A few ground rules before we begin. I chose years based on the quality of the films that were released during the year in question. I used IMDB to confirm release dates, and used theatrical release dates, not film festival premieres. I tried to pick years that changed my perception, were ground breaking, or changed the film landscape as we know it. The listing will begins with #5 and down to #1. Order is important. My top two picks were easy the rest was a real grudge match.
5.) 1991: Those of you that know me. Probably aren't surprised by this particular year. After all it has my favorite sci-fi film of all time released in it, T2. A lot of other notable films that were released this year: Barton Fink, Backdraft, Boyz N the Hood, The Fisher King, Hook, Hot Shots, JFK, My Own Private Idaho, Point Break, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Rocketeer, The Silence of the Lambs, and Thelma and Louise.
Let's get this one out of the way, because like a crack addict, I'm already itching to get my fix. James Cameron's masterpiece, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, is a film that excels in every aspect. Cameron is a perfectionist and it shows here. The level of detail, the performances, the story, everything culminates into a perfect science fiction film. Not to mention that this is a sequel, and unlike almost every sequel it manages to not only meet the expectations of the original, but exceed it as well. Can you ever imagine another movie in which Arnold's accent, his stiff acting style actual work to portray the character he is on screen. Not to mention Linda Hamilton's performance, which in my opinion is nothing more than outstanding. How many other films can you think of where one of your main characters is a strong, willful, and powerful female character. She is perhaps more "badass" than Arnold in this film. She's the mother every kid wishes they had when they were younger. While most of us were playing ninja turtles and GI Joe, she was teaching John armed combat and how to rip-off ATMs. We've just scratched the surface of this one, but if I don't move on, then I'll just spend the whole post on it. T2 a must for any fan.
Silence of the Lambs is another one I want to touch on. This is perhaps another perfect film. Superb acting, screenplay, directing, and visuals. All culminating into one of only two films to sweep all five major categories at the oscars: Best Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay, and Motion Picture. This is a particularly notable feet considering how ridiculous and pointless the Oscars have become. Hopkins is superb as Hannibal Lecture, a psychiatrist, who ate his patients. Jodie Foster is excellent as the FBI trainee selected to garner Lecture's trust in discovering Buffalo Bill's identity. The script is smart, clever, and keeps you in suspense till the last scene. And, who can forget Ted Levine's haunting portrayal of Buffalo Bill, a serial killer denied several sex change operations and pieces together parts of his victims skin to make a full "woman suit". This one is not for the squeamish, but stands out to me as another great reason why 1991 makes my list.
4.) 1994: The year that gave us Mr. Tarantino's sophomore effort, "Pulp Fiction". Among other classic greats in this year were: Forrest Gump, Quiz Show, Shallow Grave, True Lies, Legends of the Fall, Lion King, The Crow, Clerks, Blue Chips, Cobb, Leon: The Professional, and of course The Shawshank Redemption.
Undoubtedly for many of you Shawshank Redemption is high on your list. It's high on mine too. If you haven't seen it they run it on TNT, TBS, or WGN on the regular. One of my favorite parts about the Shaw is Morgan Freeman's narration. I could hand him anything to read, Dr. Suess books, an airline safety brochure, even the ingredients list on a box of Kix. Yes, he's that good. S.R. might be a perfect movie. In in a lot of ways it is really a love story between two men of all things. A love story like Papillion, that chronicles the lives of two prisoner's who find solace and comfort in each other in order to serve their time. It's a powerful and moving masterpiece, the likes of which we will probably never see again.
Another one of my favorites that I have to touch on is Leon: The professional. Luc Besson directed this modern day Lolita tale, while introducing us to one of my generations current great actresses, Natalie Portman. The justaposition of innocent Matilda and the Hitman, Leon is a fascinating one. Maybe my favorite aspect of this relationship is really how much Matilda is the grown-up , while Leon retains this child-like awe and wonder about him throughout the film. This movie is another gritty film, that brings tears to my eyes to this day, due to the wonderful performances.
3.) 1995: Not straying too far away, 95' was another great year in Cinema history. I was 12, and not quite old enough to see most of the movies that made this a particularly great year. However, there was one movie by an unknown production company that garnered my attention and my respect with each subsequent release, PIXAR's "Toy Story". Another ground breaking film that paved the way for an entire generation of newly animated features that would exist only by unlimited imagination and "1's and"0's". Without Pixar, where would we be? Sure, Dreamworks probably would have come out with their animated brand of films, as well as Fox, but would either be as successful or as entertaining if it weren't for Pixar setting the bar for animated features year after year? I think not. Years later, after Toy Story's release, i revisited 1995 and discovered the following gems: Dead Man Walking, To Die For, Mallrats, Before Sunrise, Basketball Diaries, The Usual Suspects, Braveheart, and one of my personal favorites Michael Mann's, HEAT.
