Lifetime Movies: 2004

Winner: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Hold on...what? In maybe the biggest upset since my stomach the morning after The Distillery dared me to eat all that saurkraut, I have immortalized a Jim Carrey film in the ranks of my Lifetime Movies. Now, a lesser man could credit this film's success to a brilliant Charlie Kaufman script. Or visionary direction by Michel Gondry. Or another exquisite performance by Kate Winslet. Or any number of reasons besides that assclown  Carrey. But I am not that lesser man. I'm a different lesser man that has nothing to do with movies. No, as much as it pains me to say, Carrey was good here, Yes, that half-hearted compliment hurt. I avoided this movie for years mainly because I didn't want to like it. Sigh. Not even my innate bitterness could stand in the way of one of the best movies I have ever seen. Yes, that's what I said.

What else? This may be the year of the decade.

Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake may have surpassed the original which itself is considered by many to be the best zombie movie. And then there's Shaun of the Dead, which if you know me you know I love. Not that anyone can ever know me.

And there is the far and away best football movie ever, Friday Night Lights.

And the deepest comedy year of the decade featuring Napoleon Dynamite, Mean Girls, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, Anchorman, and Team America. And Kung Fu Hustle, which was as cool as it was funny.

And Fahrenheit 9/11, which despite your political or Michael Moore leanings, was easily the most important film of the year and maybe the decade.

And The Notebook.

And what Vin said.

Lifetime Movies: 2004

Best Film of 2004: Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny


This is it. for me this is an easy choice and a controversial choice. I feel like I have to defend this film over and over again (well to the imaginary friends I have in my head). Critics panned it at Cannes...Ebert and Gallo had a terrifying verbal battle that actually resulted in Ebert getting the cancer that Gallo wished on him. Gallo added to it by having a billboard made in LA with Chloe Sevigny blowing him...Look Gallo is an actor I love...he is quirky...he is actually very good in funny films...but lets face it...he is not historically been in very good films and the acting has been bad...I have tried to see all his films...they are hard to come by but Netflix has done me well...what other actor can play a masturbating astronaut on Mars and make it seem sooo sad? So I bought the brown bunny on DVD...it took me 2 sittings to watch all the way through...it is slow slow slow...but then I started watching it while wrapping Christmas presents one winter night...and let me tell you my mind starting to absorb the film as a genuine and honest look at male fragility that I at least have never seen on film...guys are tough and macho...and never show that vulnerable side...we all have had that moment...breaking up with a girl and pouring over notes and poems to the one that broke our heart while listening to Black Sabbath over and over again...telling our friends while drinking many beers about how you miss her...Cameron Crowe usually does this best in mainstream films...but this is Gallo...this is low tech across country 3 man crew...with no talent not even actors as characters in Gallo's road movie...the music is great...the places he shoots is great (I once emailed him for the route so I could travel one day and have a "Brown Bunny experience tour"...he gave me the directions). From the New Hampshire raceway, to a Chinese diner in St Louis, to the Utah Bonnevile salt flats and on to Los Angeles...this is a minimalistic epic sad story of lost love and a mans tortured and guilty soul opening in front of us...Gallo is excellent in this...to add I bought straight from his vgmerchandise web site the Japanese import of Brown Bunny...I converted it to English and spent weeks copying it onto a DVD so I could listen to the Gallo Commentary..its awesome its honest and I listen to it often...I love this film...its one I feel I have to champion...its not for everyone and I cant wait till Gallo's "Promises Written in Water" comes out...also check him out in Buffalo 66.

Others in Contention this year:

Sideways
I know I have to see more Alexander Payne films...this one is great...what a chemistry by the leads...what a great love story similar to the male honest hurt of Brown Bunny...but this film is fun...funny...sad..and just great...the commentary on the DVD with Church and Giamati is very funny...but you need a PHD to keep up with the two of them...I know Giamati went to Yale...and it shows...he uses big words but Church must have read a dictionary or be smart too...because the both of them have this back and forth high brow comedy going on during the commentary...its like the exact opposite of the Orgazmo DVD commentary

Collateral
Micheal Mann uses the grainy camera to show a life lived in one night in the streets of LA...Tom Cruise is a bad ass and on fire in this role...my only complaint is that Jaime Fox has no skill, is a taxi cab driver and he gets the balls to all of a sudden take out this trained killer by the end...way to over the top for that...that part is unbelievable...but its still one of the best by Mann

Kill Bill 2
Slower then 1...the story has a conclusion and should stay there...I do agree with SMCO that Uma always seems like she is doing coke or something with her nose...I guess the Pulp Fiction scenes just have stuck with her

Spiderman 2
Probably the best one...I like the villain the best and the Doc Oc in the hospital scene is sooo Sam Raimi

The Machinist
I always think I am going to see this one again and again...its great...you would never guess it was shot in Spain...the director Brad Anderson I thought would go on to make other great films...but has not...Christian Bale is amazing..the weight loss in crazy...he wins...for years we thought DeNiro was the champ for Raging Bull...but no its Bale...amazingly his next role was batman Begins...so he had to gain tons of muscle and came into preproduction from machinist with too much muscle mass...The Machinist kept me guessing the whole time...it seems like a dark horse film...like an early Chris Nolan film.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Charile Kaufman, script...maybe way too much Jim Carrey for Frank...but Kate Winslet is great...the side characters are great...the story is way confusing...the effects are natural and a funhouse style of cinema art that whiz kid Gondry handles well...while not one of my favorite Kaufman scripts, it still Kaufman and the emotion and skill of Jim Carrey is great...I loved him in Man on the Moon and this is right up there as far as acting.

Primer
Shane Carruth made this film with little money and no other film credits...its so amazing you may never even know its amazing or by the end understand what you just saw...Carruth supposedly is trying to finance his next film (Yes its been 7 years) which is called "A Topiary"...the film is a time travel, business spy type deal.

Anchorman
I think I liked this...but again with comedies...who knows...once I saw this I thought it was great...then saw it about 3 more times...comedies are easily replaceable...easily digested then we move on...you ever really go back and watch comedies from when you were a kid?...today's kids dont get it...Caddy Shack, Vacation, The Blues Brothers...I can go on and on...even Animal House may be dated and that was a period piece...Anchorman had its time...it was one of the best of 2004 but I would not rank it on best all time...even Borat...I mean has anyone watched that since the hype died down?

OK next year 2005...its a toss up year for me but I got to go with the beginning of a franchise over the end of a franchise

BOOM

Lifetime Movies : 2003

Time has started running forward again. Aught three, here we go.

