The author’s considered best/worst in each category are listed in bold italics with an asterisk (*). The listed links will take you to more detailed reviews of each film.
The 10 Best Films
- A.I.
- Spirited Away
- Ichi the Killer
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Waking Life
- Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner
- Monsters, Inc.
- Shrek
- Avalon
Worst Films
Best Director
John Dahl – Joy Ride
Peter Jackson – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Zacharias Kunuk – Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner
Hayao Miyazaki – Spirited Away
Steven Spielberg – A.I. (*)
Best Original Screenplay
The Bank
Frailty
The Others
Series 7: The Contenders
Waking Life (*)
Best Adapted Screenplay
A.I.
Hannibal
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Pledge
Vanilla Sky (*)
Best Actor
Tom Cruise – Vanilla Sky
Hugh Jackman – Kate & Leopold (*)
Anthony LaPaglia – The Bank
Jack Nicholson – The Pledge
Haley Joel Osment – A.I.
Best Actress
Helena Bonham Carter – Planet of the Apes
Sylvia Ivalu – Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner
Nicole Kidman – The Others
Brooke Smith – Series 7: The Contenders (*)
Alexa Vega – Spy Kids
Naomi Watts – Mulholland Dr.
Best Supporting Actor
James Gandolfini – The Mexican
Jude Law – A.I.
Ian McKellen – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (*)
Karel Roden – 15 Minutes
Tim Roth – Planet of the Apes
Best Supporting Actress
Marylouise Burke – Series 7: The Contenders (*)
Fionnula Flanagan – The Others
Laura Elena Harring – Mulholland Dr.
Tiffany Limos – Teenage Caveman
Phina Oruche – The Forsaken
Best Cinematography
A.I.
Avalon (*)
Watchtower/Cruel and Unusual
K-PAX
Soul Survivors
Best Musical Score
A.I.
Avalon (*)
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Mulholland Dr.
Best Special Effects
A.I.
Cats & Dogs
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Jurassic Park III
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (*)
Best Makeup Effects
A.I.
Ichi the Killer
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Planet of the Apes (*)
Shallow Hal
Best Production Design
A.I.
Metropolis (*)
Monkeybone
Thir13een Ghosts
Vidocq
Most Underrated Film:
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
Most Critically Overrated:– Donnie Darko.
Biggest Disappointment:
There were several potential contenders that emerged as a whole lot less than they could have been – Lara Croft, Tomb Raider sported a helluva cool trailer – and nothing else and Ghosts of Mars proved John Carpenter’s sorriest effort in a long time. But the biggest disappointment in terms of what was promised and what was delivered was From Hell which promised the definitive version of the Jack the Ripper story and offered only warmed-over tabloid conspiracy.
Best Sequel/Remake:
Vanilla Sky also a strong contender for the year’s most underrated. Worst Sequel/Remake would go to Just Visiting.