# Best Movie of 2001? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506 "2001-12-02T22:07:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/1 "2001-12-02T22:07:40Z")
I haven’t been to many movies this year, and of the ones I have seen, I haven’t been too impressed. It wasn’t exactly the greatest year for film, IMO, but I’m sure there were quite a few movies that slipped under my radar. “The Man Who Wasn’t There” was interesting, but not great (for a Coen Brothers movie, anyway; I hold them to a higher standard than I would most other filmmakers); “Sexy Beast” had a great performance from Ben Kingsley, but was fairly run-of-the-mill, plotwise; “Mulholland Drive” was OK, but I admit it made absolutely no fucking sense. I think the best movie I’ve seen this year was “Ghost World”, and even that wasn’t good enough to make my all-time top 20. I’m looking forward to “The Royal Tennenbaums” movie (from the creators of “Rushmore”), but not much else. So what did I miss? If you had to choose, what would you pick as the best film of the year? And let’s see how many posts we can go before someone brings up “Harry Potter”, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/2 "2001-12-02T22:12:24Z")
I doubt that anyone would seriously argue that “Harry Potter” was the best movie, not unless they were potty already. The best two I saw were “Memento” and “Moulin Rouge.” Since I didn’t see every movie this year, I won’t claim that they’re the best, but they were my best, and I’ll argue that they were one of the best. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/3 "2001-12-02T22:23:52Z")
Oh, I’d forgotten about “Memento”. Good choice. Yeah, that would definitely be up there. Didn’t see “Moulin Rouge”, but I’d like to. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@Jet\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Black)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/4 "2001-12-02T22:30:47Z")
“Amelie”, by far is quite enchanting, and worthy of a top ten list. “Momento” as well. “Monsters, Inc”, and “Shrek” deserve honorable mentions - but it’s a no-brainer for Holiday movie fair. Beyond box office grosses, harry Potter should NOT be on any list. “The Score” was damn good. Great character study. “Sexy Beast” likewise good character study. “The Others” was also memorable. Nicole Kidman turning in a decent performance. I haven’t seen “Heist” yet. Jet Black ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/5 "2001-12-02T22:46:34Z")
Memento is the only flick that stands out in my memory. Was it really released in 2001? The best film I’ve seen this year is The Godfather. But I believe I’m a little behind the times on that one. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/6 "2001-12-02T23:17:03Z")
_Shallow Hal_. No contest. (But then again, I’m biased.) ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/7 "2001-12-02T23:18:38Z")
Funny, but I was going to mention _Ghost World_ even before I saw it in the OP. Only movie of the last year with characters who actually resembled real human beings. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/8 "2001-12-03T00:11:46Z")
_Memento_, technically, is a 2000 film, though it built its (absolutely deserved) reputation in 2001. There are still a lot of promising movies yet to be released this year (_Oceans 11_, _Shipping News_, and _Fellowship of the Ring_, to name just three), but in general it’s been a pretty weak year. Of the really good movies I remember seeing so far in 2001, almost all have been independent. _Hedwig and the Angry Inch_ _Ghost World_ _Mulholland Drive_ (maybe not strictly independent, but it’s Lynch, so it counts) _The Road Home_ (the new flick from Zhang Yimou, starring Zhang Zi-Yi; if you didn’t see it, put it at the top of your list for video) _Moulin Rouge_ (though I understand why so many people hate it; and yes, strictly speaking, it’s independent) _The Princess and the Warrior_ (the new film from the guy who did _Run Lola Run_; a very different movie, but even more emotionally fulfilling in my opinion) _Southern Comfort_ (documentary about transsexuals living in the American South; one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen) However, three of the best movies I’ve seen this year were actually made last year, and I only got to see them as part of the Seattle International Film Festival. To wit: _Joint Security Area_ – A murder mystery set in the DMZ between South and North Korea. Occasionally confusing, the lead actress is bland, and there’s a big hiccup about two-thirds through where we suddenly get what’s basically a Korean History Newsreel. Otherwise, though, it’s both spectacularly entertaining and amazingly insightful. _Thomas In Love._ From Belgium, a bizarrely constructed near-future look at an agoraphobe who uses the Internet (as the movie posits it will develop) to live his life. Totally original and thought-provoking, though the point-of-view device is so rigorously employed it might be off-putting for casual viewers. And the absolute best movie I’ve seen in 2001: _Devils on the Doorstep._ It’s China in WWII. The people of a small village live under the noses of their Japanese occupiers, trying to avoid being killed by pretending to be friendly, but yet trying to retain their own identities. When a mysterious stranger appears in the middle of the night and gives the villagers a Japanese prisoner of war to hide and guard, their deceptions become vastly more dangerous. It sounds grim, and the ending is very dark, but until that point it’s a phenomenal human comedy with a very dry sense of humor. It’s over two and a half hours long, but I’d sit through it again in a heartbeat. If I were ever to put together an all-time top-20 list, I’d have to seriously consider whether this deserved a slot. (The big question for 2001, I think, is identifying the **worst** movie. The competition will be fierce.) ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/9 "2001-12-03T00:28:59Z")
