The 1990s were incredibly big years for me movie-wise. Half my childhood
happened in the '90s, including most of my teenage years. While I
didn't necessarily get out to the theater that often back then, the
movies I saw at the cinema really stuck with me. And I've had lots of
time to catch up with the others - though almost all of my favorites are
ones I saw in the '90s themselves. It was such a big decade for me
movie-wise, I have to split it up into two. This first list covers 1995
to 1998; I'm skipping '99 since I did a top ten list for that one already and I'm looking for any excuse to trim down my list.
Babe (1995)
- This beautifully shot fairy tale about a pig who becomes an expert
sheep-herder simply by being polite led me to an obsession with Dick
King-Smith. For an entire summer, I read every book of his that I could
find in the library. As much as I love his writing, I like the film
version of Babe even better than the book. The sun-drenched
cinematography, the folksy music, the special effects and, perhaps most
of all, James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett, the ultimate man of few words.
Braveheart (1995)
- It took me until 2001 to see this one, just because I knew it would
be extremely bloody, not to mention long. I finally watched it when my
brother brought some friends home to see it at midnight one night. No
matter; bloodthirsty battles have a way of keeping one awake... The
music, the cinematography and the accents were glorious. And Mel Gibson
was a tour de force on this one. I still had to avert my eyes many
times, but on the whole, I was a little surprised by how much I liked
it.
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) - My dad saw this in the
theater with a friend of his who happened to be a music teacher himself.
They loved it, as did my freshman theology teacher, who took every
opportunity she had to recommend it. I can definitely see why any
educator would appreciate this movie, in which Richard Dreyfuss shows us
the lifetime of a composer who discovers untapped talents as a teacher.
Powerful demonstration of John Lennon's observation: "Life is what
happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Sense and Sensibility / Pride and Prejudice (1995)
- Yes, I'm cheating and putting the Austens together, though if you
really pressed me, I'd have to claim the first as my favorite. Emma
Thompson's incredible screenplay makes it one of the most faithful
adaptations I've seen, making Sense and Sensibility manage as well in a couple of hours as Pride and Prejudice
does in five. This was the movie that introduced me to her and made me
really fall for Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant. Excellent all around. Of
course, the latter is considered by many to be the ultimate Austen
adaptation, and it certainly is terrific, thanks to a screenplay that
sticks close to the book and an amazing cast, with Colin Firth the clear
standout as the dashing Mr. Darcy.
Toy Story (1995)
- A dazzling movie that ushered in the era of computer-animated films.
It would be nice if they all came close to the standard this set. Tom
Hanks and Tim Allen lead a top-notch cast of voice actors that includes
Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles and Pixar mainstay John Ratzenberger in this
funny, touching tale of jealousy and cooperation in the playroom. This
one was first recommended to me by my freshman English teacher, who
couldn't say enough good things about it. She was sure I'd love it, and
she was right.
Phenomenon (1996)
- I'd been wanting to see this one but hadn't yet gotten around to it
when we watched it as part of my senior theology class. I wrote a
four-page-long paper about it, and I could have gone on longer. A
fascinating film about a humble man played by John Travolta who suddenly
finds himself with remarkable abilities. I loved the story, as well as
the excellent supporting performances, especially by David Strathairn,
Forest Whitaker and Robert Duvall.
That Thing You Do! (1996) - Who would've ever thought that my little town of Erie would pop up in a Tom Hanks movie? This movie came just a year after Forrest Gump
made me fall head over heels for Hanks, who I'd enjoyed in several
other movies already. His role as an actor in this is comparatively
small, but he wrote and directed the film, which is a fun,
family-friendly reflection on the meteoric rise and fall of many bands
in the '60s. An exuberant movie with one of the catchiest title tracks
around, it's a winner for anybody who loves this era of music.
Anastasia (1997)
- One of my favorite animated films, this Don Bluth movie was one that
my brother and I caught in the theater together. It 's a highly
fictionalized version of the life of Russian princess Anastasia Romanov,
who was long rumored to have survived the attack on her family; one of
the places she supposedly came was Erie, where there is a house named
after her. The recent revelation that she died along with the rest of
her family doesn't ruin this movie's charm for me. It's a touching love
story with a wonderful cast that includes Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey
Grammer and Angela Lansbury, and I loved the music so much I bought the
soundtrack and the sheet music.
Ever After (1998) - Speaking of fairy tales, this live-action version of Cinderella
directed by Andy Tennant is one of my favorite adaptations of the
classic story. Drew Barrymore is headstrong but lovable as Danielle, an
intelligent young woman devastated by the loss of her beloved father and
oppressed by her cruel stepmother and stepsister. One of my favorite
touches in this version is making the second stepsister sympathetic;
wonderfully played by Melanie Lynskey, she is sweet and marginalized
because she is portly, giving her more empathy with Danielle. Also fun
is the incorporation of Leonardo da Vinci, which helps the film almost
feel more like historical fiction.
The Truman Show (1998)
- Jim Carrey is surprisingly low-key in this thought-provoking movie
about a man who unknowingly spends his life as the subject of a reality
show. Everything about his life has been manufactured, but there is one
person from his past who is determined to tip him off. The lengths these
people go to in order to keep up the artifice is incredible; the scary
thing is that it's not so terribly removed from reality. I loved the
concept of the movie and its family-friendly execution, and for the
first time, Carrey's character didn't give me a headache. This is
probably still my favorite of his performances.
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