2002 Leaman Awards

*Last Updated: 7/17/2023

2002 Films Seen: 88

Number of Films with A or A+ Grade: 5

Key Films Still to See: n/a

Brief Summary: A deep and diverse year of cinema with several legitimate films that can claim classic status. What a great year specifically for high quality action films!

Not a "best of" list or a "favorite" list - but a list of the films and sequences (action, drama, comedy, & musical) that I think represent the best the year had to offer. So think of it as a strange mixture of favorite, best, and defining. Once you get to the top ten films, it definitely becomes more defined as a Top Ten list of the year. The number one film is my favorite of the year. 

Honorable Mentions: The Rookie, Equilibrium, The 25th Hour, Star Trek: Nemesis

25. Jackass: The Movie (B)

24. Treasure Planet (B)

23. Blade II (B)

22. The Pianist (B)

21. Gangs of New York (B)

20. Panic Room (B)

19. About a Boy (B)

18. About Schmidt (B)

17. Punch-Drunk Love (B)

16. Frida (B)

15. Bloody Sunday (B)

14. Changing Lanes (B)

13. Signs (B)

12. Insomnia (B+)

11. Chicago (B+)

THE TOP TEN

10. K-19 The Widowmaker  (B+)

9. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (B+)

8. Spirited Away (B+)

7. Y Tu Mama Tambien (A-)

6. Road to Perdition (A-): My initial reaction to the film was one of disappointment and frustration. Sure, I had heard that Tom Hanks played a 'bad guy' in the film but I wasn't expecting to watch what was basically a 'good guy' just making bad decisions. So by the end of the film, although I really enjoyed it, how could I love a film in which characters make frustratingly wrong choices? As I've matured as a movie watcher, I've come to appreciate how a good tragedy can work; how it can provide the viewer with insight and wisdom the characters earn. I like the mashup of two stories here, a classic mob revenge story with a father/son bonding story. Directed by Sam Mendes (this was his follow-up to the Academy Award winning American Beauty) and shot by Conrad Hall, this is one of the finest looking films ever shot. Hall and Mendes deliver some stunning images and also create a couple of incredibly suspenseful sequences between Hanks and Jude Laws' assassin. 

5. Catch Me If You Can (A)

4. Minority Report (A)

3. Bourne Identity, The (A) 

2. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (A)

1. Adaptation (A+):

FAVORITE ACTION SEQUENCES OF THE YEAR

The Very Good:

• "Betrayed and Thrown Into the River" -Drunken Monkey (Commentary)
• "Finale: Taking Revenge Out on a Trading Company" -Drunken Monkey (Commentary)
• "British Desert Column Square vs. Majhdi Army" -The Four Feathers
• "Speeder Chase Through Coruscant for an Assassin" -Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Commentary)
• "Dock Shootout to Bus Station Brawl" -The Transporter
• "Opening Robbery Getaway in Nice" -The Transporter
• "Surfing to Change the Portal and Escape the Exploding Planet" -Treasure Planet

The Great:

• "Paris Chase in a Mini-Cooper" -The Bourne Identity (Commentary)
• "Pen vs. Knife Fight" -The Bourne Identity (Commentary)
• "Ultimate Gun-Kata: Vanquishing Entire Hallway & Killing Father" -Equilibrium
• "Anderton Runs from Jet Pack PreCrime & Escapes the Car Factory" -Minority Report

The Best: "Finale: The Battle of Helm's Deep & Destruction of Isengard" -The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 

Commentary: This is one of the finest fantasy war sequences ever put to film. I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not to combine all of the battle sequences into one or consider them on their own – since they are intercut with other storylines at times- but in the end, it’s clear that all the Helm’s Deep sequences are essentially meant to be one giant battle and the destruction of Isengard a secondary element to it. If you’ve watched any of the making of The Lord of the Rings footage, you know that large scaled miniatures (bigatures as they called them) were used for much of the Helm’s Deep wide shots and computer animation for any of the large army shots. If this film had been done a few years later, with more developed CGI, they likely would not have used the bigatures, and I think it would have suffered worse for it. While the keen eye can tell it’s a model, there’s a tactile and practical nature to bigatures that gives this action set piece a grounded feeling that few CGI battles can match. Watching this sequence in theaters in 2002, there are several sweeping camera shots that are so inspired, so unique to the time, that they make me feel like I was watching something I'd never seen before. This happened for me when the wall was initially scaled with propped up ladders, when the wall exploded with grandeur and scale, the tossing of Gimli, when the giant ladders were knocked over (!!), Theoden's charge and especially when Gandalf’s riders charged down the hill to save the day. Incredible setting, sweeping fantasy war action, and an ebb and flow to the battle give this sequence the epic reputation it handsomely deserves. For more commentary on Lord of the Rings action sequences, click HERE.

