Similarly, a couple 2001 movies show up on the 2002 page, as they didn't reach my big screens until then.
(Alphabetical Order)
Amelíe: unlike most 'happy' movies (that are so saccharine, I gag), Amelíe is nearly perfect.
Apocalypse Now Redux: Not really a 2001 movie, but the year was pretty dead. This movie shows what movies could be if Hollywood cared about quality.
Audition (1997): Again, not a 2001 movie, but this is the year it came to a theater near me. There is some sincerely graphic violence, but it is too infrequent to attract the gore fan base.
Devil's Backbone (El Espinazo del Diablo): beautifully dark flick. Great camera work. This will suck on video, but was fantastic on the big screen.
Donnie Darko: I can't categorize this, but I liked it. Its unassuming, interesting, intelligent, but not weighty.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch: this one is just for fun. I adored the stage play, and was initially disappointed with the transition to film. After a few weeks, I decided I liked it at least as much as the stage. Sure, you lose the intimacy of seeing it live -- running the risk of 'Hedwig' actually speaking to YOU personally -- but the sets are better and the music production is superior.
Intimacy (2000): This has to be on my list. I loved the contrast between sexual and personal intimacy. The sexual content was more realistic and believable than in any other movie in recent memory.
L.I.E.: I wanted a bit more than this movie gave, but it was still far better than most the crap that came out in 2001.
Memento(2000): While the flick is overrated by many, I admit that it had a more innovative presentation than any other movie of the year.
Under the Sand ("Sous le sable" - 2000): You might have to like Ozon to enjoy this. The ending was .... too open-ended for me, but I find that a minor flaw considering how well the rest of the movie plays. I particularly liked the multiple hands in bed.
Waking Life: animation over live action. The movie is a series of stories held together by a central device. A few bits didn't hold my complete attention. It had more content than any other film of the year. So much so, that I went back to see it a second time to digest it all. You may recognize one of the dialogs from one of Sorcese's early films.
You Can Count on Me: For the first half of 2001, this was the ONLY film on my top 10 list.
Here is a partial list of other movies. The first section is movies I missed, followed by movies I liked quite a lot, but could not fit into the top 10 (not even when expanded to a top 13 list), and ending with movies that were either too fluffy, predicatble, somewhat problematic, or downright BAD.
Probably good, but I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THEM!!!:
Good, but edged out by other flicks:
not top 10 material:
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence Ali Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte des Loups) Cats & Dogs The Deep End The Fast and the Furious Fat Girl Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within From Hell Gosford Park Hannibal Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back K-Pax Kandahar The King Is Alive Legally Blonde The Man Who Wasn't There Monster's Ball Monsters, Inc. Moulin Rouge O (you know -- that modernized Othello remake) The Others Planet of the Apes The River (reviewed on 2002 list) Rock Star The Royal Tenenbaums Shrek The Tailor of Panama Tomb Raider Va Savoir Vanilla Sky Wendigo