10)
OCTOBER SKY -
This is the type of movie everyone should see, one I can whole-heartedly say is one the whole family can enjoy. Jake Gyllenhaal introduced himself as the real life Homer Hickam, Jr. with this wonderful, highly-overlooked film. It made it to theaters early in the year, amidst an overload of teen flicks, when it should have been saved for later in the year when it could have been in the running for Oscar consideration. I originally had this spot filled with a tie of Cruel Intentions and The Blair Witch Project, leaving October Sky in "Honorable Mention." But after a few more viewings and a reading of the novel, Rocket Boys, I decided the movie belonged here.
9) THE SIXTH SENSE - This film
may just seem like a ghost story, but it actually has heart. That is why I put this film on the
list. I love a film that can actually be very spiritual, enlightening, and still entertaining.
We are brought into the world of a young boy who is basically an outcast with a secret. Well, the
secret's out and seems he's not the only one hiding something. Toni Collette and Halye Joel
Osment got Oscar nominations for their supporting roles in this film (though I think the latter
actually carries the film) and I think they were well-deserved.
8)
TOY STORY 2 - Yes, I love
animated films. They are not just for kids anymore. Animated films (I say "animated film"
because when I think of "cartoon" I can't help but something with mock-applause from the 70s)
are just another approach to making a movie, making it able to do many things that you just
cannot do with a regular camera. This movie is a prime example of this. It tells a story, gives
you some memorable characters, and just happens to be done with a computer instead of actors.
Personally, I think "When She Loved Me" was robbed of its Oscar for best original song, but
what can you do?
7) EYES WIDE SHUT - I
really don't know what to say about this film. Quite frankly, I found this
movie quite entertaining. I found Stanley Kubrick's direction of this film to be remarkable and the
cinematography enticing. Tom Cruise, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment. I found
his performance to be not on par with some of his better work. Thankfully, he saved himself in
Magnolia. I did find Nicole Kidman to be wonderful and robbed of an Oscar-nomination.
There isn't really a story to this film, but it does have it's point and it is visually perfect.
I must also give major snaps for that haunting score.
6) FIGHT CLUB - This film did
not do to well at the box office, but thankfully has gained a bit of a following which I am proud
to say I am a part of. Much like American Beauty, this film mocks society and satirizes
what we call morals and necessities, but instead of being so blunt (or perhaps being more blunt,
depending on your view) this film hides, much like its leading character, behind a fight club.
I think Edward Norton gave yet another Oscar-worthy performance, but it was a pretty competitive
year leading-male-performance-wise, so I can understand. The ending of this film ranks among my
favorites along with American Beauty and Se7en. On a final note, the DVD for this
film is a prime example of what you can, and should, do with DVD.
5) DOGMA -
This movie is just so hilarious. I
don't think this film deserved all the controversy it got from the Catholic church. This movie,
along with Stigmata, actually renewed my faith. It's quite
ironic that two films that were constantly attacked by religious-freaks actually did revived
someone's faith, but I've always been odd. Anyway, this is just a truly hilarious film that pokes
fun at Catholicism with that Kevin Smith touch. From the opening disclaimer to the closing
credits, I found this film thoroughly enjoyable.
4) THE
INSIDER - This film truly
surprised me. I did not expect the film to be bad, but I hardly expected for me to enjoy it as
much as I did. As I sat watching this film, I was entranced. This film took me to a time when
filmmakers did not just make movies for the hell of it, but to entertain and educate at the same
time. This film got oscar nominations for Best Actor, Best Direction, and Best Picture, all
well-deserved.
3) MAGNOLIA - Wow! This is a
prime example of why movies are made. This is definitely not the type of story you see everyday.
Paul Thomas Anderson, the creator of Boogie Nights, takes his brilliant story-telling
skills and presents us with this truly unique tale of the intertwining lives of nine Los
Angelenos. This film had the potential to be horrid, but the screenplay is pure genius.