Winner: Old School

Wait, did I just give away the winner of another aborted list? You'll have to stay tuned and hope I finally get back to reborting it. In the meantime, I have to invoke the rewatchability clause in this little exercise and if there's one film from this year that I can sit through over and over, it's this one. It's probably the closest we've come to replicating the vibe of those late 70s/early 80s comedy classics like Caddyshack and Vacation. (And in keeping with tradition, Old School has  inspired countless inferior knockoffs, most of which have seemed to star Vince Vaughn.) Plus, the decade gets its hallmark frat comedy, following the vomit-stained path of Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds, and PCU, an underrated 90s gem. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish this post and get to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if  I'll have enough time. 


Films of Note:
Big Fish: The last great Tim Burton movie and one that always gets something in my eye at the end. Bonus: features one of the last great Pearl Jam songs.

The Cooler: The requisite indie sleeper. Big fan of Maria Bello.

Kill Bill Vol. 1: Tremendous fun, but I have trouble considering it as a stand alone film. Call it a technicality.

The Last Samurai: Say what you will, but I thought this was very well done and said a lot about men and honor in the face of change. Plus, you know, samurai.

Lord of the Rings 3: I already said I wasn't going to consider any of the LotR sequels, even though this actually won the Oscar. Truth be told, I thought this went on way too long. Now, before you claim they were only being loyal to the source material allow me to say that Tolkien's ending went on way too long. I don't know why so many people consider these books to be religious texts. Either way, the best film-for-film trilogy ever made. On an completely unrelated note, the Matrix sequels also came out this year.

Love Actually: Whatever. But it could be the romantic comedy of the decade. Don't know. Haven't really thought about it before that last sentence.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Pirates of the Caribbean: What a year for Johnny Depp. Two terrific characters in two terrifically entertaining movies. Disney marketing scam or not, Jack Sparrow is genius.

Lifetime Movies: 2003

Well I am back for now...the fans have spoken and so I will post this latest edition...maybe I was sad to see this column come to an end...speaking of ends...that is a hint to my favorite film of 2003...So here is a list of good films that I considered first and some quick thoughts about them.

Finding Nemo: One of the first Pixar films I saw once I actually had a child...it's a great film...that may be actually a little too long in the end...but also very simple now looking back and seeing what Pixar has done since.

Big Fish: a Tim Burton film that strays a bit away from his "expected" films...it's not dark and goth and sad looking...this is a fun romp of tall tales and a torn relationship...it's refreshing and I can see watching this one for years to come

Elephant: I love these Gus Van Sant films...the ones that go under the radar, go to Cannes and I have no real idea what they are about...and then BOOM...it's a film that will make my list for best "Nap Time Films"...it is slow and you are hypnotized (or fall asleep) by the lazy day pace...then Blamo...stuff happens...I will not say what happens...but Gus is Great

Elf: Probably my favorite Will Ferrell character except for Frank the Tank...see later film...fun, has a great sense of itself...like an old school Christmas family film brought into a new generation...the end is predictable and not as great as the first 2/3rds...but it is solid

Old School: The Frat Pack starts here?...what a great beginning to a string of wannabe films..the team of actors is great ...too bad Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson have not made a better film since (maybe Idiocracy)

X2: Could have won...it's a great film...with so many things happening and so many characters and plot movements that it winds up hurting it in the end...these films for me have not lasted with the years...although better then Iron Man and other superhero films...I thought I would have thought more fondly of this film with the years behind it...but I don't...I could not even tell you what it's about...I remember the characters...but all I wanted to see was more Wolverine and less bald guy sitting in a wheel chair thinking real hard.

Only 2 films left as the best of the Year:

Kill Bill Vol 1: Please don't make a KBV3...I want this to be the end and have Tarantino go on to other things...to me before Inglorious Basterds I could 98% say that the Kill Bill films are the best of Tarantino...I love Pulp Fiction and the others...but this is glorious and hard to just separate the two films...this one is a bit faster then the Vol 2...but the juxtaposition of the 2 are amazing...and this one sets up the second perfectly...a revenge film of epic proportions...Tarantino is a master.

The Winner is:

The end is the best...the three years, one after the other was a great experience...there is possibly no way to recreate the experience...unless The Hobbit can repeat this...I had no idea about anything of the Lord of the Rings before I went into the theater in 2001 to see Fellowship...like nothing...I went with a friend who said I had to see it...I literally knew nothing...since then I have seen these films many many times...the extended cuts are the only way for me to see them...and yes it takes close to 11 hours to see it all in a row...once I walked out of the theater I was hooked...I read the books and bought the toys and love the story of JRR TOLKIEN...so I picked the last one because the action is best...it ends the film story...Viggo is kick ass and it is the Best film of 2003...

Clues for 2004?...Well the winner certainly is not about Easter...

Lifetime Movies : 2002

One of my favorite things about this site is lifetime movies...and I have been so very neglectful. Thankfully Frank wrote in and of course I agree. Adaptation is amazing. I saw it for the first time on dvd, probably a year or two after it came out...I was not hooked on Charlie Kaufman as I was with Being John Malkovich and so never got to see it in the theater. The first time I saw it I was stunned as to how much was going on with the story. Then after repeated watches it gets clearer...and at the same time more complicated when you start to think of all the levels of reality and film and book this movie reacts on. Once then you have me going to the everglades and getting lost looking for the ghost orchid...your whole universe starts to collapse with reality folding into reality...the key here is that just like Synechdoche...the film is about life and creation...both the creation of man and the creation of a work of art that imitates man.

Best Film 2002: Adaptation

I remember being sad that Charlie did not win for the screenplay...I really had wanted to see it in theaters.

Others:

The Two Towers:

At this point I was hooked...One a year was perfect release times and this film had the most awsome fight scene of Helms Deep (at least till Return of the King)

Gangs of New York:
When I revisit this film its for Daniel Day Lewis...I could not even rememebr the rest of the film...its about revenge or something...

25th Hour:
I just saw this one I think last year...its awsome...and Spike Lee I think unknowingly made a masterpeice about more then just a guy going to jail..its about America Post 9-11

Lifetime Movies: 2002

As if in a rallying cry response to the horrors of the previous September, 2002 gave America a lot to take its mind off the real world at-large. A strong year with a little bit of everything film-wise. I couldn't tell you anything else that happened that year. Like one of those big fat guys, the last decade doesn't have much definition for me.

