It's Gothamist's second favorite Times Arts & Leisure feature of the year (after the Fall Preview, which, even though "Fall" is less of an event in film and TV, just seems to be an exciting way to ring in the best season), when all the critics give their favorites and hateds of the year. The film critics list their best, with Elvis Mitchell calling Pirates of the Caribbean his top movie (Merry Christmas, Jerry Bruckheimer), A.O. Scott naming Master and Commander his, and Stephen Holden picking Angels in America (technically a film made for cable, but considering its ten month shoot, $60 million price tag, and ultimate 6 hour running time, it's certainly an event, so why quibble?). Then the critics have a discussion about the worst things in movies this past year (roles for women, children's movies); Scott reveals that when critics tell their children some movies are bad, the consequences are dire: [Also Scott on the year in general and Dave Kehr on the Year of the Documetary.] more ›

Charlotte Sometimes finally opens in New York with a theatrical run at Cinema Village on East 12th Street starting today. Gothamist first caught it in February, and it is a beautiful, subdued character driven film about four young people in L.A.: An introverted mechanic; his tenant, a sexy actress; her boyfriend; and a mysterious woman. The Times' Dave Kehr calls it "a tiny film that reflects a large talent." Kehr also says that director Eric Byler's style recalls that of French master, Eric Rohmer "fascination with courtship rituals" and "complex interaction of two actors sharing the same frame." Roger Ebert was an early advocate for the film. more ›

X2...blah blah...X-Men United...blah blah...X2...need to see it...better than the first, but the first is different...blah blah... Critics pretty much love the sequel to X2, from A.O. Scott rhapsodizing about Anna Paquin's kissability, Kenneth Turan giving Brian Cox props and Stephanie Zacharek's admission that X2 is good though less lyrical than the first. Gothamist is debating whether to see X2 this weekend, as it will be hella crowded, even at the stadium seating multiplexes. more ›

I adore Nicole Holofcener, for making Walking and Talking, the best contemporary film about female best friends. Miguel Arteta definitely is extremely talented, considering his excellent direction of Jennifer Aniston in The Good Girl. But when I read that Holofcener and Arteta were going remake Lukas Moodysson's "Together", a lovely Swedish Dogme 95 film about hippies during the 1970s, my stomach dropped. Charming and witty and hysterically funny, "Together" is already perfect, why reinvent the wheel? And while I'm sure Holofcener and Arteta will do at good job, they must have a ton of original ideas on their own. Sigh. more ›

Go see Spirited Away this weekend, the animated film by Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki (he made Princess Mononoke) that Disney did not know how to distribute. Definitely one of the best things I've seen recently, it's whimsical, fantastic, sad, romantic, scary. It's on the Top 10 films of the year lists of many critics, including Roger Ebert,; three New York Timesies: A.O. Scott, Elvis Mitchell, and Dave Kehr (number one on his list); Time's Richard Corliss; and even the usually iffy Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly.
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