25 In 25: My Favorite Films of the First Quarter Century

2002

It was a year when one of the best superhero films of all time was released in Toby Maguire's Spider-Man. Steven Spielberg released TWO bangers in Catch Me If You Can and Minority Report. Action movies were changed forever by The Bourne Identity. It was also a year that a little Hong Kong crime drama would inspire one of America's best with Infernal Affairs. And while Nolan released his second film this year with Insomnia, I stepped outside my comfort zone to reach my two favorite films of this year.

Horror was never my thing until recently... And that goes threefold for me back in 2002. But the moment I saw Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, I knew I had witnessed cinema. Written by Alex Garland and starring actors I knew nothing about, I sat in the theatre, gripping my armrests, and tried to actually break down the themes for the first time I could recall. And that opening guerrilla filmmaking scene depicting an empty London is life-altering.

Amid the usual "zombie" flick themes of isolation and survival, Boyle sprinkled in some xenophobia and an overall theme of existing outside of just ourselves. It's no surprise that once Boyle and Garland returned to the series this past year (28 Years Later) that they brought adult themes to another zombie flick.

Boyle would go on to become one of my favorite directors (Sunshine anyone?!?!) and Garland one of my favorite writers. 28 Days Later is more than a zombie flick and nothing less than a masterpiece!

 After further consideration and a rewatch last night, my favorite film of 2002 is 25th Hour by Spike Lee. To say this is a sleeper pick is an understatement. While other of Lee's filmography are lauded as his best, there is no doubt in my mind that this film, which I thought was just a cool action/crime flick back in the day, is one of the best of the century so far.

 The cast alone makes this one special. Ed Norton as Monty, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Rosario Dawson, Barry Pepper (who I thought would become a bigger star after this), and Isiah Whitlock Jr (RIP)!!! That is mind-blowing for 2002.

But the cast alone can't do it without story, and Lee delivers it in spades along with David Benioff, who penned the screenplay... Yes, THAT Devid Benioff (Game of Thrones). Monty is about to head to prison. 9/11 just happened. The film is a character study of not only Monty, but also how life changed in NYC after that day.

Monty sees all his friends, and he tries to reconcile the path that led him here... and how his relationships led to his ultimate demise... and the role his surroundings played in those decisions. It's simply a gorgeous film that Disney almost ruined by not wanting Lee to film the "Fuck" monologue! You'll just have to watch it to see what I am talking about.