FAVORITE DRAMATIC SEQUENCES OF THE YEAR

The Very Good:

• “Warren Receives a Letter from his Adopted Child” –About Schmidt
• “John Laroche Discusses with Susan the Troubles of his Past” –Adaptation
• “Kaufman attends McKee’s Seminar & Talks With Him” -Adaptation
• "Grief and Misery in the Hospital as the Names are Passed Out to their Families" –Bloody Sunday
• “Bourne finally remembers that He is the Attempted Wombosi assassin” –The Bourne Identity
• "Ben Affleck and Amanda Peet discuss Going to the Edge at Lunch" –Changing Lanes
• “Adult Sedgewick is Exposed After an Overheard Conversation in the Bathroom” -The Emperor’s Club
• “Bill and Amsterdam have a Conversation after Bill Can’t Sleep” –Gangs of New York
• "The Exorcism of Theoden" -The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• “Szpilman Plays the Piano for a German” –The Pianist
• "Barry See's his Girlfriend in an Accident, Beats Up the Perps and Calls the Owner and Asks for His Name" –Punch-Drunk Love
• “Watching the News in Shock as an Alien Appears at a Birthday Party” -Signs
• “A ‘Stink Spirit’ Arrives at the Bathouse” -Spirited Away
• “Picard is Forced to Kill his Clone and Data Saves Picard” –Star Trek: Nemesis 
• "Surprise Nuclear Explosion" -The Sum of All Fears

The Great:

• "Three Reactor Crews Brave the Radiation to Repair the Leak" –K-19 The Widowmaker
• “Sam Recalls to Frodo Why They Continue to Go On” –The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• “Smeagol tells Gollum to Leave and Never Come Back” –The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• "Anderton is Confronted with the Man He is to Kill...and Arrests Him" –Minority Report 
• “Michael takes out Rooney and his Son, then returns Home to his Son” –Road to Perdition
• “Julio and Tenoch Learn Luisa’s secret and Share a Final Discussion, Their Lives Drifting Apart” –Y Tu Mama Tambien  

The Best: "Forth Eorlingas! Theoden & Gandalf Charge the Field at Helm's Deep" -The Two Towers 

Commentary: n/a

FAVORITE COMEDIC SEQUENCES OF THE YEAR

Not a category I kept good track of - One of the toughest TBH

The Very Good:

• "Misinterpreted sub-titles" -Austin Powers in Goldmember

The Great:

• "Opening: Celebrities & Austin Create a Movie & Dance on Set" -Austin Powers in Goldmember
• "Standing in for a Peeing Fountain" -Austin Powers in Goldmember

The Best: "Austin/Mini-Me Stack Required to Give a Urine Sample" -Austin Powers in Goldmember

Commentary: The third entry into the Austin Powers features a pretty unleashed Mike Myers throwing gags, one liners, puns, and comedic set pieces at the viewer at an unprecedented pace. Unfortunately, the hit rate is lower than the previous films. One recurring set piece that still got a huge laugh out of me was an incredibly silly situation where Austin and mini-me are trying to hide on the sub but there's only one overcoat and Austin says, "One of us will have to go on the other's shoulders." In a nice comedic beat we next see Austin as the top with mini-me legs on the bottom - it's a really funny visual. Kicking it up a notch is that they combine this with a shadow gag that gets misinterpreted (this bit was started in the second film). Austin/Mini-Me is forced to have a physical by the sun doctor and they go behind a curtain (throwing a shadow) and the stacked duo cast some admittedly hilarious looking shadows to the increasing credulity of the next patient. It's a guilty pleasure that's not for everyone, but this one always gets a huge laugh from me.

