Below are my top ten choices for best films of 2000. Here are some quotes from my film reviews of these films that I thought were exceptional:
1. ALMOST FAMOUS: "...ALMOST FAMOUS is one of the year's best heart-warming and fascinating films. This latest triumphant accomplishment from Cameron Crowe ("Jerry Maguire") does bring a poignant and refreshing nostalgic look at music and the dynamics that bind a family together. Crowe offers a gentle pulsating period piece that is deeply lyrical, uncontrollably hysterical and stylishly invigorating. This film blends the sentimentality of the early 70's era with the emergence of rock music as its wake up call to social change..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
2. AMERICAN PSYCHO: "...AMERICAN PSYCHO is truly one of the most intense, rapacious and off-kiltered social satires ever to be produced for the big screen. Director Mary Harron does justice to Bret Easton Ellis' vindictive and vibrant novel by crafting this hauntingly humorous yet vigilant and disturbing look at the provocative and self-absorbed times of the late eighties. This social commentary on the breakdown of personal values and economic gain is stunningly engaging in its shock waves. Gritty, amoral and vastly involving, AMERICAN PSYCHO is one of the best unassuming and clever films of the year!"--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
3. CECIL B. DEMENTED: "...We're ready for your cunning and callous closeup of Hollywood, Mr. Demented! CECIL B. DEMENTED is delightfully twisted as a deranged, satirical look at moviemaking. What is achingly funny about the way filmmaker John Waters attacks the movie business is his willingness to celebrate the bizarre logic that Hollywood incorporates into its own mentality. There's a sense of urgency in the ridiculous way the film industry compromises its...dare I say it...integrity! CECIL B.DEMENTED is a riotous hoot that spoofs everything from Hollywood moviemaking to the political scene to Waters' own brand of offbeat filmmaking in his early days (ranging from "Pink Flamingo" to "Serial Mom"). Edgy, wry and notoriously avante garde, CECIL B. DEMENTED is pure escapist absurd fun that knows how to take shots at an industry known to put on many faces for an unsuspecting adoring audience..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
4. THE CONTENDER: "...Director Rod Lurie presents an imaginative, riveting and absorbing political thriller in THE CONTENDER, a showcase that radiates all the suspenseful nuances echoed by previous films from "The Candidate" to "The Seduction of Joe Tynan". Remarkably upbeat and perceptive in its presentation, THE CONTENDER should garner some attention as an Oscar contender. The performances by Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges and Gary Oldman are deliciously drawn. Uncompromising and thought-provoking, THE CONTENDER is savvy and attentive. Clearly one of the best politically-oriented suspense pieces in years!..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
5. GIRLFIGHT: "...GIRLFIGHT is writer-director KAryn Kusama's chaotic gem about a lost young woman looking for comfort in a young life that is clearly uncomforting. Raw, genuinely heartfelt and convincingly powerful, GIRLFIGHT packs a punch that is furious yet softly affecting. Newcomer Michelle Rodriguez is a sesational find in a freshman role that is an effective knockout. A frothy and brazen coming-of-age story that combines honesty with tenderness..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
6. JESUS' SON: "...One will jet a Jones in their bones for JESUS' SON, a junkie redemption love story that is sobering and surprisingly affectionate. Alison Maclean is at the helm of this powerfully-charged study of squalor and spirituality courtesy of an adaptation of short stories by author Denis Johnson. Methodical and brazen in content, JESUS' SON is one of the best films of the year. It's a meditation in moodiness, underlying mayhem and the sanctity of an unbalanced existence. Both Billy Crudup and Samantha Morton give understated yet potent performances as a couple on the verge of a drug-induced collapse. A truly rueful, thought-provoking little picture that deserves a big following..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
7. NURSE BETTY: "...NURSE BETTY is just what the doctor ordered! Neil LaBute's deliciously delusive comedy is hysterically blunt, outrageous and unsettling. Renee Zellweger delivers an Oscar-worthy performance that is both rich and uniquely three-dimensional. Robust and energetic, NURSE BETTY is an intoxicating and riotous examination of typical LaBute character studies who undermine the expected conventions of a sane society. This film has an ominous presence in its otherwise irreverent, craft core..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
8. THE TAO OF STEVE: "...THE TAO OF STEVE is incredibly original, remarkably genuine and eminently heuristic. The direction by Jennifhr Goodman is stabilizing and exhilerating. Goodman's film is indeed a breath of fresh air in the populated world of brainless, redundant one-dimensional romantic flicks..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
9. TIGERLAND: "...Joel Schumacher spins a brilliant and feisty offering in TIGERLAND, a caustic and captivating war drama that challenges the senses. Deeply profound and intense, this film hits you bluntly in the face and asks you up front to question its convictions. Impeccable performances are abundant throughout the film. Schumacher redeems himself accordingly with this triumphant vehicle..."--Frank Ochieng, The Voicemakers
10. YOU CAN COUNT ON ME: "...Sibling rivalry hasn't been so beautifully displayed on the big screen in writer-director Kenneth Lonegran's deeply moving drama YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. Lonegran's subtle but involving family drama is heart-rendering and authentic. Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo give awesome performances of a lifetime. They both should be remembered at Oscar time! YOU CAN COUNT ON ME is an intimate, graceful drama that makes its mark in stirring, harmonious fashion..."--Frank Ochieng, THE VOICEMAKERS
Now to recap and list Frank's best films of 2000:
1. Almost Famous
2. American Psycho
3. Cecil B. Demented
4. The Contender
5. Girlfight
6. Jesus' Son
7. Nurse Betty
8. The Tao of Steve
9. Tigerland
10. You Can Count On Me