Movie Diary 2000 previous • next

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The last year in the 20th century was my slowest year for moviegoing on record: I went to the movies eighteen times, including twice to see Chicken Run. My Top Five Best Movies for 2000 (in alpha order): Almost Famous, Chicken Run, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Wonder Boys. I didn't see O Brother in the theater, but it's still one of my five favorites of the year. In fact, I missed a lot of good movies in the theater in 2000.

Here's a list of my Top Five Movies of 2000 (which I only saw on DVD):

O Brother, Where Art Thou? • I skipped this movie because I hated the previous Coen Brothers production, The Big Lebowski.
The Tao Of Steve • Who knows if Steve even had a theatrical exhibition in the state of Maine?
Best In Show • Who knows if Show even had a theatrical exhibition in the state of Maine?
Fight Club • I was a latecomer to the Fight Club phenomenon.

Memento • Who knows if Memento even had a theatrical exhibition in the state of Maine?
...Enjoy my diary!

New Year's Day 2000 • The Talented Mister Ripley
Dark and thrilling. Wonderful cast all around. A bit long...

March 1, 2000 • Wonder Boys
Best film of the year, even though they messed up the ending. Be sure to ask me about this- I could go on all day!

April 17, 2000 • High Fidelity • Hoyt's Cinemas Falmouth
As a music lover, this one really speaks to me.

April 29, 2000 • U-571 • Hoyt's Cinemas Falmouth
Great sound design saves this one. I imagine it would be unwatchable on TV- all the cast does for 90 minutes is listen!

April 30, 2000 • Where The Heart Is
The Citizen Kane of white rural America.

May 5, 2000 • Gladiator
A visceral thrill with brains. Joaquin Phoenix proves the theory that togas=overacting.

Chicken Run
June 23rd and July 8th, 2000 • Shoulda been a Best Picture nominee. Clever, funny, ingenious comedy.

July 31, 2000 • The Perfect Storm
Not all that great. Director Wolfgang Petersen tries very had to make these noble fishermen seem heroic instead of foolhardy. More fuss was made over the CGI waves than the rest of the movie.

July 16, 2000 • The Patriot • Showcase Cinemas Randolph
Coulda been soooo much better. I am still waiting for the definitive Revolutionary War movie. Chris Cooper was born for this kind of role. We saw this on the drive back from Mike and Laura Lee's house in Humarock.

August 5, 2000 • X-Men
It is difficult to do so many interesting characters justice in one movie, but this one does a good job.

September 22, 2000 • Almost Famous
Incendiary.

October 14, 2000 • The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen • Hoyt's Cinemas South Portland
This film and Rosemary's Baby are both completely overrated. Maybe it was scary back then? I dunno. I wasn't scared at all.

Three Acclaimed Horror Films Which Didn't Scare Me
I know horror movies are scarier if you first saw them as a child. My scariest movie list is full of late 70s/early 80s movies. I just didn't find these three stand the test of time. The fact that I saw them for the first time as an adult is probably a factor.

The Amityville Horror Not scary, and anti-climactic too. Basically, once they figure out the house is haunted, they all leave and the movie ends.
Rosemary's Baby Whining and petulant Mia Farrow does nothing but complain, and then it turns out Satan's helpers are a bunch of elderly, upper-class Jews from Manhattan?
The Exorcist I had never seen it before the re-release in 2000. The pea soup and head spinning are old jokes these days. The "shocking" things Regan says and does seem pretty tame. The only part which scared me was when the giant chest of drawers was about to crush Ellen Burstyn. The only time I jumped in my seat was when the phone rings. If you've seen the movie, you know what I mean. What a cheap shot!I guess I just don't find Satan to be very scary.

November 4, 2000 • The Legend Of Bagger Vance
Did nothing for me. I just don't find golf transcendent. But then again, I loved A River Runs Through It, and that's about fishing, fer Chrissakes...

November 10, 2000 • Charlie's Angels
Sexy, sweet, and action-packed. I loved the whole thing.

