And... we're back with another top 10 list, because I just can't resist them.
Ah 1991, a kindler gentler time. The time of the first Gulf War. How naive we were. I was 9, definitely becoming a big movie buff. I still vividly remember seeing movies like Hook and The Addams Family in theaters (although neither make my top 10). This is definitely a strong year in my opinion, with a handful of movies that became some of my all-favorites.
This was of course the year of Silence of the Lambs, which became the rare horror thriller to not just win Oscars but to sweep all the major awards, deservedly so. Ironically, enough Anthony Hopkins was invited back to the winner's circle again this year for his very late career comeback film The Father, but back in 1991 he was a relatively fresh face in his mid-50s!
Ok less yapping and more listing:
10) The Fisher King - One of the most emotionally accessible Terry Gilliam films is no less ambitious and stuffed with ideas. Jeff Bridges is terrific as a gone to seed shock jock whose life is redeemed by an unlikely friendship with a quirky homeless man (with a dark past) played to perfect by Robin Williams. The jarring shifts and tone may make this a hard film for some to embrace, but it's a film that works because of its eccentric flourishes.
9) Barton Fink - One of the Coen brothers' most esoteric films clearly comes from a personal place since it centers on a put upon screenwriter (played wonderfully by John Turturro) who wants to create pretentious art but keeps getting steered towards commercial pablum. Some fascinating detours -- including a scene stealing turn by John Goodman -- give this one an epic feel even though it also works as pure Hollywood satire.
8) What About Bob? - A family favorite of mine, and I suspect many other people of my generation. Bill Murray never played a character like this one before or since, which is a shame, since it's a delight to see him inhabit a wild eyed innocent who becomes the perpetual foil for a slow burning Richard Dreyfuss. The two stars reportedly really hated each other which only lends their comedic clashes more authenticity and excitement. one of the great '90s comedies.
7) Terminator 2: Judgment Day - If it weren't for some of its more cloying aspects, this film would be seriously in the running for greatest action film of all time. It certainly was a game-changer in terms of its special effects and this is Arnold Schwarzenegger operating at the peak of his movie star powers. A surprisingly dark blockbuster, thanks to Linda Hamilton's fearless performance. And who could forget Robert Patrick's all-time great villain here. The franchise has never been able recapture this one's sense of discovery.
6) Defending Your Life - Perhaps the perfect Albert Brooks movie, certainly his most audience friendly. Here he plays a more sympathetic than usual character who's life goes under review after he dies in a kind of trial which will determine whether his soul will move onto heaven. Hilarious but also frequently touching, with Meryl Streep making a lovely scene partner and romantic interest for Brooks. Just a very smart, beautifully rendered comedy. Should have been a commercial hit, but inexplicably wasn't.
5) Boyz N the Hood - The John Singleton masterpiece is a high water mark for a certain kind of incendiary urban drama. From start to finish this is a visionary work about inner city violence and coming of age effectively delivers on its message but also contains searing performances from the likes of Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding, Jr. It's themes and vignettes remain powerful, maybe even more impactful today. If Singelton never made another film his legacy would be set with this one.
4) Bugsy - Warren Beatty gives perhaps the performance of his career as the volatile and eccentric gangster Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel. I don't know if I buy the movie's narrative that Siegel was the true spark behind Las Vegas becoming the gambling Mecca it is today, but I also sort of don't care. The period detail is exquisite. The combative romance with real life Beatty flame Annette Bening is sexy. And it's got a phenomenal supporting cast, including great, Oscar-nominated turns from Ben Kingsley and Harvey Keitel. But this is Beatty's show. He never got to play a character this ferocious before or since and he's unforgettable.
3) JFK - One of my favorite dramas of all time, but I have to dock it a couple points for its myriad of credibility issues. And yet, how can you deny the power and scope of its filmmaking. Director Oliver Stone brilliantly (and yes, manipulatively) weaves archival footage with re-creations, employs an insanely deep cast to bring this conspiracy thriller to life and hangs it all on Kevin Costner's reliable leading man shoulders to land this plane. Big Hollywood movies don't get more ambitious than this.
2) The Silence of the Lambs - Oft quoted and parodied, and not helped by all the sequels and spin-offs -- but this film is still a stone cold classic. It works so well because not a single scene or piece of dialogue is wasted. Director Jonathan Demme took all the storytelling and timing skills he honed in his signature comedies and employed them to perfection in a totally different genre. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster make great music together as scene partners. And the ending is simply one of the best in movie history.
1) Cape Fear - Director Martin Scorsese has always been very dismissive of this movie, labeling a pure experiment with whether or not he could make a commercial hit. Yes, this is an entertaining thrill ride, but you can't sell its psychological themes and dark brooding heart short. Although I would have been curious to see an originally proposed version of this film which had Harrison Ford in the Cady role opposite De Niro as the good guy, I have zero complaints about this movie (which also inspired my favorite Simpsons episode). It's a great revenge movie, darkly funny and dangerous. All you could ever want. And it's kind of movie I am ALWAYS in the mood to watch.
PAST TOP 10 FAVORITE LISTS
1970 #1 movie - M*A*S*H
1974 #1 movie - The Godfather Part II
1975 #1 movie - Nashville
1976 #1 movie - Taxi Driver
1977 #1 movie - Star Wars
1978 #1 movie - The Deer Hunter
1979 #1 movie - The Jerk
1980 #1 movie - The Shining
1984 #1 movie - Ghostbusters
1985 #1 movie - Fletch
1986 #1 movie - Blue Velvet
1987 #1 movie - The Untouchables
1988 #1 movie - Coming to America
1989 #1 movie - Batman
1990 #1 movie - The Grifters
1994 #1 movie - Pulp Fiction
1995 #1 movie - Heat
1996 #1 movie - Fargo
1997 #1 movie - Boogie Nights
1998 #1 movie - The Big Lebowski
1999 #1 movie - Eyes Wide Shut
2000 #1 movie - Nurse Betty
2001 #1 movie - The Royal Tenenbaums
2004 #1 movie - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2005 #1 movie - A History of Violence
2006 #1 movie - Casino Royale
2007 #1 movie - There Will Be Blood
2008 #1 movie - The Wrestler
2009 #1 movie - Inglourious Basterds
2010 #1 movie - The Social Network
2011 #1 movie - Drive
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