6 • REVIEWS Cheap Seats 8r qticky Floors Top Ten Films of 2000 —By Matt Mosley film reviews I know that my top ten film list of 2000 is arriving a little on the late side (hey, we've already reached mid-March), but because of film release patterns, I've just recently finished seeing all the poten tially worthy contenders. Over all, 2000 was definitely a disap pointing year. We had too many teen flicks (Loser) and Bruckheimer hits (Coyote Ugly) sandwiched between over-ripe thrillers (What Lies Beneath) and under wrought epics (Gladiator). To make things worse, we had to put up with some of the most annoying titles in the history of cine ma: Dude, Where's My Car?, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and 0' Brother, Where art Thou? (notwithstanding Dude, the latter two actually ended out being pretty good films). Yes, it appears that the impending writers and actors strikes have already seen their effects come forth. Truthfully though, if I had to choose between the two, I'd take Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) and Christopher McQuarrie (The Way of the Gun) any day over Freddie Prinze Jr. and Tom Hanks. As bad as this Patriot-filled year was, some original and daring pieces (e. - 4 ...„...........0' # ; .:.:. ...... 1 •.'1.:1.::,-§1..t: cni 64, the CAPITAL TIMES of work still emerged. You just had to know where to look. So without any fur ther bashing, I'll give you my top ten list. 10. The Way of the Gun It may not be the perfect film, but this directorial debut by Christopher McQuarrie is groundbreaking nonetheless. This crime drama about two loners who hold a pregnant woman for ransom allows every character in the film to be unre deemable in every way. It proves that films don't have to include that sympathetic pro tagonist. It may not be the moral thing to do, but then again, these days who gives a shit. This is the kind of bad-ass filmmak ing I love. 9. Wonderland Michael Winterbottom (Jude, Welcome to Sarajevo) gives us the down and dirty, British working-class-version of Magnolia. The film traces a bunch of young "Londonites" as their down-and-out lives spiral out of control. Winterbottom's hand-held, digital video style gives the film a powerful and realistic punch. It's his best film to date. Get Them Before ring Flower Sale— and Auction main lobby of the Olmsted building April 9 lmsted lobby and the CUB April 10th, 11h, and 12th 7, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and April 18, 11 a.m. Olmsted building main lobby Proceeds benefit the new parking lot beautification project of the Graduate Student Association Ed Harris gives a heartfelt and emo tional peformance as Jackson Pollock, the famous abstract expressionist painter, in a wondeful film that he also wrote and directed. The often-erratic life of Pollock is portrayed on-screen in a transforming and amazingly touching way. Harris' direction is rock solid as he allows you to interpret Pollock's life in the same vein as his art. It's all up to the viewer. It is a rare thing to see a comedy that is more than just a bunch of laughs. The third directorial effort from Neil Laßute (In the Company of Men, Young Friends & Neighbors) is a delicate tale of a delusion al woman on her way to California to meet her favorite soap character. Social corn mentary and the best performance of Renee Zellweger's career are what make the film sing and dance. Speaking of singing and dancing, Bjork does quite a number in this offbeat musical/drama about an immigrant woman They're Flower Sale Silent Auction 8. Pollock 7. Nurse Betty 6. Dance in the Dark MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2001 who lives in a blind world of Hollywood musicals. The film's ensemble cast of character actors, along with the European style, makes for an amazing theatrical piece of art. It's a tragic film about hope, loss, love and pity. The Academy really did a disservice this year when passing over Bjork for a best actress nomination. 5. Sunshine This summertime art-house epic star ring Ralph Fiennes spans three generations in the lives of one family in Hungary. Fiennes plays three characters of direct descent in this film and makes each one unique and convincing. The large-scale originality of the writing is pulled off per fectly. Sunshine is an example of what Hollywood should be moving toward: epics with heart, soul - and without Tom Hanks. 4. Croupier This film almost didn't get released in this country, but luckily Shooting Gallery Films picked up this miniature royal British jewel from director Mike Hodges (the original Get Carter). Clive Owen - 5 p.m.