There are a few scenes in this film that will no doubt go down in movie history. One of these is
a scene where each of the cast members sings a verse to an Aimee Mann song and another is a
particular stormy scene of biblical proportions. The performances in this film are wonderful,
most notably John C. Reilly and Julianne Moore, who I think should have gotten an Oscar
nomination for her performance here rather than her great, but not classic performance in The
End of the Affair. Not since The Big Chill, or maybe even The Graduate, have I seen a film and its soundtrack blended this well.
2) THE TALENTED
MR. RIPLEY - I love this movie.
I think the scenery is very beautiful, the story is unique and tense, the performances are
wonderful, and Anthony Minghella's direction is genius. This film is far too underrated. It did
reasonably well at the box office, but I think could have done better. I am disappointed that
films like this only do moderately well whereas as average films like Double Jeopardy go
on to become blockbusters. This film got a few nominations at the Oscars, but I think it should
have gotten a few more. A Best Picture and Best Actor nod should have gone to this film. Matt
Damon gave one of the greatest performance of the year and was completely overlooked.
1)
AMERICAN BEAUTY - This is it!
This is the film I can completely put my support behind as the best of the year. The script is
dead-on, the direction is beautiful, and the performances were perfect. For the first time since... before I can remember, I agree with the Academy Awards' choice for Best Picture. However, though Kevin
Spacey and Annette Bening got deserving Oscar nominations, I think the supporting cast was quite
overlooked. I can understand them ignoring Mena Suvari seeing as she just came off the
American Pie high and Thora Birch for just leaving her "child-star" status,
but Wes Bentley was completely ripped off. But I won't sit here and gripe. I'll just say that
this film is a masterpiece and an instant classic. The plastic bag scene is truly one to go
down in film history.
HONORABLE MENTION (movies that were really well done, but I could not find room for on my list):
THE GREEN MILE - Touching tearjerker prison drama based on the serial novel by Stephen King. Hmmm... and it just happens to be made by the director of The Shawshank Redemption.
SLEEPY HOLLOW - A fun take on the classic tale that could only be made by Tim Burton and Andrew Kevin Walker, the writer behind some of the creepiest movies around including Se7en. Johnny Depp is a wonderful choice as Ichabod Crane, though I must admit I would never have pictured him in the part until I saw him truly pull it off.
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT - Not particularly scary, but innovative and interesting to watch. Love it or hate it, you have to admit it was different for when it came out, not to mention the performances which had hundreds of viewers convinced the story was true.
CRUEL INTENTIONS - This was probably the best of the load of classic-adapted teen flicks to come out last year. I love Reese Witherspoon, so I am playing a bit of favoritism, but I still think the movie is great. The cinematography and score are dazzling, as are the performances. Wickedly fun.
COOKIE'S FORTUNE - A quirky small town comedy from director Robert Altman with very strong performances from the whole cast.
THE MATRIX - It took me three viewings to finally decide I liked this movie, but I knew I did. It is dark and not a typical action flick, which I do enjoy, not to mention the entire biblical referencing and landmark special effects.
STIR OF ECHOES - I thought this movie was probably the scariest one of the year, but I just couldn't put it on the "Top 10." Very atmospheric and Kevin Bacon is marvelous as the blue-collar slob on the brink of insanity.
MUMFORD - Another film that puts a smile to my face. A quirky romantic-comedy from the director of the classic The Big Chill that makes you feel good about who you are and makes you appreciate the world around us which seems like a hell-hole at times, but is ultimately something we need to appreciate
ELECTION - Biting satire of high school and politics with a strong, ovelooked performance by Reese Witherspoon.
AN IDEAL HUSBAND - This was an enjoyable comedy based on the work of Oscar Wilde. The cast is very enjoyable especially Rupert Everett.
GO - This was a very entertaining movie that I did not have the pleasure of seeing in theaters. It is very different and I love how it was told throught the different points of view. This film also brought Sarah Polley into the public eye, so that's a big plus.
