Favorite 90's Movies!

Ahh, yes! The decade that I grew up in, which of course places it in a special position in my heart. Playing Super Nintendo, listening to Boyz II Men, wearing giant Jnco jeans with the little cartoons on them, walking around quoting Ace Ventura....those were the days.





Here are my favorite movies from that wonderful decade:

10. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999) (Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez) - Three twenty-something film students go into the woods to make a documentary about a witch legend in a small-town. One of the scariest movies ever in my opinion. If you like classy, atmospheric, NON-GORY horror movies, this is a must. Some of the acting is pretty bad, but the idea of making a mockumentary into a horror classic is awesome. OH! And guess what?! This is the first time I have ever put a Razzie winner on my top ten list! (If you don't know what that is, let me know and I will tell you.) FAVORITE SCENE: Nothing can top the ending, but I also love when we find out what happened to their map. CAUTION: R for lots of F-words and some extremely scary scenes...but if you can handle the language, their is no sex or gory violence.

9. FACE/OFF (1997) (John Woo) - A brilliant criminal (Nicholas Cage AND John Travolta) and an about-to-be-retired investigator (Nicholas Cage AND John Travolta) switch faces and lives in order to destroy each others'. Won a technical Oscar. Before you scream, "WHAT?!", let me explain: within the genre of over-the-top, fantastical action movies that are unapologetically stupid, there is none better. I can't wait to find out what you guys have to say about this one. FAVORITE SCENE: When the "criminal" wakes up in the hospital to find out what has happened...and decides to seek revenge. So awesome! CAUTION: R - Lots of violence, some bad language...I think that was it.

8. THAT THING YOU DO! (1996) (Tom Hanks) - A sixties garage band's rise from small-town group to number-one-on-the-chart superstars. Nominated for musical Oscar. Okay, so this may be a somewhat nostalgic pick, but I could watch this movie everyday. It is so funny, the music is great, the acting is perfectly natural, and Steve Zahn is a comedic genius. If you get the chance, find a video and watch Tom Hanks talk about this film, which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in; he has such a love for the material and it shines through in brilliant harmony on film. FAVORITE SCENE: "There he goes, off to write that hit song, 'Alone in My Principles'." CAUTION: PG for language...nothing real bad.

7. JURASSIC PARK (1993) (Steven Spielberg) - A rich white man finds a way to clone real dinosaurs from mosquito blood, and in turn decides to open a makeshift zoo for people to come see his prehistoric creations...UH-OH! BAD IDEA! 3 technical Oscar nominations. Wow! this must have been the decade to make outrageously dumb ideas into AMAZING movies! You've probably seen this, and if you haven't...well, do! FAVORITE SCENE: I will always love the shot of just the water glass on the dash rippling from the T-Rex steps. CAUTION: PG-13 for scary violence involving fake animals.

6. THE SANDLOT (1993) (David M. Evans) - A story of growing up, being part of a small-town little league baseball team, and the awkwardness of being "the new kid"...and there's a big dog, too. If you haven't seen this since it first came out, you should really check it out again. In some ways it is like Stand By Me on a baseball diamond...and slightly more kid-friendly. A great story that doesn't fit the sports-movie cliche's. FAVORITE SCENE: The giant erector set construction that was supposed to get the ball out of the big dogs backyard. CAUTION: PG for language...and the kids chew tobacco at one point, but it is all but glorified.

5. THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998) (Joel Coen) - The story is much too complex to explain in one sentence...but ultimately its about a White-Russian-loving pothead (Jeff Bridges) who wants to get reimbursed for his urine-stained rug. Some of the best one-liners in history. There is a toss-up in my opinion over what is the Coen Brothers best film: this one, No Country, or O Brother. There is definitely some stuff in this film that is unnecessary, but the brilliant relationships between The Dude (Bridge), Walter (John Goodman), and their cohorts and enemies is undeniably perfect. FAVORITE SCENE: When Walter realizes he is clubbing the wrong car. CAUTION: Extreme caution! Strong R for drug use, nudity, sexual innuendos, lots of language, and some violence.

4. TOY STORY (1995) (John Lasseter) - A couple of action figures (Tim Allen, Tom Hanks) with the same "kid" must learn to get along and find their way back home. 3 Oscar nominations, including best original screenplay. The movie that started not only Pixar, but the entire CGI animated genre. But it is an important movie for more reasons than that. Pixar has always said that story is the most important part of a film, and everything else comes second. This idea is apparent throughout this flawless kids film. FAVORITE SCENE: I love the conversation Buzz and Woody have under the car at the gas station. Great deliveries from both Allen and Hanks.

