The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Into the Past: 2001

Welcome to The Wasteland into the Past! Join this journey backwards in time as I take a cinematic look at years past. Each article will focus on a singular year and my Top 5 films from that year. Turn back the clock with me…and let’s get started! 

2001

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Are you ready for the last time I will discuss The Lord of the Rings in this series? The Fellowship of the Ring is the perfect introduction to the world of Middle Earth and the perfect first leg of one of the greatest cinematic trilogies of all time. What makes The Fellowship of the Ring stand out in this trilogy is that it is the purest form of adventure film out of the three. The next two films in The Lord of the Rings become war centric and shift tones but The Fellowship of the Ring has a wondrous feel to it as this group of diverse characters go off onto this grand adventure through so many interesting places along the way. J.R.R. Tolkien certainly made The Hobbit a children’s book, and it has that type of tone, but Peter Jackson makes sure to give The Lord of the Rings a darker and more mature tone. But the early elements of The Fellowship of the Ring feel so whimsical and charming, especially most of the moments in The Shire. Howard Shore’s incredibly complex, layered, and diverse score does plenty of heavy lifting to support Jackson in the tone he is going for at any moment. The music in The Shire is whimsical and sincere for sure and brings this beautiful place to life. But the film becomes more triumphant (with the theme for the Fellowship) and, at times, much darker and intense (including the music through Moria). The cast is impeccable with each member capturing the right vibe and personality for their characters. Each member of the titular group gets a chance to shine with Ian McKellen delivering such a charming and layered performance as Gandalf the Grey. The world-building is second to none with each place feeling too fully realized and crafted. The Shire. Bree. Rivendell. The Mines of Moira. Lothlorien. Amon Hen. The amount of detail in the production design and effects is incredible. There are so many standout moments including the standoff between the Balrog and Gandalf, Boromir’s last stand, Arwen summoning the river spirits, and more. There is impressive and dynamic filmmaking from Jackson who also explores tones and emotions in so many ways. The Fellowship of the Ring is THE fantasy adventure film that all others will be destined to be compared to.

Shrek

How does one lampoon the entire idea of fairy tales? Just look at Shrek! This was such an unexpected success for Dreamworks especially because the production was plagued with disaster and the film became “Jail” for so many of their animators. But the end results are stellar. Co-directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson bring this wildly fun tale to life with such personality and charm. William Steig’s book is a wonderful exploration of the life of an ogre, and this film expands on that and puts it into context of racial divides and experiences. The themes are so clear and moving with the message fostering acceptance and connection no matter what your background or experience is. The film overcomes prejudice in such charming, fun, and accessible ways. Shrek, the character, is indeed an ogre and we learn all the expectations that are put on this race of beings through the ways characters react to seeing him. The opening sequence is fun as it lampoons old Disney films with an actual story book which Shrek reads allowed (with that perfect Scottish accent) and literally laughs at it. Then…BOOM! “All Star” by Smash Mouth walks the audience through the very relatable yet gross morning rituals of our protagonist. The soundtrack is filled with fun needle drops that are quite relevant for this early 00s flick. This is in stark contrast with the beautiful and triumphant scores from Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell (which helps craft the wonderfully adventurous feel of the film). Fantasy adventures all the way down with 2001 cinema. The film is hilarious with plenty of great quips, sharp dialogue, and visual gags as well. The perfect balance of adult humor and child film sensibilities is fantastic. There are jokes in this film that will make a grown adult split their seams. The lampooning and subversions of fairy tale characters is engaging and hilarious. The Gingerbread Man scene is hilarious and iconic at this point. Outside impressive voice work for the supporting characters, the core four leads of the film all deliver excellent voice performances. Mike Myers dives deep into character work as he crafts this grumpy, Scottish ogre with plenty of personality. Eddie Murphy’s work as Donkey is incredible and iconic as he injects so much personality into the role. Cameron Diaz is charming and endearing as the fiery and capable Princess Fiona. Ohn Lithgow is delivering some top tier villainy as Lord Farquaad which is delightfully fun and villainous. This film took plenty of shots at Disney films of the past decades, but it has plenty of its own heart and soul that makes it moving. This (and its sequel) are some of the funniest films made in animation and came out at the perfect time as Disney’s Renaissance period was coming to an end.  

Monsters, Inc.