Winner: Adaptation

I rewatched this recently just to see if I remembered it correctly. Turns out I didn't. Not that I didn't like it the first go around, but like I mentioned above, its uniqueness seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle. I don't understand how something this smart and original got made in the first place. Charlie Kaufman is the screenwriter of the decade.

Films of Note:


Punch-Drunk Love: I just rewatched this, too, because I take this seriously. And it somehow had slipped even further than Adaptation in my recollection. Part of the problem was that at the time this was neither another Magnolia nor another Adam Sandler comedy. It was what it, of course, still is: a P.T. Anderson cinematic short story that's surprisingly deep and touching. The peek of Sandler's career.

About a Boy: Take about a rare double-double: one of my favorite books (by one of my favorite authors, Nick Hornby) adapted into one of my favorite movies. Maybe the perfect role for Hugh Grant and just pitch-perfect charming on every level.

The Bourne Identity: Turned out to be the template for the decade's action movies. Not a bad thing at all, other than that Hollywood is so depressingly unoriginal. But don't hate the original. Who knew Will Hunting was such a badass?

Secretary: How long did it take them to cast James Spader in this sexy S&M pic? Spader! But the big score here was Maggie Gyllenhaal in a career-making role (hey, she was in Adaptation, too!). Oddly, director Steven Shainberg never did much else.

8 Mile: The classic music biopic but with the added edge of actually starring the biggest musician at the time. Slim Shady was up for the challenge with an undeniably good performance as basically himself. But it's the music that gives this so much life and, believe it or not, gave Eminem an Oscar. He now has as many as Pacino and Scorsese.

28 Days Later: I've written about this before, but it's worth mentioning again how amazing the first half of this film is. Danny Boyle creates one of the most haunting dystopian worlds to date and proves what an eclectic and

Spider-Man: If I needed proof that I have lost all track of time, they are already rebooting this franchise. Regardless of how the new one turns out, let's not forget how much fun Sam Raimi's first Spidey film was. Still one of the best superhero movies.

Chicago: Finally, here's your Oscar winner. And, you know what? It's not a bad choice in the context of how the Academy votes. A musical with good music and some creative and exciting choreography.

Lifetime Films: 2001

No, not that film..it's 2001 like for real and it was 9 years ago now. Looking at this year's films I see some that I caught in the theater and more and more films I find on DVD after the fact or on cable. Let's get down to my 3 top choices and then the winner shall we

Fellowship of the Ring

The Royal Tannenbaums

Mulholland Drive

Fellowship of the Ring: I knew nothing of the books, I barely knew what the story was about...and went to see these films with my buddy Jeff, who knew the stories and helped me along with what would happen. I loved these...I can only say that knowing we would get 1 film a year and the story continued was a great experience that has not yet been duplicated...I can also say that of the 3 films they did get better, as did the CGI and the story got tenser and the battles better...so for me this film is my least favorite of the 3 films...but still one of my favorites of the year...also I cant watch the theatrical version...for me its the extended cut or nothing.

The Royal Tannenbaums: This film just feels a lot older then 2001...with the success of Bottle Rocket and Rushmore I looked forward to this film...especially with a bigger cast and all the great set design and quirky lines and great characters...this is a quintessential Wes Anderson Film...

WINNER:

Mulholland Drive

OK...so it's Lynch again...This film is like his others...as we get into the plot...the plot becomes irrelevant and the dream takes over...we see this done for the masses in Inception...but here it balances the line between reality and dream so well...I think Lynch went into total dream with Inland Empire...but here the story of a hopefully naive starlet struck with obsession by another woman becomes a nightmare. This film introduced us to Naomi Watts who is brilliant and the sex scene is intense...the color is great...the score is awesome by Angelo Baldamenti...easily my favorite...and to think this was supposed to be a made for TV series...what a joke...this was the best film of 2001.

Others:

A Beautiful Mind: I liked it...glad that Jen Connelly won...but I cant help but thinking that Ron Howard just makes the same film over and over again...by toying with our emotions so blatantly...see Cinderella Man and Far and Away

AI- Stanley Kubrick's story done by Spielberg...I liked it and maybe most of my like is that we will never see a new Kubrick film again

Donnie Darko: Richard Kelly has good ideas...too bad they are convoluted and hard to figure out...the look of this film and soundtrack is great...but so did he time travel?..or it was a worm hole?

Black Hawk Down: Love a good gritty war film

Monsters Ball: Found this one years later...Heath Ledger is great and so is that Sling Blade feller...Billy Bob Thornton is very good as well as Halle Berry...great story set during a weird time in America

So as 2010 is closing I reflect on 2002...an easy one for me to love...but you know what they say, so happy together (hint for 2002 best film)

Lifetime Movies : 2001

This is my favorite film for 2001. David Lynch's Mulholland Dr. What started as a possible new TV show for Lynch, turns into a dream within a dream...an erotic, obsessive, scary film about friendship, stardom, doppelgangers, lesbian love, sex, betrayal...all the things that make a great Lynch film...but also starring two of the hottest ladies on film for 2001.

The Film was the first film (Non Porn)...that I actually thought I needed to relieve myself right in the theater..if you know what I mean...I mean I really liked The Fellowship of the Ring...but the closest I got aroused in that was when Viggo chased off those Ringwraiths. Lynch then went on to make Inland Empire 6 years later...we are awaiting something...anything from the man for the last 4 or so years...

Others:

The Royal Tannenbaums: one of my favorite Wes Anderson Films...the crazy paintings of those bear/people on ATVs made me laugh like a hyena in the theater

Memento: this gave me another director to follow forever...too bad Inception could not live up to the hype...that one will not make best of 2010

Lifetime Movies: 2000

2000: it's like a futuristic time...a year in which we were all to have flying cars and the future was unknown and going to be awesome...For me it was the true beginning of having come out of 1999 being floored by the great films of that year...I was looking forward to Gladiator, X-Men, and Unbreakable...these were very good films...but One got me hook, line and sinker...We remembered him from Pi...which was a great independent film that made me feel good and smart since I knew and feel like I found that film...but little did I know walking into the Tampa Theater...I was a changed man coming out of Requiem For a Dream...the best film of 2000.


