The big screen's best and worst of 2001

The year according to CNN's 'two Pauls':
Reviewers Paul Clinton and Paul Tatara

(CNN) -- 'Tis the season when we look at the best and worst that the international film industry had to offer in the past 12 months.

The year was an odd one, in some respects, at the movies. Several of the anticipated blockbusters went bust -- "A.I.," "Planet of the Apes," "Pearl Harbor." And there were few likely Oscar contenders spotted before November.

The threatened strikes from the actors' and the writers' unions didn't help matters and kept the studios on edge for months. Then September 11 threw the industry into a tailspin as everyone began questioning the role of entertainment in a newly frightening world. Film release schedules were reworked and rearranged.

But near year's end -- with box-office grosses soaring -- it had become apparent that movies, especially the feel-good kind, were what many wanted to see.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," a decidedly feel-good fantasy, broke many industry box office records -- as would "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Both were the inaugural entries in planned series of films.

2001 movies: Tales of Two Pauls Click on each link to see our two CNN reviewers' favorites and least favorites from the year in films. • Paul Clinton's best of 2001 • Paul Clinton's worst of 2001 • Paul Tatara's best of 2001 • Paul Tatara's worst of 2001

And as the year closes, a fleet of Oscar-worthy films has sped in from the horizon and docked at cinemas like an entertainment armada putting in at a busy port.

Maybe the best sideshow on the waterfront right now is the little alliances and standoffs you can see our two Pauls forming about the year of film they've just seen. Both, for example, include "Sweet November" on their worst-movie lists. In fact, these guys start to sound like they could consider going 50-50 on a hitman for Keanu Reeves.

Then there's a split on "Black Hawk Down." While Tatara didn't crash it onto his worst-movie list, he did everything he could to clip its rotors in his review. And Clinton? -- he has it on his best-movie list for 2001.

The bottom line, as always, is that when it comes to reviewers everybody really is a critic -- and your own opinion is the only one you'll always agree with.

Our Pauls: Read 'em and keep a grip on that popcorn consumption in 2002.