can watch without having to vomit. Maybe because it doesn’t feature teenagers or tweens, the story isn’t sugar sweet and the characters aren’t the most beautiful people with the most dreamy jobs and apartments. Is this movie without clichés? No, but this film is so lovely. Not timeless, since the way they communicate is a bit outdated. But I still watch this movie with the biggest smile on my face.

14. That Thing You Do

The film follows the starting band ‘The Wonders’, who become an overnight sensation with the hit song ‘That Thing You Do’. Tom Hanks plays their agent Mr. White. Hanks’ most important role in this project was directing it, since his role is fairly small. But this is a great feel-good film, even though the song is played SO MANY TIMES.

13. Toy Story

Andy’s big toy collection comes to life, whenever he’s not around. This was the first Pixar film and the first fully computer animated film by Disney. Tom Hanks voices cowboy Woody, together with Tim Allen as his astronaut pal Buzz Lightyear. This is a movie that made history.

12. Apollo 13

“Apollo 13” tells the story of the 3^rd mission to the moon on April 11^th 1970. The flight starts flawless, until it goes wrong: an oxygen cylinder explodes and damages the spacecraft. Tom Hanks plays astronaut Jim Lovell and embodies the most modest hero: tough, resourceful, pragmatic and a true leader.

11. Road to Perdition

This is one of the few films that has Tom Hanks play the crook. The crime film is based on a graphic novel and is set in 1930s Chicago. Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a criminal who tries to keep his son out of trouble after his wife and other son were killed. Even though Hanks plays a bad guy, you root for him since the men that are after him are even worse. A truly beautiful father and son tale.

10. A League of Their Own

Tom Hanks delivered a classic line in this baseball film: “There’s no crying in baseball”. He plays a grumpy former baseball player, and is now given a comeback by coaching a female baseball team. This is probably the only time Hanks fully inhabits an unsympathetic role, but we love him anyway!

9. Catch Me If You Can

A young master crook (Leonardo DiCaprio), who pretends to be a pilot, lawyer and doctor at several points in his life, commits one scam after another. However, he is in the sight of the FBI, whose team is lead by Carl Hanratty (Hanks). It becomes a true cat-and-mouse game. The film is so good because of this element and the mutual hate end respect between the two leads.

8. Cast Away

Chuck Noland works for FedEx and crashed on an uninhabited island during a transport flight. He has to survive on his own. His only friend is a volleyball he names Wilson. A perfect on-man-show by Tom Hanks, what a wonderful performance. It’s just him and he captivates u from start to finish. Tom Hanks, the only man that made us cry over a volleyball.

7. Captain Phillips

When American freighter MV Maersk Alabama is attacked by pirates just off the Somali coast, Captain Phillips must do everything to protect his crew. He gives himself up as a hostage, to save his crew. The film is based on actual events and is very intense. Hanks’ performance is amazing, just that emotional scene at the end is reason enough to check it out.

6. Saving Private Ryan

During WWII, it is discovered that two soldiers killed in battle are brother of each other. Then there appears to be a third brother, who has dropped somewhere in France. Captain Miller is assigned to the task to find this soldier. “Saving Private Ryan” is one of the best WWII movies and has one of the most impressive opening scenes in a movie ever.

5. Toy Story 3

Andy is getting ready for college, which means he is all grown up. His toys Woody, Buzz and all their friends realize they had their best time. They are donated to a kindergarten. But when they think they found the best place to live, they are wrong. This is the best film in the “Toy Story” franchise, love everything about it. And Tom Hanks is again voicing Woody wonderfully.

4. The ‘Burbs

It might be surprising that this film is in my top 5, but “The ‘Burbs” is a brilliant comedy. Hanks plays Ray Peterson, a nosy neighbor who loves nothing more than spying on his neighbors. While on a break from work, he decides to investigate his new neighbors, who seem suspicious and he suspects them to have killed one of his neighbors. This is probably Tom Hanks’ most underrated film and a comedy everyone should see. I can quote this film and it had a special place in me and my family’s hearts.

3. Big

Josh is a 13-year-old boy who wants to be an adult. He makes a wish at a fair and the next morning he wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old man. Tom Hanks played a 13-year-old boy trapped in a grown man’s body and he nails it. It’s one of Hanks’ best performances.

2. The Green Mile

Tom Hanks plays Paul Edgecomb, a prison guard working with prisoners who are on death row. Here he meets John Coffey, a big and strong man, with a fear of the dark and special powers. One of the many movies that makes me sad, but “The Green Mile” really made me weep like a little child. It’s a long movie, but you never feel its length because of the amazing story and great performances.

1. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump isn’t the smartest person you will ever meet, but he is not limited by his low IQ. Forrest manages to play an important role in 30 years of American history: as a Vietnam veteran, as owner of a shrimping boat, a football hero and meeting the American president, twice. It’s a film that can be both funny and sad, but in the end is a perfect feel-good movie. “Forrest Gump” is Tom Hanks’ best film and one of the best performances in movie history.

Top 5 Thursday: Movies About Survival

It’s always fascinating to see how far some people go to survive. I decided to make a list of survival movies, some based on true events, some fictional.

5. The Descent

This is one of the creepiest movies I’ve seen over the last ten years. Just the fact alone that you’re stuck in a cave gives me the chills.

 

 

4. Cast Away

The ultimate survival movie, being alone on a deserted island. Tom Hanks is brilliant in this movie, it’s just him and a volleyball. Only Hanks can make you cry over a volleyball.

 

 

3. The Hunger Games-series

I’m not picking just one movie here, because they are all amazing. Okay, the second is my favorite. How horrible would it be to fight for life and death, so other people are entertained? Thanks God we have Katniss Everdeen, right.

 

 

2. Into the Wild

This survival movie is slightly different, because Chris McCandless choose this life of survival. With that being said, “Into the Wild” is one of the most amazing stories I’ve ever heard.

 

 

1. 127 Hours

This is, without a doubt, my favorite survival story. Like “Into the Wild” it’s based on a real life story. James Franco portrays Aron Ralston brilliantly, his best performance so far.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Life of Pi, The Road, Rescue Dawn, I Am Legend, Zombieland

Top 5 Thursday: Tom Hanks Performaces

You might already know that Tom Hanks is my favourite actor. He can practically do anything. He amazes me every time and many of his films belong in my all-time favourites list. And sometimes it’s Tom Hanks we have to thank, because his performance was so awesome. Here are the five best performances by Tom Hanks, according to me.

5. Captain Miller in “Saving Private Ryan”

Tom Hanks is fantastic here as a normal man who has found himself in an abnormal situation. Whatever I did, I just couldn’t ignore this performance for this list.

 

4. Josh in “Big”

This movie changed everything for Tom Hanks. Robert De Niro and Harisson Ford turned down the role, but it was Hanks’ escape plan from the silly comedies. He found the human heart to make it work, when he became a thirteen year old boy in an adult man’s body.

 

3. Chuck Noland in “Cast Away”

Only Tom Hanks can make us care about a volleyball. It’s technically just him and a volleyball that keep our attention the entire runtime. You have to be a master to achieve that.

 

2. Captain Richard Phillips in “Captain Phillips”

I don’t think I would have bought this DVD if Tom Hanks wasn’t in it. It’s as a minute study in physical and emotional collapse that the performance is so compelling. Hanks was never this defenceless on screen and that stunning final scene really hit every nerve in my body. Some of the best minutes of his movie career.

 

1. Forrest Gump in “Forrest Gump”

This still hasn’t been topped by Hanks. It earned him his second Academy Award and it was well deserved. Hanks had the difficult task of playing a man with what can best be described as significantly mentally impaired without turning him into a negative stereotype.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Jim Lovell in “Apollo 13”, Jimmy Dugan in “A League of Their Own”, Andrew Beckett in “Philadelphia”

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2000

Another year of movies, this time 2000. Here are the best movies from that year in my opinion.

5. Return to Me
Maybe just a guilty pleasure, but I always liked this romantic comedy. I think especially Minnie Driver’s character warms your heart.

4. Cast Away
Tom Hanks’ performance is phenomenal, as always… When you just read the synopsis you think how can a man who’s been stranded on a deserted island with a volleyball called Wilson be interesting. Well, Mr. Hanks does it!

3. Memento
The way the story is told is so original. At first you don’t know what the hell is going on, but eventually all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

2. American Psycho
A total mindfuck in the end. Did he actually kill all those people? Patrick Bateman is so self-obsessed, that I actually have to dislike him. But he is so cynical, that he’s one of the best created movie characters.

1. High Fidelity
This is actually in my top five of all-time favorites. John Cusack is one of my weaknesses whom I think is underappreciated. My brother doesn’t get his appeal like I do, but I just love this guy. Especially in “High Fidelity”, where he makes lists of everything, just like moi!

They Almost Made the Top 5: Shanghai Noon, X-Men, Billy Elliot, Snatch, Chocolat, O Brother, Where Art Thou and Memento