Darren Aronofsky made this film because in college he read the Hubert Shelby novel about a New York gang of low lifes who are drowning in their humanity and obsessive addictions. I too read many books in college rather then study like I should have...I never made movies...but now I write and talk about them. Aronofsky off a great try at Pi made this film again in Brooklyn, NY...specifically Coney Island...a place I grew up around for years...I never knew any heroin dealers...but I knew the feeling of addiction...it wasn't heroin...but pick your poison..food, women, movies...whatever

The cast is incredible...Jared Leto is fantastic and every time I see him all I think of is this film...Ellen Burstyn was robbed of an Oscar, Marlan Wayans in his best performance...and the beautiful and wonderful and gorgeous Jennifer Connelly I am now forever in love with...

The film was known for its NC-17 rating which it deserves...it might have been my first NC -17 film...I remember seeing a few of them around this time...like Cronenberg's Crash...I rewatch Requiem about once or twice a year...it always makes me feel dirty and sad...I feel like I really understand addiction and the ills of our society...what David Simon's "The Wire" does in 5 years of 60 episodes...Aronofsky does in the first 5 minutes of Requiem...take your pick...both are great...the end result is an empty feeling of loss.

Requiem has been my second favorite film of all time since 2000...it probably always will be...it's not a quotable film..it's a dangerous film...every young person should be forced like Alex in A Clockwork Orange to watch this film and be as far away from drugs as possible ..Aronofsky uses every trick in the book to masterpiece levels.

The streets of Coney Island, the language that is Shelby's and specifically street New York, the effects, the acting, and Ass2Ass...all adds up to a glorious film..and we only had to wait 6 years for the next Aronofsky film.

Lifetime Movies: 2001

Getting to this year has certainly become an odyssey. Not that it didn't have enough to contend with already. You know, a certain aviation mishap in September. That's the one. And since all of this year's films were either in production or in the can when it all went down, this year is also the end of an era. Everything from here on out has to be viewed through soot-colored glasses.

Movie-wise, there was a lot to like (or at least a lot that I liked). A Beautiful Mind won the Oscar, and while it was good, I would have went with Moulin Rouge which I thought was a more daring, imaginative achievement. I'm not a big fan of traditional musicals, which I think made me enjoy this that much more.

Speaking of creative visions, Amelie gave us a beaucoup serving of charming French quirk, not to mention Audrey Tautou. Not to be outdone, we got two very good films from Mexico--Alfonso Cuaron's Y tu mama tambien and Guillermo Del Toro's The Devil's Backbone--that brought that country to the artistic forefront of the new decade.

Some really good small movies like Donnie Darko and Ghost World; a small movie director getting big in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tennenbaums; and a small movie director getting huge in Steven Soderburgh's incredibly cool and fun Ocean's Eleven.

But if 2001 is remembered for anything (again, movie-wise), it's that it kicked off two hugely successful book adaptations. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (hey, it wasn't called Philosopher's Stone where I saw it) actually lived up to fans' seemingly impossibly high expectations. And it was directed by mainstream what'sanotherwordforhack Chris Columbus no less. The whole series has been a spectacular success, particularly the consistency of look, tone, and quality. Which raises the question of how to handle a finite series such as this on a countdown such as this. It's hard to view each of the installments as a separate movie, so do I honor it here, later when it's more convenient, or at the end (2011)? I really am struggling with this one.

Ok, you got me. While I did like Harry Potter, my real dilemma is with a certain other epic, Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a whole is by far the cinematic gold medalist of the decade. But how to judge the individual films? I think one of the things I'm hesitant about is picking LotR for three different years. The truth is there wasn't a bigger or better film in any of the years in question. So, this is just me wanting to mix it up a little and continue my lifelong mission to promote diversity in all walks of life and all human endeavors. We'll give it '01 and then retire its number.

Winner: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

But, wait, what about David Lynch's Mulholland Drive? This may well be the best movie of the year especially since it has topped several critics' Best of the Decade lists. I don't know. I'm sure Vinny Guns will let me know, but I think I need to revisit all of Lynch's films. I remember the film losing its way toward the end, but the first half (which was originally conceived as a TV pilot) was fascinating. Plus, it gave us Naomi Watts. But for now I'm sticking with the hobbits.

Lifetime Movies: 2000

*How do you think we scored such a sweet deal on the SMC bunker?

But when I think back to great movies I have seen--movies that I knew were special as I was watching them--Memento is always one of the first few to come to mind. It revolves around a gimmick, sure, but like The Usual Suspects, the story itself (and the direction and acting) creates something bigger than the novelty. In fact, these films are great despite the distraction of the showy trickery. Memento made me appreciate the power of storytelling and the promise it can hold. (Check out Nolan's first feature, The Following, to see a lot of the ideas at play here in their concept stage.)

And then there were the two underdog indies (combined budget: under $15 million): Christopher Nolan's Memento and Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream. While Nolan has since become the rare blockbuster auteur, Aronofsky remains the darker visionary, content with exploring humanity from the underbelly up. Requiem is a hard film to watch, but in the best possible way. It's haunting, Aronofsky not only capturing the viewer's attention, but encapsulating it in an almost tangible mood that doesn't go away with the end credits. It's a really impressive accomplishment.

Towering above all were the two sword-wielding heavyweights, Ridley Scott's Best Picture-winning Gladiator and Ang Lee's Best Foreign Film-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I remember getting caught up in the rah-rah power of Gladiator and thinking it had to be one of the best films I ever saw. Everything about it is big, from Russell Crowe's epic hero to Joaquin Phoenix's detestable villain. It was made to overwhelm your emotions and it certainly did, like a Maximus punch right between the eyes. Crouching Tiger had the same effect, but with a less-Hollywood subtlety. The word that always comes to mind when I think of this film is magical, like an art house Matrix fairy tale. It's grander in scale than Gladiator, more ambitious, and probably the bigger achievement.

There was quality across the board, from science fiction (Pitch Black, Frequency) to comedy (High Fidelity, Best in Show), to Elizabeth Hurley in Bedazzled, to the original X-Men movie. There was Almost Famous, an ode to the power and romance of rock 'n' roll and Cameron Crowe's best film to date. Which, speaking as a fan and someone who has a lot of respect for him as a writer, is saying a lot.

I was expecting a big drop off from '99 what with everyone hunkering down* and stockpiling Spam, but it appears the producers cracked the whip to get their films done before the town began unplugging their AVID machines so they wouldn't go all Y2k and bring down the stock market, but 2000 came out swinging at everyone ready to close the decade a year early.

Lifetime Movies : 1999...

Prince foreshadowed this year in films almost 2 decades earlier...we all partied like it was 1999, simply because it was 1999, in 1999. To me...this is the best year in film since 1899, when there were no films.

