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Closing Out the 20th CenturyMar 17 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Bottom Line: A very original decade for movies and a worthy stage from which to launch the film art of the 21st century. The best movies of the 1990's are a real patchwork quilt, each very different from the other. Big, little, American and Foreign, they show the incredible diversity of filmmaking and demonstrate why film has become the 20th Century's most important art form. Yep, even more important than rock and roll. Here are my picks: 1. Fargo-I believe this is the film where the Coen brothers do everything right. Frances Mc Dormand gives a truly wonderful performance as Marge and the supporting cast make watching Fargo an unforgettable experience. Didn't hurt tourism in Minnesota either. 2. Life is Beautiful-Who would have believed that a heartfelt masterpiece could come from the pen of Roberto Benigni? This is one of my top ten favortie films of all time and just about perfect in form and function. Bravissimo, Roberto! 3. Three Colors: Red-The culmination of the Three Colors Trilogy pairs Jean Louis Trintignant and Irene Jacob in a film that has wonderful resonance and teaches us that we truly cannot live alone. This is also one of my top ten all time films. 4. The Usual Suspects-This strange but wonderful film introduced us to the talent of Bryan Singer, who may become the great director of the coming decade. Kevin Spacey is the perfect Keyser Sose in one of the best screenplays ever written for the American screen. 5. The Matrix-Oh,yeah,this one belongs in the top ten ranking (thanks to Scorcesian for reminding me about it). I actually saw Bound before the Matrix and the Wachowski brothers truly made a quantum leap in their filmmaking craft with the construction of the Matrix. One of my two favorite Keanu roles and a creative, intriguing vision of the future. 6. Tune In Tomorrow- Here's my other one. I really loved this film and I want the world to know about it. Keanu is the center of an ensemble cast that includes Barbara Hershey, Peter Falk as the great Pedro Carmichael, Wilford Brimsley, Peter Gallagher and Elizabeth Mc Govern among others. It shows great respect for its source and manages to be a great original movie on its own as well. Kudos here to Jon Amiel. 7. The Last Seduction-The 1990's produced two great villains and one great villaness. Linda Fiorentino's Bridget Gregory is that evil woman in this truly great film noir . The supporting cast is also great . Red Rock West is the other great film by this director whose first name is John and last name escapes me. 8. The Silence of the Lambs-The first of the two great villans, Anthony Hopkins is unforgettable as Hannibal Lecter . Jonathan Demme does his Oscar proud in this movie, which is air tight and works on several levels as both a suspense film and horror movie of real intelligence. 9. In The Company of Men-Here's the other great movie villain: Aaron Eckhardt's smooth talking, backstabbing corporate gypsy. The film introduces us to Neil La Bute and like many of the films on this list, is a potent debut by a major talent. 10. Pulp Fiction-Love him or hate him on films before and after this one, this is the Tarantino film that cannot be denied. Fiercely original, wonderfully acted, endearingly jumbled, this is Quentin T's contribution to the classics of cinema. Just missing the list: Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, The Player, The Dreamlife of Angels, Farewell My Concubine, Cyrano and Wings of the Dove, my favorite of the British historical costume dramas.  |
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by lindaohio
