|
"1999:
A Hollywood Odyssey" by Scott Mantz
There's nothing
like Hollywood around Chrismastime! While the rest of the country
is knee-deep in holiday shopping, snow shoveling, or just plain
ol' millennial madness, film critics everywhere are busy compiling
their lists for the best and worst of what they saw this year. While
certain films are sure to be featured on many lists, some choices
are bound to be surprising. Well, to each his own. Remember, we're
critics, not experts, and these days, everyone's a critic. So, without
further ado, here are my picks for the best of what we, or, at least,
I, saw over the last 52 weekends. So, put away your lightsaber,
stamp out that cigarette, and get ready to see a lot more than just
a few dead people!
 1)
"The Sixth Sense". What
a great story, and I'm not even talking about the script (which,
by the way, was also great)! Do you remember all the hype surrounding
this summer release? Me neither, and that's precisely the point.
Here's a film that was released on its own merits. Instead of the
usual situation where a film finds an audience, this was a case
where the audience found the film. My initial reaction was that
it was good, but the beginning was a little slow. Obviously, the
acting was excellent (including an Oscar-worthy performance by young
Haley Joel Osment), and the surprise ending was brilliant. Like
the rest of the country, I went back and saw it again. Here's a
case where the payoff was even better the second time around. Even
knowing how it ends, I found myself hanging on every scene to make
sure all the clues where there and nothing fell through the cracks.
Nothing did. Director M. Night Shyamalan really nailed it.
 2)
"The Insider". The mere
mention of the plot, about a Big Tobacco whistle blower, is enough
to make you fall asleep. But just you wait. Writer-director Michael
Mann was able to infuse a sharp and witty script with spectacular
performances from his lead actors. Russell Crowe's silent breakdown
combined with Al Pacino's intense loyalty keeps you on the edge
of your seat. This will no doubt be recognized by the Academy come
Oscar time. Not since "All the President's Men" has the power of
free speech been so documented in a film. In this case, free speech
lost. Unfortunately, so did success at the box office.
 3)
"Three Kings". Not too
many movies were based on the Gulf War, and for good reason. Unlike
World War II and Vietnam, this was one war that was over before
it even started. That left a few soldiers hungry for a little payback.
What started as a justification for missing out on all the action
turned into a morality play on responsibility and doing what's right.
Excellent performances by George Clooney, Mark Whalberg, and Ice
Cube are like icing on an already delicious cake, thanks to the
innovative direction of David O' Russell. The true message of the
film hits you long after you leave the theater and makes you wonder
why we even went to Iraq in the first place.
 4)
"The Iron Giant". This
Warner Bros. animated release should have given Disney a run for
its money, but it was not to be. Too bad. Grossing a paltry $26
million, this giant is an instant classic. Not since "ET" had a
film captured the beauty and the power of a friendship that was
much more than skin deep. Director Brad Bird combined the paranoia
of the cold war with the lost innocence of the 50's to create a
film the whole family can enjoy. If there's any justice, this timeless
gem will have along life on video.
 5)
"American Beauty".
Even the title sounds like a winner. Here's a film that took a close
look at the American dream and saw nothing there but a bunch of
lies. Second chances don't come very often, but Kevin Spacey is
ready for his. His liberating and Oscar-caliber performance is filled
with all the energy of a man desperate to get his life back even
if it kills him (and maybe even get a shot at his teenage daughter's
sexy best friend). Newcomer Wes Bentley may seem odd on the surface,
but he winds up being the only true character, looking closer at
all the little things that make America beautiful.
 6)
"Being John Malkovich".
On the surface this may seem like a commentary about the public's
intoxicating obsession with celebrity, but it's actually much more
than that. Outrageous characters and an absurd plot make this one
of the most entertaining, and definitely the most original, films
of the year. John Cusack is the pathetic puppeteer who, along with
sexy ice queen Catherine Keener, finds a portal that leads to the
head of John Malkovich. That sounds crazy, but the minute you peer
through the elevator and look out onto the 7 1/2 floor of an office
building, you easily accept what's about to happen. Welcome to Wonderland!
Cameron Diaz is unrecognizable as Cusack's pet-loving wife, but
Malkovich is the real treat. He may be the first actor to ever get
nominated for an Oscar just for playing himself.
7) "The Red
Violin". Here's a film where the main star is actually an inanimate
object. What's remarkable is how successfully the filmmakers are
able to make you feel compassion and sympathy for the cursed violin.
Painted in the blood of the deceased manufacturer's wife, the violin
gets passed from one tragic circumstance to the next over the course
of 300 years. We take the journey on an intellectual and emotional
level. While certain vignettes are stronger than others, they all
portray the risks that people take for their passion and the tragic
consequences that they can lead to. One can't help but wonder what
will happen to its final possessor, obsessed instrument restorer
Samuel L. Jackson, when he takes the violin home to his daughter
for its intended use.
 8)
"Eyes Wide Shut". I
know I'm going to get it for this one! This movie needs to go away
for a while before it can truly be appreciated for what it is--a
dreamlike tale about fate and karma. Kubrick has never been one
to direct easy movies, and this is no exception. There's much more
going on than just a story about sexual obsession and jealousy.
Nicole Kidman may have given a fiery admission about impure thoughts
to her husband Tom Cruise, but she didn't actually do anything wrong.
She just thought about it. Even though Cruise's journey takes him
from one bizarre situation to the next, he doesn't do anything wrong
either. It's almost as if they were meant to stay together and some
outside force was testing their will. While it may not be Kubrick's
masterpiece, it is a beautiful and haunting piece of brilliance
which warrants speculation and interpretation. The same thing can
be said about another Kubrick movie--"2001: A Space Odyssey".
 9)
"October Sky". The "Stand By Me" of the 90's. Living in a
depressed coal mining town with strict parents, a young boy dreams
about building rockets that may one day take man to the stars. With
no big-name leads and excellent supporting turns from Chris Cooper
and Laura Dern, this little-seen gem has a powerful and emotional
story that stands on its own merits. The schmaltz factor gets a
little much, but so what? Never lose your dreams. The only person
who will make them a reality is you.
 10)
"Fight Club". The "American
Beauty" for the Gen-X crowd. Corporate business drone Edward Norton
has a mid-life crisis while still in his 20's. He and repulsive
soap maker Brad Pitt start a club where insensitive males get their
feelings back by beating the crap out of each other. Sure, it's
violent, but so were the Indiana Jones movies. Shot with the dark
and burned-out look of the film's tone, the film eventually reveals
itself as something completely different from what you think it
is, thanks to the second-best ending of any film this year.
Well, there
you have it! There are other films that deserve honorable mention
("Boys Don't Cry", "The Blair Witch Project", "Run Lola Run"), but
I only have ten choices. Also, there are a number of movies that
haven't even been released yet ("Magnolia", "The Green Mile").
By the way,
have we learned anything from all this? Well, yes. The big studios
still aren't afraid to take chances. Most of the films listed above
took a risky approach that only the Independents usually take. Unfortunately,
these noble efforts didn't translate into box office gold. With
the exception of "The Sixth Sense", none of these films made back
enough money to cover their cost (at least during their domestic
release). Hopefully, that won't scare studio heads too much. Let's
face it--nobody ever said risk-taking was cheap.
|