3. A FEW GOOD MEN (1992) (Rob Reiner) - A young JAG lawyer (Tom Cruise) takes on the most difficult case of his life when two guys are charged with the killing of a weaker recruit. Won four Oscars, including best actor (Jack Nicholson) and best picture. I have watched this movie three times in the last six months and have seen something new in it each time. The acting all around, from Nicholson to Cruise (even Kevin Bacon), was impeccable...and I am a sucker for a good courtroom drama...and this is one of the best. FAVORITE SCENE: Cruise's character snatching the book from Bacon's character in court in order to prove a point. CAUTION: R purely for language. Fairly safe for 13 and up.

2. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993) (Steven Spielberg) - The true story of a factory owner (Liam Neeson) who hires Jews during the Holocaust in order to protect them from Auschwitz. 12 Oscar nominations, 7 wins: including best picture, director, adapted screenplay. Crazy long, somewhat depressing...absolutely perfect in every way. From the acting and directing, to the story telling and the mood, I have never been so completely entranced in a film and a character like Schindler. FAVORITE SCENE: It's hard to pick a "favorite" scene from a film like this, but the scene of Schindler breaking down in the street after saving all of his employees. CAUTION: R - very rough and realistic; violent, harsh language, sexuality/nudity.

1. GOODFELLAS (1990) (Martin Scorsese) - The true story (again) of a man (Ray Liotta) and his rise from young Mafia assistant to the head of a Mob crime family. 6 Oscar nominations and one win for Best Supporting Actor for the unforgettable Joe Pesci. Here's a shocker for you guys: I think Goodfellas is better than The Godfather. The pacing is superior and it holds up over time much better. Not to mention it does not in any way glorify the Mafia lifestyle, whereas The Godfather series kind of does...by the way, I think The Godfather is a brilliant film and I own a copy of it. But Goodfellas is entertaining, thought-provoking, and awesome. BOOM! FAVORITE SCENE: Pesci's character doesn't like the new young bartender hackin' on him in front of his buddies...CAUTION: Strong R - Violence and language.

RUNNER'S UP:
A League of Their Own (1992), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie (1996), Benny and Joon (1993), Ransom (1996)

Also, here are my runner's up in each category...HEY, ten years is a long time! Lots of movies came out! Get off my case!

COMEDY:
Clueless (1995), What About Bob (1991), Office Space (1999), Houseguest (1995), Liar Liar (1997)

ACTION/ADVENTURE:
Fight Club (1999), The Matrix (1999), Total Recall (1990), Air Force One (1997), Twister (1996)

ANIMATION:
South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999), Aladdin (1992), A Goofy Movie (1995), The Lion King (1994), The Iron Giant (1999)

DRAMAS:
Man on the Moon (1999), Sling Blade (1996), Good Will Hunting (1998), Quiz Show (1994), The Truman Show (1998)

HORROR:
The Sixth Sense (1999), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Stir of Echoes (1999)

Movies I Saw in September, 2008

Wow! I really slacked off this month! School and Money are destroying my movie-going abilities. I only saw ONE movie in September! I missed some classics (Lakeview Terrace...oh, Mr. Jackson, how you never fail to amaze me!)and there were some indie movies playing at Beach Regal that I missed (Transsiberian, Tell No One), so I am going to add something new (SURPRISE) that hopefully become a staple: I am going to list some random movies that you should rent, some of which you may not be familiar with, so you can have some ideas the next time you are at your movie renting place of choice.

BURN AFTER READING (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) Very funny, Oddly violent, Supremely Coen-esque! A computer disk containing the memoirs of an ex-CIA agent (John Malkovich) is left at a small gym, where two employees (Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand) think they have found a top-secret government item, leading them to make failed attempts of bribery and espionage. This is a multi-layered satire on CIA thrillers and the people who get too involved. Brad Pitt is getting a lot of well-deserved praise for his role as Chad Feldheimer, a goof-ball health nut who thinks life is one big game, but everyone in this is perfectly cast. McDormand is an hilariously self-conscious female body-builder, and Malkovich is as good as ever as a foul-mouthed agent who has nothing left to lose. Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, and Richard Jenkins are also very good in a film that hearkens back to Coen Brothers classics Fargo, Lebowski, and even No Country. It's not for everyone (parts of the violence will immediately ruin the movie for some), but if you like quirky, slightly complex plots shown in a surprisingly light manner, then see it! FAVORITE SCENE: The ending of the movie is perfect. I won't tell you why, but I will say that some I talked with hated the ending. The Coen Brothers have a knack for polarizing people at the end of their films.

RENTALS!

Grace is Gone (2008)- John Cusack plays a man who loses his wife to the Iraq war, and takes his daughters on a road trip to cope.

A Few Good Men (1992)- A classic court-room drama, starring Tom Cruise (before he went crazy) and Jack Nicholson (who has always been crazy), with impeccable acting and a brilliant script.

Fletch (1985)- Chevy Chase's best movie, in my opinion, in which he plays Fletch, a journalist who has a knack for creating secret identities.