Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

saw the pianist this evening, and am still reverberating an hour and a half later, like a tuning fork. yes, adrien brody's breakout performance as pianist wladyslaw szpilman is utterly amazing, a bit of restraint and power, power conveyed via the smallest of gestures - most notably, the passion of his playing. other performances, as well as the sets and effects, are mighty impressive. the script is perfect. but without a doubt, the star of this film, and the reason it resonates so strongly, is roman polanski's direction. this is his masterpiece (yes, even above chinatown), his moment, the apex of his fruitful career. if polanski doesn't receive an oscar nod, it will be a genuine crime.

updated top 5 films of 2002 (as I continue to make my way through the mileposts, I'll continue to update said list):
1. chicago
2. far from heaven
3. the pianist
4. y tu mama tambien
5. about schmidt