Posted in: Articles
Exploring our favourite films in the year 2002
In this blog series, George and Matt from the Monitor Audio team explore their favourite movies from the last 20 years.
Our selection of films may not be critically acclaimed or box office hits, but have stood the test of time as our favourite movies.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know your favourite movies from the year 2002 on Facebook and Twitter!
28 Days Later - George's Top Pick
Dir: Danny Boyle | Searchlight Pictures
Directed by Danny Boyle, this provocative horror is a fascinating look into a society crippled by a mysterious disease, with incredible performances from Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris and Brendan Gleeson.
The story focuses on Jim (Murphy) as he wakes up from a coma, alone in Hospital, 28 days after a viral epidemic has ripped through Britain, in for the form of a virus, which has left its hosts with uncontrollable fury. Not knowing what has happened, he soon meets up with other survivors as they bid to find a safe haven.
The mood captures the eerie silence as Jim walks along a vacant Westminster Bridge towards Piccadilly Circus, searching for help. For me, the most horrifying scene sees Jim walk into an abandoned chapel and utter his first word ‘hello’. As we see the infected for the first time, the atmosphere moves from tense to terrifying at an alarming pace.
Boyle doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares; instead, the slow burn of dread and suspense pulls you in and doesn’t let go. His decision to shoot the film on consumer grade digital video cameras provides a grim, but beautiful look at the bleak surroundings and gives it real authenticity. Truly horrifying, it’s the best zombie horror since George Romero’s 1978 classic Dawn of the Dead.
The soundtrack is brilliant, Brian Eno’s “An Ending” is fitting and despite the subject matter, it feels very believable.
City of God - Matt's Top Pick
Dir: Fernando Meirelles | Miramax
Set in the poverty-stricken slums of Rio de Janiero, this story follows two children who follow very different paths. Directors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund capture the growth of organized crime in Rio between the 60-80s.
The focus is on a gang called the Tender Trio and an amateur photographer called Rocket, as the narrative skips around in time, we follow their respective journeys.
The setting of urban decay, whilst watching the horrors that surround these children from such an early age makes this a difficult watch. The scene when Rocket is trapped between the gang and the police, in what turns out to be a shootout, is wonderfully shot. As he takes shelter and captures the scenes that prevail, it’s exhilarating as it is bleak.
An emotionally engaging film with some truly confident and authentic performances, City of God is a masterpiece.
Catch Me If You Can
Dir: Steven Spielberg | Dreamworks Pictures
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks star in this outrageous real-life story about con artist Frank Abagnale. Frank Abagnale successfully forged millions of dollars' worth of cheques, whilst posing as a Pan American pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana legal prosecutor.
In this biographical crime from Director Steven Spielberg, this cat-and-mouse story follows Frank Abagnale (DiCaprio) as he is pursued across the country by FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks). Both give superb performances beside a stellar cast; consisting of Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen and Amy Adams.
In an incredible turn of events, after being tracked down, Abagnale eventually works alongside Hanratty as a bank security expert, helping the FBI apprehend counterfeiters.
Alongside a John Williams score, this well-structured, fun and enjoyable film is thrilling throughout, offering a roller-coaster ride.
Gangs of New York
Dir: Martin Scorsese | Buena Vista Distribution
Director Martin Scorsese takes charge of this epic drama, set in 1862, about a long-running Catholic–Protestant feud in the slum neighbourhood of Five Points, Manhattan.
Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to the Five Points area of New York City to infiltrate William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting’s (Daniel Day-Lewis) gang, seeking revenge against his father's killer. Daniel Day-Lewis steals the show as the fiery leader of the Protestants, with his showmanship and bravado shining through.
As the rival gangs face off and Amsterdam and Bill finally face one another, the cannon fire and riots provide a wonderful spectacle. Also featuring Cameron Diaz and Jim Broadbent, Scorsese’s set and overall visual design is a work of art, vividly presented to bring 1860s New York to life. The final scene, a time-lapse, showing modern Manhattan, after one hundred and forty years has passed is a fitting ending.
Road to Perdition
Dir: Sam Mendes | 20th Century Studios
Torn between loyalty to his boss and saving his own child, this journey of revenge from Director Sam Mendes is intimate and powerful.
Tom Hanks stars as Michael Sullivan, Sr., an enforcer for the mob. When his son Sullivan Jr. witnesses Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig) murder a member of a rival family, he later attempts to cover it up by plotting to kill him, but instead murders Sullivan’s Wife and younger son.
