Best Movies of 2003

What an amazing film this is. Thomas McCarthy's screenplay makes this movie. The story is absolutely original and the cast makes it even more enjoyable. Finbar McBride [Dinklage] inherits a small piece of property in New Jersey from his friend who just passed away. He moves there with the idea of peace and quiet, but only to discover two people who keep popping up in his life. Joe [Cannavale] is a hotdog vendor who sets his truck up right outside of the train depot where Fin lives. They become close friends and their friendship is really something special. Olivia [Clarkson] is a woman who ran into Fin by running him off the road twice. She keeps visiting him to apologize and ends up becoming close friends. The three end up doing things together and grow close. The character development in this film is impeccable and the acting is some of the best I've seen. The ensemble should have won some kind of award, maybe at the SAGs, which it unfortunately didn't. Michelle Williams, who was also very good, also stars. This is one of four perfect films of 2003. I highly recommend it to everyone. It is funny, touching and 100% real. It's a terrific film that has instantly become one of my favourites. Wonderful job Mr. McCarthy on an amazing film.

Perfect. One of the best animated films of all time! Incredible voice work and beautiful animation and colour.

Perfect. The second best movie of 2003.

This Canadian masterpiece won the Oscar in 2003 for Best Foreign Film. Denys Arcand was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay in the same year. This movie is astonishing and very genuine.

A terrific biopic on prostitute turned serial killer Aileen Wuornos. I hate to say this, but I love the character Aileen. There is something about her that is so unique and it makes her different from any other characters I have seen on film. She was an interesting human.

Charlize Theron played this role to perfection. She gives one of the best female performances I have ever seen and deserved her Oscar more than anyone in Academy Award history. This film is absolutely compelling with its wonderful story and strong characters that it makes you feel many different things while watching it.

When Aileen kills her first 'customer' you feel bad for her. But after the second and third victims you realize that she is out of control. The fact that she needed to be stopped made me sad because she was such a hopeful person even if she was a criminal. Charlize did a terrific job making this character likeable and despised at the same time.

The last few scenes are the most powerful, especially the one where Aileen is calling Selby for the last time from prison. The way the recording plays through the trial is heartwrenching. Aileen gets to the most emotional part of her speech at the same time the judge sentences her to death. It ended up being a very sad movie even though I knew what was going to happen.

I highly recommend this to everyone.

It's a shame that this film was hollywoodized because it had potential to be perfect. It fell slightly below that line though, with a still amazing rating from me. This film, although historically incorrect in many ways, still has an excellent storyline and is so pleasing to watch. It's absolutely gorgeous and the Japanese culture makes it so calm even though it's violent.

This film fails to represent the Japanese culture properly, but still has strong morals. Similar to [i]Lost in Translation[/i], this film deals with the Americanization of Japan. The Americans are called into Tokyo to help train the Japanese soldiers. In this training, the Americans are colonizing the Japanese culture and basically rebuilding it to fit their standards. The beauty of this film is in the shots of Katsumoto's village in the still culturally-stable side of Japan.

The cinematography is stunning, also. This beautiful piece of film could have been a masterpiece if it wasn't for its Hollywoodization. The director had good morals, but the film never really adapted them. It is still an amazing film, and I do not judge it for its historic errors, because this film is fictional and with a piece of fiction, anything can happen.

Ken Watanabe is brilliant as Katsumoto, the most respected samurai in his land. He gives a performance full of emotion, yet remains stern in his presence.

A terrific film.