What iconic Pixar film did Shrek beat for the first ever Best Animated Feature Academy Award? Monsters, Inc. This is a wonderful film that is full of humor, heart, emotion, and wonder. Peter Doctor and company took one of the most creative ideas to come out of Pixar and delivered on of their best efforts…period. Monsters, Inc. is a wonderful film that tells of a world full of monsters where their society runs on the energy produced by the screams of children. To make this world work, you have companies like Monsters Incorporated who employ Scarers who go into the closet doors of children, scare them in the middle of the night, and the screams are collected. The film focuses on the beloved duo of Sully, a large blue and purple furred monster voiced by John Goodman, and his best friend Mike, Billy Crystal’s spherical green mono-ocular monster. Their life is going great! Sully is a top Scarer, and Mike has a loving Medusa-type woman in his life. But a conspiracy puts them in danger when a young girl, the incredibly adorable Boo, escapes into their monster world. The world-building is incredible with so many creative monster designs of all shapes and sizes. The colors are so vibrant and gorgeous as the animation looks so amazing for a film from 25 years ago. The music is so iconic with its jazzy feel and the perfect vibes from Pixar’s go-to musician Randy Newman. The opening credits matched with the music capture the perfect vibe for what this film will present. The tone of the film is fun, vibrant, and charming but it does give way to some scary moments, thrilling elements, and big emotional beats that will have you melting. The chemistry between Goodman and Crystal is off the charts and their character work is so believable and engaging. Young Mary Gibbs is SO cute as Boo for sure. There are some strong characters work from Steve Buscemi as the slimy and malicious Randall and legendary actor James Coburn who brings Waternoose (the CEO of the company) to life with unexpected dimensions. Even Bob Peterson, one of the filmmakers at Pixar, does amazing work as Roz, the raspy and intense overseer of the Scar Floor. The climactic conflict that jumps through so many different doors was so creative and impressive. There is a shocking narrative twist that turns the whole film upside in shocking ways. The dynamic between Sully and Boo is so endearing and this leads to some of the most moving elements of the film. Creative, bold, fun, and charming, Monsters, Inc. deserves more love and praise in the realm of Pixar.

The Royal Tenenbaums

What is the last great performance of the late, great Gene Hackman? In one of film’s most unexpected pairings, Hackman shined in one of Wes Anderson’s early masterpieces, The Royal Tenenbaums. The set-up of this film is wild. Hackman’s Royal is a smug, arrogant, and slippery grifter who isolated his whole family and now desperately tries to reintegrate back into this family when his life comes crashing down. This is still early Anderson, so it does still have a bit more grounded feel, but it still features all the incredible filmmaking stylings of this auteur filmmaker. There are plenty of bright, vibrant colors that bring this cinematic version of New York to life so vividly. The symmetry (one of Anderson’s essential elements of his cinematic voice) is present and quite effective. There are certain scenes that stand out due to the dynamic and precise blocking from Gwyneth Paltrow’s Margot walking off that bus to Luke Wilson’s Richie cutting his hair (and other elements of himself). The soundtrack is quirky, idiosyncratic and perfectly crafts a vibe for this film. Paul Simon, The Beatles, and so many more artists help this film come to life. The story is deeply rooted in family, grief, and forgiveness which anchors this odd film in something deeply human. Royal is a bastard…but such a charming bastard. Hackman 100% should have been at least nominated for Best Actor and probably should have won. His performance is so committed, charismatic, and has unexpected layers as his arc progresses. The film does such a great job setting the stage for the whole ensemble through the opening montage and exposition dump (narrated so perfectly by Alec Baldwin, whose voice matches the aesthetic so perfectly). The whole cast is excellent with Paltrow, Wilson, Ben Stiller, and Anjelia Huston each getting a chance to shine as Royal’s children and ex-wife. The ensemble is impeccable with the likes of Owen Wilson, Danny Glover, and Billy Murray shining in support. There are plenty of shocking revelations, complex dynamics, and big emotional beats that flesh this intriguing scenario into such a moving and impactful cinematic experience.

Spirited Away

What is the crown jewel of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli? Spirited Away. This is the most impressive fantasy adventure in the realm of anime and animation in general. Miyazaki is known for being one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of animation as well as Japanese cinema. He has always had a great handle of fantasy as a genre with his extensive imagination and connection to childlike wonder. Those skills are best shown in Spirited Away. The young Chihiro is traveling with her parents when they find themselves in an old temple that opens into a wild fantasy world. When her parents are turned into pigs, Chihiro is lost in this place. Gods, witches, and spirits fill out Miyazaki’s film. The world that Miyazaki brings to life is so wondrous, full of bizarre and unique creatures, and has such a distinct feel as it captures Japanese culture so authentically. The character of No Face is such a creative, unexpected, and quite haunting presence (now one of the most iconic characters in all of anime). You have the young man, Haku, who has grabbed Chihiro’s attention while becoming such a significant figure in the story. The towering washhouse setting is filled with such pitch perfect design and gives this story so much personality. The music from Miyazaki’s long-term collaborator Joe Hisaishi is iconic, moving, and powerful. The score accentuates every moment it appears as it captures a fantasy feel and emotive as well. The film is episodic yet never feels boring as Chihiro explores so many different scenarios, entities, and adventures along the way. The tone is fully committed to being wondrous with dashes of humor, violence, terror, and love. The heart at the center of Spirited Away is enormous and helps bring this beautiful film to life which will sit with you forever.