When I first looked at all the films in the year 1999, I wrote down a list of 13 films, by far this is the most "Great" films of any year I have. The BEST of that 13 is as follows:

American Beauty
Being John Malkovich
Eyes Wide Shut
Fight Club
Magnolia
Office Space
The Matrix

These 6 were the ones I starred...the ones I highlighted as my favorite from that year, sure I then narrowed it down to a top 4...but I will not reveal that cut in the other films as to not have any negative repercussions from those filmmakers...in case they read this I just do not want them to feel left out

So the Best film of 1999 is:


I looked forward to this moment when it came out the summer of 1999 for about 10 years. Once I got to college and started to like films and Full Metal Jacket had come out the question was "When will he make another"...the first news from this film was that Kubrick would make a film based on an old short story called "Dream Story", but he would update it and have the two leads be psychiatrists. The last was a rumor that the Cruise character would be a doctor of some kind. Once the news came that the two would be Cruise and Kidman, it was an official film. In later years rumors of Kubrick's "unfinished film" and Cronenberg saying that scenes were just added in and others saying that the film has sound problem and the whole digital guests covering the orgy was all just noise in an ocean of people who at first didn't like the film. Originally Kubrick thought this film should be a black comedy with Steve Martin....so much is in this film, so much around it with Kubrick's death...some is shown in a documentary called "Kubrick's Boxes" which was on a few years ago on IFC, it was about the enormous about of research that Kubrick did for each film..the most being EWS..and the unfinished Napoleon film he might have done.

When I saw it I remember thinking this was an instant hit and one of the 5-10 best films I have ever seen...Kubrick had already died and some of that may have been me still mourning the greatest director ever...but 11 years later I still feel it's incredible. Somewhere the old film strips of Harvey Keitel and Jennifer Jason Leigh still exist...and I want to see it...somewhere the original edit exists, somewhere the original orgy scene exists (that last one does now in the new Kubrick set)

But the film is a series of people attracted to Cruise, his perspective as a person struggling to hang on to his "Doctor" status while using it to enter into infidelity..once his wife admits to feelings of infidelity herself, Cruise is spun out of control and tries to redeem himself..the colors of red and blue, the Christmas time decor and beautiful sets (the orgy house is a British Castle also used as Wayne Manor in Batman Begins)...It's a great film, it has its problems like sets not looking like the real thing...but it's a dream, and its Kubrick's last film..the best of 1999

Others:
The Sixth Sense: I never wanted to believe in this film, I thought it was a scam, then my future wife talked me into seeing it...I loved it...it made me want to see Night's next film Unbreakable, which to me is his best and last best film.

Toy Story 2: Great film, best opening scene of any Pixar film, the idea that Woody is a collectible is great..in today's world though he would have been e-Bay city

American Beauty: Kevin Spacey was brilliant in this and so was Chris Cooper...I really thought back then that this would have held up better over time, I haven't seen it in a while, but people tend not to think of this as highly as I thought

Being John Malkovich: I recently read the original script from www.beingcharliekaufman.com and it was much weirder...Spike Jonze makes it a much more personal and sad film...Kaufman is still King

Election: I was a student government advisor and so learned to love this film....Broderick's last good film?

eXistenZ- Came out before the Matrix (FRANK!) It's for me plot and story better then the Matrix with Matrix like story...another Great JJL film (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and one of the first times we see Jude Law...I am a sucker for Cronenberg...the Matrix is easier to watch and re-watch but the bio-guns and pods and dream like quality are awesome...check out the Chinese restaurant scene for total gross outs

Fight Club- OK no one saw this when it came out...I heard about it was in the making, and immediately bought the book, read it and couldn't wait since Fincher was re-teaming with Pitt...this is a great film and one that people my age (maybe not Frank) really identify with..the corporatization of America had been happening for years, but this is the Generation X response to it...now let me get off my dell CPU and drink my Starbucks

The Green Mile- Still waiting for everyone else in Hollywood to let Darabount just make whatever film he wants to and for whatever price...all his movies are great and this one is also

Magnolia- PT Anderson will be on every list for whatever film he makes...he is the new Kubrick I guess...Magnolia can be pretentious I guess...but John C. Reilly grounds any film (even Ground Zero)...Frogs from the heavens, bloody braces, cop loses a gun, pedophile dad, dying dad, mad son...check that 2 mad sons, PSH (Philip Seymour Hoffman), fucked up Julienne Moore...PT just throws the world at us and asks us to care.

Notting Hill- I love this film...makes me laugh and cry and Hugh Grant can do no wrong...my favorite film of Julia Roberts playing herself

Office Space- Mike Judge makes this cult classic...we had a teacher that would show this in his economics class...he got fired...this film is awesome

The Matrix- Yes, I did have this on my list...it was great and even inspired Darren Aronofsky (friend of the site) to make The Fountain..it's hard for me to not think of the other 2 films that follow...they are grade C films while this is an easy A...not to mention The Matrix came out after Columbine...so it could not have inspired the killings..unless those two freaks were time travelers

Lifetime Movies: 1999

I always knew this was going to be a strong year, but I was a little suspect of Vinny Guns' claim that it was the best ever. While I'm not ready to engrave the trophy, I don't really have an argument against not doing so.

The thing that stands out the most to me about 1999 is the number of films that are still relevant. We still reference The Sixth Sense as the standard by which we judge twist endings. The Blair Witch Project is still the yardstick by which we measure not just indie horror films, but faux docs, handheld camera-shot movies, really all low budget attempts at recreating that DIY success. It's only fitting then that my choice for the year is the movie that continues to have the biggest influence of all.

Winner: The Matrix

I'm calling it: this is the greatest science fiction film of all time. Forget the sequels. I don't care how many times the Wachowski Brothers claim they envisioned a trilogy, the second and third films play like afterthought money grabs. I can't blame them for that. I can blame them for the movies themselves, which aren't so much bad as bad enough to weigh down the remarkable achievement of the original. I have never seen a movie with as much word of mouth buzz. Remember, there was very little pre-hype surrounding this film, at least by today's standards. There was a jaw-dropping Super Bowl commercial introduction and then it just exploded. Nothing has been able to replicate its impact. It still blows me away.

(While I still say Brandon Lee would have been perfect as Neo, Keanu did an excellent job. But, get this: Will Smith was the original choice. When he turned it down to do Wild Wild West, they asked Nic Cage. And Sandra Bullock to play Trinity. Imagine the movie without Carrie-Anne Moss? I guess Sean Connery as Morpheus would have made it all better. I don't know if Hugo Weaving was the first choice for Agent Smith, but he created one of the greatest villains in movie history.)