GUILTIEST PLEASURES (movies most thought were rdiculous,b ut I enjoyed:
THE HAUNTING - Cheesy ending and more Casper than Amityville, but I was amused by this haunted house movie remake. Perhaps it was Lily Taylor's performance.
STIGMATA - This is actually not really a guilty pleasure. I really liked this movie, generally for the lush cinematography. Exorcist the music video.
DEEP BLUE SEA - Another film that I don't consider a guily pleasure because I totally enjoyed it. It's Jaws meets Jurassic Park. I just have to like this movie for being the first "horror" film to actually surprise me.
AMERICAN PIE - This is not a film that was really bashed, but I still feel guilty admitting I like it. For once, there is a film that actually admits that women are just as hormone-driven as men. It goes for the gross-out humor, but is ultimately sweet-natured. Not as funny or classic as There's Something About Mary (yes I put "classic" and "There's Something About Mary in the same sentence), but highly enjoyable teen flick reminiscent of Porky's.
NOTTING HILL - The better of the two Julia Roberts romantic-comedies to be released in this year, but still cheesy. Ok, I'm a sucker for romantic-comedies, but I guess the real reason I'm putting this here is because I had a lot of fun making fun of this movie. Not that I consider this a bad movie, but I just couldn't help myself. I also thought Julia Roberts did a good job, though I did not like the ending. I thought Hugh Grant's character deserved better.
IDLE HANDS - This is a true "guilty pleasure" and probably in every sense of the words. Goofy, cheesy, and mainly something for the immature child in all of us. I like it, so bite me! And I don't know what it is, but I can't help but enjoy Devon Sawa.
LEAST FAVORITE FILMS OF THE YEAR (movies that I just could cannot find enjoyable, or maybe I can but I do not want to so badly that I won't even consider it a guilty pleasure though that is most likely where it belongs):
DRIVE ME CRAZY - Well, that's exactly what the film did to me. This is the ultimately
contrived teen flick. I did not see any chemistry between the leads and there is nothing
original about the story except for maybe the subplot of the absentee father that never
develops.
BRINGING OUT THE DEAD - I don't really want to put this movie on this list, but I have
to. Artistically, this is perfect, great performances and beautiful direction, but I found the
story to be utterly boring, not slow because I can appreciate a film that takes the time to
develop, but boring. I'm sorry, but I'd like some entertainment with my art. It tries to
be Taxi Driver but does not pull it off well enough.
VIRUS - Utterly stupid, contrived sci-fi film. It wasn't scary or original or...
well basically it goes into that category of "it's fiction, but is it science." A real let down
except for the performace of Donald Sutherland.
THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE - This a very disappointing film. It has a very talented cast and tries to be creepy in that Rosemary's Baby way, right down to the hair cut, but is very unsuccessful. The suspense is very limited and I hesitantly put this on this list for Charlize Theron's wonderful performance.
END OF DAYS - Have you seen this movie? Contrived, stupid, reasonable effects, only saved by Kevin Pollack and a personal enjoyment of Robin Tunney.