Mob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman) hires hitman Harlen Maguire (Jude Law) to kill Sullivan, in order to protect his son Connor, of whom Sullivan seeks vengeance. Sullivan and his surviving son find themselves on an expedition across the country, as he plots his retribution, whilst keeping his son safe.
Some incredible performances with a stunning score from Thomas Newman. This story, set during the Great Depression, is beautifully shot and profound.
The Ring
Dir: Gore Verbinski | Dreamworks Pictures
Director Gore Verbinski adds his own spin to 1998 Japanese horror film Ring, as he manages to captures the suspense and terrifying atmosphere.
Naomi Watts brilliantly portrays Rachel Keller, a journalist who investigates a cursed videotape that seemingly kills the viewer seven days after watching it.
Set in the Pacific Northwest, the videotape is making the rounds before Rachel finally succumbs to watch it herself. Upon receiving an ominous phone call, seemingly starting the seven-day countdown to her impending death, she must solve the puzzle of the video and the persons behind it within the week.
Verbinski offers creepy and disturbing visuals for the duration, which makes for an extremely unsettling watch.
Panic Room
Dir: David Fincher | Columbia Pictures
This thriller from David Fincher about a mother and daughter who’s new home is invaded by burglars is both energetic and intense.
Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her diabetic daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) make their way to the homes hidden "panic room" as burglars Burnham (Forest Whitaker), Raoul (Dwight Yoakam) and Junior (Jared Leto) break into their home in search for $3 million in bearer bonds. Unbeknownst to Meg and Sarah, the bonds are in a safe within their panic room.
As the burglar’s frustrations continue to grow, they find themselves fighting one another and as Sarah suffers a diabetic seizure; Meg plots to leave the panic room to find her daughters med kit, using the surveillance cameras and public address system to her advantage.
Fincher uses the illusion of the film camera moving through the house's rooms to create a claustrophobic feel to their surroundings. This story of survival and greed really stands out.
The Bourne Identity
Dir: Doug Liman | Universal Pictures
This adrenaline fuelled action-thriller, from director Doug Liman, stars Matt Damon as a trained assassin, searching for answers about his CIA past.
Jason Bourne (Damon) is rescued from the Mediterranean Sea, suffering from gunshot wounds and extreme amnesia. He later discovers he has been brainwashed and trained as an assassin for the CIA, in connection with Operation Treadstone, a CIA black ops program. He follows various clues but struggles to discover his true identity and becomes a target himself, due to the sensitive information he begins to remember.
In a standout scene, Treadstone assassin The Professor, played by Clive Owen, attempts to kill Bourne, but instead is mortally wounded. Before The Professor dies, he turns to Bourne and says, "Look at this. Look what they make you give."
Superb car chases, explosive fighting, this is pure cinematic action at its very best.
One Hour Photo
Dir: Mark Romanek | Searchlight Pictures
A psychological thriller from Director Mark Romanek about photo technician Sy Parrish, played by Robin Williams.
Sy runs the photo-processing department at SavMart, a discount store. He lives alone, has no love life or friends, and lives only for his work. Nina (Connie Nielsen) and Will (Michael Vartan), alongside their nine-year-old boy, Jake (Dylan Smith) regularly visit SavMart to get their photos processed. Sy has been obsessively making copies of their photos, for years, imagining himself to be a member of their family.
As Sy discovers that Will is having an extramarital affair, everything starts to unravel and soon the police are searching for Sy, after he kidnaps Will and his lover, whilst detectives discover his photos and obsession with the family. When Sy is finally apprehended by police he claims, "I just took pictures."
This tale of infatuation was genuinely scary and a bold performance from Williams caught me off guard, providing a very different style of villain.
Bowling for Columbine
Dir: Michael Moore | MGM
My favourite documentary from political documentary filmmaker Michael Moore focuses on the problematic issue of gun violence.
This provocative film gives an insight into complex political issues surrounding the purchase of guns across America, directly looking at the background checks and statistics.
Witty and blunt, Moore is extremely coherent throughout. As well as speaking to residents across America, interviews with Matt Stone, Marilyn Manson and later Charlton Heston, are fascinating. This ferocious debate has continued and it really shows, 18 years on, how painfully relevant it is today. Brutal, but thought provoking, this is a must see.
Honorable Mentions:
The Mothman Prophecies
Dir: Mark Pellington | Screen Gems
About a Boy
Dir: Chris & Paul Weitz | Universal Pictures
Signs
Dir: M. Night Shyamalan | Buena Vista Pictures
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Dir: Peter Jackson | New Line Cinema
The Pianist
Dir: Roman Polanski | Focus Features
Check out more of our favourites