Films of Note:

Magnolia: Almost any other year and this would have been number one. The reason P.T. Anderson is our most important filmmaker today.

Eyes Wide Shut: I think time will prove this to be the classic it is. Hopefully, time will also allow us to see the uncensored original version. Ridiculous. Bonus memory: toward the end of the film, two little kids snuck into the theater, sat in the front row, and started acting like stupid little kids. This was not the movie to do that and I screamed like hell at them. Sometimes I miss old Frank.

Being John Malkovich: The start of our Charlie Kaufman experience. And the start of this film is still some of the most brilliant stuff written. It loses direction toward the end, but there's no denying its daring originality. Plus, Vinny Guns has now hung up a Malkovich face in the SMC studio and I'm not ashamed to admit it scares me.

Even More:

Killer Animals: Deep Blue Sea is the second best shark movie ever. One of those movies where I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it afterward. Lake Placid was fun as well, though not nearly as fun as a movie with Bridgit Fonda and a giant crocodile should have been.

Johnny Depp: Sleepy Hollow saw him in classic Burton form, but he shocked me by throwing in two other mediocre at best films. The Astronaut's Wife was a generic Hollywood thriller that he had spent his career avoiding. And The Ninth Gate was supernatural schlock by child rapist Roman Polanski.

Comedy: Some very funny films came out including South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, which may be the most I ever laughed in a theater (so much so that I saw it twice, something very rare for though I did it twice this year--see: Winner); Office Space, which now seems to be on TV every day but remains infinitely quotable (tails off in the second half, but that first half is nearly perfect); Dogma, Kevin Smith's generally on point view askewering of The Church (which I hoped was the start of his maturation as a filmmaker--it wasn't); American Pie, which despite its desperate gross out use of sight gags turned out to be a very sweet coming-of-age story; and the sadly underrated Mystery Men, with Ben Stiller's greatest performance to date.

One Last One: Arlington Road has gotten lost in time, but is one of those great little films just waiting to be rediscovered. Director Mark Pellington has not worked nearly enough since he put together this intense paranoid thriller. This is actually my second favorite thing he directed. The first being this.

Wow, 1999. And thank you. Y2K is next and I fear it's all airplanes falling out of the sky from here.

Lifetime Movies: 1998

Nominees:

Dark City, Pi, Rushmore

Lets face it, I am running through these years just to get to the incredible, life altering year of 1999. But as I look upon 1998 I see more of the beginnings of some great directors...and at least one director that had a great year and then just crapped out on us...that person is Alex Proyas who created my favorite film of 1998

Dark City

I remember seeing the trailer and being bold enough to plunk down some money and see it with some friends...expecting to see some cool graphics and sci fi fun...what I got was something completely different...it was mesmerizing...it was a puzzle...it was Chris Nolan before Chris Nolan...it was the Matrix before The Matrix...it was Jennifer Connolly at the end of a beach pier before Jennifer Connolly in Requiem...it was a fallen shell of a man Keifer Sutherland before Jack Bauer...it was a Director who made a great great film...Roger Ebert called this the film of the year...and I had agreed with him 100% then and now. The graphics are CGI and maybe not CGI...the script is multi-level in meaning and a puzzle to solve...the ending is a great classic twist ending and the acting and secrets of this film dare you to see it 2 and 3 times more.
The film mergers ideas of film noir, and scifi punk...in the recent days of Nolans Inception...that film was compared to Dark City...and even though I think Inception so far is the best of 2010...this film towers over Nolan's. I can only hope that Proyas goes back to making good films...The Crow was good, I-Robot was bad...so was Knowing (but I did like the ideas in it...the guy can fins good ideas)




PI- You may be surprised this is not first...with my obsession with Aronofsky..I do love it and saw it at the Tampa Theater...but lets face the facts that I saw it for one reason...the poster was cool...it had the Pi math symbol and numbers all over it...I liked it alot...it was shot all guerrilla style and in my hometown of Brooklyn so I identified with that. The acting is ok...Sean Guillette who used to be in Aronofsky's films was a good lead...the ideas are great sci fi fun with a bit of passover thrown in. I great first film for Aronofsky.

Rushmore- "These are O.R. scrubs"...."O.....ARE THEY?"...what a great line...a great sophmore film for Wes Anderson...I mean with his films you would think he was a rich snob from Westchester NY or something...he just films such crazy, as if it were normal, semi-absurd things...but Jason Swartzman (Coppola Connection)...is just great in this and plays a kid you want to smack and hug at the same time...Bill Murray is great too...it makes you look back at this film and try to forget Andersons other films which have started to feel "THE SAME"...but I gotta say Fantastic Mr Fox cured that for me...that was a great film...and so is this...so enough with the nominees...here are thoughts on other films I thought were worthy of this list.

Saving Private Ryan- I get pissed off every time I think of all the other guys who dies and this prick who turns out to be none other then Freaking Matt Damon gets to live and Hanks has to die...that first 40 minutes though was better then 2 Star Wars Prequels put together.

Buffalo 66- Of course Vinny Gallo gets a spot here...I have been watching alot of his films from Netfilx recently...why?...because his films dont make it to the theater and they are never on tv...he is in a lot of non-comedies...this film is a comedy...and he is freaking awesome in it...very funny...not to mention Mickey Rourke is in it and the sadness of Buffalo..and the Joy of seeing the Giants win that Superbowl over and over is a joy to this NY City Boys life.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas- for about 2 weeks after this film can out I only spoke like Johnny Depp as his character in the film..its good enough to be on this list...but I gotta say I think I only have rewatched it 1 time since the theater.

Lifetime Movies: 1997

What a beautiful family picture:...1997 was our foray into PT Anderson...the Wunderkind. I saw Boogie Nights in the theater..my first reaction was "Someone just ripped off Martin Scorsese"..as time went on I saw that yes he did...but in other ways he surpassed the master...Scorsese would have a tough time balancing the comedy, drama, action, etc..not that he "can't do that"...but he really hasn't I think...anyway enough about that...this is about Boogie Nights..the best film of 1997.