FAVORITE MUSICAL SEQUENCES OF THE YEAR

The Very Good:

• "Opening: Celebrities & Austin Create a Movie & Dance on Set" -Austin Powers in Goldmember
• “Mr. Cellophane” -Chicago

The Great:

• "He Had It Coming" -Chicago

The Best: “Give Them the Ol’ Razzle Dazzle” -Chicago

Commentary: n/a

BEST DIRECTOR

Nominees: 

• Alfonso Cuaron Y Tu Mama Tambien
• Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Spike Jonze Adaptation
• Sam Mendes Road to Perdition
• Steven Spielberg Minority Report

Commentary: n/a

FAVORITE FILM ENSEMBLE

Nominees: 

• Adaptation
• Catch Me If You Can
• Chicago
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Y Tu Mama Tambien

Commentary: n/a

FAVORITE MALE PERFORMANCES

Nominees: 

• Adrian Brody The Pianist
• Nicholas Cage Adaptation
• Chris Cooper Adaptation
• Tom Cruise Minority Report
• Daniel Day-Lewis Gangs of New York
• Leonardo DiCaprio Catch Me If You Can
• Jack Nicholson About Schmidt 
• Andy Serkis The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Christopher Walken Catch Me If You Can
• Forrest Whitaker Panic Room

Commentary: n/a

FAVORITE FEMALE PERFORMANCES

Nominees: 

• Selma Hayek Frida
• Nicole Kidman The Hours
• Ana Lopez Mercado Y Tu Mama Tambien
• Julianne Moore The Hours
• Samantha Morton Minority Report
• Meryl Streep Adaptation
• Nia Vardolos My Big Fat Greek Wedding
• Emily Watson Punch-Drunk Love
• Renee Zellweger Chicago
• Catherine Zeta-Jones Chicago

Commentary: n/a

FAVORITE SCREENPLAY

(original or adapted)

Nominees: 

• Adaptation
• Bloody Sunday
• Catch Me If You Can
• Changing Lanes
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Minority Report
• Punch-Drunk Love
• Road to Perdition
• Spirited Away
• Y Tu Mama Tambien

Commentary: n/a

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

*No eligible documentaries seen this year

Nominees: n/a

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Nominees: 

• Lilo & Stitch
• Return to Neverland
• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
• Spirited Away
• Treasure Planet

Commentary: n/a

BEST FILM EDITING

Nominees: 

• Adaptation
• The Bourne Identity
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Minority Report
• Y Tu Mama Tambien

Commentary: n/a

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominees: 

• Gangs of New York
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Minority Report
• Road to Perdition
• Y Tu Mama Tambien

Commentary: n/a

BEST ART DIRECTION

Nominees: 

• Chicago
• Gangs of New York
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Minority Report
• Road to Perdition

Commentary: n/a

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Nominees: 

• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Men in Black II
• Spider-Man
• Star Trek: Nemesis
• Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Commentary: n/a

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Nominees: 

• The Bourne Identity
• Catch Me If You Can
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Road to Perdition
• Spirited Away

Commentary: n/a

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Nominees: 

• The Bourne Identity
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Minority Report
• Road to Perdition
• Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Commentary: n/a

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Nominees: 

• Chicago
• Frida
• Gangs of New York
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Road to Perdition

Commentary: n/a

BEST MAKE-UP & HAIR DESIGN

Nominees: 

• Adaptation
• Frida
• Gangs of New York
• The Hours
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Commentary: n/a

BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE

Nominees: 

• Austin Powers in Goldmember
• Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
• Equilibrium
• Jackass: The Movie 
• Star Trek: Nemesis

Commentary: n/a

MOST SURPRISING FILM

Nominees: 

• Adaptation
• Chicago
• Y Tu Mama Tambien

Commentary: n/a

MOST DISAPPOINTING FILM

Nominees: 

• Die Another Day
• The Four Feathers
• Master of Disguise
• Orange County
• The Tuxedo

Commentary: I think this was an attempt to make a American produced Jackie Chan film that appealed to a younger demographic than the Rush Hour films. This attempt at a more cartoony style family film see's Jackie play the chauffer of a James Bond like secret agent whose suit allows him to become an incredible action star. When the agent dies, he hands over the suit to Chan and the hijinks begin. Not a bad idea, but the execution is poor, the action sub-par, and everything just feels a bit uninspired. A real let-down for Jackie fans.

MOST UNDERRATED FILM

Nominees: 

• Changing Lanes
• K-19: The Widowmaker
• Treasure Planet

Commentary: n/a

MOST OVERRATED FILM

Nominees: 

• Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
• Orange County
• The Rules of Attraction

Commentary: n/a

WORST FILM

Nominees: 

• Master of Disguise
• The Rules of Attraction
• Scooby-Doo
• Super Troopers
• Time Changer

Commentary: n/a

BEST COMPILATION OF WORK

Nominees:

• Steven Spielberg (Catch Me If You Can & Minority Report)

Commentary: n/a

ERIC BANA AWARD

*Given for the best performance in a bad film (See 2004's Troy)

Nominees:

• Ewan Mcgregor Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
• Reese Witherspoon Sweet Home Alabama

Commentary: n/a

THE END!

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