Heat alone is probably enough for me to put 1995 on my list. I can't tell you how many times i've poured over this movie. It is hands down one of the best character development films out there. Mann know's just where to put his camera. His instincts, like his character's, are sharp and exact. This is a calculated, gritty, real film. One of the few that brings tears to my eyes. Not enough can be said about HEAT.
1995 was a great year in cinema. One that for me could not be fully appreciated till later in life. So, if you haven't had a chance to see some these great pieces of cinema history I suggest you get a Netflix subscription.
2.) 2007: Coming off the heels of 2006, a ghastly year in cinema filled with maybe some of the worst titles, reboots, and possible the worst Pixar movie to date, Cars, 2007 roared into theaters full of pictures to entertain, stimulate, and enlighten the senses. 2006 was the year that gave us: Superman Returns, The Da Vinci Code, Mission Impossible 3, and even managed to kill the X-men franchise with a 3rd installment, by Mr. "no talent" himself, Brett Ratner. 2007, was a lot like the approaching Democratic party election. After having a retard in office for 8 years, a bowl of Cheerios would suffice for the general public. But, we were treated to more than just cheerios, we got served Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Pops, and a little Raisin Bran in one mythical bowl. It had enough for everyone, it was sweet, salty, and chaulk full vitamins and mineral to stimulate the "thinkers" out there.
Let's do the rundown of notable films: The Lookout, Black Snake Moan, Zodiac, Hot Fuzz, Knocked Up, Ratatouille, Rescue Dawn, Sunshine, 3:10 to Yuma, Eastern Promises, Into the Wild, Michael Clayton, and the two masterpieces of the year: No Contry for Old Men and There Will be Blood.
"No Country" is a strong enough movie in its own right to give enough weight to make this list, but then 2007 goes on, like a never ending day of Christmas. Not only did you get a new bike, super nintendo, baseball glove, and puppy, but you also got that Red Rider carbon action b.b. gun you always wanted too, with "There Will be Blood". PTA's direction has never been better in this new take on the western about an Oil Prospector stealing the dreams of a small town and destroying everyone around him. Daniel Day Lewis' epic performance, which some consider the best ever put to celluloid, is more than enough for anyone to give this a viewing. Beautiful production design, cinematography, and a superb score will keep you coming back for a second viewing.
1.) 1999: This one is easy. I can't think of a better year in cinema since I've been on this earth. There are just too many great, groundbreaking films, and films that probably make your "favorites" in this bunch. 1999 was a magical year, that only comes once in a lifetime. It was a like a throwback to the 70's, where experimentation, ingenuity, and great story telling came together to give us some of the best movies we had seen since the days of the film school generation. All the usual suspects came to play that year. The directors that would define cinema for my generation and every generation entering film school now. Soderberg, Fincher, Jonze, O'Russell, Kubrick, Ball, Scosesse, Wachowski bros., Coppoala, and Mann just to name a few. If you walk to your DVD rack right now (that is if you still have one) you probably have more films from this year in cinema than any other on your shelves.
Let's just go down the list a bit. As it grows, you will be astonished: American Beauty, Beautiful People, Being John Malkovich, Beyond the Mat, Boys Don't Cry, Brining out the Dead, Cider House Rules, Dogma, Election, Eyes Wide Shut, Fight Club, Girl Interrupted, Go, The Insider, Iron Giant, The Limey, Magnolia, The Matrix, Office Space, Sixth Sense, Summer of Sam, Three Kings, Toy Story 2, Trippin, and The Virgin Suicides.
And there's more... For those of you who remain skeptical here is a complete list at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_in_film
I know what you are thinking. "All these classics couldn't have come out in one year!" Well...They did. And one classic that was a true experience i will never forget has been dissected, talked about and disputed countless times. Personally, I was truly blown away by this one. I hadn't felt this kind of anticipation and excitement since "Jurassic Park", as when i saw, "The Matrix". I could spend hours peeling away the layers of this onion, but we don't have that kind of time. Granted after many viewings since its release the Matrix does not have the same effect, but in the context, in the time, it was the movie that redefined filmmaking. And, defined it so much that every other movie for the next two years would steal it's technique, its "cool factor", and overall aesthetic.
Throughout 99 I had similar experience with other films as well. The "rebels of the back lot", as they were called, (coinded by Sharon Waxmen) were in full swing this year and kept pumping out masterpieces. Three kings is one I have often revisited, and don't know if I can think of a better "golden fleece" tale out there. Being John Malkovich was the first time I had been introduced to Charlie Kaufman, and his genius. Then we had Tom Cruise, before he was "The Cruise", in the best performance of his career in PTA's Magnolia. Aside from needing a desperate reduction in runtime, Magnolia was an engrossing film that kept you on the edge of your seat driven by an amazing score.
Well there you have it. My top five years in cinema. I could get lost talking about any one of these films for pages and pages. I'm interested to hear your thoughts and feedback on my top 5. If you agree or disagree I'd like to hear about it.
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