X-MEN
Director: Bryan Singer Starring:Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Halle Berry, Framke Janssen, James Mardsen, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Ray Park, Tyler Mane, Bruce Davidson
This is simply the best comic book movie ever made (as I willingly added earlier, I read comics), although there hasn't been much competition. The first and third Batman's were pretty good, the original Superman, Blade and Men in Black were all alright, but the majority suck. I guess that's what happens when you get a director and a team of writer's that don't know the source material (kinda like trying to do Hamlet without reading Shakespeare). Since I had been reading X-Men since I was 10, I was very nervous that this would happen to my X-Men. But when I heard Bryan Singer was directing, I was a little more comfortable, since another of his films The Usual Suspects is one of my favourites (see below). While this is not a perfect film, it stayed true to the spirit of the characters while still making the necessary changes to translate to a wide audience. Plus, the visuals are extraordinary.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Spacey, Kevin Pollack, Benicio Del Toro
It is impossible to figure the ending of this movie out before it comes when watching for the first time. It's not that you don't try, but the story is so inter-woven and the atmosphere is so thick that the film will keep you guessing. This makes this one of the best mystery movies ever, and makes the watching (and re-watching) of this film so rewarding. If you haven't seen this film, do yourself a favour and DON'T find out the ending before hand, trust me. Kevin Spacey won his first oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of Verbal Kint.
BEFORE SUNRISE
Director: Richard Linkletter Starring:Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
The classic boy-meets-girl story given a mature, modern twist. This movie features Ethan Hawke as a young American who meets a young French woman (Delpy) on train to Vienna and asks her to join him around town for the night before his plane leaves for America in the morning. In the scenes that follow, we see the couple get to know one another, fall in love, and ultimately discover themselves and one another along the way. The film is completely character-driven (read: very little action, a lot of dialogue), and because they are young characters of the mid-90's I found much of what they think and do to reflect myself. This gives the movie a very personal, intimate feel.
THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD
Director: Gary Fleder Starring: Andy Garcia, Christopher Lloyd, Christopher Walken, William Forsythe, Treat Williams, Bill Nunn, Gabrielle Anwar, Steve Buscemi, Fariuza Balk, Jack Warden
This gangster movie is full of noir, giving the movie a feel of a timewarp, going back to a time where man wore ascots and believed in "honour amongst thieves". The film is set in modern day Denver, with Garcia playing "Jimmy the Saint" a reformed mobster, sent to do a "work" for the "man-with-the-plan" (Walken). Jimmy and his motley crew of former hoods from back in the day set to the job and things go awry. The fun of this film is how it manages to create its own world with the use of language, costumes and scenery. The movie is very dialogue-driven and a real treat to those who love banter.
Director:Sam Mendes Starring:Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher, Scott Bakula
This movie's title can be read literally, because the cinematography is gorgeous. The film portrays the angst of suburban life, and the story of a frustrated man rediscovering life at middle-age. The plot is multi-layered featuring the stories of 5 different individuals who come together in this suburban setting. The story is moving, the acting is brillant (Spacey won his second oscar for best actor), but the best part of the film is the pictures, the cinematography, you watch this movie and you understand what Ricky Fitts (Bentley) means when he says: "Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in."