actually, 2001 was a pretty darn _good_ year for movies. _Ghost World_ goes at the top of my list, and is the best comic book adaptation ever _Memento_ was very good. _The Man Who Wasn’t There_ was very good, and only slightly dissapointing in the context of being a Cohen brothers film. Hell, even _Bones_ and _Ginger Snaps_ were a huge step up in the cheezy horror department from what we’ve seen in the past few years. ---
**Author:** ![Swinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Swinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swinger)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/10 "2001-12-03T03:50:21Z")
Memento was easily the best movie I saw this year, though I too think it was released last year. I’m too lazy to check. No other movie I saw this year sticks in my mind as anything special. Mostly just a bunch of mediocre junk. Hopefully Fellowship of the Ring will redeem 2001 a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/11 "2001-12-03T03:59:44Z")
I only go see _good_ films, and I saw Memento last year. [raspberry] ~~~~~~~~~~~ [/raspberry] I’ve been so lenient with everything in that film’s wake that I’m planning on reexamining _Planet of the Apes_. ---
**Author:** ![foxfiregrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3da27b/32.png) [@foxfiregrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxfiregrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/12 "2001-12-03T04:29:15Z")
Here’s another vote for _Ghost World._ It was clever, and the characters were dead on, in my opinion. _Momento_ also deserves some serious recognition. It’s pretty much the \* Sixth Sense\* of 2001. ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/13 "2001-12-03T06:56:03Z")
The Score is probably the best one so far. still waiting to see Lord of the Rings and havent seen Memento yet. ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/14 "2001-12-03T07:09:09Z")
_Memento_, by far. I think it might have been released in 2000 at Cannes or Sundance, but it should still be technically eligible for this year’s Oscars. _Ghost World_, _Moulin Rouge_, and the first hour and a half of _Training Day_ can battle it out for runner-up honours. Is anyone looking forward to _The Majestic_? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/15 "2001-12-03T17:16:39Z")
Well, Rolling Stone picked Fellowship of the Ring as the movie of the year. I haven’t seen it, but I bet I will too. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/16 "2001-12-04T00:16:47Z")
And now I have to add that one to the list. I also just realised that I forgot _Waking Life_, which was quite good. 1. _Ghost World_ 2. _Amelie_ 3. _Memento_ 4. _Ginger Snaps_ 5. _The Others_ [sub]Hell, I didn’t get to see _Open Your Eyes_ until this year.[/sub] 6. _Waking Life_ 7. _Moulin Rouge_ 8. _Shreck_ I haven’t seen _Hedwig and the Angry Inch_ yet, but it looks good. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/17 "2001-12-04T00:36:53Z")
If we’re going with “released in the U.S. in 2001,” I’d add _In the Mood for Love_ to a number of the other films listed above (particularly _The Man Who Wasn’t There_, _Mulholland Drive_, _Ghost World_, _Moulin Rouge_ and _Memento_. I was pretty blissful the whole time I was watching ITMfL. ---
**Author:** ![vivablur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b9e5f3/32.png) [@vivablur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivablur)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/18 "2001-12-04T00:42:34Z")
I think “Ghost World” was a great film…I think the writer/director Terry did a great job of developing some of R. Crumb’s alienation and sensibilities to form the outlook of the film. I also think that Thora Birch and Steve Buschemi gave two of the best performances of the year. I also loved seeing “Waking Life.” It is one of those movies that really sticks with you and gives you a lot to think about. The animation was really awesome, too. Not a bad Saturday night. Probably the best time I had at the movies was seeing “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” First, it was a musical that actually rocked (and vastly better at portraying Glam rock than the crappy “Velvet Goldmine”) and it was witty at the same time. I would be interested in hearing from those that have seen both the play and the movie to tell me some of the differences. Finally, “Apocalypse Now, Redux” was awesome. Both the ambition and execution of the movie were astounding. I have never seen such an epic film also have such a meditative quality. The added scenes really developed the idea of the duality of man and only made Robert Duvall’s performance that much more incredible. Ok, this the end, beautiful friend, for me. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/19 "2001-12-04T01:12:24Z")
As yet unmentioned movies I saw and loved in 2001: Sean Penn’s **The Pledge** , Nicholson is just wonderful as is the rest of the splendid cast. Penn’s direction is assured. The cinematography is glorious and the story rivetting. **Lantana** , swept the AFI awards beating Moulin Rouge for all the big awards. A very adult story of love and deception, cleverly told. **Before Night Falls** which was only released in Australia this year (and only December 14 last year in the US). Not for everyone but a movie that I actually appreciated more each day _after_ I had seen it. Faultless filmmaking. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506/20 "2001-12-04T04:10:02Z")
**The Gift** I love spooky ghost stories. I haven’t seen The Others yet, so I can’t say if this one is better or not, but I know I sure liked it. Great cast, mysterious plot, lots of tension… under the catogory of: “Techically released in 2000 but not in this part of the country because theaters here don’t _do_ indie films” I’d add \*\*House of Mirth; Urbania; \*\*and **Skeletons in the Closet**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-movie-of-2001/96506.md?page=2)