FAVORITE PERFORMANCES (ACCOMPLISHMENTS) OF THE YEAR:
LEADING ACTOR:
Kevin Spacey - American Beauty
Matt Damon - The Talented Mr. Ripley
Russell Crowe - The Insider
Edward Norton - Fight Club
Rupert Everett - An Ideal Husband
Chow Yun-Fat - Anna & the King
Johnny Depp - Sleepy Hollow
Jake Gyllenhaal - October Sky
LEADING ACTRESS:
Annette Bening - American Beauty
Reese Witherspoon - Election
Heather Donahue - The Blair Witch Project
Julia Stiles - 10 Things I Hate About You
Sarah Polley - GO
SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Haley Joel Osment - The Sixth Sense
Michael Clarke Duncan - The Green Mile
Jude Law - The Talented Mr. Ripley
Wes Bentley - American Beauty
Doug Hutchison - The Green Mile
SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Nicole Kidman - Eyes Wide Shut
Mena Suvari - American Beauty
Toni Collette - The Sixth Sense
Angelina Jolie - Girl, Interrupted
Brittany Murphy - Girl, Interrupted
Cate Blanchett - The Talented Mr. Ripley
DIRECTION:
Sam Mendes - American Beauty
Anthony Minghella - The Talented Mr. Ripley
Paul Thomas Anderson - Magnolia
Stanley Kubrick - Eyes Wide Shut
Tim Burton - Sleepy Hollow
David Fincher - Fight Club
M. Night Shyamalan - The Sixth Sense
Michael Mann - The Insider
Oliver Stone - Any Given Sunday
Martin Scorsese - Bringing Out The Dead
David O. Russell - Three Kings
FAVORITE, MOST MEMORABLE SCENES:
American Beauty - Plastic bag scene
Magnolia - The "rain" / The ensemble sings "Wise Up"
Three Kings - The wound description
The End Of The Affair - Sarah's prayer through the contrasting points of view.
10 Things I Hate About You - Patrick sings to Kat on the football field
Fight Club - Jack and Marla watch as the city around them is blown to pieces
The Sixth Sense - The only people asking which scene are those haven't seen the movie... So see it!
The Blair Witch Project - The ending. The only part of the movie I really found creepy
Toy Story 2 - Jessie sings about being abandoned. Still brings a tear to my eye
Stigmata - Stigmata on the subway
The Haunting - Nell and Theo discover a strange rotating room
BEST, MOST MEMORABLE LINES:
The Sixth Sense - "I see dead people."
Double Jeopardy - "I could shoot you in the middle of Mardi Gras and they can't touch me"
American Beauty - "Never underestimate the power of denial." / "I rule!"
Notting Hill - "Happiness isn't happiness without a violin-playing goat."
Cruel Intentions - "... people shouldn't experience the act of love until they are in love..."
The Talented Mr. Ripley - "I always thought it'd be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody." / "If I could just go back... if I could rub everything out... starting with myself."
Fight Club - (edited out and now only available on DVD) "I want to have your abortion."
It seems I've seen every movie that came out in 1999, but I haven't. Some notables are: Being John
Malkovich, The Cider House Rules, Boys Don't Cry, The Hurricane, etc. So, this list isn't really a complete list, but made up of my judgement.
This is the type of movie everyone should see, one I can whole-heartedly say is one the whole family can enjoy. Jake Gyllenhaal introduced himself as the real life Homer Hickam, Jr. with this wonderful, highly-overlooked film. It made it to theaters early in the year, amidst an overload of teen flicks, when it should have been saved for later in the year when it could have been in the running for Oscar consideration. I originally had this spot filled with a tie of Cruel Intentions and The Blair Witch Project, leaving October Sky in "Honorable Mention." But after a few more viewings and a reading of the novel, Rocket Boys, I decided the movie belonged here.
This film
may just seem like a ghost story, but it actually has heart. That is why I put this film on the
list. I love a film that can actually be very spiritual, enlightening, and still entertaining.
We are brought into the world of a young boy who is basically an outcast with a secret. Well, the
secret's out and seems he's not the only one hiding something. Toni Collette and Halye Joel
Osment got Oscar nominations for their supporting roles in this film (though I think the latter
actually carries the film) and I think they were well-deserved.
Yes, I love
animated films. They are not just for kids anymore. Animated films (I say "animated film"
because when I think of "cartoon" I can't help but something with mock-applause from the 70s)
are just another approach to making a movie, making it able to do many things that you just
cannot do with a regular camera. This movie is a prime example of this. It tells a story, gives
you some memorable characters, and just happens to be done with a computer instead of actors.
Personally, I think "When She Loved Me" was robbed of its Oscar for best original song, but
what can you do?