December 20, 2000 • Unbreakable
Fascinating, powerful, and long. I should see it again to really appreciate it.

December 23, 2000 • Miss Congeniality • Showcase Cinemas Randolph
A nice vehicle for Sandra Bullock, it's too bad everything else she makes is so lousy.

Christmas Eve 2000 • What Women Want • Showcase Cinemas Randolph
Considering the talent involved (Gibson, Hunt, and Tomei all have little gold statues), I had hoped for much better.

	New Year's Day 2000 • The Talented Mister Ripley Dark and thrilling. Wonderful cast all around. A bit long...
	March 1, 2000 • Wonder Boys Best film of the year, even though they messed up the ending. Be sure to ask me about this- I could go on all day!
	April 17, 2000 • High Fidelity • Hoyt's Cinemas Falmouth As a music lover, this one really speaks to me.
	April 29, 2000 • U-571 • Hoyt's Cinemas Falmouth Great sound design saves this one. I imagine it would be unwatchable on TV- all the cast does for 90 minutes is listen!
	April 30, 2000 • Where The Heart Is The Citizen Kane of white rural America.
	May 5, 2000 • Gladiator A visceral thrill with brains. Joaquin Phoenix proves the theory that togas=overacting.
	Chicken Run June 23rd and July 8th, 2000 • Shoulda been a Best Picture nominee. Clever, funny, ingenious comedy.
	July 31, 2000 • The Perfect Storm Not all that great. Director Wolfgang Petersen tries very had to make these noble fishermen seem heroic instead of foolhardy. More fuss was made over the CGI waves than the rest of the movie.
	July 16, 2000 • The Patriot • Showcase Cinemas Randolph Coulda been soooo much better. I am still waiting for the definitive Revolutionary War movie. Chris Cooper was born for this kind of role. We saw this on the drive back from Mike and Laura Lee's house in Humarock.
	August 5, 2000 • X-Men It is difficult to do so many interesting characters justice in one movie, but this one does a good job.
	September 22, 2000 • Almost Famous Incendiary.
	October 14, 2000 • The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen • Hoyt's Cinemas South Portland This film and Rosemary's Baby are both completely overrated. Maybe it was scary back then? I dunno. I wasn't scared at all.
Three Acclaimed Horror Films Which Didn't Scare Me I know horror movies are scarier if you first saw them as a child. My scariest movie list is full of late 70s/early 80s movies. I just didn't find these three stand the test of time. The fact that I saw them for the first time as an adult is probably a factor. The Amityville Horror Not scary, and anti-climactic too. Basically, once they figure out the house is haunted, they all leave and the movie ends. Rosemary's Baby Whining and petulant Mia Farrow does nothing but complain, and then it turns out Satan's helpers are a bunch of elderly, upper-class Jews from Manhattan? The Exorcist I had never seen it before the re-release in 2000. The pea soup and head spinning are old jokes these days. The "shocking" things Regan says and does seem pretty tame. The only part which scared me was when the giant chest of drawers was about to crush Ellen Burstyn. The only time I jumped in my seat was when the phone rings. If you've seen the movie, you know what I mean. What a cheap shot!I guess I just don't find Satan to be very scary.
	November 4, 2000 • The Legend Of Bagger Vance Did nothing for me. I just don't find golf transcendent. But then again, I loved A River Runs Through It, and that's about fishing, fer Chrissakes...
	November 10, 2000 • Charlie's Angels Sexy, sweet, and action-packed. I loved the whole thing.
	December 20, 2000 • Unbreakable Fascinating, powerful, and long. I should see it again to really appreciate it.
	December 23, 2000 • Miss Congeniality • Showcase Cinemas Randolph A nice vehicle for Sandra Bullock, it's too bad everything else she makes is so lousy.
	Christmas Eve 2000 • What Women Want • Showcase Cinemas Randolph Considering the talent involved (Gibson, Hunt, and Tomei all have little gold statues), I had hoped for much better.