The Return of The List The Return of The List (January 09, 2004)

Weekly critics select the best and worst films of 2003
O ne film lorded over others in 2003, with "The Return of the King" making all four Top-10 lists -- the first time in four years that such a consensus has been reached. The last movie that stirred such unanimous sentiment was "The Sixth Sense" in 1999.

But this year, the Weekly's Gang of Four film critics -- Jeanne Aufmuth, Tyler Hanley, Susan Tavernetti and Jim Shelby -- all agreed that the final installment of Peter Jackson's cinematic trilogy was one of the year' best films. Aufmuth and Hanley even deemed it their Number 1 film of 2003.

But two other films came close. Both "Lost in Translation" and "Finding Nemo" made three Top-10s. And a host of others ended up on multiple lists, including "American Splendor," "Capturing the Friedmans," "Pieces of April," "Spellbound" and "Whale Rider." Though many national critics endorsed "Mystic River," it only made Hanley's list.

Generally each list reflected the critic's unique cinematic tastes, with dark horses running across the board. Aufmuth, for instance, selected "Thirteen," "City of God" and "Gerry," while Hanley rhapsodized over "Bad Santa" "Identity" and "Hulk." Tavernetti fell for foreign films, such as "The Barbarian Invasions" (Canadian), "Dirty Pretty Things" and "Lawless Heart" (British), "The Revolution Will Not Be televised" (Irish) and "Man on the Train" and "Winged Migration" (French). Shelby's list had a number of renegade choices, including "House of Sand and Fog," "In America" and ""Master and Commander."

For the second year in a row, one film proved so provocative that it made both Top-10 and Worst-5 lists. This year's controversial selection was Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol. 1," which disappointed Tavernetti but impressed Shelby.

The worst film of 2003? Every critic, save for Shelby, considered "Gigli" one of the most abysmal cinematic offerings of the year.

Please note that in order to qualify, movies had to have opened in the Bay Area by the end of 2003. Each critic's list begins with the best movie of the year, followed in alphabetical order by other selections.

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