Leonardo DiCaprio was to play the role that went to Mark Wahlberg...I think Wahlberg was the best person for this...he plays naive so well...he was born for this role...sometimes in film I can't stand him...but other times he is perfect...here he was..the casting is spot on...Julianne Moore is incredible and our fan favorite Philip Seymour Hoffman is the best actor alive..or at least close to it...but the star is PT Anderson...he does ensemble well..he does single character studies well...the guy was the kid in high school who wouldn't have to study and then set the curve for the class and get all A's...you hate him because he makes it all seem so easy. Every scene is crammed with stuff to look at and discuss..every line is thought out and means something on many levels...as for the DVD..it's the last commentary PT has done and is a good one...the last shot is brilliant...as for the fake penis, according to the commentary it's still around and each year is deteriorating more and more...but this film will live on for years as a classic.

Others films:

Chasing Amy: Mostly seen as K. Smith's best film...it probably is, but the ending is still weird...Ben Affleck actually offers to have a 3some for real? I haven't seen this in a while..I just can't handle Ben crying in that car.

The Game: Underrated Fincher film...I remember the trailer being great..it got me so excited for it..it showed Micheal Douglas drowning and pieces of a puzzle coming together..it was awesome...by the way originally Sean Penn's character was to be played by Jodie Foster...also the writers...I mean this film is original and cool...so you would think that the writers went on to make cool original films..but I guess sometimes you get the SE7EN syndrome...like Andrew Kevin Walker...a one hit wonder..these writers went on to do Surrogates, Terminator 3, Terminator Salvation,and Catwoman???

Gattaca: I love this film...it's original, slick looking...I care about all the characters and it's an interesting take on a real future and the love of space flight...not to mention Ethan Hawke is great and should be in a million more films..The director Andrew Niccol is returning to sci-fi after S1mone and Lord of War.

Orgazmo: South Park...after episode 6 with the Mr. Hanky I was done...this film though about Mormons and the Porn Industry is a nice funny compliment to Boogie Nights..."I'm done with Hamstersyle"

Waiting For Guffman: I love the Christopher Guest Mockumentaries...this one is about the second best one...the best is the "My Dinner with Andre" Action Figures.

Lost Highway: A great Lynch film...the scariest guy almost ever in a Lynch film with alleged murderer Robert Blake..and Patricia Arquette is hot hot hot...look for old Hank Rollins as a security guard...and Marilyn Manson as a porn star

In The Company of Men: The film that introduced me to Aaron Eckhart...he is AWESOME in this...I expected great things from director Neil LaBute...but, came a lot of films from him that I just never saw...maybe I should...this film is just an experiment in everything you want to do as a man to hurt women...all women

Lifetime Movies: 1996

Winner: Swingers

I think I spent less time studying for my SAT than thinking about this year's winner. (In all honesty, I didn't really study for my SAT. Hindsight : Happiness :: Red Hot Poker : Ass.) I can't deny Swingers, though. Our very own Vin told me I had to see it and he couldn't have been more dead on right (thanks, pal). It's one of those movies you just fall in love with. Everything was so right about. Vince Vaughn giving one of the greatest performances of all time. The music. The greatest video game scene ever. And, of course, the most painful scene in movie history: the answering machine message. Makes me shiver thinking about it. Yes, it's money.

That said, I'm still not sure I shouldn't pick Trainspotting. I actually saw this in the theater with Vin while I was visiting him in college. I remember watching it and thinking that movies couldn't get any cooler. Sure, I couldn't understand a lot of it (really, Scotland, learn English). Good thing I went out and bought the screenplay. I did. That opening monologue still gets me. "Choose a starter home. Choose your friends...Choose D.I.Y. and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning...Choose your future, choose life. But why would you want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose something else." Uh yeah. I chose Swingers.

Films of Note:

Fargo: My favorite thing about the best Coen Brothers films is that they have complete disregard for genre. For lesser filmmakers, this is attributable to a lack of focus and, more likely, a lack of competence. For the Coens, it's just the opposite. They have such a clear vision of what they want to achieve that the film itself, what you are seeing on the screen, is the only thing that matters.

Hard Eight / Bottle Rocket: Incredibly, the debut of both P.T. Anderson and Wes Anderson, respectively. Even more incredibly, both followed the promise showed here to become two of the leading directors today. For whatever reason, a lot of people still haven't seen Hard Eight. They really should.

Jerry Maguire: All the Cuba Gooding Jr. "Show Me the Money" sideshow aside, this is one of the sweetest, best written movies of the decade. Cameron Crowe is at the top of his game and Tom Cruise is at his most naturally charming (as in a jerk you can't help but like. That's not an insult.) But it's Renee Zellweger who takes this to the next level. The Great Paul himself once said her Dorothy Boyd was the most datable fictional character (I have since found a replacement). Too bad she rat poisoned her face.  

Mars Attacks!: I remember that at the time, this was hands down my favorite movie of the year. I saw this the day it opened and left the theater thinking it was going to be a huge hit. The audience was really into it and it felt like everyone was having as much fun as I was. And to think studios rely on small sample test screenings to make hundred million dollar decisions. Screw 'em all. I like this movie.

Slingblade: The film that launched a thousand impressions. Mmm, french fried potaters. A remarkable performance by Billy Bob Thornton. Another actor I wish would remember how talented he was. Also, featured one of my favorite kid actors ever: Lucas Black, always great as the go-to Southern boy.

Welcome to the Dollhouse: Wish this would get more play. This should be required viewing for all teenagers. This whole thing is as uncomfortable as a Favreau phone call. Heather Matarazzo should have won something for her work here.

Lifetime Movies: 1996

Something changed in 1996. Maybe I was maturing, maybe it was the air, maybe it was the fact that I was supposed to graduate college and didn't...but that's just it...just when I was out...they pulled me back in. For me this starts the year that film was something to look forward to and to witness the start or the continuation of a screen writer or a director...the year I really started following this kind of stuff...and thanks to the Internet it was possible...no Nominees here...this was the year I saw SWINGERS

I guess watching all the great Indie films of the early 90's got me to be on the look out for others. This was the gem I found at the Tampa Theater before anyone knew these two above. Sure you saw them and cried in "RUDY" but you had no idea that these two would make SWINGERS...Guy film, Baby, Money, Boy Named Sue, Hockey, Double Down, you're like a bear, I mean this quote movie mayhem could go on forever. This film is funny, sad, at times Mike (Jon Favreau) is pathetic...at times he is the hero and Trent is pathetic...the crew these guys hang with...you just want to freeze time and live here with these guys, because their lives in the film as actors mimic whats happening to them as Jon and Vince..they were up and coming and now in 2010...Jon is fat/skinny/fat/skinny...director of Ironman Franchise...I mean what the heck? How?...Jon Favreau in my opinion wrote a great film and then followed it up with another great funny ass film "MADE"...but I guess that was it...and the beauty of those is his chemistry with Vince...they play up the Dean and Frank lifestyle in Swingers which is brilliant...but then Favreau fades out and just Directs...sometimes he's in films...but nothing has come close to the chemistry these two had...I look for it in things like "The Break up" and others...but its not the same.