I
really don't know what to say about this film. Quite frankly, I found this
movie quite entertaining. I found Stanley Kubrick's direction of this film to be remarkable and the
cinematography enticing. Tom Cruise, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment. I found
his performance to be not on par with some of his better work. Thankfully, he saved himself in
Magnolia. I did find Nicole Kidman to be wonderful and robbed of an Oscar-nomination.
There isn't really a story to this film, but it does have it's point and it is visually perfect.
I must also give major snaps for that haunting score.
This film did
not do to well at the box office, but thankfully has gained a bit of a following which I am proud
to say I am a part of. Much like American Beauty, this film mocks society and satirizes
what we call morals and necessities, but instead of being so blunt (or perhaps being more blunt,
depending on your view) this film hides, much like its leading character, behind a fight club.
I think Edward Norton gave yet another Oscar-worthy performance, but it was a pretty competitive
year leading-male-performance-wise, so I can understand. The ending of this film ranks among my
favorites along with American Beauty and Se7en. On a final note, the DVD for this
film is a prime example of what you can, and should, do with DVD.
This movie is just so hilarious. I
don't think this film deserved all the controversy it got from the Catholic church. This movie,
along with Stigmata, actually renewed my faith. It's quite
ironic that two films that were constantly attacked by religious-freaks actually did revived
someone's faith, but I've always been odd. Anyway, this is just a truly hilarious film that pokes
fun at Catholicism with that Kevin Smith touch. From the opening disclaimer to the closing
credits, I found this film thoroughly enjoyable.
This film truly
surprised me. I did not expect the film to be bad, but I hardly expected for me to enjoy it as
much as I did. As I sat watching this film, I was entranced. This film took me to a time when
filmmakers did not just make movies for the hell of it, but to entertain and educate at the same
time. This film got oscar nominations for Best Actor, Best Direction, and Best Picture, all
well-deserved.
Wow! This is a
prime example of why movies are made. This is definitely not the type of story you see everyday.
Paul Thomas Anderson, the creator of Boogie Nights, takes his brilliant story-telling
skills and presents us with this truly unique tale of the intertwining lives of nine Los
Angelenos. This film had the potential to be horrid, but the screenplay is pure genius.
There are a few scenes in this film that will no doubt go down in movie history. One of these is
a scene where each of the cast members sings a verse to an Aimee Mann song and another is a
particular stormy scene of biblical proportions. The performances in this film are wonderful,
most notably John C. Reilly and Julianne Moore, who I think should have gotten an Oscar
nomination for her performance here rather than her great, but not classic performance in The
End of the Affair. Not since The Big Chill, or maybe even The Graduate, have I seen a film and its soundtrack blended this well.
I love this movie.
I think the scenery is very beautiful, the story is unique and tense, the performances are
wonderful, and Anthony Minghella's direction is genius. This film is far too underrated. It did
reasonably well at the box office, but I think could have done better. I am disappointed that
films like this only do moderately well whereas as average films like Double Jeopardy go
on to become blockbusters. This film got a few nominations at the Oscars, but I think it should
have gotten a few more. A Best Picture and Best Actor nod should have gone to this film. Matt
Damon gave one of the greatest performance of the year and was completely overlooked.
This is it!
This is the film I can completely put my support behind as the best of the year. The script is
dead-on, the direction is beautiful, and the performances were perfect. For the first time since... before I can remember, I agree with the Academy Awards' choice for Best Picture. However, though Kevin
Spacey and Annette Bening got deserving Oscar nominations, I think the supporting cast was quite
overlooked. I can understand them ignoring Mena Suvari seeing as she just came off the
American Pie high and Thora Birch for just leaving her "child-star" status,
but Wes Bentley was completely ripped off. But I won't sit here and gripe. I'll just say that
this film is a masterpiece and an instant classic. The plastic bag scene is truly one to go
down in film history.
