For the week of January 7 - 13, 2004

Cinemaphiles in the valley choose top tens

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

For much of the past year it seemed as though nothing worthwhile could possibly be seen on screen. Let’s face it, even "Cat in the Hat" tanked. The best we got was during the spring when the Magic Lantern Film Festival rolled into town. At that point, valley residents were able to see such fine films of the previous year as "Nowhere in Africa," which is why it shows up here on some lists with an asterisk. But the year was redeemed by an amazing final act. Sure it was all a bit weepy but sublime acting, intelligent writing, gorgeous camera work and inspired direction made even the morose soar like the many migrating birds in "Winged Migration."

 

Dana DuGan
Express Staff

"In America"
"The Station Agent"
"Whale Rider"
"Seabiscuit"
"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"
"Lost in Translation"
"Rabbit Proof Fence"
"Mystic River"
"Laurel Canyon"
"Pirates of the Caribbean"

Honorable mention: "Greendale," "A Mighty Wind," "Raising Victor Vargas," "21 Grams"

Documentary: "Winged Migration," Standing in the Shadow of Motown"

 

Ben Benson
Magic Lantern employee

"Nowhere in Africa" *
"Mystic River"
"In America"
"Whale Rider"
"Lost in Translation"
"The Grey Zone"
"Seabiscuit"
"28 Days Later"
"Raising Victor Vargas"

Tie for 10th place: "Return of the King" and "Dirty Pretty Little Things"

 

John Pluntze
Atkinsons’ Market

"The Whale Rider"
"Winged Migration"
"Master & Commander: Far Side of the World"
"Under the Tuscan Sun"
"Nowhere in Africa"
"Confidence"
"Finding Nemo"
"Open Range"
"Cold Mountain"
"White Oleander"

Runners-Up: "Lost in Translation," "The Lord of the Rings," "Girl with the Pearl Earring," "The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Expedition"

 

Laura Gvozdas
Sun Country Management

"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"
"Finding Nemo"
"Bend it Like Beckham"
"Cold Mountain"
"The Last Samurai"
"Nowhere in Africa"
"Pirates of the Caribbean"
"Love, Actually"
"The Italian Job"
"Runaway Jury"

 

Jeff Cordes
Express Staff

"Mystic River"
"In America"
"Seabiscuit"
"21 Grams"
"Laurel Canyon"
"Nowhere in Africa"
"Swimming Pool"
"The Italian Job"
"Whale Rider"
"Winged Migration"

 

Steve Bynum
Magic Lantern manager

"Finding Nemo"
"A Mighty Wind"
"Lost in Translation"
"In America"
"Thirteen"
"The Station Agent"
"Pieces of April"
"Whale Rider"
"American Splendor"
"21 Grams"

Documentary: "Standing in the Shadow of Motown," "Winged Migration," "Spellbound"

 

Rick Kessler
Magic Lantern owner

"Standing in the Shadow of Motown"
"In America"
"Nowhere in Africa" *
"Mystic River"
"Big Fish"
"Lost in Translation"
"Whale Rider"
"Master & Commander"
"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"
"Cold Mountain"
"Rabbit Proof Fence"

 

Alice Bynum
Student and Magic Lantern employee

"Thirteen"
"Finding Nemo"
"Lost in Translation"
"Pirates of the Caribbean"
"Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
"In America"
"Master and Commander"
"Swimming Pool"
"Bend it Like Beckham"

 

Noah Brod
Mountain Express carrier

"Nowhere in Africa"
"Lost in Translation"
"American Splendor"
"Spellbound"
"Rabbit Proof Fence"
"Seabiscuit"
"Down with Love"
"The Station Agent"
"Pirates of Caribbean"
"Whale Rider"

 

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