Vince Vaughn on the other hand tried acting drama (FAIL)...and went back to doing his style of smart ass..(WORKED)..Old School, Dodge Ball etc...but now????

Swingers is great

Others:

Fargo: Close to a perfect film...but didn't stand a chance to SWINGERS for me...that's too bad because this film is probably on my top 20 list of favorite films.

Bottle Rocket: Another close one...Owen Wilson is so odd and funny...saw this one because the Video cover looked like a cool indie flick..and it was a gem...Wes Anderson is brilliant and all his movies work...

Kingpin: Starts those new comedy type flicks using sports I guess...but Woody Harrelson is so brilliant in this...and Bill Murray has a great role

Waiting for Guffman: The "My Dinner for Andre Action Figures" cracks me up every time

Lifetime Movies: 1995

Winner: The Usual Suspects

Movies with big trick endings run the risk of being forced to stand on their own once the novelty wears off. Whether they do or not is the difference between whether it was conceived gimmick first ("Hey, wouldn't it be cool to end a movie this way?") or if the ending is the organic conclusion to a well-crafted, character-rich story. Obviously, you know how I feel about this. Everything came together here, from the cast led by Oscar-winning Kevin Spacey, to Bryan Singer's direction to Christopher McQuarrie's still amazing Oscar-winning screenplay. It was one of the most rewarding movie watching experiences I can remember having.

Films of Note:

Vin nailed most of the contenders in his post. Heat, Se7en, and Twelve Monkeys are right there at the top this year's heap, which along with 1996 are my two favorite on the list.

Dead Man: Johnny Depp stars as a literal dead man walking in Jim Jarmusch's under seen existential western. Jarmusch is one of those directors "serious" film fans are supposed to like. I think I like him more than his movies, but this one seems to be an artist hitting all his thematic and stylistic marks.  

Dead Man Walking: I was so blown away by the acting that I went to see this twice in the theater. That's just not something I normally do. A powerful movie. And for those of you playing at home, this is my favorite Sean Penn role. Not to mention an incredible soundtrack.

Leaving Las Vegas: Cage and Shue challenged Penn and Sarandon for the tag team belts this year with a pair of career performances (they split the Oscars with Cage and Sarandon winning). It's almost as if Cage decided he had reached his peak because the next year saw him transform into an action star and an acting punch line. And did I mention Elisabeth Shue?

The Quick and the Dead: My friend Pete dragged me to see this since I had not yet fully come to appreciate the directorial wizardry of Sam Raimi. Sharon Stone's the "star" of this film about a quick-draw tournament (single-elimination, of course) but the rest of the cast steals the show: Gene Hackman, Leo DiCaprio, and some unknown as the male lead. I remember being disappointed that with all this talent on screen this guy I never heard of was getting so much face time. It was Russell Crowe.

Babe: Whatever. You don't like this? You're dead inside. 

Lifetime Movies: 1995

It was the year of Batman Forever and the year this genius guy got married...WELCOME TO 1995

As far as lists of films go, for me when I look at these last 36 years, the quality of films just shoots up dramatically in 1995. From here on it's an all out war for best films of the year, for action, great actors, amazing new directors making original and interesting films...this truly is the golden age...too bad 2010 had to come and be a pretty bad year for film...ah but the year is still young.

Nominees:

Toy Story, SE7EN, The Usual Suspects, Casino, Heat, Mallrats, 12 Monkeys

Yes it's a long list...I feel they all deserve it, but one rises to the top.




Micheal Mann's EPIC crime saga HEAT, is my best film of 1995. The story is solid throughout...the watchability is phenomenal, the acting is the glory of film with these two titans of film for the first time going mono-a-mono (do not see Righteous Kill...see this about 1000 times first). Micheal Mann is the best at action, intensity, and music...the use of music to add the coolest vibe for a film. I love his later films and the use of the video quality of Collateral, Miami Vice and even Public Enemies. When Chris Nolan was writing The Dark Knight he kept watching Heat for his inspiration...and it obviously has an impact. Pacino's over the top performance and DeNiro's understated cool calm are perfect...that with the street LA shoot out and Ashley Judd just make me want to go watch it over and over again.

Others:

Toy Story: Pixar classic, watch it with or without kids around...after a while though you realize that TS2 is better.

SE7EN: Brought David Fincher to the scene...I really didn't know who the killer was..I mean I remember the early buzz on the young Internet was that it was a name star...I knew of Kevin Spacey from the TV show "Wiseguy"...and other things...little did I know he would be the key to the surprise ending of 2 films this year. Seven is brilliant, it is a great serial killer story...Brad Pitt rules and is funny as hell and to think they wanted a different ending...FUCK THAT says David Fincher and One hit Wonder Andrew Kevin Walker...the writer that has done nothing since.

The Usual Suspects: Fuck the haters (yeah, you Slashfilm)...you just can't re-watch a classic I guess...this film builds constantly...and maybe you just don't like great acting...the writing by McQuarrie is great and free...he says so in interviews that he didn't know the rules of writing and maybe he is a worse writer now then he was back then because he follows the rules...well Keyser Soze should get his own movie.

Casino: We all remember this greatly in our memory..I say it is not as good as we think. Wall to wall music...music is everywhere..I think the Deniro-Pesci thing is great...but the side characters are not...except Sharon Stone who is wonderful.

Mallrats: all these actors that are in this are doing nothing now...they could have been great but all except that Affleck guy are done for...the film I think is great for that time...but that time is past...I remember asking for small cups in malls and doing the Jedi mind trick and saying snoochy buchies...man that was a long time ago.

12 Monkeys: probably the second best Gilliam film ever...Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt took a risk here with Gilliam...I really thought this guy was golden after this...and then came his other disasters...but this film is one of the best time travel films going...Brad Pitt again is perfect and funny, and Bruce Willis just goes with the flow and is serious throughout.

Man...a lot to write...it's just a bunch of great films...most of these I return to a lot and think.."Wow that was 15 years ago"? These are big name directors also who were in the prime of their career.