BEST DOCUMENTARY — Bowling for Columbine — In this hilarious but telling documentary, Michael Moore asks why so many Americans kill each other with guns, and why we’re so afraid of each other. He talks with people like James Nichols, Marilyn Manson, and Charlton Heston. Even with serious content, like security camera footage of the Columbine Massacre, there’s a lot of humor to balance things out. — C.P.
BEST FOREIGN FILM — Y Tu Mamíç Tambií©n is really a movie about sexual frustration, relationships, teen boredom, and self-discovery. The story is about two horny teenagers (Diego Luna and Gael Garcí_a Bernal), a sexy older woman (Maribel Verdí_), and a trip through Mexico in a beat up station wagon. Director Alfonso Cuarí_n created a masterpiece that even Diego Rivera couldn’t paint. Cuarí_n did such a good job with Y Tu Mamíç that he’s signed on to direct the next Harry Potter movie. Don’t expect any nude scenes though. — D.R.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT — XXX — This much-hyped film was meant to establish Vin Diesel as the next big action hero. Instead, this rising star tricked unsuspecting viewers into sitting through a poorly written and clichí© filled James Bond wannabe. He should consider himself lucky if he can still salvage his career after this disaster. — D.E.
BIGGEST SURPRISE — 8 Mile — The first ever movie role for Detroit born white rapper Eminem was quite convincing as he carefully portrayed a Detroit born white rapper named Bunny Rabbit. Although his motivation was staring at him in the mirror each day, the acting is still rather believable. This performance may not lead to a prolific film career, but his words and actions appeared as genuine as any seasoned screen veteran. — D.E.
MOST DISGUSTING — Jackass: The Movie — This is exactly like the infamous TV show. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Party Boy, and Weeman perform one dangerous stunt after another. It’s hilarious if taken for what it is: stupid. Some of the grossest stunts included putting a muscle stimulator on odd parts of each other’s bodies and jamming a toy car up somebody’s rectum. — C.P.
WORST SEQUEL — Men in Black II — Will Smith is a sure thing at the box office every summer, and this was no exception. Smith and Tommy Lee Jones admirably supported a very weak script. The story lacked anything new or exciting in its second turn. It was nothing more than a re-worked version of the original. Jones and Smith save Earth from otherworldly evildoers with the help of a talking dog and some friendly aliens disguised as everyday New Yorkers…again. — D.E.
TOP 5 MOVIES THAT WENT UNNOTICED
Auto Focus — This is a film about the life of Bob Crane, played by Greg Kinnear. Crane was famous for his role as Col. Hogan on the TV show Hogan’s Heroes. He was a one-dimensional person and obsessed with sex, and this film is entirely true to that quirk. Crane hangs out at strip clubs, reads swingers magazines, watches pornographic films and takes pictures of the women he sleeps with. It is an honest look into the life of an unconventional man who lived everyday for controversy. — C.P.
Big Trouble — This was the best movie to suffer the post 9/11 curse. Like other disasters such as Schwarzenegger’s Collateral Damage, this Tim Allen comedy was pulled from theaters before its scheduled release date. Its sensitive subject matter (bombs on airplanes, terrorists) caused studios to rethink their strategies. By the time Big Trouble found its way onto screens, no one seemed to care. This well-written comedy with a hilarious cast was unable to find an audience. More importantly, pay attention towards the end of the film for the breakthrough performance of Flip Schultz as Co-pilot Jan Vigushin. Schultz is a proud FAU grad and extremely successful stand-up comic with lots of star potential. His next big break could come January 8th on the season premiere of CBS’ Star Search. — D.E.
Death to Smoochy — This is an unapologetic, politically incorrect, dark comedy. Robin Williams, as the corrupt children’s television host Rainbow Rudolph, delivers an insanely funny and crazy performance. Edward Norton, as Smoochy, Randolph’s replacement, is the perfect opposite. He actually has good intentions and tries to bring them to show business. Just remember to leave your inhibitions at the door before watching this one. — C.P.
Frailty — In a word, disturbing. It may also be a creepy, deranged, psychotic, suspense horror thriller, but in just one word, it’s disturbing. This directorial debut from Bill Paxton tells the story of a family whose religious fanatic father’s visions lead to a series of murders meant to destroy supposed “demons.” This one will leave you guessing until the end when it takes everything you thought you knew and rips it out from under your feet. I’ve seen it twice and I’m still not sure what really happened. — D.E.
K-19: The Widowmaker – Based on the true story of a Russian nuclear submarine, K-19 mistakenly cast an American icon (Harrison Ford) in the Russian lead role. If you can get past the poorly faked accents and the infusion of political propaganda, there is a riveting plot beneath. The suspense builds as the crew encounters each new obstacle. This is a film that celebrates real bravery, courage, and above all, loyalty. — D.E.
