KineJun Best 10 for 2000

[Aaron Gerow]

The Kinema Junpo Best Ten for 2000, selected by several dozen film 
critics for the magazine Kinema Junpo, was announced.  The results are as 
follows:

1. Kao
2. Nabi no koi
3. Gohatto
4. Jugo-sai Gakko IV
5. Battle Royale
6. Sanmon yakusha
7. Suri
8. Dokuritsu shonen gasshodan
9. Ame agaru
10. Hatuskoi

Inidividual awards were as follows:

Best director: Sakamoto Junji (Kao, Shin jingi naki tatakai)
Best screenplay: Sakamoto Junji, Uno Isamu (Kao)
Best actress: Fujiyama Naomi (Kao)
Best actor: Harada Yoshio (Suri, Zawazawa Shimokitazawa, Party 7)
Best supporting actress: Okusu Michiyo (Kao)
Best supporting actor: Kagawa Teruyuki (Dokuritsu shonen gasshodan, Suri)
Best new actress: Matsuda Madoka (Nagisa)
Best new actor: Matsuda Ryuhei (Gohatto)

Since the period actually covered by the awards was from early December 
1999 to early December 2000, films released in late 1999 like Gohatto and 
Nabbie's Love were eligible.  That's one reason they were not included 
in, say, the Eiga Geijutsu list, which did not include December 1999 
films.  Eigei also did not include December 2000 films like Battle Royale 
and Sanmon yakusha.  There are these differences, but it is nonetheless 
always interesting to compare the more staid and conservative KineJun to 
other awards.  Gakko IV, which was on Eigei's worst ten list, makes it to 
the best ten here, probably supported by friends of Yamada Yoji, the 
"contemporaneity" of its fashionable topic (what to do with all those 
"alienated" teens), or the fact it was the last Ofuna film. Young 
independents like Nakae Yuji and Ogata Akira make the list, but more 
controversial figures like Miike Takashi and Zeze Takahisa don't. 

Well, all in all a fairly typical KineJun list: staid and predictable, 
with nothing exciting or controversial.

Comments from others?

Aaron Gerow
Yokohama National University
KineJapan list owner
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