Sunday
Jun212020
Last Notes on 2002 (a Film Bitch Awards Flashback)
Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 6:00PM 
by Nathaniel R
We've had more difficulty letting the latest Smackdown go than usual but then 2002 was a fun fun year to discuss and podcast about. There were so many more films we could have spoken about.
As an added bonus, since people are always asking about the old Film Bitch Awards that are no longer available online, we thought we'd share a couple of page from the 2002 honors for fun / discussion. (We've thought about compiling a "first ten years" book via GoFundMe or something - would you buy one?).
This brings back so many memories -- as with all awards in retrospect, I have some 'what was I thinking?' questions for myself but also some pride in foresight.
The rest of our 2002 Flashback
- The Official 2002 Smackdown
- Smackdown Podcast Companion Index
- Viola Davis's triple breakthrough
- Sandy Powell's costumes in Gangs and Far From Heaven
- When Spain didn't submit Talk to Her
- That train scene from Unfaithful
- Is Die Another Day the worst Bond?
- What was happening in pop culture?
- Isabelle Huppert in 8 Women
- Supporting Actress Character Intros
- The Makeup in The Hours
- The Furniture: Frida's Mirrors & Diego's Murals
Reader Comments (28)
How was Monsoon Wedding not nominated for best foreign language film? These nominees remind me how delightful it is.
Fascinating to see so much Viola! Wasn't expecting that. This definitely brings back memories, and I'm still so annoyed Quaid didn't get an Oscar nod for Far From Heaven.
Viola!! So proud of this site
About a Boy is a miracle, a film about the relationship between a grown man and a 12-year old boy, and it's never creepy. It's also Grant's best role before his recent renaissance.
But the year's best film is Y tu mamá también. No competition here.
I would definitely buy a book containing previous Film Bitch Award ceremonies! Sign me up right away.
Man I discovered The Film Experience back in 2003 when looking up info about the 2002 awards seasons. This brought back some memories!
Spirited Away is still my favorite from 2002, even if I'm not enamored with the dub.
I would love to have access to old film bitch awards nominees and winners. I'm a terrible person for reading but that be something I'd seek out.
Mostly great set of nominations here and always fun to see what people award and if we think the same thing years later.
I'm pretty sure I would end up buying the 'early years' if you put them out - would you include the other awards (my personal fave was the Pearls Before Swine award for the best performance in a bad movie)
What a year. All in for pretty much everything related to Talk to Her, Y Tu Mama Tambien, About a Boy, and Punch-Drunk Love. And while there were some actors I liked a lot that year (like some you mention - Brody, Grant, Cooper, Quaid, Cox, Luna), what an astoundingly deep year for Supporting Actress - your picks, finalists, and semi-finalists, just, wow. Btw, really pleased to see you mention the ensemble of Igby Goes Down.
Lynne Ramsay not even considered a finalist for Best Director? SHENANIGANS!!!
Hugh Grant... So pretty.
And yes, I would buy one! :)
Eion- you can use the Wayback Machine site to look up TFE's old stuff! It's how I found out I wasn't alone with loving the '03 Peter Pan.
Also, Nat, I think it's a testament to how you explain your reasoning that this isn't even your best Film Bitch Awards (I'd argue that '01 and '05 are the best FBA "ceremonies" you've done). And on a related note: your old Blogspot blog's no longer accessible on desktop?
"We've thought about compiling a "first ten years" book via GoFundMe or something - would you buy one?"
Yes. Yes. and Yes.
Chris -- yeah. i dont know what's going on there. I'm upset because there's so much writing i dont have access to that I was going to try to transfer over to the archives here (it was supposed to transfer over at the very beginning in 2010 when this new software was used but it never happened automatically). I dont know why it's not coming up anymore... argh.
Love this flashback to the old Film Bitch Awards. I remember reading this (retroactively I think, in 2004 or so) in my early exposure to the site. I also remember you talking about a book, so if you do get around to this (I know it is huge work), please note that I will be a happy customer as well.
Wow! Huppert as best actress for The Piano Teacher! That would have been one of the most deserved wins especially in retrospect as her Erika Kohut aged quite well. Aside from Benoît Magimel, I would include Annie Girardot in the supporting category, male/female. Her scenes with Huppert were electric and not just from their incendiary sparring but even in the quiet moments.
Plus mentions of Campbell Scott (Rodger Dodger provided him with a depth that he has not matched until his forays in the tv series Damages), Thomas Kretschmann (quietly heartbreaking), and that director line-up, huzzah!
Delightful post, and yes I would by a 10 yr. edition of Film Bitch Awards. You have such a good eye for upcoming talent, spotting Viola Davis, Maggie G. as well as giving credit to Chris Weitz for "About a Boy". It really was a good year for films, such variety, and many of these smaller films were quite successful too. (sigh...too bad Comic book franchises have taken over).
would you buy one?
I emailed you (I think?) about this a few years ago and hell yes I'd buy one.
A lovely trip down memory lane!
Nathaniel, I'd contribute to a Film Bitch book.
Campbell Scott was just aces in Roger Dodger.
Huppert in La Pianiste is for the ages.
I too wish that Dennis Quaid had got an Oscar nomination for Far from Heaven. Boy did he deserve it.
Chris: You're certainly not alone! I love the 2003 film of Peter Pan.
Am I crazy or did you not love Far From Heaven the first time you saw it?
Roger Dodger -- I wonder how that movie holds up. I remember loving Campbell Scott but it was also such a brief 2002 thing.
Diane Lane ... sigh. I wish she had won the Oscar.
Omg! I would so buy a book. Or at least donate so you could take the time to put it back online.
Nice to be reminded Roger Dodger exists. I have very fond memories of that film but you never hear it mentioned.
I think it was ahead of its time, anticipating all the "game" alpha male how to pick up women nonsense that followed.
I'll never forget the Oscar nominating a person (Donald Kaufman) for screenplay that didn't exist. :D
I agree with Catherine Zeta-Jones getting into the supporting category but disagree to watch Parker Posey here, the film is clearly a three-portrait-lead history XD . In any case my pick for the female lead category would be Maggie Gyllenhaal for Secretary.
Am I the only one who consider May from Lucky McKee underrated? In particular considering the performance of Angela Bettis and the lack of horror movies nominated that year.
Just make them available online. So many repeated page clicks. A mention of praise of comparison of an older movie. "Hmm I wonder if it made Nathaniel's best when it first came out"? Click. Well now I'm on the page I wonder what his choices in a category was each year. FRANTIC REPEATED CLICKS.
I guarantee every commenter saying they would buy the book still would if it was online.
WOULD BUY A BOOK IN A HEARTBEAT
Pearl is correct. Work on reposting past FBAwards. With a Cláudio in your pocket you can just pop into Smackdowns until you’re finished and we’ll barely notice. Mwah.
This was the second year that I was reading this site. Nice to reminisce and see the positive mentions for some really great films like 25th Hour.